Join Beckett Media’s Chris Olds and Bryan Hornbeck as they rip into two boxes of 2011 Topps American Pie in this latest edition of Box Busters.

What will they find inside? Watch and find out …

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor | Commentary

The return of Topps‘ American Pie line after a decade on the sidelines was a slightly surprising one, but after just glimpsing at some of the cards in the newly released set it’s clear that it has done its job.

It’s a non-sport set that reflects American pop culture and history.

It’s a non-sports set that highlights the past as well as the present — right up to notable events of this year.

It’s a set I want to rip into — even though I haven’t even had it in hand yet.

Yes, the typical sports- or hits-minded collectors will likely balk at what they may find in this one — it’s probably not for you — but anyone who appreciates interesting things on cardboard beyond a certain realm (bats and balls) just might appreciate the scope of what’s seen in the base set alone.

I’ll save the basics and specific breakdowns about the product’s inclusions for another time (Box Busters or another break video), but here are some of the more interesting cards that stood out to me after an initial glance online:

– A card focusing on the death of Kurt Cobain.

– A card focusing on the arrest of Martha Stewart.

– A card focusing on Kanye West‘s awards show tact.

– A card focusing on the O.J. Simpson verdict.

– A card focusing on the legacy of Steve Jobs … and another focusing on the iPod … and others about Apple.

– A card focusing on Twitter.

– A card focusing on Tetris.

– A card focusing on Michael Jackson‘s Thriller.

– A card noting the founding of Google.

– A card focusing on The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.

But that’s just me … other cards showcased a few game-changers in pop culture: cell phones, The Ramones, CNN, Nintendo, All In The Family, Richard Pryor, John Lennon, Hot Wheels, Andy Warhol, the birth control pill, the Barbie doll, Motown, Jim Henson, Dr. Seuss, TV dinners, the bikini, the arrival of Playboy, the remote control, credit cards, Nancy Kerrigan, Happy Meals, “Who shot J.R.?”, Survivor … and so on.

Many times celebrity-focused or history-focused releases are chock-full of C-listers that a card company can afford to sign autograph and likeness deals with or with historic names and highlights from the 1960s and before. For a thirtysomething, American Pie is a refreshing release in that it includes plenty of stuff from the last three decades — history that unfolded right before our eyes.

Something tells me that with the base set alone — and countless other insert sets found in American Pie — a lot of collectors will be reliving history inside every single pack.

In between landing our Carrot Top and Wilmer Valderrama autograph and memorabilia cards, of course.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

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By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor | Commentary

An icon in the technology world, Apple founder Steve Jobs, died on Wednesday at age 56 the company announced, leaving an immense legacy in how his company’s electronics changed the way people lived.

Naturally, I wondered whether he appears on any trading cards in the Beckett.com database after hearing the news. He does not — not a single standard card. Not a single cut autograph card. Nothing.

However, there might be a reason for that last part — Jobs apparently wasn’t much of a signer as demand for his autograph has been very strong through the years and it will, naturally, be even stronger now.

The signed first issue of MacWorld magazine seen above was the only non-reprinted autograph from Jobs that went on the auction block in the last two weeks on eBay. Reportedly signed for a former Apple employee, it collected 28 bids on Sunday and closed at $1,426.69, but the reserve on the auction was not met. That’s all without any kind of authentication from James Spence Authentication or PSA/DNA.

Well before his death, there was heavy interest in Jobs’ autographs as one collector was willing to pay $2,274 for a signed copy of this same magazine (perhaps the exact same one) in 2003, according to CNet, but, again, the reserve on that auction was not met. Adding to this demand is the fact that, for years, Jobs apparently had a policy of not signing through the mail to give everyone similar treatment rather than please a few and disappoint many others.

Unsigned, the magazine itself has an asking price of as much as $325 on eBay right now. (Update: As of 9 p.m., some eBay sellers are asking $2,000 for an unsigned issue.) Between this and other items on the auction block, it’s apparent that there are a lot of people out there interested in memorabilia relating to the media icon and his company just as there is plenty of interest in computers, iPads, iPhones and so on.

Presently, interest in some items depicting him is picking up on eBay. For example, a 1982 copy of TIME magazine featuring jobs on the cover sold for $162.50 after 37 bids Wednesday night with the bid amount jumping more than $30 during the auction’s final minute.

Meanwhile other pieces of Jobs memorabilia have made headlines in the past. Late last year, a Chinese company created an action figure of Jobs, which sold for as much as $2,500 after Apple sent the company a cease and desist order as the item was not authorized by him or his company.

Could there be a 1/1 cut autograph of Jobs to come from a trading card manufacturer soon? Probably, but the tough part might be finding a signature.

The easy part will be finding someone who wants it.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.