Cheap Wax Wednesday Box Breaks: 2006 Topps Series 2 Baseball Rack Box

2006 Topps Series 2 Baseball features a base checklist of 330 cards. Those base cards are also found in multiple parallels, though much fewer than you will find in today’s releases. Gold (/2006), Black (/55) and Platinum (1/1) parallels are available, as well as printing plates. However, in 2006 Black parallels were only found in Topps Home Team Advantage boxes, so there won’t be any in this rack box. 

One thing different about these rack packs is the inclusion of vintage cards. Topps included three cards from past sets in each rack pack. Your definition of vintage and Topps’ may be a bit different. You’ll see. 

2006 Topps Series 2 Baseball Rack Box Break

Cards per pack: 18 + 3 vintage cards
Packs per box: 24
Price paid: $20

Shop for 2006 Topps Series 2 Baseball rack boxes on eBay.

Pack 1 highlights:

Livan Hernandez, Orlando Hernandez/Orlando Hudson, Ben Sheets, Joel Zumaya RC, Corey Patterson Trading Places (1 in every 8 packs), Eddie Milner ‘85, Hammaker/Honeycutt ‘84 & Burt Hooton ‘84

Pack 2:

Chase Utley, Orlando Hernandez, Terry Francona, Jim Leyland, Jose Oquendo ‘89, Gary Gaetti ‘84, Doug Bird ‘84 & Mickey Mantle Home Run History (1:2 packs)

See what I mean about the vintage cards? A 1989 Topps Oquendo doesn’t quite fit the bill.

Pack 3:

Cliff Lee, Yadier Molina, Omar Vizquel, Steve Lake ‘89, Richie Zisk ‘84, Gary Gaetti ‘84 & Daniel of St Thomas Jenifer US Constitution (1:4 packs)

Pack 4:

Rickie Weeks/Prince Fielder, Paul Konerko, Kenji Johjima RC, Mike Lowell, Curtis Granderson, Keith Foulke, Steve Lake ‘89, Gary Gaetti ‘84, Doug Bird ‘84 & Coco Crisp Trading Places (1:8 packs)

OK, what is going on? 1984 Topps Gaetti card in each of the last three packs?

Pack 5:

Ivan Rodriguez/Carlos Guillen, Mike Mussina, Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz, Hideki Matsui, Alfonso Soriano, Steve Lake ‘89, Rickey/Conroy ‘84, Billy Martin ‘84 & William Samuel Johnson US Constitution (1:4 packs)

And now we have had a three-pack run on 1989 Steve Lake cards. So weird. 

Pack 6:

Johnny Damon/Jason Giambi, Matt Cain RC, Ryan Zimmerman RC, Scott Rolen, Magglio Ordonez, Frank Thomas, Lance Parrish ‘85, Murphy/Cooper/Rice ‘84, Tom Brookens ‘84 & Mickey Mantle HR History (1:2 packs)

Pack 7:

Grady Sizemore, Mark Prior, Mickey Mantle HR History (1:2 packs), Ken Dayley ‘89, Ken Singleton ‘84, Hrbek/Schrom ‘84 & Manny Ramirez Hit Parade (1:9 packs)

Pack 8:

Derek Jeter, Edwin Encarnacion, Sid Akins ‘85, Bert Blyleven ‘85, Dave Schmidt ‘85 & Robert Morris US Constitution (1:4 packs)

Pack 9:

Jon Papelbon RC, Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Howard, Matt Holliday, Frank Thomas, Sid Akins ‘85, Blyleven ‘85, Schmidt ‘85 & Mickey Mantle HR History (1:2 packs)

Pack 10:

Miguel Cabrera, Andruw Jones, another Akins ‘85, Dave Meier ‘85, another Schmidt ‘85 & Ken Griffey, Jr. Hit Parade (1:9 packs)

It’s so strange how many duplicate vintage cards I am finding in these.

Pack 11:

Vladimir Guerrero, Randy Johnson, Scott Rolen, Ryan Zimmerman RC, Ken Griffey, Jr., Flavio Alfaro ‘85, Ron Oester ‘85, Dave Meier ‘85 & Brady Clark Gold /2006 (1:6 packs)

Pack 12:

Magglio Ordonez, Mickey Mantle HR History (1:2 packs), Alfaro ‘85, Meier ‘85, Oester ‘85 & Troy Glaus Trading Places (1:8 packs)

Pack 13:

Shawn Green, Miguel Tejada, Alfaro/Meier/Oester & Charles Cotesworth Pinckney US Constitution (1:4 packs)

Pack 14:

Trot Nixon, Randy Johnson, J.D. Drew, Alex Rodriguez/Gary Sheffield, Vladimir Guerrero, Gus Bell/Buddy Bell ‘85, Denny/Hoyt ‘84, Tom Brookens ‘84 & Nathaniel Gorham US Constitution (1:4 packs)

Pack 15:

Jeff Bagwell, Francisco Rodriguez, Roy Halladay, Gary Sheffield, Derek Lowe, Carmen Castillo ‘85, Denny/Hoyt ‘84, Brookens ‘84, Mantle HR History (1:2 packs) & Paul Konerko Gold /2006 (1:6 packs)

Pack 16:

Miguel Tejada, Doug DeCinces ‘85, Murphy/Cooper/Rice ‘84 & Scott Holman ‘84

Pack 17:

Roy Oswalt, Ron Gardenhire, Oquendo ‘89, Singleton ‘84, Hrbek/Schrom ‘84 & Alexander Hamilton US Constitution (1:4 packs)

Pack 18:

Moises Alou, Tim Hudson, Dontrelle Willis, Mike Piazza, Bob Lillis ‘85, Bert Campaneris ‘84, Holman ‘84 & Orioles/Devil Rays Opening Day (1:6 packs)

Pack 19:

Bronson Arroyo, Miguel Tejada, Alfaro ‘85, Rich Bordi ‘85, Oester ‘85 & Mantle HR History (1:2 packs)

Pack 20:

Moises Alou, Tim Hudson, Royals/Tiger Opening Day (1:6 packs), Alfaro ‘85, Bordi ‘85, Oester ‘85 & Mantle HR History (1:2 packs)

Pack 21:

Cliff Lee, Jermaine Dye, Grady Sizemore, Alfonso Soriano, Don August ‘85, Bordi ‘85, Doug Sisk ‘85 & Mantle HR History (1:2 packs)

Don August has a very interesting Twitter/X account, if you’re into that. He has told many stories about his time playing professional baseball, including playing internationally.

Pack 22:

Mark Prior, Alfaro ‘85, Bordi ‘85, Oester ‘85 & George Read US Constitution (1:4 packs)

Pack 23:

Yadier Molina, Omar Vizquel, August ‘85, Bordi ‘85, Sisk ‘85 & Todd Pratt Gold /2006 (1:6 packs)

Pack 24:

Chase Utley, Terry Francona, Octavio Dotel, August ‘85, Bordi ‘85, Sisk ‘85 & Ken Griffey, Jr. Hit Parade (1:9 packs)

Lastly, the Utley card back. I dig the little cartoons on the backs.

Collation was extremely odd on the vintage cards with way too many duplicates. It seems they must have bought back large lots of certain players. That kind of ruined the fun inclusion for me.

This was still a fun rip, though, and I was lucky to pull a couple of Griffey inserts. Ignore the fact that they were duplicates, they are still Griffey inserts.

Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.