2023 Donruss: I am so disappointed

 I know I am in the minority when it comes to Panini products. I absolutely would prefer the logos, however The Donruss flagship set is one that I have completed going back to 1981. Sorry, I gotta do it. This year was a big let down. Some of you probably already know. But for those who do not......I will YELL it.

THERE ARE ZERO ACTIVE REGULAR ROSTER GUYS IN THE ENTIRE 290 CARD SET or inserts for that matter. That's right the set is made up of retired players and prospects (the Bowman kind). 

I first noticed when the checklist was available (I get my Braves want list put together in quick fashion). Two prospects that I don't know and then yeah some great players, but all retired (MOST IN THE HOF I might add :). No Acuna, no Albies, no Olson, no Riley, no Harris, no Grissom, nada. Talk about HUH? When I grabbed my Braves off of the checklist, I wasn't paying attention to the rest of the list.....just my Braves. I was stoked beforehand and was going to get 2 Hobby boxes direct from Panini. I dropped the ball there Friday before last, but was able to get them the next day at the Jax. show. *Kind of regret it, I could have just bought the complete set for cheap, I think.

I was excited to rip them. Not retail blasters, the Hobby boxes 3 hits per (sort of).

Starting out with the Braves that I pulled. 

Many of you know that I also build the Diamond Kings set, so that means I have to double up on these. This is what I have for the set build, a lot less for the DK set build.

Now rather than scan the set or partial set. I am only posting the dupes of PC guys, and the parallels I pulled. Before we start I want to say that the first box was the better box. Not a single dupe and that is always a good thing. However, there are just too many parallels. I did not get anywhere near a complete set with two boxes and the 2nd box was about 50% duplication of the first box (with the parallels included). That sucked! Had they not been I might have actually got the complete set. Oh well I did have fun ripping and the hits in the first box were okay. (You have to wait). All in all both boxes left me only ABOUT THRITY CARDS that have no purpose to me. Not bad, would have been better if those were $29.99 boxes. I think that is what they should cost. So I my mind I am out $140.00 after paying $100 for each box completely wasted. Won't do that next year. 

As you can see the base cards doubles don't have many of the front 2/3 of the set. Panini loaded the set with variations again, and I am not sure which is which. Some I figured out easily, some I have no clue.... yet.

Notice the Griffeys'. Reverse negative on the photo and they altered the red header slightly for those.

Noe let's peek at the HOLO BLUE.

Oh look there is that Dodger Don Sutton sporting that perm Night Owl mentioned recently.

Now for the HOLO RED. They are serial numbered to 2023.

DK parallels. The Blue look fantastic.

Now for the remaining parallels.

How about those Donruss inserts, the last few years have had a couple of good ones.

The copper bronze color are the normal base version of the insert on most.

Here we go with the Bomb Squad and Marvels that I usually like they get another go this year.

However, Unleashed was a FAIL. I don't like it this year at all.

Now for the 6 hits.

The bottom three were from the first box. Elly relic, Vizquel auto, and the Joe Carter auto numbered to 25!

Now for the winner last night: Jeremy (we'll call that batch of cards he will be coming soon for as his winnings.