The Hit Redefined

A "Hit" is defined by Baseball Cardpedia as

"a high-value insert card, usually a card that is either serial numbered, autographed, or game-used. Hits vary in value by the product and by the purchase size. A "case hit" in 2012 Topps Tribute, for example, is likely to be a card that would sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars; a "box hit" in, say, 2010 Topps Series 1 could sell for ten dollars or less."

That concept has been the norm for several years now, and it can be argued that it applies down through the retail market as well. 

• Case hits are once-in-a-lifetime pulls.  
• Box hits are normal autographs and relics - specifically (or more recently only vaguely) associated with a particular player and/or game.  
• Retail hits can be the occasional gamer or auto, but only at high odds.   

More often than not, a blaster box will advertise the guaranteed inclusion of a manufactured item, like a custom patch, medallion, or other commemorative piece that was created specifically for inclusion in the product.  They aren't sourced from players or teams on the field.

Typical Hobby Box (cost: $50-60):

Typical Retail Blaster (cost: $20):

Hobby box has one relic or autograph, and blaster has one manu-patch card.

Back in the mid- to late 2000's, relics were so common that even the blasters had them.

Typically, they were the workout jerseys from the previous year's All-Star Game.  Technically, they're "event-worn", but that actually makes them more interesting.

Then later, blasters had the well known manufactured patches, or "manu-relics".

Not actual patches from game uniforms, but spiffy little fabric patches of team or event logos.

Manu-relics evolved into even fancier forms, some of which only appeared in hobby boxes.

And of course, the rookie card had to make an impact along the way as well.  With logos, or even reproductions of cards themselves.

Is this really considered a rookie card?

But there was still the expectation that if you bought a hobby box,

you would get at least one of something like this:

Or this:

You might get really lucky and pull something like this:

And blaster boxes would advertise thusly:

And contain things like these:

But really at NO time, would you expect to see this on the outside of the box:

"1 autograph or relic card in every hobby box"

And get this:

Yes, it is serial numbered, so technically it fills the original definition of a "hit" as described above.  But that's where the similarity ends.

If you can get a comparable item from a $20 package, then placing it in a $50+ package basically cheats the buyer out of half the value of the item.  Considering this the hit of the box is ridiculous compared to the last 15-ish years of similar products.

This is not a fancy fabric patch, or an engraved metallic coin or wooden piece.  It's a puffy sticker.  And it's not a team logo, or event logo.  It's a corporate wordmark for the general playoff season in the sport.  Not the World Series, or the LCS, or All-Star Game, but just the whole group of games played after the regular season.  Here's your puffy sticker for the post season.  Hey, we only made 50 of them.  This guy played in the postseason.  Thanks for coming.  Good Night. 

WTF?

The "hit" has officially been devalued to become whatever the manufacturing corporation feels like calling a hit.  No longer does it have to be an actual piece of memorabilia, or signed by a player.  Now the player doesn't actually have to be involved in the process at all.

The only thing I can think of that would be more worthless is if they didn't actually make anything at all. 

Oh wait...

The next step in "hits".  Digital hits?  (Psst, they're not actually real).