Buzz Buys: Some iconic ink, new autographs, movie moments, lotsa Shotzi, an MTV sig & plenty of non-traditional pick-ups

Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ...

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IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON ... 
The Item: Paul "Bear" Bryant cut autograph (BAS authenticated)
The Price: Less than a lot of new hobby boxes.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This pricier (for me) pick-up actually came in the last week of last year but I decided to hold onto posting it here until it's the right time -- and since football season is upon us, well, that means now's the time. In the fall of 2019, I bought a starter auto of this legendary Alabama Crimson Tide coach who before Nick Saban was easily the greatest in school history (right now, it's perhaps a toss-up) -- that one was an inscribed nickname-only auto -- for a lot less as it was a cut from a paperback book. This one? It's signed on thick, red paper (almost a light cardboard stock) and I know exactly where it came from -- a 1975 copy of his autobiography, Bear: The Hard Life and Good Times of Alabama's Coach Bryant. I have a clean-but-ratty copy of that book somewhere in my stash from an antiques store find 20-some years ago, but when this popped up from a West Coast mega-dealer of vintage (and selected modern-player) autographed stuff and plenty more I bit. I actually prefer the cut auto feel here in its case vs. the full book as it can be viewed when you find it vs. tucked behind a cover. A lot of Bryant autographs are found these days -- 40 years after his death -- are on signed copies of this book or on a style of autographed photo or two that is nearly always found inscribed and dated to fans or boosters from back in the day. While a photo (preferably slabbed) would be nice, this is a better, simpler item. Authenticated photos can cost less but look iffier depending on condition. I like this one -- and it's card-like feel -- and, heck, I might even do more. They are out there and findable.
Grab a box right here: College football boxes

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

WANTED SOME INK
The Card: Spencer Strider 2022 Donruss Optic Rated Rookie Signatures
The Price: About $32
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy has dominated for the Atlanta Braves with some insane strikeout numbers the last two years there -- and also, super-importantly, for my fantasy team -- and I have dabbled with simple stuff that I can pick up on the cheap between raw Rookie Cards, slabbed RCs and some others. Not long ago, I picked off a patch card and this one was my one auto to go with it -- budget buys just to say I have something. This year, his stuff with MLB logos has continued to sell well -- not cheap enough for me to grab without hesitation just yet -- but this one was nice for the price with an on-card auto, which I liked. 
Grab a box right here: Baseball boxes

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BIG-SIZED BARGAIN
The Photo: Sabrina Ionescu autographed 16-by-20 WNBA celebration photo (Fanatics Authentic)
The Price: About $38 (on sale)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Her showing in the WNBA 3-Point Contest this year was an insane one -- she only missed two shots -- but before that she was an established player with plenty of attention in general and then with the arrival of Panini Prizm WNBA. Rather than dabble with the cardboard -- a sticker auto -- or a slab where prices could be erratic (though I looked and considered it) I went with this over-sized photo where she's celebrating a three-pointer as a member of the New York Liberty -- a team that looks primed to win it all this year. Her autos aren't the biggest or most-dynamic autos, but she signs a lot and you can find a number of options over on their site -- a lot of layup and shooting photos -- and I thought this one was a winner being different. (Note: I used the Fanatics stock image here as these larger photos are hard to photograph in their top-loaders thanks to glare.) With not that many WNBA releases each year, prices on key names' cards should remain relatively strong and iconic names could end up being big later ... I covered the base this way without breaking the bank. For example, one place I buy from often her ink is basically $70 and up and eBay asking isn't far off. As an auto collector, I think it's good to have iconic sigs from a lot of directions.
Grab a box right here: WNBA boxes

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JUST SOME OF MY SHOTZI HITS
The Cards: Assorted Shotzi Blackheart 2021 and 2022 Topps and Panini hits (and one parallel slipped in there ... not a hit)
The Price: Between $3 (mem cards) and about $45 (Blue /25)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This high-energy WWE star is one I'll pick off often for key cards if the price pops into my typical ranges and these are some examples from recent months. The top row of NXT and WWE Women's Division autos are nice with their on-card sigs and design but the thin stock used makes them grading nightmares ... and I want to grade. I paid well for some of them since I like the parallels and the tank Relic is cool, too, and basic shirt relics are fun to amass in some volume when cheap. I've slowed on buying her stuff some as more and more WWE arrivals mean prices are likely going to dip some. Either way, I will pick up more ... and I have more stuff from some newer releases still waiting to pop up here the rest of this year.
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes

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THROWBACK APPEAL
The Card: Ted Williams 2022 Topps Brooklyn Collection 
The Price: $2.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This brand is one where I've never dared to pop the lid on a box of my own -- I have wanted to and have come close through the years -- but some can be big hits with ink while other boxes can sting. (That's why I didn't.) I've picked off some singles of key names here and there -- stuff I will likely slab at some point as the thicker stock here makes for clean cards -- but this one isn't among those. It was just a solid price on a big name with a card that, while quirky, looks good. 
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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ICONIC IMAGE ...
The Photo: Tom Cruise -- Cocktail press kit photo (1988)
The Price: About $7
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This photo still used for marketing is a clean one -- a lot of photos used to promote past movies are not all that poster-like -- but this image stood out. I probably would have grabbed a Top Gun image if I had found one when looking (that franchise is probably my fav of his not that I have a list or anything) but this one looked cool. The cutline on the photo pretty much sums up the movie here so I don't have to.
Grab a box right here: Non-sports boxes

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A MEMORABLE SHOWING
The Item: Julio Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez & Ichiro Suzuki on 2023 MLB All-Star Game Program (Stadium Edition)
The Price: $12 (cover price $15)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a throw-in to get me to free shipping over yonder -- that actually happens for me a lot -- but this time it was a pretty simple and timely item showing a current guy who had himself a good showing during that week as well as the most-notable legends of the day giving him some rub and making this piece appeal to a couple generations of collectors. The other version of this program is just that center logo on a backdrop with no players ... not flashy at all. While I probably won't grade it, I think slabs of sports programs is a seriously overlooked niche right now vs. other stuff. As long as it can fit in a CGC slab, it can be graded.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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POCKET CHANGE APPEAL
The Card: Ronald Acuña Jr., 2023 Topps Welcome To The Club
The Price: 50 cents
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I have not dabbled with much 2023 Topps MLB from any release in that much volume this year beyond Heritage, but this insert set's design, while a little funky, was one that stood out to me as unique. This one's photo lines and colors with the clustered type is interesting and Acuña is a guy whose homers-steals are of note today ... he should be in the 30-60 Club soon and has an outside shot at 40-40 if he gets hot by the end of the year. If he finishes strong, I think he should be the NL MVP, too.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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TWO OF A KIND
The Cards: Babe Ruth 2022 Donruss Holo Red (Boston version) & Holo Blue (New York version) base/variation parallels
The Price: $6 and change
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a funky idea that I did on a whim when I saw the variation here and then how affordable parallels here are, too. Red for the Red Sox, Blue for the Yankees. It's a foilboard pairing that I might even slab together ... just for fun. Plus logos aren't as big of a deal on these uniform photos vs. more modern players.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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YOU GOT RED ON YOU
The Card: Surviving Shaun 2022 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Oh the Horrible Wave 3 (announced /1,406)
The Price: $1.75
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This ode to Shaun Of The Dead is an absolute classic and the touches here are immaculate. Here's the trailer if you don't know the movie. This UK comedy classic was one that I picked up on a whim on a late-night post-work DVD run years ago and it thoroughly impressed me. It's easily a favorite for the genre. I need to poke around and see if I can find its alternate-name version (if I like the name) or a parallel and slab them as a pair ... that's how much I like this one. I like GPKs with pop culture nods (music/movies) way more than most characters in that long-running franchise -- take that, Adam Bomb.
Grab a box right here: GPK boxes

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A THROWBACK
The Photo: Bridget Fonda & Matt Dillon -- Singles press photo (1992)
The Price: $6
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This movie is an absolute time capsule -- I'm not sure it's aged that well -- but it's definitely firm in its time and place and an ode to a genre of music and its era all rolled into one -- here's its trailer. And it's also got the soundtrack to back all that up and musician cameos in the movie, too. When I spotted this still from a kit -- a kit I need to find in its entirety -- with a clean and unused back (typically they can be marked up when used) I had to grab it. One can just hear this photo's theme atop of it if you know this Cameron Crowe classic.
Grab a box right here: Non-sports boxes

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ALL THAT SHINE ...
The Card: El Torito 2014 Topps Chrome WWE Refractor -- Rookie Card parallel 
The Price: Pocket change
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This small and super-agile WWE Superstar didn't have a long run but, man, he could do some things in the ring and is easily one of the company's best small stars ever despite only about three years running as the bull there. He stands 4-foot-5 and was active in Mexico before and also after his WWE time and only has a few card appearances. (He likely has more as Mascarita Dorada in Mexico but will admit I have not looked.) When I spotted this Refractor for pocket change, I bit. It's the kind of simple and cheap card that I might grade, though this may have had a minor issue where an elite mark might not happen ... so that might not happen this time. (But I would.)
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes

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A MOMENT IN TIME
The Items: Drew Barrymore Celerity Press Agency & Globe Photos slides from Batman Forever premiere (June 9, 1995; one slide is mislabeled)
The Price: Probably more than I'd want to admit ... but no regrets as I'm a collector.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: These celebrity slides are relics of the past -- back when news services existed for those publications needing celebrity photos (magazines and other large operations) and would get them in the mail and/or delivered. This is from back before digital photography and online distribution was a thing, so pricier steps in the process like slides simply aren't done now. (Online distribution is far cheaper and likely way more profitable.) I have been on a Barrymore-collecting kick this year -- just something different away from sports for the time being -- and picked off these in some small lots at a slightly pricier rate than I might others. At the same time, a lot of sellers of slides try to get anywhere from $10 to $35-plus for big names so I didn't hate this coming together via a few small lots. (This entire lot was about $50 and I didn't mind as I think it's among her iconic looks of the era ... perhaps the iconic look.) Yes, there are some duplicates here -- that's partly for a reason to come in a piece here on The Buzz later this year.
Grab a box right here: Non-sports boxes

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REPRINT WITH A LITTLE EXTRA
The Card: Frank Robinson 2020 Topps Rookie Card Retrospective Logo Medallions
The Price: Under $2
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I own a couple copies of this Hall of Famer's 1957 Topps Rookie Card but thanks to the printing and photo quality of back then they don't look quite as nice as his one, which has been cleaned up for this recent reprint. I like the simplicity here -- thick matte stock -- with a small RC logo medallion embedded into the cards from back when that wasn't a thing. (No, these are not Rookie Cards.) These were in blasters as the bonus card but can be found so cheaply in a lot of instances where buying singles is the easy route to take.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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POWERFUL PARALLELS (MOSTLY)
The Cards: Shotzi Blackheart assorted Topps and Panini America cards and parallels (2020-2023)
The Price: $2 to about $35 (Blue Finest) 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is another run of my pick-ups for the WWE's Tank Girl -- mostly parallels -- with that Blue RC parallel the priciest but others in there also a little more pricier than you might think. (I'll pay if I like it as I'm a collector ... and some of those Green parallels can be in-demand by others with deeper pockets than I.) Some stuff here will definitely get graded at some point once I get back into that game soon for cards before the year's up.
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes

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I FEEL THE NEED ...
The Item: Top Gun 35-mm film cut (five-frame strip)
The Price: Less than $5 (with promo/extras in order)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: These simple and creative pieces are the work of a seller you can find on eBay -- name is Cell-Scene -- they did the work to take super-long film prints and cut them into five-frame strips showing memorable moments from this film and many others. In this case, it's the interaction between Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards) and a memorable one-liner in a film that's jam-packed with them. I like these with the way they are presented in a semi-rigid (left image) that makes them feel more card-like. A simple novelty for moments you won't find on cards more often than not ... and they're cheap enough to be an impulse grab.
Grab a box right here: Non-sports boxes

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FROM MTV NEWS TO MONEYBALL ...
The Books: Tabitha Soren Fantasy Life autographed publisher edition hardcover books (three copies)
The Price: $57.65 (shipped) for all three (cover price is $45)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I had this one bookmarked for months -- if not years -- to pick off a copy at some point and on a recent weekend of poking around online I literally accidentally called up the page for this publisher edition to find the books listed at something like 60 percent off. Why? I don't even know -- but I couldn't get an order in fast enough to add the autograph of an MTV News icon to the collection with an item that also correlates with Moneyball and my long-collected player. Moneyball is the iconic baseball book about the 2002 Oakland A's that became the basis for a Brad Pitt movie and this also ties in. How? She's married to Moneyball author Michael Lewis and she has been a photographer for years. This book revisits all of the players that Oakland drafted that year with a mix of then and now (or at least newer) photos from her and then some artifacts and personal images from the players all mixed in. The no-brainer first-round draft pick who I ended up collecting a couple years after I found the book was Nick Swisher, while a school ties guy for me at the same time I was there was Jeremy Brown, who was the unlikely first-round pick among several the team had that year. (Finding the book in an airport and seeing a chapter on him sealed the deal for me.) Swisher, of course, went on to a lengthy career while Brown made it to the show but abruptly retired and went to work in a coal mine back home before returning to baseball in a different way.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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TWO MORE OF A KIND ...
The Cards: Spencer Strider 2022 Panini Capstone -- Rookie Cards
The Price: $2.40 for the pair
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I didn't grab this pair of super-cheap RCs because I think they are the best he has -- but it is a brand that surprised me a lot with its premium look and feel when I ripped a blaster. It's one I need to find more of and rip into ... it just has a good aesthetic feel vs. a lot of other stuff out there with holofoil, foil stamping and thick stock -- all without a premium price.
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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MAMI'S TOYS ...
The Toys: Rhea Ripley WWE Funko Pop! & Mattel WWE Superstar Series 114 debut figure
The Price: About $22 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't have the space (or energy) to dabble with toys as much as I perhaps used to -- back when unwinding with a meandering path through a Toys R Us for an hour was a possible thing -- but when a name I like (or collect) pops up with something that's interesting or cheap I may bite. These were two examples over recent months with the Funko being a newer release, while that other figure is one I actually have a second copy of from back when it was first released in 2020. (Where it's at is a different story ... in a box or storage tub somewhere.) Why did I grab one more? It's her debut and it was a $9.99 Buy-It-Now. As I've said in many past Buzz Buys mentions, she's the future of the WWE on the women's side ... and is already a champ who has held all WWE women's belts.
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes

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NON-TRADITIONAL CARDS
The Cards: Drew Barrymore 1999 Grolier Story of America cards
The Price: About $10 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: In the 1970s there were Sportscaster cards that were kind of educational oversized flash cards showcasing subjects from all over the place as part of an ongoing mailed product. In the years later, there were other sets for other subjects just like them -- stuff for kids, really, so I don't know all about a lot of them -- but in some of my non-sports searches these popped up and I grabbed them for the heck of it figuring I might not see them again when searching if I pass. I don't think they're all that rare ... I just wonder how much of this kind of retro-style stuff would have been made in 1999. The 1970s stuff certainly has to be more plentiful.
Grab a box right here: Non-sports boxes

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DEEP IN A BULK LOT, BROTHER ...
The Items: Hulk Hogan on Jeffrey Mayer photo slides -- Tower Records autograph signing/appearance (July 11, 1995)
The Price: Only about a dime apiece as part of a bulk lot, brother. 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I found these among a bulk lot of slides for actors, musicians and others and, well, I just didn't expect to see the red and yellow in there. This is from an event as noted from somewhat earlier in his WCW run as he's a bit skinnier and not wearing a painted on beard and black/white clothes ... those were the days for him there. I went on a slides kick awhile back that has subsided a bit but digging through some cheap bulk lots was a bit more interesting than overpriced lots of 1980s or early 1990s card singles I already have a few times over. File this one under "Cheap Thrills, brother."
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes

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CARDS ON CARDS ...
The Items: Assorted Shimmer Wrestling promotional event postcards (5-by-7 cardboard stock)
The Price: About $35 between two lots of about seven cards (some duplicates not shown)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I picked up a couple small batches of these months, heck, years ago (pandemic buys got weird at times when I couldn't find cards I liked) but I do like these a lot as they show a lot of names one might know well now in WWE or AEW long before that time. What are they? Small cardboard-stock cards previewing events showing a number of names who could or would be appearing at events for Shimmer -- a hotbed promotion for stars on the women's side in recent years. I got these so long ago I didn't take pics of a couple dupes and apparently accidentally deleted a couple others (and I have no idea where I put them to be honest to figure out the other images needed) but there are a few names fans would recognize with a closer look (four are here ... fronts and backs). I might have overpaid some but they are the kind of unique items that you might not see again if you pass over them when they pop up.
Grab a box right here: WWE/AEW boxes

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I ACTUALLY ALWAYS HATED THIS ONE ...
The Card: Nick Swisher 2009 Goudey Mini Black Back (/21)
The Price: $2.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This rare parallel was cheap so I grabbed it despite it being a card I have seriously never liked. What's the deal? I really, really, really don't think that's Swisher on the card. I think it looks like A. J. Pierzynski, myself, but that uni number is what Swisher wore ... so ... maybe it's just a victim of some Photoshopping funk?
Grab a box right here: MLB boxes

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A BOWLING THROWBACK ... NOW THAT IT'S BACK
The Card: Parker Bohn III 1990 Kingpins PBA 
The Price: Pocket change
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: When I saw Leaf was bringing bowling cards back to collectors, I wondered about some past sets and Kingpins was one that presented this oddity. The featured bowler -- a name I do recognize (I'm no bowling aficionado) -- on a card with three others here taking up a lot more space. Such an odd card. I don't think the kid is a bowler based on the age of this card, but apparently three of his five kids have fared well at some national events in more recent years.
Grab a box right here: Other sports boxes

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A UNIQUE IMPORT ...
The Card: Trish Stratus 2004 Topps Apocalypse WWE Divas (Italian Edition)
The Price: About $10 (I coughed it up since this was an import)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card will be popping up in the September Making The Grade so I had to get it in here this time ... and that's do-able as Stratus has been rather prominent in WWE this year in what might be one last run for her career. (No idea, but it seems possible ... she's in a steel cage match on Saturday.) This is an insert from an Italian version of a UK release that's quite simple but a little different as, well, the WWE Divas shoots like this were not as commonly found on Topps cardboard once it took over for American releases in 2005. Fleer had some but not much in its last couple years with the license. I'll offer more thoughts here on the MTG mention dropping on Friday.
Grab a box right here: WWE boxes

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THE NAME GAME
The Cards: Wyatt Olds 2022 Choice Greenville Drive (nine copies)
The Price: About $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This small lot of MiLB debut cards was a simple pick-up for me with some tongue-in-cheek irony once I hit his Baseball Reference page and noticed his full name -- Christopher Wyatt Olds. If you know your hobby people of the last 15-20 years then that name might ring a bell. I wonder whatever happened to that guy?
Grab a box right here: MiLB boxes

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