Normally when it comes to items I've collected for this Collecting Game-used series what you'd see above is an image of an item in use -- definitive photo-matched proof that the piece I've found was in Player X's hands on X date ... or at least something close to that.

Not this time.

This bat does have a story to it, but it’s all anecdotal and it’s all still a mystery despite it being relatively modern. It’s not a piece that got stickering as it’s from before the time where the Oakland A's even bothered doing MLB Authentication ... not that this came via official team channels. (It didn’t.)

As you can see, this is a Nick Swisher Louisville Slugger and the eBay seller I landed it from last summer had some details -- and that’s what would typically be a starting point -- but I’ve struck out trying to photo-match anything. It happens, but this bat remains the real deal thanks to some trademark modifications made by the player and that model.

Keep reading to see the details.

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What's Buzzing: World Baseball Classic chatter, your rules of collecting, Topps Three, new pulls, Konnor Griffin and more in this Friday edition.

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1 -- All your World Baseball Classic chatter ... and a Shohei Ohtani thread 

2 -- Rules of engagement ... err collecting?

3 -- Collecting for ... um ... 

4 -- Talking Topps Three

5 -- Showing off new wrestling pick-ups

6 -- Konnor Griffin

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2026 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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What: 2026 Pulse Aura Chrome Baseball cards
Arrives: June/July
Box basics: Four encased autographs per six-card hobby box (10 boxes per case) or one autograph per Heat Seeker box (24 boxes per case) or two autographs per 24-card Max box
Checklist: TBD
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Pulse takes its cardboard to Chrome -- as in plastic Chromium stock -- with a trio of formats for collectors to choose from with this one.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

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Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... sometimes stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new fun cards and oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness. 

AT THE BEGINNING ...
The Card: Kyle Schwarber 2015 Topps Pro Debut
The Buzz On This: Last time, The Schwarbino was in the leadoff spot here and he’s back as I’m still on a kick ... but this month it’s him in some less-familiar threads. This one has the Pro Debut logo -- meaning its his first from Topps for the MiLB ranks -- while it uses the MLB look of that year with the minor-league unis and logos getting the ride. The team? The Boise Hawks all way up there in Boise, Idaho, and a lot has changed for them since then though the name remains the same. (The Hawks became an independent team back in 2021 when MLB restructured the MiLB ranks.) I like the early big-league looks for Pro Debut as part of the continuity for a player’s cards -- his Rookie Card arrives and MLB run starts in 2016 -- but a collection of his Topps flagships should include this if you ask me.

Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards you can find in and around MiLB.

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What's Buzzing: Konnor Griffin, Jose Canseco, Lou Holtz, Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2026 NFL Draft and a good question.

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1 -- Konnor Griffin

2 -- A new Jose Canseco card set

3 -- Collectors react to the Lou Holtz news

4 -- 2026 NFL Draft 

5 -- Good question ... 

6 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. ... baseball card collector 

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

There are a lot of things one can collect that aren't cards -- sometimes they can even come in packs and sometimes they don't. Buzz has been exploring the world a little bit in different directions but with many of them still being paper items -- stacking paper but not in that ol' money kind of way. Here's a look at a few items that entered my collection in recent months that can all fall under this department, which will be found here roughly once a month. 

FOR THE CHILDREN ... AND THOSE INTO ART
The Item: Wu-Tang Clan concert poster -- Sept. 21, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (/350)
What It Cost Me: $18.85
What's It Worth: Original cost $50 ... recent eBay asking $19.99 to $80 ... no recent eBay sales
The Buzz: Their musical genre isn’t really my wheelhouse, but obviously I know the legendary band and some of its members and hits, but what drew me here was the style of so many of their posters that are so intensely detailed where even this digital take above doesn’t do it justice. (I struggled to take good photos of my pick-ups due to their sizes, so I am using digital images when I can.) This piece from their New York State of Mind Tour features art by an illustrator named Johnny Crap. With the group’s name being a nod to Kung Fu, it makes sense that many (but not all) of their concert posters carry that aesthetic or feel to a degree, too. As I noted last time, I've recently started dabbling with concert posters -- but only on the relative cheap -- after finding a seller/collector with a vast stock and nearly everything so fresh that the prints have never even been rolled ... so damage is almost non-existent. I've picked off a few dozen prints in recent months and you'll see concert posters like this pop up here regularly.
Find Cards At: Non-sports boxes at BlowoutCards.com

Check out even more items after the jump.

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What's Buzzing: Baseball card bubbles, new MLB pulls, new WWE finds, offseason chatter and more.

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1 -- Bubbles

2 -- New MLB pulls are here

3 -- New Universe WWE pulls

4 -- An NBA question 

5 -- Offseason football chatter

6 -- Heritage SPs and more on their minds

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Many people collect autographs -- but not in the same ways -- and not all autographs are made alike. Some are mass-produced, some are in packs. Some are personalized, some are not. Some have all kinds of documentation and many more have none ... here's a look at a few that entered my collection in recent months.

CERTIFIED INK (FROM PACKS)
The Item: Mark Metcalf 2024 Leaf Metal Pop Century Platinum Blue Prismatic Autographs (/10)
What It Cost Me: $17
What's It Worth: More than that in my book ...
The Buzz: That “Worthless & Weak” inscription may or may not resonate with you depending on your age -- I didn’t recognize him on this card at first -- but I found this on a curiosity search during a working marathon with MTV Classic on in the background. Metcalf is an actor perhaps best known for his roles in the 1970s and ‘80s and even ‘90s with Animal House, Hill Street Blues, Seinfeld and Buffy The Vampire Slayer among his credits. (See even more about him here ... it's an interesting feature about acting and typecasting.) But, he also had ongoing appearances in some 1980s videos from the rock band Twisted Sister -- a staple of early MTV -- "I Wanna Rock” and "We’re Not Gonna Take It” and that’s where I know him from. They’re  perfectly absurd little pieces of pop culture, but that’s 1980s music videos for you ... and that whole rant is a callback to a scene in Animal House, too. I was just a kid when those came out, but their over-the-top antics amused me and stuck with me ... and that’s why I thought his was a cool card all these years later.
Find Ink At: Pop Century boxes at BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a few more autos that caught my attention.

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What's Buzzing: Talking Heritage, Series 1, Topps Three, non-sports cards and new pulls.

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1 -- Heritage SPs and more on their minds

2 -- New basketball finds

3 -- New pulls from Series 1

4 -- Reactions to Topps Three NBA

5 -- Non-sports update

6 -- Talking wrestling cards

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

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THE FUTURE ... 
The Card: Oba Femi 2024 Panini National Treasures WWE Holo Silver (/25) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $40
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a card I picked up back in September and Femi's arrival on the main roster since then has been beyond impressive -- perhaps better than I had expected. There have been a lot of people noticing him as well -- so much so that demand for the Red parallel of this card, which is three times more plentiful -- is a crazy example in comparison to my card. One of the Reds recently went for almost $160 on eBay -- that’s impressive but this one is better. It makes me wish I would have stashed even more.
Grab a box right here: WWE cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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What: 2026 Leaf Metal baseball cards
Arrives: March 13
Box basics: Five autos and four base cards per hobby box (10 boxes per case) or nine autos and eight base cards per jumbo box (eight per case) -- both types guaranteeing one on-card auto per box
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf Metal is back for another year with two box options and plenty of new looks for stars of the diamond's past, present and future inside.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What's Buzzing: Disney sketch cards, wearing your cards, Topps Heritage, spring training and more.

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1 -- They have some thoughts on that bling

2 -- Yeah, it isn’t. 

3 -- A question

4 -- Talking sketch cards

5 -- Eyeing prospects during spring training 

6 -- 2026 Topps Heritage chatter

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMANTE
The Card: Roki Sasaki 2025 Topps Series 2 Diamante -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: In my mind, this parallel that arrived for the Topps flagship sets last year is one of the most-dynamic options in an over-foiled lineup and this one made the cut for a grading sub after I found it in a hanger box. (These parallels are only in hanger boxes -- two at a time, every time.) The textures here can make cards look funky or even mangled to the naked eye on some corners or edges thanks to the texture and pattern, so your best bet for grading these (and other stuff, of course) is to make sure you have a loupe.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Lone copy graded and only one slot on the scale ahead of it that could top it ... works for me. I need to scout these singles more -- that’s how much I like them -- and they are back this year.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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What's Buzzing: Chewing on Chrome WWE teasers, reacting to new stuff and more in today’s edition.

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1 -- Eyeing prospects during spring training 

2 -- Showing off 1990s MLB inserts 

3 -- WWE Universe reactions ... Talking Chrome WWE

4 -- Watching the NFL Combine? (LOL.)

5 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

6 -- 2026 Topps Heritage

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: Pulling a big card more than a decade later, new arrivals, waiting for new stuff and more in this Friday edition.

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1 -- Better late than never?

2 -- Still daring to compare

3 -- WWE Universe reactions 

4 -- All your MLB chatter is here

5 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

6 -- 2026 Topps Heritage

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: A legendary mailday, waiting on eTopps, new WNBA pulls, ripping Stadium Club, 2026 Topps Series 1 and waiting on Topps Heritage.

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1 -- Grail mail

2 -- Still waiting on eTopps

3 -- Highlights from some WNBA breaks

4 -- Ripping into some Stadium Club

5 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

6 -- 2026 Topps Heritage reactions

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- In the 30th anniversary year of Pokémon, the first MLB-licensed card featuring one of those iconic characters has been discovered -- and it will be on public display this week on National Pokémon Day.

It’s a one-of-a-kind 2025 Topps Tier One game-used Charizard bat-knob card, and it carries an autograph from former MLB star Evan Longoria, who had the sticker on his bat thanks to one of his children. It’s the rarest card to feature a Pokémon character ever made and this news of its discovery was first revealed Wednesday on FOX 35 Orlando’s show, The 407.

Thousands of packs have been opened trying to find this ground-breaking card and, while this is the first crossover between MLB and Pokemon, it’s also a far-rarer card than the Pikachu Illustrator that Logan Paul just sold for $16.5 million. There are estimated to be 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards, while this is the only copy of this card that will ever be made.

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What: 2026 Topps Heritage baseball cards
Arrives: March 18
Box basics: One autograph or Relic per 20-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: It's time to turn back the clock a few years with Topps Heritage taking on 1977 but with today’s stars, some modern chases and plenty of autographs in the mix.

Keep reading for more info.

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What's Buzzing: Talking new MLB, ripping new NBA, spring training, Kon Knueppel and more in this midweek edition.

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1 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

2 -- Some new NBA pulls

3 -- Kon Knueppel

4 -- Spring training chatter

5 -- 2026 Topps Heritage reactions

6 -- Inside a Winter Olympics case

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What: 2026 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures New York Pinstripes Autographed Baseballs
Arrives: April 29
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures brand hits the diamond for another season with its focus on one of MLB's most-historic franchises, the New York Yankees, and some big chase items in play.

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What's Buzzing: New releases, new pulls, new teasers and plenty more ... and it’s only Tuesday.

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1 -- Inside a new MLB case

2 -- Talking in-person autographs 

3 -- Break time?

4 -- Topps Chrome Deadpool teaser reactions 

5 -- 2026 Topps Heritage reactions

6 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What: 2026 Donruss baseball cards
Arrives: April 29
Box basics: Three autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Donruss arrives for another baseball season with some new surprises from around the sports world and some new inclusions for the brand ... along with the familiar stuff, too.

Keep reading for a gallery and more info.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2026 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Jack Hughes and Olympic gold for the U.S., comparing sports 2026 MLB set chatter and more.

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1 -- Talking Olympic hockey after the U.S. wins gold

2 -- Reactions to Exalted WWE

3 -- Rondale Moore

4 -- Dare to compare

5 -- 2026 Topps Heritage reactions

6 -- Still talking 2026 Topps

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.