Collecting Game-used: Two top names from a mystery box

Buzz just went 2-for-2 with this home run from a bargain bin mystery box.

No, it's not a literal home run ball -- that won't happen for the price of a blaster box these days -- but I went 2-for-2 with there being a pair of quality names attached to this one ... a ball that could be a late-ballot/committee guy in Cooperstown someday and Cy Young-caliber arm for a franchise that right now might be in its early phase of running up some championships. (He's already got one World Series ring and might be a favorite for one more this season.)

My latest ball in this Collecting Game-used series is once again one that I picked up just like others in this series lately -- a blind grab bag buy of sorts just picking by date -- with the same teams involved, too. I added two new names -- two quality names -- to my stash.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

THE BASICS ...
Game-used ball (MLB Authenticated): Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Aug. 9, 2020 (Game 2)
Watch it in action: See the pitch embedded below via MLB Film Room.

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The matchup: Braves SP Max Fried vs. Phillies OF Andrew McCutchen
The result: Ball in the dirt blocked/grabbed by Braves C Travis d'Arnaud during a fifth-inning at-bat in a 8-0 Braves win

What's Buzz-worthy: This is a simple pitch from a younger star to a veteran in his 12th big-league campaign from a notable game for a few players as a second half of a doubleheader before a packed house of fan cutouts from just three seasons ago ... an era that feels like a lot longer time ago than it is. This was the sixth pitch of a seven-pitch walk in this showdown -- the only walk of Fried's day that was part of a scoreless five-inning performance for the win. It was his sixth walk of the year in just his fourth start and the 85th walk of his career while the free pass to first was the 826th of the veteran's career. The game upped Fried to 3-0 on the year and was his 22nd of his career thanks to a big day from Ronald Acuña Jr. -- 4-for-4 with two homers and three RBI -- along with a 3-for-3, three-RBI day from Freddie Freeman. There also were plenty more notable names in the box score on both sides, too. All those big plays' baseballs are long gone I'm sure -- and the ones the Phillies did have (ones that didn't leave the park) sold for more than mine ... I'm fine with that. This one was still a fun mystery box find with some numbers attached for two top names.

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>> See all past Collecting Game-used stories from Buzz here

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