Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

LEADING OFF WITH THE RECORD-BREAKER
The Card: Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Archives 1960 Rookie Stars
The Reason Graded: He has been an established slugger since his 52 homers as a rookie in 2017, but to a degree he'd fallen off card-wise (and power-wise) the last few years until smacking 39 in 2021 and his Yankees team record (and American League record) 62 homers this year.  I got rid of pretty much all of my RCs in 2017 -- no regrets -- to turn them into stuff I actively wanted (I'm still working rather glacially on some of those Clerks autograph runs) but some of my late-year Judge pulls and some inserts were saved along with my lone autograph. While I haven't yet slabbed my ink -- I probably will here at some point once I figure out what box I put it in -- this insert modeled after the memorable-but-overbearing 1960 Topps design was one that jumped out at me. Why? It was soooo clean.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: I was right and that pop shows me I'm not alone -- but it is surprising given how skinny the stock is here.

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

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

THIS IS WHY YOU GRADE ...
The Book: The Amazing Spider-Man #361 -- first full appearance of Carnage (Marvel cards here)
The Reason Graded: As you probably read in a past piece where I previously graded my other newsstand copy of this iconic issue, I have a stash of early 1990s books that are all quite clean as I was picking off stuff from a bookstore without rack damage. I was more of an art fan/collector than a reader -- it was all about art and condition -- and this cover-price pickup came at a time where cards were starting to get too expensive to me in 1992 so I dabbled. I have had this stashed all this time and while the pop report here is heavy for sure ... how many of them can be newsstand 9.8s? I suspect it's a definite minority of that 5,000-some books.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: When I graded my other copy of this its pop was at 20,179 and there have been big gains at 9.4, 9.6 and 9.8. The eBay asking prices on this one for newsstand include $6,999 (not getting hit), $2,500 for a pair, just under $2,200, $2,000 and a bunch down to $750. Not that helpful. Actual eBay sales? Highs around $1,200 down to around $600 ... so definitely still a little all over the place. Recent sales are also still in that range for this key issue. No matter the timing or the price paid ... this is an example of why you grade good stuff. All it cost me $1.25 and grading fees.

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

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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 ... and this time around there's some new stuff and some throwbacks as I await some new arrivals.

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IN THE HOUSE (BUT NOT IN THE STRIKE ZONE)
The Card: Dr. Anthony Fauci 2020 Topps Now (/51,512)
The Price: $6 (direct from Topps)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card was a fun surprise after his awful first pitch to start the season on Opening Day last month and it set an all-time record for Topps Now with more than 51,000 copies sold. That's more than double the previous record for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s MLB debut last year. Why? The novelty of it and the market has been strong for this card as many non-collectors apparently want one. That price has made me glad I did a handful. I may or may not slab one as I had planned as these didn't come in as razor-sharp/perfectly clean as other Topps Now cards I've done. (And also because grading prices are getting steeper.) The real question for people out there ... did anybody get a parallel? Those are new for Now this year.
Grab a box right here: None for this ... get 2020 MLB boxes here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com when available -- here for newer WWE boxes

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 165
Base set completion: 
100 of 110 (91 percent)
Duplicates: 11

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Undertaker, Braun Strowman, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Charlotte Flair

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Buzz Breaks are always among our most-read features here on The Buzz as many of you are curious about seeing what comes out of a new box of cards -- whether it's some affordable retail box or some pricier box from the many that are out there.

Excluding our monthly #Buzz8in8 marathon days -- those will return in 2020, by the way -- Buzz ripped nearly 300 boxes for Buzz Breaks this year. While we'd love to present all of them here, that's not just going to happen today. (There's just not enough on caffeine for that.)

Instead, here is a sampling of the most interesting breaks of the last year -- some new boxes, some not -- presented in no particular order.

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Buzz Break: 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA cards (mega box)

Buzz Break: 2018-19 Panini Prizm NBA cards (mega box)

Buzz Break: 2019 Topps Big League baseball cards (hobby)

Buzz Break: 2019 Panini Diamond Kings (FOTL)

Buzz Break: 2019 Topps Tier One baseball cards (hobby)

Buzz Break: 2017 Donruss Optic football cards (SE blaster)

Buzz Break: 2019 Topps Tribute baseball cards (hobby)

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Keep reading for more ... there are nearly 50 breaks in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 165
Base set completion: 
105 of 110 (95 percent)
Duplicates: 6

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Undertaker, Braun Strowman, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Charlotte Flair

Continue reading →

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 161
Base set completion: 
105 of 110 (95 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Ric Flair, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Undertaker, Braun Strowman, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch

Continue reading →

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

The Card: Joe Namath 2015 Topps 60th Anniversary Rookie Reprint Autographs #T60RAJN
The Reason Graded: Buzz first met this NFL legend almost 20 years ago and landed the ink for free thanks to some luck while autograph hounding but when it comes to certified autographs of this icon I didn't have any until recent years. Why? He's always been a pricey auto but that has come down a bit as he's been a steady signer and doesn't have quite as much hobby heat as the guy at the end of this month's list. This release was how Topps burned off its Hall of Famer autographs via packs on its website once its NFL deal was done, so the influx of big-name autos helped make the supply even stronger at the time perhaps without added demand. I scouted them all where I buy and this one looked near-perfect to me in both its centering and that ink. Seriously, look at that signature ... that's a perfect Namath auto.
The Grade: BGS 9.5/10

Reality Check: I absolutely thought I had a BGS 10 contender with this one, though I submitted it before I picked up my better loupe and I probably didn't check the back as closely as I should have. Either way, it's still a very solid card in my stash. I don't grade autographs all that often -- I fear results I won't like on those -- but this one I had to. Most of them landed this grade with only one higher so I don't feel bad about not landing a 10.

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

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 161
Base set completion: 
105 of 110 (95 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Ric Flair, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Undertaker, Braun Strowman, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch

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The box: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (24-pack retail box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 168
Base set completion: 
110 of 110 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 3

Notables on base cards: The Four Horsewomen, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes, Sting, Daniel Bryan, Ric Flair, Triple H, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena, Kevin Owens, Lana, Chris Jericho, Stardust, Undertaker, The Dudley Boyz, Braun Strowman, Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks Charlotte, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Ric Flair, The New Day, Paige, Becky Lynch, Lana

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The biggest weekend in professional wrestling is here with WrestleMania 34 set for Sunday in New Orleans and events beginning tonight with the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a NXT Takeover on Saturday and then Raw/Smackdown tapings after that. We'll make today a big day for wrestling collectors right here on The Buzz with #BuzzMania, a series of WWE wax box and wax pack breaks all day long.

How long will we go? Stay tuned ...

The box: 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania (hobby)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Trading Cards artwork, vintage cards, collecting Canseco & more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Impressive breaks from around the collecting world.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Panini's readying NASCAR cards, collecting golf cards, big breaks, Donruss basketball & more

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With the WWE's final pay-per-view before its showcase event, WrestleMania, set for tonight, the arrival of Topps' newest set, 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania, is as impressive as its inclusions.

On-card autographs, numbered hits -- even for the manufactured Relics -- and first-time signers such as NXT women's champ Bayley and former NWA champ Dory Funk are just part of the inclusions here that bring a higher-end feel to an affordable low-end release.

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The newest Topps WWE trading card set officially arrives in hobby shops tomorrow and 2016 Topps WWE Road to WrestleMania includes a likely first for any trading card in any sport.

(At least we hope it is.)

It's the first cardboard appearance of a selfie stick.

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Eight new products are scheduled to arrive this week with a mix of hockey and basketball leading the way with two brands apiece for the sports.

The second series of Upper Deck hockey cards arrives with Jack Eichel the Young Guns Rookie Card to chase, while Leaf goes high-end with 2015 Leaf Ultimate, a brand loaded with nothing but hits. There are 50 Young Guns in Series 2 and they are found one in every four packs, while memorabilia cards are found one per box in both hobby and retail boxes.

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