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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If you're a regular soccer fan, this may not be the deepest of item for you ... but if you're not?

Well, keep reading ...

With on-field action for sports around the world basically at a halt, the scouting of cards from around the world might be happening more here even though those events would be happening elsewhere. A simple glance at a piece from ESPN -- soccer's 36 best players age 21 or under -- and a quick look at eBay for just two names mentioned shows that there are probably some gems waiting to be found out there in boxes that are still very findable and don't break the bank compared to some high-end releases.

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What: 2017-18 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League soccer cards
Arrives: March 7
Box basics: One autograph per 18-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps unleashes Chrome upon the Champions League for the first time with some big-name autos and, of course, a Refractor rainbow that includes autographs, too, in this Hobby-only release.

Keep reading for more as well as a gallery of images.

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