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

NINES ARE FINE
The Card: Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Archives -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: The unique 1960 Topps design always stands out to me. Why? Because one of my first clean vintage cards as a kid was a Gus Bell form the set, which I got since I knew he was a big-leaguer's dad. (Yay, trivia!) So that's perhaps one reason I held this Judge RC instead of letting it go. (Plus, I didn't rip as much of this brand ... so it was the only copy I pulled.) Judge's dominating 2025 season should make you stop and wonder about slabbing any RCs or early/rare stuff you have now ... just because. He and Shohei Ohtani are all-timers playing right in front of our faces now and are as safe as it gets when it comes to grab and slab or buy and hold -- even with plenty of their cards being graded.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: I knew this wouldn't be a 10 contender with the finicky stock here and the centering being a smidge off by my typical standards for a slab, but, like I said, it was my only copy. Most check in at this grade, so the nine makes sense, too, and the volume below it also shows this card isn't the easiest to grade.

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 ...

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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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 a bit of everything.

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A SLEEPER NO MORE
The Card: Rhea Ripley 2020 Topps WWE Transcendent Collection -- Rookie Card (/50)
The Price: More than I want to admit ... but less than a Chrome box
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a card I was watching for intently when the second edition of Topps' WWE super-premium brand arrived, and this one was on my radar before any autograph in the super-rare release -- well at least within my typical budget. Why? She's pretty much the only newcomer of note in the base set -- I spy at least one other who is no longer with WWE and one other lesser name -- amidst a sea of past greats and some notables from today. It's an odd set as it's not the typical lineup but also not a full lineup. (I think the checklist-maker tried to cover all the main bases between the base set and the auto set.) Nobody got an RC logo here and this card's thunder may be stolen a bit with the delays resulting in her Undisputed and Chrome cards arriving close together -- and with her first certified autos -- just recently. This card has topped the $100 mark and is bolstering some of the base set prices out there. (On the cheapest side, these were around $60 in terms of sales but asking prices are now far higher.) I'm somewhere in between but I ponied up as this Aussie badass should be a major player soon. I'll grab ink and other cards eventually.
Grab a box: 2020 Topps WWE Transcendent Collection

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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Don't call it a Rookie Card -- it's not -- but you can call it one that's in demand.

It's a short-printed 2020 Topps Series 1 card of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and it's generated some pretty good heat on eBay since the arrival of the hobby's flagship set early this month.

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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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: You always volunteer for the Target run, doing it right, busting Topps Archives, The National & 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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Dak Prescott's apparent fumble, an unreal Topps Archives blaster box, The National, Yoan Moncada and 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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big pulls, vintage grading questions, WNBA show-offs & 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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big pulls, collecting entire print runs, the NSCC, Houdini's Superfractors & 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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big breaks from around the card world, The National and 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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Nothing but breaks today as we inch closer to the weekend.

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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: 2017 Topps Archives baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
176 of 300 (59 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Dennis Eckersley, Sandy Koufax, Anthony Rizzo, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Alomar, Anthony Rizzo, Eddie Murray, John Smoltz, Gary Sanchez, Ivan Rodriguez, Clayton Kershaw, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Correa, Tony Clark, Jimmie Foxx, Francisco Lindor, David Ortiz, Jose Altuve, George Brett, Derek Jeter, Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Randy Johnson, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Roberto Clemente, Joe Morgan, Rollie Fingers, Ichiro Suzuki, Tony Perez, Carl Yastrzemski, Don Mattingly, Mike Piazza, Willie McCovey, Albert Pujols, Bo Jackson, Jim Palmer, Lou Gehrig, Buster Posey

Rookie Cards (24) – Ryon Healy, Raimel Tapia, German Marquez, David Dahl, Manny Margot, Tyler Glasnow, Jorge Alfaro, Rio Ruiz, Roman Quinn, Jose DeLeon, Teoscar Hernandez, Gavin Cecchini, Carlos Asuaje, Andrew Benintendi, Yulieski Gurriel, Jake Thompson, Alex Bregman, Hunter Dozier, T.J. Rivera, Tyler Austin, Jacoby Jones, Matt Strahm, Seth Lugo, Matt Olson

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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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Nothing but baseball finds and discussions today.

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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: 2017 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard cards plus two-coin pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 56 (58 with coins)
Base set completion: 
53 of 300 (18 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson, George Brett, Mark McGwire, Hank Aaron, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, David Price, Dennis Eckersley, Sandy Koufax, Anthony Rizzo, Jackie Robinson

Rookie Cards (9) – Hunter Dozier, Tyler Austin, T.J. Rivera, Jeff Hoffman, Carson Fulmer, Jose DeLeon, Orlando Arcia, Teoscar Hernandez, Roman Quinn

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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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Nothing but breaks as we truck into the weekend.

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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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: NBA Finals, dueling Epsteins ... and two Superfractors in one box?

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An official MLB baseball isn't the only place you'll find the signature of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

His autograph will be found in packs of 2017 Topps Archives, which is set to arrive next week with two signed cards in every box.

Topps has released the final checklist and that's not the only surprise autograph in store.

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A notable New York Yankees fan will be among the surprise signers to come in 2017 Topps Archives.

His name? "Bald Vinny" Milano and he's led the Bleacher Creatures' "roll call" at Yankees home games for years.

Keep reading to see more and to react to the card in our Buzz Poll.

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It looks like 2017 Topps Archives will be a home for The Captain.

Topps revealed on Thursday its plans for a Retrospective set for former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter that will be found in packs of the throwback brand.

The set will showcase Jeter's iconic cards from his career -- with autographs.

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What: 2017 Topps Archives baseball cards
Arrives: May 31
Box basics: Two autograph cards per 24-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Buy it: at BlowoutCards.com
Checklist: Click here to view

What's buzz-worthy: Topps Archives returns with "a more comprehensive and diverse autograph checklist" but (at least based on what's been revealed so far) without a pop culture-based autograph insert set that has been the hallmark of this brand in recent years.

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

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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: Breaking new products, Superfractors that never were and ... is Trevor Siemian the new Tom Brady?

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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: Retro rips, too many cards, people "jacking up prices," looking forward to looking back.

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