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 ... another super-sized edition with some new inclusions like comic books and magazines.

FRESH OFF THE TRUCK
The Book: Captain Britain No. 1 (1976 Marvel UK magazine, with mask) -- first appearance of the character
The Reason Graded: This one arrived back in my hands from CGC on Sunday, so I'll have it lead off here as it's as fresh as it gets in my stash of slabs -- and it actually presents a question for people familiar with pressing. (Help a newb out!) First, the back story ... I picked this up probably 30 years ago via Mile High Comics for more than I would have normally spent back then -- probably around $20 -- for a NM-MT copy. For all these years, it was in its magazine bag with one of their old round condition stickers still attached before I recently decided to dig it out for slabbing. Why? It's obscure -- it's a newsprint-style, magazine-size book released only in the UK -- and it's pricey when it's in elite grade. (We'll get to that.) This debuting character is one that had evolved a lot by the time I had gotten into comics (around 1990) and he was the leader of the British X-Men group, Excalibur, which launched as a standalone title in 1988. As part of collecting key issues and artist favorites back then, I tracked down this debut that was mentioned on the back of his 1990 Impel Marvel Universe card. (That set is what drew me into comics.) I knew this copy wasn't perfect, but it was close and I figured it was best to get it slabbed despite some paper-texture funk (the vertical black lines in white areas around the nameplate and corner box). I assumed some of that might lighten up as part of CGC's pressing/cleaning process. If it helped at all, I had figured it might get it closer to one of those top grades.
The Grade: CGC 9.4 (Universal)

Click for a closer look

Reality Check: This one checked in lower than I had hoped for as I had thought a 9.6 might be realistic -- but the only dramatic difference here vs. higher marks is the dollar signs and probably some of that funk. (My back cover wasn't as clean as I remembered so my gut feeling may be moot.) A 9.8 copy of this has topped $5,000 on eBay while ones in my condition have been around $1,500 ... so it's still a good slab. (I'm sitting on it like everything else in my stash.) ... Here's where I can use some help from the pressers/slabbers out there, though. It seems like pressing may have actually added to the funk or emphasized it in spots. Some of the white areas definitely have more of that showing now, not less, particularly around the right side of the No. 1 box and the "free inside" mask circle where there's plenty of white paper. It's absolutely the same book (minor pulp spots are there as they were when I sent it) but I was surprised by the paper texture seemingly being emphasized (or not as clean) after pressing. (Click on the image above right -- ignore the color difference as that is likely due to my photography skills.) You can see more dark spots/texture of the paper visible -- perhaps it's from ink on the inside page showing through? I assume I'm not the first to press one of these -- or that they wouldn't press these if it would make its condition worse. I didn't have this on my mental list of outcomes, and naturally, I wondered whether this dropped me a grade and it will always bug me now. Perhaps this happened because the cover is newsprint and not white paper? The time it takes for pressing has had me not doing that on nearly all other submissions but this one -- my first sub I had pressed -- left me wondering if it helped at all. (If I could do this one all over again ... I would not have.) By the way, the color you see peeking out the right side? That's a perfect mask tucked inside the issue just like the cover promises from almost 50 years ago. All in all, I'm glad I graded this one and I think it's the priciest comic book in my stash ... but it definitely prompted some questions.

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

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What: 2021 Break King Multi-sport Superior Edition
Arrives: December
Box basics: At least two graded buyback cards per four-card box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Break King opens things up to the wider scope of sports cards for a buyback release that includes slabs and plenty more from around the sports world all in one spot.

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What: 2020-21 Panini Spectra basketball cards
Arrives: Oct. 27
Box basics: Four autographs per four-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Spectra arrives for another colorful run on the NBA hardwood with all those hot rookies, legends from the past and an autograph in every pack.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Goldin Auctions continues to set new sales records in each of its auctions. Your valuable items could be next.

If you're headed to the National Sports Collectors Convention, consign your high-end items with Goldin (minimum $10,000 value) for its popular Goldin Elite Auction and you will be entered into a drawing for a random group of box breaks including 1993 Upper Deck SP baseball, 2000 UD SP Authentic football and 1996-97 Topps Chrome basketball.

Goldin Auctions (booth Nos. 1100, 1102 and 648) also is offering fun and excitement with a chance to see rare trading cards and memorabilia at the show, set for July 28-Aug. 1 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Collectors can also meet the founder, chat with trading card and memorabilia experts and be entered into giveaways.

Collectors can also find Goldin Tickets in boxes of the 2021 Blowout MegaMix with auction credit values as high as $1,000 randomly inserted into boxes. Visit Goldin Auctions at the show for a chance to take part in these rare opportunities.

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What: 2021 Super Break 'We Talkin' 'bout Playoffs' Basketball Edition
Arrives: July 7
Box basics: One graded buyback card per box
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Super Break takes to the hardwood with a slab in every box of this one and with the biggest names in modern NBA history in play.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2020-21 Panini Crown Royale basketball cards
Arrives: May 5
Box basics: One autograph and one memorabilia card per eight-card box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Crown Royale hits the hardwood once again with the same format as previous years but some new looks and, of course, plenty of rookies and royalty from the past and present.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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What: 2020-21 Panini Origins basketball cards
Arrives: April 14
Box basics: One rookie jersey auto and one other auto or mem card per seven-card box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Origins hits the hardwood for its sophomore season with a new crop of rookies (mocks here use last year's players) and plenty of ink and energy.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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What's old is new again ... at least in some basketball card boxes found in the retail aisle.

That sums up the SLAM magazine insert cards in packs of 2020-21 Panini Hoops, which recently arrived with a look back at 20 past covers from the long-running magazine.

It's a simple lineup -- 20 covers -- in this first go, but there are five parallels of each one to chase and there's some competition to land a number of them over on eBay if you're like Buzz and haven't spotted anything yet out in the wild on the wax front.

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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: 2019-20 NBA Hoops Premium Stock (Walmart mega box)
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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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: 2019-20 NBA Hoops Premium Stock (hanger box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for all formats)

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

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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: 2019-20 NBA Hoops Premium Stock (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for other formats)

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

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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: 2018 SportKings Volume 1 sports cards
Where to buy: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and a gallery of highlights.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: 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: 2020-21 NBA Hoops basketball cards
Arrives: Feb. 3
Box basics: Two autographs per 24-pack box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: A new NBA season will be upon us soon and the new cardboard is coming, too, with Hoops helping usher in a new class of rookies and plenty more in mid-January.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: 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: 2020 Leaf Autographed Basketball Photo Edition
Arrives: October
Box basics: One autographed and slabbed photo per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf takes to the hardwood with a signed NBA photo release for the first time and it's one that's loaded with stars from the past and present.

Keep reading for more.

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What: 2019-20 Panini One and One NBA cards
Arrives: Nov. 25
Box basics: One encased on-card autograph and one other card per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: One hits the hardwood with a little extra -- that's the "and One" part -- but with a familiar format that collectors should recognize but with the NBA's stars and newest rookies getting the nod.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2020 Leaf In The Game Used Sports cards
Arrives: Sept. 25
Box basics: Five memorabilia cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: This premium brand once again takes on the entire sports world with a mix of legendary possibilities from the legends of the past to recent superstars all in one hits-driven place.

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

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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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: 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 →

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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: 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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards
Arrives: July 3
Box basics: Two autographs per six-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Panini's multi-brand release gives us a new dose of Prizm cards as well as other sets we haven't seen before for the hardwood.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

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A simple $10 donation on StockX's Benefit for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund might land you a $1,000 BlowoutCards.com shopping spree or a number of other pieces from around the sports world and beyond.

The effort includes nearly 80 different items currently up for grabs that you can get tickets for and it includes signature-model shoes, competition-used memorabilia and autographed pieces as well as other shots at sports cards.

Some of the names involved include Topps, Panini America, PSA, Allen Iverson, Chloe Kim, Eminem, Kobe Bryant, Goldin Auctions, Kevin Durant, Usain Bolt, Leo Messi, The Golden State Warriors and more.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA cards (Target Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
29 of 200 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Luka Doncic, Wilt Chamberlain, Paul George, Vince Carter, Kristaps Porzingis, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, Josh Jackson, C.J. McCollum, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Mike Conley

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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: 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 24
Base set completion: 
13 of 200 (7 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Allen Iverson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell, Ray Allen, Alfonzo McKinnie, Brandon Ingram, Otto Porter Jr., Dion Waiters, Aaron Gordon, Spencer Dinwiddie, LaMarcus Aldridge, Courtney Lee, Wesley Matthews

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's a baker's dozen (that doesn't include Mayfield ... this time).

--

A MARIS WITH A TWIST?
The Card: Roger Maris 2018 Panini National Treasures Game Gear Duals (/49)
The Price: $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I sprung for this card at a slightly higher price than I might normally do for a Maris memorabilia card because of the small sliver of a red patch that caught my eye but remained a mystery. The New York Yankees weren't known for a lot of patches on their uniforms, let alone any red ones, but perhaps this one came from a sleeve? After buying and then doing some homework, I think the pinstripes led me astray. After receiving the card, I remembered an errant comment I heard years ago -- a rumor about Panini looking at a Cleveland Indians jersey at auction -- and I simply Googled "Roger Maris game-used jersey auction" and found a visual that perhaps answered my pinstripe mystery. Then a couple of cross-searches led me here.The Indians wore pinstripes for a time and it was a time when Maris was there. The colors match and the fabric consistency looks to be right, too. Could this be a sliver of a sleeve patch? We don't get a good view there, but it could be. It could also be something from the Kansas City A's though I couldn't find any info on them wearing pinstripes while Maris was there. It's not definitive -- and it still could be a sleeve patch from a Yankees jersey -- but I think I'm comfortable with my newest Maris patch (barely) card.
Grab a box right here: National Treasures boxes (all sports)

Keep reading for a few more interesting items ...

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