Barry Sanders
Buzz Buys: Original art, rare toys, old mags, new ink & more for many past and present stars around the sports world
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 it's a little heavier on football as that season is here.
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AEW ORIGINALS ... AS IN ORIGINAL ARTWORK
The Cards: Gummy Arts original T206-style drawings (1/1s) for Thunder Rosa, Orange Cassidy, MJF, Powerhouse Hobbs & Sting
The Price: Less than an AEW hobby box
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: If you don't know the work of artist Mike Noren -- aka Gummy Arts -- he's been drawing athletes or memorable pop culture characters in penciled cartoon-style reproductions of past cards or on new creations for years now. You can find constantly updating feeds of his work in timely posts over on Instagram or Twitter and then sometimes those get reproduced and sold as cards in packs. In other instances, he's let the original artwork go, too. Those vanish fast and can be pricey -- actually, his packs can vanish fast, too -- and for years now I've eyed the section of his site for original art (typically $50-80 depending on subject) that made it into cards. I had never found one that was must-have for me -- or at least found a must-have one in stock -- but one day after seeing a tweet of his I did my regular ritual and checked the site to find this set of five T206/Honus Wagner homages in one slightly pricier lot but had to grab them. I had remembered seeing the Rosa online but didn't remember any of these being made into actual cards. It turns out they weren't, so the only thing that exists f0r now (at least when I recently grabbed them) are these originals. Four are top AEW stars while one is an all-time great who has worked for every company ... really a no-brainer for me and I might have paid the typical full price for one or two of these. The Rosa card in a Tijuana jersey and others in their own Wagner-style threads made me laugh, while that Cassidy is not far from spot-on even in Noren's style. Poke around here on The Buzz and you'll see more of these ... just not in 1/1 original art form.
Grab a box right here: AEW cards are hereKeep reading for more interesting items ...
First Buzz: 2022 Leaf Decadence sports cards

What: 2022 Leaf Decadence sports cards
Arrives: Sept. 30
Box basics: Three framed autographed cards per box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Leaf's meshes chromium-stock autographs with a framed presentation for legends from all around the sports world in a high-end autographs-only release that it calls "one of our greatest items ever."
Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images.
First Buzz: 2022 Break King Multi-sport Premium Edition

What: 2022 Break King Multi-sport Premium Edition
Arrives: June
Box basics: Two buybacks -- one graded -- per box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: Break King brings the slabs to every box with autographs, memorabilia, vintage and plenty more all in the mix for this multi-sport, star-stuffed release.
First Buzz: 2022 Leaf Autographed Jersey Multi-sport

What: 2022 Leaf Autographed Jersey Multi-sport
Arrives: Sept. 30
Box basics: One autographed custom jersey per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: Leaf once again takes autographed memorabilia to all areas of the sports world once again with nothing but jerseys in this release.
Keep reading for more.
First Buzz: 2022 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Auto Minis

What: 2022 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets
Arrives: March 23
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line arrives for the first time this year with a new assortment of NFL and college stars -- active college stars -- along with throwback and alternative-design helmets that can add some extra variety within the chase.
Making the Grade (January): Ja Morant, Toni Storm, Axl Rose, Kobe Bryant, Bo Bichette, Daredevil, Andre The Giant & more

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 ...
A START FROM THE HARDCOURT
The Card: Ja Morant 2019-20 Donruss Optic #168 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: As I noted last time, I have made an effort to slab some of my better (basic) Rookie Cards for key NBA names in the last couple of years and Morant is among them. Why? Well, I didn't pull all that many to start with, so they still sort of still feel special to me unlike some brands (Chronicles) where I cleaned up and have plenty of the basics. Last time here, you saw my Zion Williamson Optic Rookie Card, so I figured this time I'd drop my Morant ... If I remember correctly I found both of them in the same box.
The Grade: CSG 9.5Grade 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 Total Population -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 12 42 49 1 85 Reality Check: It graded well, which is what I was hoping for, and via CSG that's not always the easiest thing to get. Optichome-stock cards of the last couple years seem to always have issues on the backs from what I have seen with chippy edges and sometimes-textured stock that isn't all that smooth and clean. This time? It's clean and I think this mark on the CSG pop report (*they say it's coming very soon) might be a lot smaller than other places.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss football cards (holiday blaster)

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: 2021 Donruss NFL cards (holiday blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.
First Buzz: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmet Platinum Edition 2

What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmet Platinum Edition Series 2
Arrives: Dec. 15
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: A second batch of Hidden Treasures autographed minis is the finale for TRISTAR's year with every box including either a Hall of Famer or an active player.
Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss football cards (hanger box)

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: 2021 Donruss NFL cards (hanger)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.
First Buzz: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Auto. Football

What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Football
Arrives: Nov. 3
Box basics: One autographed football per box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures blind-boxed football line returns with nothing but autographed pigskin in play in a release that will be limited to 110 cases this year.
Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss football cards (jumbo pack)

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 pack: 2021 Donruss NFL cards (jumbo)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.
First Buzz: 2021 Panini Spectra football cards

What: 2021 Panini Spectra football cards
Arrives: Nov. 19
Box basics: One Rookie Patch Autograph, three other autos and four memorabilia cards per four-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Spectra arrives for NFL collectors once again with all of the color one expects but some new looks in there, too, with the new rookies and stars from the past and present all in one place.
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
First Buzz: 2021 Break King Football Premium Edition

What: 2021 Break King Football Premium Edition
Arrives: Early October
Box basics: At least two graded buyback cards and one encased card per box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: NFL fans can take their shot at some notables from the past and present here with everything being Rookie Cards or rookie-year inserts.
Buzz Buys: Wolverine artwork & ink, Muhammad Ali, Shinsuke Nakamura, The Real World, Mantle ink, sports legends & more

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 ...
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WITH CLAWS I
The Card: Wolverine sketch card by Skip Charron -- 2017 Upper Deck Marvel Annual Sketch Cards (1/1)
The Price: $24
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There are a boatload of quality sketch cards out there in the world that seem seriously undervalued right now despite the fact that everything is one of a kind. This one is nice -- a color piece of an iconic character -- but these types of cards are also really the kind of item where one can't say "go grab all of these" as they are one of a kind and they can all be so different between artists and subjects. Why does this one lead off this time? To make that point -- if you can't find boxes, don't like prices on new Rated Rookies who haven't even hit your store shelves yet or just want to try something different ... then you might check out stuff you might not have at this time a year or two ago. That's what I did here.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ... see all Marvel boxes hereKeep reading for more interesting items ...
Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss Elite NFL cards (blaster box)

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: 2021 Donruss Elite NFL cards
First Buzz preview: 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.
First Buzz: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Photo Football Edition

What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Photo Football Edition
Arrives: Aug. 18
Box basics: One autographed football photo per pack (15 packs per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line arrives once again with NFL legends and stars of today all in one place -- and with the possibility for autographed memorabilia, too.
First Buzz: 2021 Pro Set Sports trading cards

What: 2021 Pro Set Sports trading cards
Arrives: Sept. 29
Box basics: Two autographed cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: Pro Set's return to cardboard this year takes a wider look at the sports world with this release that's all about autographs and a multi-sports approach while revisiting past designs from the company. Among the surprises? Sports that Pro Set hadn't done in the past ... with some legendary ink in the mix.
Keep reading for more.
First Buzz: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Auto Helmets

What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Full-size Helmets
Arrives: April 22
Box basics: One autographed full-size replica helmet per box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures arrives with new NFL names, all-time greats and some top 2021 NFL Draft prospects all in one place -- this time on full-size helmets.
Fast Five: Autographs Buzz would be chasing right now

Fast Five is a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.
This time? Five autographs I'd be chasing right now ...
LEGENDARY INK
Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- click here to see his autos on eBay
This NBA legend is on my daily saved eBay search because, well, I've taken too long to find one of his autos and they have really, really taken off. Why I hadn't landed one yet is because I'm just too picky -- I want an on-card auto with a clean sig and a relatively good photo for the former Lakers and Bucks star who has six championship rings, 19 All-Star nods, six MVP awards and still ranks first in career scoring, third in blocks and fourth in rebounds despite having retired more than 30 years ago. (What makes his 38,387 points even more remarkable? Zero three-pointers for his career.) He also was part of the legendary UCLA program with John Wooden -- he won NCAA titles all three years he was eligible and the Bruins lost just two games in his three seasons as a player -- and he is seemingly always a wise voice on social issues today (and that's not a new development). Another plus. His autographs have really taken off in price in recent years when I could have found a quality one for around just $100 not that long ago. He's been a steady lower-volume signer for years with more than 1,200 different options out there for fans ... and there are many apparently seeking them out. He can be found in many NBA releases in recent years with his highest volume of autos in high-end brands like Flawless, National Treasures and Eminence.Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.
First Buzz: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Auto Mini Helmets

What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets
Arrives: April 30
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures hits the gridiron once again with new NFL names, all-time greats and some top 2021 NFL Draft prospects all in one place.
First Buzz: 2020 Panini Honors football cards
What: 2020 Panini Honors football cards
Arrives: Jan. 20 (initially via Panini's site)
Box basics: Two autographs and two base/parallel cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (when available)What's buzz-worthy: Honors drops on Wednesday as an online-first release with some big cards from the past -- this time with ink -- mixed in with new creations giving collectors another way to collect the past and present.
Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.
First Buzz: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Game Day Greats

What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Game Day Greats Football Jersey Edition
Arrives: Feb. 3
Box basics: One autographed football jersey per box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line takes the field for 2021 with it familiar format from the past but with some new stars (past and present) included in this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Panini Playoff football cards (blaster)

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: 2020 Panini Playoff football cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of the highlights from this one.
Buzz Break: 2020 Donruss NFL (holiday sweater blaster box)

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: 2020 Donruss NFL cards (holiday sweater blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for this and other formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.
Black November Wave 4 is here … and here are five I'd grab

If you hadn't noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now right here as Blowout Cards' Black November sales are going strong with Wave 4 dropping earlier today.
Many of the discounts are dramatic enough that Buzz once again had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases -- and here are five boxes/cases that caught this collector’s eye ... and there's far more that just might suit your tastes in the big sale.
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BEST POTENTIAL IN CHEAP BOX AWARD GOES TO ...
2013 Panini USA Baseball set
I'm not sure I've seen this one drop this low before (a doorbuster price that likely won't last long) and that only adds to the potential here. The base set includes the likes of Alex Bregman, Matt Chapman, Michael Conforto, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Jack Flaherty and Andrew Vaughn (among others) and each of those guys have autos and mem here -- and you get nine hits per box. Also among the hits can be members of the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars team and every box includes three Blue Prizm Select cards with all of those key names in there, too. At this price, this one is an easy throw-in and it's also one I'd consider ripping into three or four times for some safety. With all of the various patch cards and auto-mem combos and all those names, there's good potential here. Yes, there are a lot of guys who didn't pan out, too, but one key name on a key card like Vaughn, the third pick in last year's draft by the White Sox, or any of those MLB guys and it should feel like a solid bargain break.Keep reading for a few more boxes you should consider (and are likely to end up in Buzz's cart).





































