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: 2011 TRISTAR Obak cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24 (plus one jumbo T4 box-topper)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 144
Base set completion: 
103 of 110 (94 percent)
Duplicates: 7

Notables on base cards – Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Trout, Nolan Ryan, Josh Gibson, Andre Dawson, High Jennings, "Old Hoss" Radbourn, Hack Wilson, Jack Chesbro, Pete Gray, Ernie Harwell, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, Cap Anson, Johnny Vandermeer, Paul Goldschmidt, Gary Sanchez, Will Clark, "Cool Papa" Bell, George H.W. Bush, Whitey Ford, Hank Greenberg, Stan Musial

Continue reading →

A previously unknown batch of 1857 baseball documents fetched $3.26 million on Sunday via SCP Auctions, which sold a set of “Laws of Base Ball” papers -- items that pre-date Alexander Cartwright's contributions to the game.

It's not quite a record-holder for historic sports documents, but it's not shabby considering its auction history. According to the Laguna Niguel, Calif.-based auction house, these documents were first found as part of a 1999 manuscript auction with minimal details in their listing and bought without them having been researched. It was tucked away after a $12,650 purchase until recently.

Dr. James Naismith's "Rules of Basketball" from 1891 sold for $4.3 million, while the "Rules of Soccer" from 1859 sold for $1.4 million.

Continue reading →

Update: The documents sold for $3.26 million.

Dr. James Naismith's "Rules of Basketball" from 1891 sold for $4.3 million, while the "Rules of Soccer" from 1859 sold for $1.4 million.

What might previously unknown 1857 baseball documents fetch?

That's what we'll find out soon via SCP Auctions as a set of “Laws of Base Ball” documents from 1857 -- documents that pre-date Alexander Cartwright's contributions to the game -- will hit the market in April.

The author here is Daniel Lucius “Doc” Adams, who was the President of the New York Knickerbockers, and the documents' origin has been researched by John Thorn, who has been the official MLB historian since 2011. The documents note guidelines such as the length of base paths, number of players on the field, a nine-inning game and more.

“When Doc Adams set to work in late 1856, none of these aspects of the game were settled,” Thorn said. “This was some seven years after Cartwright had left New York for Hawaii, never to return. For his role in making baseball the success it is, Doc Adams may now be counted as first among the Founding Fathers of Baseball.

“No earlier baseball manuscript of this significance has ever come onto the open market,” Thorn said. “In 1857, baseball made its great leap forward, and these are the documents that reveal what it was like to be present at the creation.”

Continue reading →