Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block ... check 'em out.

It's going to be a busy end of the year for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions with a number of regularly scheduled events as well as some showcase auctions with high-profile stuff all on the calendar. This time, we look at a few things from a few active sales this month.

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ANOTHER BIG JORDAN
The Item: Michael Jordan Oct. 26, 1984 (NBA Debut) Chicago Bulls season-ticket stub (PSA 4)
The Price: $65,000 after 25 bids (ends Sept. 27)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Last month, a Michael Jordan (and Kobe Bryant) card sale via auction re-wrote some hobby history and, while we're confident this one won't fetch $12.9 million, this one is in some rare air. It has already hit its estimated price from the auction house and while its grade is low there are only three higher. "The most important athletic debut of the post-war era?" asked Heritage in its listing. "A strong argument could be made. Perhaps only Wayne Gretzky could challenge Michael Jordan in balloting seeking to identify the most dominant figure of his respective major sport, but once you step outside the sports arena and into the wider popular culture, M.J. leaves The Great One in his dust. He remains one of the most recognizable humans on the planet two decades after his retirement from the NBA." Jordan scored a modest 16 points in a 109-93 win over the Washington Bullets on this night and only 14 of these have been grade overall.

Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.

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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 ...

THERE WERE NO GUARANTEES ... BUT I'LL TAKE IT
The Card: Joe Namath 1973 Topps
The Reason Graded: It's almost Super Bowl time and while I don't really collect any of the names who are going to be in this year's big game, I do collect names who helped make the big game in the past ... and this freshly graded card is a big one in my eyes. It's Namath's final card made by Topps during his career and I found it raw on COMC with is razor-sharp everything -- especially compared to other copies out there -- and decided it was not only grab-worthy, it was also slab-worthy with centering and only one corner with lightness and color immensely minor spotting on the front being the only issues. This one looked very strong for a vintage card so I submitted it for immediate grading directly via COMC, too.
The Grade: CGC 7

Reality Check: I had visions of a higher grade, but the card backs here have dark ink and corners on the backs can be spotty ... and I think that's a reason this one graded lower than I had hoped. But, at the same time, it's a pop-six card with only five CGC 8s grading higher -- and nothing above that. That actually puts this card among the elite for graded copies of this one ... and that's not a bad thing with my total cost here under $30. (The slight spot on the bottom left corner of the card bugged me ... until I realized it's some funk on the surface of the plastic slab, not the card or inside the slab. That's something I hadn't run into with CGC's generally crystal clear and clean slabs.)

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

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Update: The above card sold for $1.84 million when the auction ended -- the buyer being a direct-mail company's CEO.

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The action is picking up as the clock is winding down for the finale tonight at Goldin Auctions with this 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James card already topping the $1-million mark with its premium.

There's about nine hours to go before the auction might end with more bids beyond the current 24, but even the current mark would make it the most-expensive basketball card ever sold as well as the priciest modern card in any sport, topping past $900,000-plus sales of key Mike Trout autos via Goldin.

The Runnemede, N.J.-based auction house has a number of other big-ticket memorabilia pieces and interesting items in its current auction. (Don't believe me? Hit that link and look at the first six items -- they're huge and don't make my list this time.)

Keep reading for a deeper look at a few more items ending tonight.

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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: The Last Dance, NFL breaks, Jim Thome's best cards, remembering when, Definitive delivers and "is Babe Ruth really the greatest baseball player ever?" (Yes.)

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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: Michael Jordan and The Last Dance, more Jordan cardboard and big pulls from around the sports world in today's edition.

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With the COVID-19 pandemic erasing pretty much everything in the sports world right now, ESPN's decision to launch The Last Dance early is a jolt of nostalgia that's fueling plenty of extra demand for some already legendary basketball cards from the past.

The eagerly awaited 10-part documentary arrives Sunday night at 9 p.m. Eastern and it tells the story of the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls and their final championship run -- their third title in three years and sixth of that decade. It obviously keys upon the NBA's greatest player of all time and its biggest name on cardboard, Michael Jordan. But he's far from alone as the series will present original and new footage from that season as well as interviews from the players -- both on the court and beyond -- back then. We'll also hear from others from around the league who were on the court or covering the team as it commanded attention, won it all and then was forced to go their separate ways.

For Jordan, that meant a second retirement and return with the Washington Wizards three years later -- we probably won't hear a word about that (call it a hunch) -- but we'll be hearing plenty from many involved every Sunday night (two installments per evening) from here until May 17. If you're a new collector wanting to jump on the Jordan bandwagon it's not going to be easy -- you're about 35 years and 13,000 cards too late -- and the asking prices for many a Jordan gem are though the roof more now than ever. However, if you're a fan who missed some of the historic action back then there are still plenty of ways to dabble in cardboard from The Last Dance as it's ultimately a tale that's not just about Jordan.

Keep reading for 12 ways to explore the cardboard for The Last Dance ... both for Jordan and others who we'll see often every Sunday night.

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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: Anticipation for The Last Dance (Sunday, 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN) grows with an all-NBA edition showcasing Michael Jordan gems, pondering MJ bargains, news for Panini redemption cards and even some shockingly mockable MJs, too.

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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: The Last Dance arrives this weekend, fake Mike Trout autos, big pulls, NBA at 50 autos and more in today's edition.

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If you look closely at the Holo parallels of Scottie Pippen's 2017-18 Donruss Optic Retro Series insert cards, you will see something that's a key in a new lawsuit between Upper Deck and Panini America. 

It's a lawsuit that a lot of collectors are talking about over on the Blowout Forums and the player in the background appears to be Hall of Famer and UD-exclusive player Michael Jordan.

In its trademark infringement suit, Upper Deck alleged that "Panini deliberately altered and manipulated Jordan's image into the background of multiple Panini trading cards in two trading card releases to gratuitously lend on the tremendous international brand equity and goodwill of Michael Jordan who is not only one of the greatest NBA players of all time, but a current NBA owner."

Since Jordan is an exclusive spokesman and endorser to its company, Upper Deck said it's an issue.

"Upper Deck is the only trading card manufacturer that has ever had a license agreement for trading cards with Michael Jordan," its lawsuit states. "Yet, Panini recently willfully interfered with Upper Deck's agreement with Jordan in order to generate illicit profit from his image without Upper Deck's knowledge or consent."

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The NBA's biggest star will be getting into collectors' hands in miniature form next year.

He's Michael Jordan and a MAFEX collectible figure is on the way next spring via Sideshow Collectibles and Medicom Toy.

The highly detailed figure includes the Hall of Famer in his Chicago Bulls uniform wearing what appears to be Air Jordan XIs.

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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 ...

Continue reading →

Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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ONE SUPER PULL
The Item: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2018 Topps Chrome Superfractor autograph
The Price: $3,050 after 19 bids (more than five days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is one of the biggest cards possible in this year's Rookie Card parallel lineup without the name Ohtani attached -- and even with that this should be one of the bigs -- and this one is on the auction block as an auction via an eBay seller with a heavy buyer list and a huge presence. How big will this card go? We'll find out in a few days -- and it was big enough my plans to not have an eBay Buzz this week hit the bench in favor of this Friday-night edition.
Similar Pieces: Other Ronald Acuña Jr. autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 MLB boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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SENIOR BOWL GAMER ... OF A HALL OF FAMER
The Item: Brett Favre 1991 Senior Bowl game-used and signed jersey
The Price: $22,000 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Senior Bowl has a rich history and a number of college stars who went on to NFL greatness after the big game -- and there are many who didn't. While you can find players' Senior Bowl jerseys placed into cardboard in recent years, a past gamer might be much rarer than you think. And one from a player of Favre's caliber? Well, that's an elite piece. This one came directly from Favre himself after being put on the market via Hunt Auctions in 2017. These aren't team colors that we most commonly associate with this Hall of Famer, but it's a one-of-a-kind piece compared to many potential gamers for his pro teams. It's impressive.
Similar Pieces: Brett Favre items on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for NFL boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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Update: It sold for $33,600 back in August 2018.

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Not all ticket stubs are the same -- and this one is far rarer than an iconic card in the hobby.

This Chicago Bulls stub from Oct. 26, 1984, hits the auction block late this month and it's one that could push the $10,000 mark according to Heritage Auctions. 

Why?

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A pair of Michael Jordan's game-used shoes gifted to a Utah Jazz ballboy in exchange for a pair of tickets are hitting the auction block.

They're being sold by SCP Auctions and they were worn on Feb. 1, 1993, when Jordan's Bulls knocked off the Jazz, 96-92.

Now, about that trade ...

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The Panini VIP Party how has a point guard.

Panini America revealed the third guest for its upcoming exclusive event set for Saturday night and it's the Chicago Bulls' Kris Dunn. 

The event coincides with the National Sports Collectors Convention, which begins Wednesday in Chicago and runs through Sunday.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is our finale.

The box: 2009-10 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Legacy set
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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This probably looks like many other NBA game programs from the late 1970s and early 1980s but it's very different than other simple pieces of memorabilia picked up at a game from the past.

It's from a Washington Bullets game -- the cover showcases the visiting team in this case -- played on Oct. 26, 1984, and it's on the block now via Steiner Auctions.

Why?

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A Basketball Hall of Famer is coming to Atlantic City, N.J. on Saturday night.

Panini America revealed its second VIP Party guest of the day on Thursday and it is former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen. He'll be on hand Saturday night to meet collectors at the company's party.

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It's a new day in Chicago -- and Miami -- as 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA champ Dwyane Wade will now be a member of the Chicago Bulls.

The 34-year-old will wind down his career with his home-state team after 13 seasons with the Miami Heat. How many more seasons will he play beyond a tw0-year deal with the Bulls? Does it matter for his cardboard? He knows the answer to the first question, and we want your take on the second ...

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Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

There once was a time where Derrick Rose was among the elite in the hobby, a potential future icon once the older names hung them up.

Today, he's headed to New York to become a member of the seemingly always under-achieving Knicks. What might his future in the hobby hold? Well, it probably depends on what that team looks like ... but we want your thoughts.

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Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy NBA cards on BlowoutCards.com

Focused basketball collectors on the Blowout forum recently noted an uptick in high-grade 1986-87 Fleer stickers, which makes sense since that landmark release is a heavily collected set.

But the sale of a Michael Jordan sticker from two years later -- a set that's much easier to find -- might spark even more interest as a PSA 10 copy of an 1988-89 Fleer MJ sold for big bucks Tuesday night on eBay.

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Way back in 1999, Elton Brand was a star center for the Duke Blue Devils -- a center from tiny Peekskill, N.Y., who was about to make a big impression as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Fast-forward to today and the former Chicago Bull is coming out of retirement to join the NBA's worst team -- the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of a 3-33 record -- to help mentor another former Blue Devils star and first-round pick, Jahlil Okafor. Okafor, of course, has had issues off the court this season while also picking up the NBA game quickly. It's a match made in Blue Devils collecting heaven.

"He's not unlike most 20-year-olds you probably know, and he's definitely not at all different than most of his fellow players," Brand wrote in a piece for Sports Illustrated's website. "... if camera phones were around when Brad Miller, Ron Artest and I were Jahlil's age, we might've been banned from the league altogether, never mind suspended for a few games."

So, what about Brand on cardboard?

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Michael Jordan's final jersey worn for a regular-season home game as a member of the Chicago Bulls netted a new record for a piece of Jordan memorabilia with a sale price of $173,240 this weekend after 17 bids in Goldin Auctions' latest sale.

It wasn't the only six-figure sale of the weekend, either.

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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.

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