What's Buzzing: Chase Burns arrives, 2025 Topps Series 2, The National, that new Brewers SP with a long name and more in this edition.

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1 -- All your MLB chatter is here

2 -- Still talking 2025 Topps Series 2

3 -- Chase Burns gets the call

4 -- Living in a bubble?

5 -- Talking that new Brewers SP with a long name

6 -- All your National chatter

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Elly De La Cruz. That was a name I'd hope for -- but never expect -- from the mystery bargain bin ... but here we are.

This month's ball in the Collecting Game-used series is another from a $30 blind grab-bag kind -- picking only from the known date and teams -- and while I totally did not know it was Pup Night at PNC Park (see the gallery) I did know that both squads have some young notables in play in 2024. There's no Paul Skenes action on this day, of course, as he pitched the day before this one but I knew there would be potential for a price that's close to as cheap as it gets for a game-used baseball.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

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Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness. 

ALL ABOUT THAT BLING!
The Card: Wool E. Bull 2023 Choice Durham Bulls
The Buzz On This: It seems the mascot card is a staple of MiLB team sets -- it's one of few cards you can typically count on finding year after year unless there's a team name change -- and this one of the modern-day iteration of the mascot many might first remember from Bull Durham. This card caught my attention as it's one of few where the mascot shows off their version of the team's championship ring -- a ring card collection could be an interesting little twist even if not limited to just mascots. Beyond that bling, the achievements captured on the back of this card are also pretty strong for a veteran you can see on a lot of cardboard. Collect 'em all!

Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards you can find in MiLB.

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Dave Dravecky's tale is perhaps a somber one in MLB history, but this story isn't that ... this is one from the very beginning.

And, short of a contract signing bonus -- if there even was one -- this is about something at the absolute start of it all.

The newest piece in my collection wasn't some discovery curated and placed on the block with an auction house marketing team pumping it up to be something more, something beyond what it is. In fact, this was a random find over on eBay of all places where it had been sitting for at least months -- if not longer -- as part of a dealer run. It was simply one of many similar items bought in bulk years ago and I actually even passed over it a few times before some curiosity got me to stop and do some research. That's when I realized what I had found. Is it a monster? Probably not unless you like monster-sized trivia while digging on the cheap ... to be honest that's kinda my thing. Sure, it's not finding Earl Weaver's 1977 gamer at a thrift store or a razor-sharp Walter Payton Rookie Card for a buck at an estate sale ... but what I found seemed interesting to me and I think it might be to you, too.

Dravecky's story, to a degree, is captured on his 1990 Score baseball card above, but that's not where it all ended -- or where it began -- and that's something that got me to stop and look when it seemed unfamiliar on eBay. I first knew Dravecky as a San Francisco Giant and, of course, how his career ended, but his time in baseball didn't start around the arrival of his 1983 Fleer and 1983 Topps Rookie Cards as a San Diego Padre, either. No, no ... that's not the life of a 21st-round draft pick. It was a bit more complicated than that.

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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: Pondering the Reds' potential, 2024 Topps, NFL chatter, Shohei Ohtani, lifetime spending and more.

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Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness. 

HIS FIRST FIRST
The Card: Justin Turner 2006 Grandstand Billings Mustangs
The Buzz On This: This MLB veteran, All-Star and World Series winner has played for four teams in 15 years but it all started off with a different franchise as he was a seventh-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 -- and other than the basic bio stuff that's about all this first card even says. I had this one bouncing around in my small stash of MiLB sets for some time as the Mustangs were about the only team I knew about as a kid in the real world -- in the reel world the Durham Bulls, of course, were big in the early 1990s after Bull Durham. I recently flipped back through some of my old sets and was surprised that I knew this name and it was him. Turner never actually played for the Reds in an MLB game and he's well-known for that big crazy beard but that's not here. His first Bowman Chrome card came two years later -- his only Reds card (I think) -- and his RCs are in 2010 releases when he was a Met. This one is an easy first ... and I'm not even sure he has much more MiLB cardboard. Turner is perhaps not as high-profile on cards as he was as a Dodger, but this card being a first makes it a lot more interesting to me than even his RCs. It's also so clean I might even slab it at some point, too.

Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards you can find in MiLB.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five MLB rookies who should be on your collecting radar

LEADING THE WAY
Julio Rodriguez -- OF, Seattle Mariners (first MLB prospect cards in 2019; RC logo cards in 2022)
He's played in all but one of his team's games this year and he's looking like a strong candidate for American League Rookie of the Year as we're nearing the All-Star break later this month. As of today, he leads all rookies in hits, runs, homers (tied), RBI (tied), stolen bases and is second in doubles -- and at 21 he's one of the five youngest rookies in the game (all that same age) this year. What do I like here? He's showing 30-30 Club potential (13 homers, 19 stolen bases) and that would be impressive for a young rookie -- Mike Trout did it at 20 and Ronald Acuña Jr. did it at 21. That's good company to be in if he can pull it off. His RC logo cards are still to come this year for the most part while he was among the prospects on the 2021 Bowman's Best checklist, making that his RC by definition.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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If you want to collect 'em all, you'll have to hit an MLB team shop.

Topps and MLB Players Inc. revealed this morning that the 2022 Topps Players Clubhouse baseball card line, which will get a pack of cards into your hands if you buy at least $149 in "officially licensed MLB Players products displaying the MLB Players logo, in a single transaction, at this team store location" beginning on selected dates -- starting today -- while supplies last with a limit of one pack per person.

Packs will not be sold at the participating team shops, according to the announcement.

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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: Hunter Greene's Reds throw a no-no and lose, big-money cards now pocket change, NBA and Prizm WWE chatter, autographed cards missing autographs and 2022 Bowman breaks and more MLB right here.

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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: 2021 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview: Click here

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

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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 five 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 MLB rookies I'd be watching this year ... at least based on the results so far.

RED ALERT
Jonathan India -- 3B, Cincinnati Reds (click here for autographed cards on eBay)
This one is about the numbers for me -- 10-for-21 (.476) with a double, triple and 10 RBI in his first six games of his big-league career. He's a known commodity for prospectors since he was the fifth-overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and was a top-100 prospect at times since. However, in two MiLB seasons he hit just .254 with 17 homers and 67 RBI in 165 games (154 Ks) so there might not have been as much attention heading into this debut. He did hit .313 with three homers and seven RBI in 22 games this spring. Because he's been a high-profile player, he's already got a ton of cards -- more than 800 -- and nearly half of those are certified autos. His earliest ink is in 2014 Leaf Perfect Game releases and then his first MLB autos are in 2018 Bowman Draft. He's got ink from Panini America, too, in prospect releases and I'd be looking for bargain-priced ink here vs. the slabbed stuff with big prices attached. The 2014 autos are also somewhat appealing being so much earlier than the rest. Him having volume should give you more choices and more chances to find bargains compared to other guys on this list -- guys with scorching starts but fewer cards.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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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 ...

WORKS FOR ME
The Card: Dan Marino 1984 Topps #123 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: I never really aspired to own a Dan Marino RC -- or a number of other notables from the past -- but this one presented itself on the cheaper side of things for this card (about $135) and considering how this one looks I grabbed it. Why? Go window-shopping for these cards raw -- it can be depressing to see how sloppy the printing and cutting can be for this set. (Want more proof of extreme possibilites? Click here.)
The Grade: BGS 9

Reality Check: I knew this was a strong grade for this card but I didn't look at the pop report for this heavily graded and iconic Hall of Famer RC. Just 415 check in at a higher mark out of nearly 9,000 graded -- less than 5 percent of the total grade higher -- and this one accounts for just seven percent of the total population for this card. My card isn't perfect -- there's a minor couple of spots in the black border line above "Dan" and some very, very minor specs here and there on the edges but at a glance there are not massive differences here vs. higher grades ... other than the fact that a BGS 10 copy of this card has sold on eBay for more than $4,500. I'll take mine all day long -- and getting a nine here is tough as it is.

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

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MLB has lost a legend ... a Terrific one.

Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, who won 300 games in his 20-year career and a World Series ring in just his third summer as a big-leaguer, died on Monday at his home in California. He was 75.

“We are heartbroken to share that our beloved husband and father has passed away,” said his wife, Nancy Seaver, and daughters Sarah and Anne in an announcement released by the Hall of Fame. “We send our love out to his fans, as we mourn his loss with you.”

The former Mets, Reds, White Sox and Red Sox ace known as "Tom Terrific" was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia last year. According to the Hall, his death was in part also due to COVID-19.

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The future of Minor League Baseball is a cloudy one with this season in doubt or if not done before it ever starts, hundreds of players cut in recent weeks to pare everything down and the constant worry of the number of teams shrinking as MLB struggles with what to do amidst everything that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the creativity of MiLB and in particular its fun promotional nights can't be topped -- and both of those things got me looking for something different for my collection and for this regularly appearing department here on The Buzz. This piece presented itself with a nod to pop culture for a price that, well, can't easily be beat at the big-league level for game-used material ... so, it had to be had.

This specialty jersey you're about to learn about came directly from the Daytona Tortugas, the Class-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, and was used last season. It's a one-of-a-kind jersey as the team wore them just once last year as "the best-dressed team in baseball" donned different specialty jerseys for each of their Friday night home games last year.

You can keep reading to see the gamer and details.

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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 item: Cincinnati Reds Authentics mystery memorabilia bag
Where to buy: A past weekend deal via Reds Authentics ... BlowoutCards.com for MLB releases

Keep reading for a full breakdown and a gallery for this one.

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This one is a quick idea for a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five 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 something to think about.

This time? Five MLB items fans should own ... or beginners could use.

SOMETHING DIRTY...
Game-used and fully authenticated MLB dirt is seemingly everywhere and it's often not expensive at all -- yet I'd bet a lot of collectors who consider their stashes to be on the "serious" side don't have anything dirty in them at all. Dirt Relics have been in play in a few brands in the past with one of them being 2019 Topps Opening Day as you can see here. You can find sealed miniature bottles of MLB authenticated dirt from team sites on MLB.com, framed displays that include small capsules embedded into them and, yes, some baseball cards. Heck, I've even seen dirt loaded into writing pens tied to teams. Most of these items aren't aren't that expensive and you can pretty much collect authenticated dirt from all stadiums or even key events like World Series or All-Star Games if you hunt online. (MLB is big on dirt and using it.) You easily can start a small mystery box for your team's fan with something like this and add to it ... keep reading.

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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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BIG DEAL, BIG CARD
The Item: Aristides Aquino 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Superfractor autograph (1/1)
The Price: $29,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy has been demolishing baseballs at a record pace since Yasiel Puig was shipped to Cleveland and part of the reason you haven't seen a lot of him here on The Buzz is that there's simply not a lot of cardboard ink to go around for this new MLB star. His only MLB autographs are in 2014 Bowman Chrome -- that's it -- with the only other options being in 2015 Elite Extra Edition and 2015 Panini Contenders. He hasn't signed a thing since. He's pushing 60 autographed cards between the three releases but has just over 70 different baseball cards right now with Topps Now releases piling up of late. He'll be a 2020 Topps Series 1 Rookie Card
Similar Pieces: Other Aristides Aquino autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2014 Bowman Chrome boxes

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

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Onyx Authenticated's plans for The National this year are simple -- but they deliver ink from two top prospects.

Present proof of a $100 purchase on the company's products at its booth and you'll get a bonus autographed card.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 7.

The box: 2011 Leaf Pete Rose Legacy baseball cards
The cost: Click here (when available) ... here for guaranteed Rose ink right now

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

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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 they're varied but also pretty cheap. (The way Buzz likes it.)

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TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MINOR FLAWS
The Card: Calvin Ridley 2018 Panini Obsidian Cutting Edge Relics Electric Etch Orange #CE-14 (/35)
The Price: $7
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a nice card of a strong rookie from a funky brand that didn't break the bank because it's got a few minor flaws that aren't that uncommon with thick-stock memorabilia cards. That's fine because they don't take away from the feel of what is a different kind of card that shows Panini is trying some things with die-cutting designs. It was that process that led to some compression wrinkling on a back edge and a spots on the top front edge, but I still liked it enough to pick up. Ridley had flashes of brilliance during his rookie season that included 64 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns and I'm a buyer when they're on the cheap because I think there's some potential for more here. (Memorabilia cards can be cheap buys for football because they are often plentiful -- yet they are a fun alternative to pricey autographs in my book.) This is a brand that includes some big stuff -- far bigger than what my tastes are focused on. It's worth a look.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Panini Obsidian NFL boxes

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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One of baseball's greatest sluggers -- and overlooked superstars on in the hobby -- is gone.

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson was a Triple Crown winner, the only player in MLB history to win the MVP in both leagues, a social pioneer on the managerial side, and one of the top home run hitters in the game. He retired fourth on the career list with 586 back in 1976 -- behind only Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays -- before continuing his life in baseball as a manager and MLB executive. He lost an ongoing battle with cancer on Thursday at age 83.

"Frank Robinson's résumé in our game is without parallel, a trailblazer in every sense, whose impact spanned generations," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "He was one of the greatest players in the history of our game, but that was just the beginning of a multi-faceted baseball career."

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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 ...

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The Futures Game indicates things might be bright for the Cincinnati Reds in the future.

With the bat it was 20-year-old outfielder Taylor Trammell who took home MVP honors Sunday after a day that included a home run and a triple in his two at-bats, while last year's No. 2 overall draft pick Hunter Greene scorched from the mound with his first seven pitches of the All-Star event topping 101 mph and one hit 103.

Trammell, who ranked 48th on Baseball America's Top 100 entering this season, is hitting .295 with six homers and 29 RBI in 78 games this season for the Advanced-A Daytona Tortugas, while the 18-year-old Greene was 29th on that list but has a prominent spot with collectors appearing on boxes of Bowman products. He's 3-7 with a 4.69 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 63 innings this season for the Class-A Dayton Dragons.

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An autographed baseball by one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history will be sold tonight, commanding some serious cash when it's all said and done.

The pitcher? It's Christy Mathewson -- a 373-game winner who died at age 45 back in 1925 after a legendary career with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in its first class alongside Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner.

About nine hours remain in the Mile High Card Company auction ... and the interest is strong.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Jo Adell, OF, Angels — High-A Inland Empire 66ers
Season so far: Hitting .318 with 14 doubles, 14 homers, 47 RBI and 11 SBs in 50 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “At just 19 years old, Adell is quickly emerging as one of the top five-tool prospects in the minor leagues. He earned a promotion to the California League roughly a month ago and has taken the circuit by storm.”
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 400
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2016 Leaf Metal
Buzz’s card take: He’s heavily hyped and was very pricey when his first Chrome ink arrived. A season like this won’t change that. Bargain-hunting could be tough here — but he’ll also likely keep appearing on prospect checklists.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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