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 something to think about.

This time? Five boxes Buzz would be ripping right now ... all from the bargain section.

BACK TO SCHOOL ... RIGHT NOW
2021 Onyx Vintage Collection College Football box
These aren't actually out yet -- it's merely in pre-order mode for a November release -- but this one is Onyx's take on the new NCAA NIL rules that allow current athletes to make money on their name, image and likeness right now rather than when they are done with their college days. College football and college basketball figure to be the biggest deals on this front and this one includes a pair of autos in a box along with two other cards. Bryce Young's start has the word "Heisman" attached already and the other certified autos of his all have had pro-type dollar signs attached, not mere college award-winner prices. These boxes figure to be a bit hit and miss -- the big names will pay for a few boxes, others probably won't -- but at their present price I think they are worth the risk moreso than a lot of other releases out there. College NIL autos will have a longer shelf life than your typical draft picks cards as the booster crowd will be interested as well as the school fans -- and they won't have NFL cardboard to trump them until further down the line. I'm sure more stuff is coming but the other other one of these releases on the tarmac is a multi-sport approach. This one is solely football so that gives it the edge for me. Once Panini America's fully licensed NIL stuff starts, those will be the first-look but these are not far off.

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

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What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets Series 2
Arrives: Oct. 13
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 for a second time this year with mini helmets -- this time with new NFL names, all-time greats and some top 2021 NFL Draft prospects all in one place.

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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 Wild Card Matte Black football cards (retail hanger)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of everything that was in this one.

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What: 2021 Onyx Vintage College Football cards
Arrives: Feb. 4
Box basics: Two on-card autographs per four-card box (24 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The new NCAA NIL landscape that allows players to make money on their name, image and likeness means a whole new world for cardboard -- and Onyx is in on it with its Vintage line going back to school to present new Amateur Rookie Cards and autographs.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

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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: New NFL, MLB and NXT breaks lead the way here with Shohei Ohtani and some other basics.

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The new New England Patriots starting quarterback has a bunch of new cardboard.

And that's thanks to Super Glow, the new card line that will introduce new college stars who aren't yet pros to the collecting masses soon via packs and introduce some others, like national championship-winning QB and first-round pick Mac Jones, on cardboard right now via online offerings.

The company's mission is to introduce "the next generation of sports cards" and its online offerings for Jones include some non-traditional photos, too.

Keep reading to see that one and the lineup of nearly 50 cards up for grabs while they last.

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What: 2021 Panini Flawless College Football cards
Arrives: Oct. 20
Box basics: Six autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-card box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Flawless' college football edition drops for a new season with the latest draft picks all in one high-end spot.

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

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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 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (fat pack box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

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

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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: Votto 2K, Thosebackpages cardboard, Tim Tebow, NBA chatter, wrong cap and new MLB breaks.

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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 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for a 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 pack: 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks football (multi-pack)
First Buzz preview: Click here
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: 2021 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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The comeback includes a throwback at The National this year.

Wild Card revealed its wrapper redemption plans on Wednesday for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention that starts one week from now in Chicago.

It includes its newest release and a nod back to the set that started it all in 1991 -- and only 500 30th Anniversary Retro Boxes will be available at the show.

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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 pack: 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks football (multi-pack)
First Buzz preview: Click here
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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What: 2021 Panini National Treasures college football cards
Arrives: Aug. 18
Box basics: Seven autographs or memorabilia cards per eight-card box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: National Treasures goes back to school for another season with some added color in the design as it showcases a new crop of stars.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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.

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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: 2021 Panini Contenders Draft Picks football cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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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: New pulls, old classics, The National, NBA pulls and the NBA Playoffs, the bubble and ... Wander Franco, Wander Franco, Wander Franco

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What: 2021 Panini Immaculate Collection college football cards
Arrives: July 28
Box basics: Four autographs and one memorabilia card per six-card box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Immaculate Collection comes to the college ranks once again with "the first premium rookie patch autographs of the 2021 draft class."

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmet National Edition
Arrives: July 28
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Hidden Treasures brings its blind-box product to The National this year in Chicago with a number of legends in the mix and some hometown-focused bonus pieces.

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What: 2021 Panini Mosaic Draft Picks football cards
Arrives: Soon via Panini's site
Box basics: Two autographs per two-pack box
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Mosaic hits the draft picks field for the first time as an online-only release that guarantees an autograph in every pack and plenty more.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2021 SAGE Aspire football cards
Arrives: July 20
Box basics: 20 autographs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: SAGE's next wave of cardboard for new NFL draft picks and other prospects this year is a release that's solely about getting their autographs.

Keep reading for more info.

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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 ... a mix of buys/submissions over the last few months.

MY RAINBOW IS COMPLETE ... I THINK
The Card: Nick Swisher 2015 Panini Prizm USA Baseball Black Finite Prizms #6 (1/1)
The Reason Bought: So, Buzz hasn't gotten his hands on as much wax as normal out there in the retail wild these days -- I'm just not camping out at 5 a.m. -- so that's actually been a good thing for when rarer cards present themselves. One example is this 1/1 card that popped up slabbed recently and I grabbed it because I think it completes my rainbow (I'm not organized enough yet to know for sure but I'm 99-percent sure) and, more importantly, it's one of a few instances where I own game-used memorabilia seen on a card. That jersey? It's in my stash ... though he didn't play a lot that summer. (The No. 11 jersey was sold via Hunt Auctions in a bulk lot of USA stuff from several years in several groups long ago and I found it a few years after that.) Oddly enough, there's a decent chance that this card cost me around the same amount as the jersey ... actually, the jersey might have been cheaper.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It's the only card that's in existence so the pop report shows that and won't ever change. What I'm not sure of is whether any of the autographed cards for him on the checklist from this release were ever actually made -- or are they might all be out there in a box or two mis-packed. Not one has ever surfaced. (You never know.)

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

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This one is 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 perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five players who interest me on draft night

WHERE WILL AARON RODGERS GO?
The No. 1 pick in the draft sounds like it's a no-surprises no-brainer this year ... Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 ... but what about the rest? The experts and amateur analysts say it's a good crop of QBs (I'm just a collector) and it seems that collecting/flipping/whatever you want to call it for football cards right is pretty much all about QBs, QBs, QBs and maybe an RB or WR or two. The Aaron Rodgers stories that are coming out literally right now make it seem like the biggest trade returns for the future Hall of Famer would be before the draft ... but will that affect QBs? I dunno ... but it could. So, is Rodgers one of my five players here? Not really -- he's established and expensive -- the question is who's the next Green Bay Packers QB. If it's Jordan Love, OK ... there's potential with his cards that's there now that wasn't perhaps a few hours ago. But ... what if the Packers get a QB in return? There might be less interest or need for Jordan cards than a few hours ago. And a trade of a guy like this could basically flip over the table for a lot of teams draft-wise if they are in there early and needing an arm ... you might even have a Jeopardy! joke in there somewhere.

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

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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: New pulls, a supplies run delivers big, MLB chatter, Star Trek breaks and more breaks.

Continue reading →