David Wells
First Buzz: 2025 TRISTAR New York Pinstripes auto baseballs
What: 2025 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures New York Pinstripes Autographed Baseballs
Arrives: April 30
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures brand hits the diamond for another year with its focus on one of MLB's most-historic franchises, the New York Yankees.
Making the Grade (Nov.): A rare Steve Austin leads the pack plus RCs for Jalen Hurts, Shohei Ohtani, John Cena & 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 ...
GOOD AS GOLD ...
The Card: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin 2022 Panini Select WWE Gold Flash (/10)
The Reason Graded: If you recognize this card, well, there's a reason. Just a few weeks ago, I pulled it from a blaster box and thanks to CSG's quick, budget-minded services I turned this around fast and, well, this rarity pays for itself. This retail-only card is rare -- only nine others like it exist -- and it came back with a top mark since even the horizontal centering was clean. (That's not the norm from what I have seen with this release.) This is a pricey card right now so that was my main reason for slabbing, and now it's that much better.
The Grade: CSG 10Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Reality Check: It's the only one that has been slabbed so far. How many might still be sitting in packs? Generally speaking, Select is a strong release worth your look in any format -- and I have other stuff here I intend to get graded.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
First Buzz: 2022 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures New York Dynasty
What: 2022 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures New York Dynasty Autographed Baseballs
Arrives: April 27
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's autographed baseball turns its attention to New York for another new release focusing on the Yankees -- and with a chase that includes more than just standard-signed baseballs.
Keep reading for more and a gallery of what's in this one.
Buzz Break: 1999 Fleer Sports Illustrated MLB cards
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: 1999 Fleer Sports Illustrated baseball cards (retail)
Where to buy: Will take some hunting ...click here for newer MLBKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz 12 in 12: Busting 2002 Topps 206 Series 2 (Hour 8)
Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 8.
The box: 2002 Topps 206 Series 2 baseball cards
The cost: Varies depending on where found
What's inside this one? Keep reading ...
Babe Ruth game-used cap commands attention via SCP
A Babe Ruth game-used New York Yankees cap from the early 1930s is dominating on the auction block via SCP Auctions with its price approaching the quarter-million-dollar mark.
The auction's reserve is not yet met, but there are a couple days remaining before the final gavel. After 10 bids, it stands at $235,795 but is estimated to push as much as $800,000 before the auction is final.
It's not just any cap worn by "The Bambino," either, this is a piece of memorabilia with a little extra Yankees history attached to it.
6 Item(s)