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.

Click for a closer look.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION IS IN ...
The Album: The Big Lebowski soundtrack (Mercury, 2014 -- first pressing)
The Reason Graded: As you can probably tell, I'm a dabbler with grading in a few -- but not yet all -- directions, but the notion of having a pristine item encased for permanent protection to be appreciated as an artifact of sorts appeals in a lot of ways. Video games, Funko Pop! figures, other toys, VHS, tickets, press photos and more can be graded just like cards, comic books, magazines and coins. I've tried grading VHS and there's a chance I might do more there with a different company that I use for pretty much everything else, but vinyl is one that, well, I jettisoned most of what I had long ago. That means this was more of a first project than just a first try. (I didn't have much vinyl as my early music-buying years were where the Sony Walkman and then CDs were a thing or emerging, not records.) I spotted this soundtrack cheaper than it might have been elsewhere and it's an original, so I grabbed it with an eye for a slab with Texas-based Tuned In Grading as this one is memorable as more than just a soundtrack but a film that's a cult classic with tons of interest and action beyond a couple hours of screen time. And the total package is cool front and back with scenes and even key characters noted.
The Grade: Tuned In Grading 9.0 (sealed)

Reality Check: I did this one to basically to go through the process and see if I liked the results and then to decide how I would approach doing more. It seems based on their grading scale and description that a 10 isn't easy -- that's fine in my book and that took away some of the grade-shock here. (A nine is fine in all realms, really, but we all want perfection and in some genres a nine has a few slots above it on the scale. Not here.) There isn't really a pop report just yet (but I know of at least one copy*) and it appears that the typical overall grade is a meshing of five applicable sub-grades -- record, cover, inner sleeve, labels, shrink -- but since this is a sealed record only two of those are in play. They both clicked at nines for me -- the cover here had a small bend on the back, while the shrinkwrap has a couple minor spots on the right side but I didn't notice one of them previously. I wasn't totally surprised as I knew the small bend would hurt me but everything else seemed strong. Part of me wants to try something vintage that's not sealed next time, but that's easier said than done in terms of balancing condition, an item I like and price -- I know of a few I'd try but I'm a stickler for condition and this kind of grading isn't quite as cheap as others but still less than some so I'd want something with an appealing grade. Plus, if it's not sealed then other things get looked at ... that you can't examine unless you're buying stuff in-person. Part of me also thinks albums without shrink-wrap could look better in the sleeve but I haven't really read up on what the musical devotees prefer. I think, generally, I dig it but I think for storage and size I like the idea of slabs for CD, DVDs and stuff that's more game-sized more ... but the size here also makes all the details you see on the back of this one as well as that main art on the front pop a bit more, too.

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

Continue reading →

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: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
Checklist: N/A (base parallels regular A&G but not everything is in here)
Odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Topps Finest Flashbacks baseball cards
Arrives: Today
Box basics: Autographs found in every sixth 20-pack box
Odds: Click here
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: This one arrives once again with a throwback look -- this time, a revisiting of the 1996 Topps Finest release -- but with today's players with ink and more to be found for a number of veterans and newcomers, too.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Topps Gilded Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Oct. 4
Box basics: One Chrome auto and one framed auto per three-card box (18 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This newer high-end line from Topps arrives for a second season with a pair of autographs in every box -- a mix of big potential with a guarantee of Gold Chrome every time.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

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: 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.

Continue reading →

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: 2022 Topps Gallery baseball cards (blaster)
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.

Continue reading →

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: Tribute delivers, The National nears, MLB's second half begins, collectors' thoughts and more in today's edition.

Continue reading →

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: 2022 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Topps Chrome baseball cards
Arrives: July 26
Box basics: One autograph per 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case); three autos per 12-pack jumbo box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The full Topps Chrome details are here with the familiar colorful parallel rainbows and some definite new surprises in store like ... TacoFractors!

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Topps 206 Low Series baseball cards
Arrives: Sold out via Topps.com
Box basics: Autographs in every third box ... four 10-card packs per box
Checklist: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps revisits T206 tobacco cards for a fourth time but this time with a different release approach that apparently has come and gone on Topps.com.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Topps Finest baseball cards
Arrives: July 7
Box basics: One auto per six-pack mini box with two minis per master (eight masters per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Finest arrives for another summer with the same format as past years but with a new design, new players and some World Baseball Classic nods in the mix.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

The arrival of 2023 Topps Series 2 baseball cards is just days away ... and there's a lot to like this time.

Series 2 offers a rich crop of rookies such as Boston Red Sox star Masataka Yoshida, New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe as well as nods to the recent past with ink from another in that spot, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. It continues with the collection's lineup of inserts that should impress -- you can see all of the early info right here as well as a checklist and full odds, too.

Also back are rare Golden Mirror Image Variations. These golden-backed short-printed cards with new images unlike the regular finds will parallel the entire 330-card base set in this series.

And, yes, the Blowout Cards Golden Bounty is back, too.

This time, Blowout Cards will pay $222,222.22 for a complete set of 330 2023 Topps Series 2 Golden Mirror Image variations. Blowout will purchase the first set submitted and verified. Please contact wanted@blowoutcards.com on email for details at that time.

--

Bounty Deadline: Aug. 7, 2023 -- promotion subject to cancelation for any reason.

--

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

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

What: 2023 Topps Series 2 baseball cards
Arrives: June 7
Box basics: One auto or Relic per 24-pack hobby box (12 per case) or one auto, one Relic & one manufactured Relic per jumbo (six per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The second wave of the flagship release of Topps baseball cards arrives with a similar approach to the past but also with some new looks and new stars on cardboard.

Keep reading for more info.

Continue reading →

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: 2020 Topps Update baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview with checklist/SPs/more: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Topps Tribute baseball cards
Arrives: June 23
Box basics: Three autographs and three Relics per six-pack box (six boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Tribute drops for a new season with the familiar three-and-three format of the past but with new Olympus autos (above) a continuing tribute this time to Shohei Ohtani and more.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

Simplicity might lead to popularity -- as long as there are still some chase elements.

That might be a reason that Topps UK baseball boxes -- particularly the 2022 set but also the 2021 version -- have been among the most-popular sellers of late in the shop with some big stuff possible in some relatively affordable boxes.

There isn't a hit in every box -- instead the autographs are rarer (one in every third box or so), which helps the value of the big names when you find them -- and the overall lineup of inclusions in the product is smaller. The 2022 base set, for example, is just 220 cards with key names from Series 1, Series 2 and Update all in one spot -- also a plus given the rookies in play in that last one -- with parallels and then a modest number of inserts (three sets and that's it). Boxes are 24 packs of 10 cards, too, giving one a decent statistical shot at any one player in there if just seeking base cards.

Throw in surprises such as the mystery short-prints of the royal family ... and there can be fireworks. (There are at least nine of them by my quick searches and some can have steep asking prices.)

Continue reading →

With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? A Hall of Famer on the ticket -- and a pair of MLB debuts in the box score.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

Continue reading →

Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less 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.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's perhaps a little heavy on wrestling (but then again so am I) and some pick-ups that have simply piled up waiting for a spot. (Call it some spring cleaning.)

--

A MONÉ MYSTERY ... 
The Card: Sasha Banks 2021 Topps Transcendent WWE Green Autograph (/15)
The Price: Way less than most new WWE boxes ...
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: When the final Transcendent set was teased, this card with its striking image (a real photo from one of her laser show entrances) was immediately on my radar from this ultra-pricey release. However, how I was going to actually land one wasn't something I had to worry about upon arrival ... her cards simply were not packed out in the boxes and she wasn't alone. Why? There's some chatter about that, but one WWE insider believed her boxes of cards may have mistakenly left at a venue. Then some popped up on the open market, forcing Topps to go track them down legally and then get the signing done. All that is stuff I don't really care about, but I'm 100-percent confident that this is a legit auto of The Legit Boss and the card is perfectly fine. A number of the other Banks autos from this one have some steep asking prices but I ponied up to land this one not that long ago, knowing it will be a few more years before we might even see Transcendent again. And who knows what the wrestling future for Mercedes Moné might hold -- Mercedes Varnado is no longer in WWE -- or if we'll even see Sasha Banks again.
Grab a box right here: None for this one but ... WWE boxes are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

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: 2022 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures New York Dynasty Autographed Baseballs
Arrives: March 13
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's autographed baseball once again turns its attention to New York for another new release focusing on the Yankees -- and with another chase that includes more than just standard-signed baseballs.

Keep reading for more and a gallery of what's in this one.

Continue reading →

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: Ripping 2023 Topps Series, Jeter's new job, NBA chatter and more in today's edition.

Continue reading →

What: 2022 Topps Chrome Sonic LITE baseball cards
Arrives: February 2023
Box basics: Five parallels per 16-pack LITE box (16 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Chrome gets yet another parallel release, this time with "Sonic" touches that include new colors and textures as well as some new inclusions to the lineup.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

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: 2022 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

Continue reading →

What: 2022 Topps UK Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Now via Topps' UK site
Box basics: 24 10-card packs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: The now-annual release of Topps MLB cards for across the pond has arrived with a number of new inclusions to go with what's essentially a parallel product with a smaller set and stars from all three flagship series in one spot.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2022 Topps Brooklyn Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Today via Topps.com
Box basics: Two autographs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Brooklyn Collection returns for another year with a new retro look, ink in every box, and then some new and past stars showcased on cardboard once again.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →