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 ... 

--

ICONIC ARRIVAL
The Cards: Caitlin Clark 2024 Panini Instant WNBA (All-Rookie Team) -- Rookie Card (/26,980)
The Price: Whatever a 10-pack cost was from Panini
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There's no doubt that Clark owned the WNBA in her rookie year and for most of this year her only pro cardboard came via Instant ... but I passed. Why? I figured I'd wait and see what popped up that I liked in packs -- and then when I opened one of her college career boxes I found interesting stuff but not cards all that slab-worthy with the details for cutting and printing. (Too messy for the risk to me.) As an easy slabbing decision, I grabbed a 10-pack of this card within hours of its arrival online. Why? It's clean and simple -- iconic -- and I knew that I'd want one or two of these in a slab with a high mark. How does that happen? Well, you have to have a few to pick from -- to eliminate obvious flaws like centering or corners -- and in this case three of my 10 might get sent in. The rest were too off-centered for my taste. There were plenty of these made so there's no rush, but it'll happen at some point in 2025.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but WNBA cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

Zion Williamson's NBA debut Wednesday night down in New Orleans didn't start as planned -- but it ended with a dominating few minutes in the fourth quarter.

And now it's on a Panini Instant basketball card.

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.

--

MAN OF THE MOMENT ... AND WRONG SET NAME
The Item: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2019 Bowman Chrome Superfractor (1/1)
The Price: $1,799.99 opening bid (with best offer option)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This probably isn't what you're looking for with the arrival of 2019 Bowman Chrome -- it's all about prospect autos, especially in the HTA boxes linked below -- but there are other cards to look for, too, and this is one. If you click that link above you'll see something else peculiar beyond the price, which I'm not sure will even be hit opening that high. The seller mistakenly called this card a Gold Shimmer ... an error on a card of a guy who is on the cusp of some MLB history in the coming days as he's just three stolen bases away from being the youngest member of the very-exclusive 40-40 Club. If the price was low, I'd call this a steal scenario ... but it's not. (It also was fixed while I was writing this.)
Similar Pieces: 2019 Bowman Chrome autos on eBay 
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019 Bowman Chrome

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

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.

--

ALLLLLL ABOARD?
The Item: Zion Williamson 2019-20 Panini Contenders Draft Picks College Ticket parallel (/5)
The Price: $50,000 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Zion packs are here and there are a number of possibilities with the various parallels in this one -- and there are a number of them that are rare like this card. Will this price be hit? Well, big things are also possible for NBA phenoms -- and there are other active auctions that are higher (seriously, hit that link below) for the No. 1 overall draft pick. So ... maybe. Part of me wants to cite the arrivals of Shaq and LeBron James in comparison to this but the hype train just seems to be bigger and pricier than those Hall of Famers. Will it last? We'll see -- again, anything seems possible with NBA cards and the global demand without a massive global supply -- but the key is to ride the track however you want to as a seller, buyer or collector. We have some time before NBA Hoops arrives with him in pro colors so the Duke stuff will get plenty of attention until that time.
Similar Pieces: Other Zion Williamson Contenders autographs on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019-20 Panini Contenders Draft Picks

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

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.

--

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 ...

Continue reading →

Update: Details have been added since this first published and you can find links to 2019-20 releases below.

--

The biggest question of the year for NBA collectors has been answered.

Yes, Zion Williamson autographs will be found in packs of Panini America basketball cards, according to Sports Business Journal.

An official statement with more details from the company about its exclusive autograph deal with the NBA's No. 1 overall draft pick out of Duke University should arrive later today.

"We're on the cusp of witnessing one of the most historic NBA Draft classes of all time, and it's no secret that Zion is a driving force behind that fact. He's a transcendent talent and a must-have presence in all of our NBA and collegiate basketball products for this season and beyond," said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop in the prepared announcement. "We're thrilled to partner with Zion and his team to deliver exclusive trading cards and autograph trading cards to fans and collectors that will uniquely chronicle his landmark rookie season and for the start of his NBA career while adding incredible value to our entire product roster."

>>> Click here for all 2019-20 basketball releases 

>>> Click here for First Buzz NBA product preview with Zion's Rookie Cards inside

Continue reading →

Zion Williamson's first cards are here thanks to Panini America's promo packs at The National last week and there's ultimately only one place to get them right now -- and it will be a wait until there's more.

That's a recipe for success -- one with what's expected on the court out of the NBA's No. 1 draft pick as well as what's expected from his first official NBA cardboard. Panini Contenders Draft Picks arrives with his next Duke cards on Sept. 4 with NBA Hoops including his New Orleans Pelicans cards debut in October.

The only homes for Williamson cards right now? Panini's Silver National packs, its gold VIP Party packs, its VIP Party Black Boxes and its National VIP set. Before that? Just a few Panini Instant cards from draft night. Everything else out there? Part of a  huge fake cardboard problem that's been sucking big money out of peoples' pockets as they want a piece of the Duke star.

Now, how well is the real stuff selling?

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.

--

ZION HITS PACKS ... AT THE NATIONAL
The Item: Zion Williamson 2019 Panini National Rainbow Spokes parallel (/50) BGS 9.5
The Price: $1,499.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The NBA's No. 1 draft pick has officially hit packs via the promos that Panini America made for the just-ended National Sports Collectors Convention and its Panini VIP Party on Saturday night. While we haven't seen any ink in wrappers just yet, these promo packs will be the only place to find him until the first 2019-20 draft picks and NBA sets arrive later this year. This is one of a few cards that was graded at the show -- and it won't be the last Williamson cardboard to end up slabbed. There will be many to come ... it's just a matter of when and where, especially when it comes to autographs.
Similar Pieces: Zion Williamson Panini cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for the promo packs section 

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

Continue reading →

The speculation and big business that will be Zion Williamson basketball cards this season and in the future is already apparent -- but in a negative way -- over on eBay.

How do we know? The sales of fake cards. Yes, fake cards.

Fleer, Gatorade, McDonald's, DC Comics, Marvel Comics and even Rated Rookie (on an opposing company's design) trademarks can be seen on Williamson cards not made or authorized by their respective owners -- and there's no compensation being made to owners of intellectual property of the Duke Blue Devils the NBA or the New Orleans Pelicans for the use of their logos and other legally protected intellectual property.

The memorable designs of the past like the 1986-87 Fleer set above -- owned by Upper Deck -- are also being absconded (though many designs aren't generally trademarked) and other notable athletes such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James -- guys whose image rights are also in high-dollar demand -- also are having their likenesses used without authorization (in NBA uniforms) to make money selling fake cardboard that's all over eBay. (Jordan is exclusive to Upper Deck for card appearances and his ink is also an exclusive there just like it is for James.) Photographers also aren't being compensated for the use of their work like they would be when card companies pay them or their employers to use images. Then there are "graded" cards with autographs attached, cards with facsimile autos in slabs and many cards in sealed holders emulating card companies' uncirculated efforts.

Right now, there are nearly 1,300 different active eBay auctions for "Zion Williamson" in the basketball cards category -- meanwhile just two legitimately authorized cards exist right now. Expand that search to all items and there's plenty more to be found.

Continue reading →

A Duke star has signed with Panini America in advance of the NBA Draft.

All-American R.J. Barrett, who is projected to be among the top picks in next week's draft, has signed an exclusive card agreement revealed today. His first in-pack cards will arrive in 2019 Contenders Draft Picks and then in 2019-20 NBA Hoops in October. He will make his debut via Panini Instant after he is drafted.

“With an athlete like R.J. Barrett, we were determined to target an initial partnership with a group who recognizes how special he is,” said Robert Kinnard, Executive Director of Global Marketing for BDA Sports, in a prepared statement. “Panini is a giant in the trading card and memorabilia industry and it is satisfying to see their shared vision as evidenced by their commitment to the influence R.J.’s brand will have on the marketplace.”

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.

--

SELL NOW OR BUY FOR LATER?
The Item: Mike Trout 2019 Topps Now Future World Series (/10 Chrome set prize)
The Price: $84.95 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: It's a long baseball season so the recently released Topps Now Future packs (three cards) and single cards have some time to rise and fall based on pennant potential. This card is of a top name in the game and if his Los Angeles Angels somehow win the World Series it's good for a team set of Chrome parallels limited to only 10 copies. Logically, with three players per team on the standard checklist, that would mean that about three of these exist, right? Or, maybe all 10 of the eligible cards for that prize are of Trout? Either way, the rarer prize cards in this release should be rarer, too. The  three-card packs are limited in nature (just under 11,000 total) and every card inside can yield something -- team sets or team sets with an autograph. Sales of singles for some of these have been strong -- they are all worth a look. However, part of me thinks action for playoff contenders could really pick up late in the season. Do you buy or sell now? Or buy and sell later?
Similar Pieces: 2019 Topps Now Future cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019 Topps Now Future packs

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

Continue reading →

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?

Continue reading →