I've never read up on how many baseballs MLB uses in a year, but given the volume of game-used balls up for grabs from teams regularly -- to the point where they'll sell them in mystery boxes on the cheap -- they are readily available.

Yet, at the same time, they're not all the same.

The big dog is, of course, the home run ball and right up there are other hits and then strikeouts for pitchers. But for any one of any of those bigs there are plenty more -- maybe dozens more -- baseballs that were pitches in the dirt, called strikes, foul balls  and line-outs (though I think those are better than others here) and then other stuff like beanballs and wild pitches among others. Ultimately, the biggest piece of the puzzle for appeal -- and especially for value here -- is which players' names are attached.

This month? Not the biggest names and not the biggest moment -- but it's a one-pitch, one-swing kind of ball that's perhaps not the most common -- and, the best part, it only cost me $10 despite the fact that I can video match it using the MLB Film Room along with its MLB Authentication.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

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Sometimes, there are no extra visuals to photo-match a piece

Forget sometimes ... that's almost always the case with pretty much everything that's game-used before the advent of the MLB Authentication program in 2001. That was the year MLB started stickering and databasing items from the field of play creating a whole new playing field for memorabilia. But this month's piece in this Collecting Game-used series isn't from that past era, either.

This one is from just 2014 ... an item that's newer, but one from when the capture-every-play MLB Film Room and complete data with authentication for every pitch where a ball was used didn't exist. It's stickered but short of finding a pirated game video online (I did a brief search and found nothing), it's a ball that I can only show here and then offer up from info from a game's summary to help tell its story.

You can keep reading to see the details.

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A name I didn't expect to see again in MLB arrived in Atlanta this month and that got me thinking about a stash of game-used baseballs I had picked up on the cheap long ago but hadn't yet posted about in this Collecting Game-used series.

I did some digging and, yep, that name was in there.

Robinson Cano is filling in at second base for the Braves right now after Ozzie Albies' foot injury has him out until optimistically late next month and he's that name. My find is nothing dramatic but it's a ball from a past game with him attached that was deep in my $10 stash -- yep, only $10 -- from awhile back, and it turned out it's a ball with a little surprise to it thanks to its MLB Authentication and clips one can see right now on the MLB Film Room.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

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I think I have said this before right here, but ... sometimes, it's all about timing and some dumb luck.

Collectors of game-used memorabilia for the traditional sports can land things easily -- sometimes right after games they just watched -- in a team gift shop for baseball, football, basketball and so on. But, for other sports or even stuff used in TV shows and movies? Well, you have to know where to look and be ready when auctions or items might pop up by being plugged in.

My latest item in this Collecting Game-used series is a little different than a lot of the baseball, football and other stuff that arrives here each month. I landed this month's item just a week ago today and it all started with a simple Instagram story notice that's come and gone ... but in essence it was a message that said "I'm moving and cleaning out my closet."

I smashed the link and saw what was up for grabs, then I did a deep dive on (Where else?) Instagram, to see what I could find that was photo-matchable and unique (or at least seemed familiar) for a colorful personality and competitor out there in the world of pro wrestling -- and a favorite star of mine for sure. This time, it was something very affordable (not match-used ... I missed on that) and something that still feels right for a star known for a colorful and energetic look with plenty of attitude -- and a piece that seems to kind of pre-date where she's at now in the ring.

Keep reading to see the details ... and the item in action.

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Buzz made a rookie mistake with this one and there's some mystery ... but I might have solved it.

In a nutshell, that's this month's item in this Collecting Game-used series. I grabbed this MLB Authenticated batting practice warm-up last year with a near-instant offer -- one I made before I checked its sticker. And even before I could check the sticker, the seller accepted.

The problem and the rookie mistake here? The item's data has been lost with the MLB Authentication code showing an error message, asking me to contact MLB. (That's something I have done -- and I even sent them some of this info back to their automated response ... though it's not been updated just yet.) I'm no Yankees uniform expert -- I wouldn't want to be -- but this player is one I collect heavily and the price wasn't bad for the type of item, which is "game-used" as in gameday but not, obviously, used on the field during the game.

Despite the ironclad sticker info issue that's still in play here, I'm pretty sure I was able to match this piece to some pre-game action thanks to the typical public resources photo-matchers often use.

You can keep reading to see the details.

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It's looking like it will be another historic record-breaking month over at Goldin Auctions with action on the auction block already relatively intense.

How do we know that? Well, for starters, two iconic modern cards have already topped the million-dollar mark -- with more than nine days remaining -- and a huge third card from the past appears poised to get there with bids soon (it's at a mere $900,000). We'll get to two of those after looking at the hobby heavyweight you see above -- that's a sealed three-box case of 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection NBA cards.

That one is the home to LeBron James' biggest Rookie Card and parallels and it's the home of the same for Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh as well as monster cards from Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and other legends. "This singular release inspired a new and fervent, high-end market," the auction simply states -- and one really does have to wonder how many of these might still be in existence as every box has one patch auto, one rookie patch auto and more inside. It's a grail of its own unopened yet the highest of high-rollers just might get rewarded ... if they dared to open it. The current bidding? A cool $485,000 after 11 bids with nine days to go.

Keep reading for a deeper look at a few more items presently up for grabs.

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This month's Collecting Game-used item isn't from deep in my stash or some treasure I had to research after finding it on the secondary market -- this one's ironclad but the condition here offers up some interesting questions.

It's a ball taken from the field of play just 20 days ago and you can see the precise pitch and its big-league moment after the jump. For me, this was a first -- my first Bo Bichette game-used item -- and I landed it on the cheap via the home team when the Blue Jays came to town. But, as you can see here, that's a pretty interesting mark where you can literally perhaps see the physics involved after a round ball hit a round bat spinning at a smooth (and documented) 2,046 revolutions per minute. And, if you view the video of it, it's not hard to imagine how those marks perhaps came to be.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

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Not all gamers are alike, whether they are from the majors or the minors.

I got a reminder of that recently with a weekend grab -- on sale! -- that you see here as MiLB seasons are over and teams need to move their leftover equipment, whether it's from players who just finished their year or players who are not likely to come back as they've been promoted or traded elsewhere to play now or in the future.

In the case of this game-used 2021 Columbus Clippers cap straight from the team? Well, it's from a guy who's been in the big-leagues as well as down on the farm off and on the last few years -- and it's a cap where, admittedly, when I popped open the box I was like "Oh ... this is a little underwhelming." unlike a lot of the other items you have seen in this Collecting Game-used series.

There's plenty of mystery, too, though. Keep reading to see the details.

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Fast Five is 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 items Buzz would be grabbing right now.

AUTOGRAPHED & AUTHENTICATED ROOKIE CARDS
It seems like more and more collectors love their slabbed Rookie Cards -- to the point where some popular RCs' pop report numbers seem nutty. But what's a natural thing to try and round up once one has 'em all in whatever grade suits their budget? Well, to me, a run of autographed and authenticated/slabbed Rookie Cards would be compelling in some instances if it's do-able for a player. Certified autos are easy to find for a lot of guys if you just want ink of any kind, but signed RCs like the one you see above are impressive, too. Years ago people often said "no" to cards like this but I think those hesitations have vanished with these after-market autos when found in slabs. (This example isn't cheap, but it's nice.) If you collect a player who does signings, then amassing ink on RCs and then getting them slabbed and authenticated yourself also can make this a collecting project more than just a commodity.

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: Big pulls, oldschool non-sports pulls, Olympic basketball, The National and more.

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There are plenty of everyday kinds of game-used items out there that never show up on the auction block en masse, are rarely cut up and put into sports cards and rarely get autograph or authentication treatment or other attention.

But they are out there -- and they can pop up on the auction block often. Sometimes they can surprise you with how much they sell for -- stuff like champagne corks and bottles have been authenticated and stickered by some teams after championships. Then there are displays using confetti, pieces of floors, dirt, turf, nets ... they've nearly all shown up in cards, too.

But not this one? Nothing like my game-used Gatorade bottle ... at least that I know of. (Tell me if I missed those cards!)

You can keep reading to see the details ...

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This month's Collecting Game-used item a gamer for sure, but I can't put it in the player's hands to prove it. That's actually way more common than you might think today even if we live in a world of holographic authentication stickers on nearly everything.

After going 3-for-3 for exact photo matches within this series, this one is still a solid hit -- it's a fully prepped and lightly used gamer. What do I mean? If you haven't followed this series, from time to time I grab game-used baseball bats for the retired player I collect, Nick Swisher, and I've been able to photo-match nearly all of them. Here's last time, here's part two and here's the first one. They are all bats that cost me less than this Sam Bat ... but I had to have it.

Why? Because it's a deluxe brand -- it's one that cost me more compared to others -- but it was worth it ... and it turns out this bat might be a lot rarer than others I own.

Keep reading to see the details this time.

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The life of this fully authenticated game-used MLB ball isn't all that impressive -- I liked it for a team clearance $10 pick-up, though given player names attached -- but the reason you see it here for this month's Collecting Game-used series item is that it's an example of how something launched online last fall might spark more interest in game-used memorabilia.

Thanks to the MLB Film Room, you can find countless memorable (and many forgettable) video clips of plays from past games all in database form. You can search by names, players, teams, plays, etc., and to a degree that should add some interest to game-used pieces like this ball ... and maybe some value beyond the authentication statements that are also in a database with every ball.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

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I'm now 3-for-3 in this game within the Collecting Game-used series.

What am I talking about? Picking off game-used baseball bats for the retired player I collect, Nick Swisher, and in this case it's another 100-percent game-used and photo-matched piece -- but one without an MLB Authentication sticker. (Here's last time and here's the first one.)

How was this possible? Just like last time -- with research and some luck while knowing what to look for with game-used bats. I actually picked up this bat with zero idea of when it might have been used -- all I knew about it and the reason why I wanted it was that it was from 2015 when he was on the Braves. In general, this should be his rarest pro gamer -- 46 games in 2015 and then 17 spring games in 2016 -- compared to four years in Oakland, a full season in Chicago, four in New York Yankees pinstripes and then two and a half in Cleveland. Why does this matter to me? Well, thanks to this pick-up, I finally can say I have gamers from each of his pro teams and close to a full rundown of his models of bats he used. (Not all but close.)

This bat is another reminder that not every item that gets used gets an MLB Authentication sticker -- and that you can find gems for any player.

You can keep reading to see the details this time.

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Normally with items I've collected for this Collecting Game-used series what you see above is an image of an item in use with definitive photo-matched proof that the item I've found was in Player X's hands on X date.

In this case? Well, this 2014 Topps Alex Avila card shows him with a bat that could be the one I have ... or it may not be. There's no definitive proof here, but the start of the wear and tear on the top of the bat -- cropped off on the card -- that can be seen on this card's original photo taken by MLB Photos' Mark Cunningham on Aug. 3, 2013, in Detroit could be the start of things.

Why do I say could? Like many of Avila's sticks, my bat got used and abused. Like really used and abused. I'm not sure what his routines are or whether his best bats got used for all aspects of play (games and BP) but the bat I landed earlier this year was absolutely mashed -- and it's unlike any I have ever seen in person or have in my stash. It's also a bat that could have survived the off-season, too, based on images I have examined from July 30, 2013, and forward. Why do I say that? Well, that's this merely this bat's born-on factory date.

Keep reading to see the details in this month's CGU piece.

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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 Today: Big pulls, a worn-out debate, some energy for MLB gaming, NFL chatter and wrestling's Mount Rushmore.

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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 Today: Big wax stashes, big pulls, debating subgrades, a thought about complete game-used memorabilia pieces.

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I'm 2-for-2 this season ... and my hit streak isn't over. There will be more.

What am I talking about? Picking off game-used baseball bats for the retired player I collect, Nick Swisher -- and in this case it's another 100-percent game-used and photo-matched piece ... but one without an MLB Authentication sticker. (Here's last time if you missed it.)

How was this possible? Some research and some luck -- but also knowing what things to look for with game-used bats. In this case, the bat model is somewhat common (used in his Yankees and then Indians years after Louisville Sluggers for most of his career before that) but the handle customizations were not the norm for most of his career. The grip was the first clue when trying to lock down a timeframe of when this bat was used and then a date written underneath the "33" sticker on the bat knob once in hand provided a starting point for still-image searches. Once I found those, then I went to video for additional ironclad matching.

This bat is another reminder that not every item that gets used gets a sticker -- and that's where you can find gems for any player.

You can keep reading to see the details this time.

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Check out the prices of unopened boxes from just two years ago in the gallery -- it should surprise you.

Do know what today is?

It was supposed to be the opening day of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., but with the life-changing coronavirus pandemic still in play across the country the show of all shows has been tentatively rescheduled for December. (And, realistically, that's likely in doubt.)

What might you have found on the show floor? Well, you can find stuff you might not even know exists -- or can even imagine -- and in the case of this throwback gallery of views from just two years ago you might wish you had a time machine.

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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 Today: The MLB season is here, big pulls, NBA chatter, a question for NFL game-used collectors and more in today's edition.

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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 areas of collecting perhaps overlooked by many.

VINTAGE-ERA PLAYER GAME-USED MEMORABILIA CARDS
With some card companies moving toward player-worn memorabilia cards for living legends along with the prospects a little more than in the past, I think game-used memorabilia cards of Hall of Famers and other notables from vintage years (for this argument I'd go pre-1990s players, but even moreso 1970s and before) seem like a safer buy with finds for all budget types. Some brands -- National Treasures, Prime Cuts, Classics, Museum Collection, Flawless and Immaculate Collection for example -- seem to ride older players' presences a little harder than others and you can find some gems. NT baseball for Hall of Famers, for example, is a prime spot for solid cards with bats a little easier than jerseys. For cheaper finds of players with fewer cards and still some nice possibilities, I'd suggest looking in this same realm at NFL and NBA sets ... some of those players simply may not have cards made in the future as the game-used items just aren't easy finds compared to baseball. (A glance at major auction house catalogs show that, too -- it can be nearly all MLB with other sports a seeming afterthought ... and that's where card companies often do their shopping.) Skepticism about origins of swatches have softened markets at times, but you'd be surprised what you can find out there under $100 ... heck even under $50 if shipping with a focus. Who should you pick up? Pick up who you like or who seems to be a good buy.

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

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THE BIG KAHUNA
The Item: LeBron James 2003-04 Exquisite Collection rookie patch autograph /23 (BGS 9.5/10)
The Price: $800,000 after 21 bids (three weeks remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The current Goldin Auctions sale includes a number of legendary pieces for Michael Jordan up for grabs, but right now it's a different No. 23 who might be re-writing the record books for some NBA cardboard soon and could become a million-dollar sports card. Early bidding action makes that something in the realm of possibility so far on this LeBron James piece. There were only 23 RPAs made and signed in this landmark release.

Keep reading for a deeper look at four more of items up for grabs in their current auction.

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This zoomed-in crop of a publicly available Getty Images preview photo taken by Lisa Blumenfeld shows four spots of wear that can all be seen on this Nick Swisher game-used SSK bat from 2012 that Buzz owns today.

Most of the time, your safest way to pick up a piece of game-used memorabilia from Major League Baseball action is to look for the sticker.

You know, the MLB Authentication sticker that has a code to tell you exactly when and where an item was used -- an ironclad way to know something is legit as it's stickered immediately after an item is pulled from play. But there are limitations to collecting game-used memorabilia.

Not every item that gets used gets a sticker -- and that's where you can find gems.

If you can take that risk and do the research, you can find an item that's better than stickered -- you can find pieces if you know how to photo-match. Not every item can be matched every time for sure, but that's part of the fun of collecting -- the hunt for the items and the hunt for images to show that they are, indeed, 110-percent legit.

You can keep reading to see the details 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 Today: Pedro Cerrano's autograph, Project 2020, new pulls, an NFL photo-match and the new hot baseball card set is ... 2012 Panini Prizm?

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A new MLB season is here and that means more brand-new game-used memorabilia pieces to come -- or, really, already piling up -- as games from the spring and beyond happen.

One of those items that can be especially messy and colorful this time of year? The lineup card -- an item where you can find names early in their careers or perhaps late tries at one last go before a season where a veteran may not even play. Sometimes they can be hand-written, sometimes they can be printed and then heavily modified. And, like I said, they can get messy in the spring with plenty of guys in and out of games. These items often aren't super-impressive, but they can get pretty cheap -- I've seen them as low as $10 in the past. But, they can also can be pricey with player autographs and authentication attached. (Manager autos can sometimes arrive sort of "free" as part of the cost.)

Lineup cards can be a simple pick-up -- any card for any game for your player or your team -- or you could make it a challenge and try to find only cards where your player hit a homer, got a win, or a hit and so on. This time? It was one of those ... but it also was a card with a little more -- a detail that I didn't think about when checking a player game log.

You can keep reading to see the details.

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