Kenta Maeda
Topps details silver pack inclusions for 2017 Topps Series 1 release
We're just two days away from the official hobby arrival of 2017 Topps Series 1 baseball cards and among the promotions for the hobby's flagship brand are Silver promo packs that take us all back to 1987.
Topps has revealed the final checklist and details for those packs and the 2017 Topps 1987 Chrome Refractors set today.
Buzz Break: 2016 Bowman's Best baseball cards (hobby box)
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: 2016 Bowman's Best baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 72
Base set completion: 21 of 65 (32 percent)
Duplicates: 0Base cards of note – Mike Trout, Buster Posey, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Yu Darvish, Anthony Rizzo
Rookie Cards (11) – Kenta Maeda, Blake Snell, Dae-Ho Lee, Miguel Sano, Nomar Mazara, Jose Berrios, Jameson Taillon, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Nola, Michael Fulmer
Gallery: 2016 Bowman's Best baseball cards (updated)
The final Bowman brand of the year arrives in hobby shops today with autographs from notable players of the past, the present and potentially the future.
You know, guys like No. 1 draft pick Mickey Moniak.
He's not alone in packs of 2016 Bowman's Best -- keep reading for more info and a gallery of what's been found so far.
Chrome Update returns in Mega Boxes with Superfractors & more
The Topps Mega Box is back -- but only at Target stores.
Topps revealed its plans for a 2016 Topps Chrome Update baseball card set on Thursday and, like past years, those cards will be retail-only finds in its holiday Mega Box offering that will have a limited retail release this holiday season.
And there will be some new inclusions when they start hitting stores this week.
Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Update baseball cards (hobby box)
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: 2016 Topps Update baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 356
Base set completion: 300 of 300 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 19Notables on base cards – Anthony Rizzo, Clayton Kershaw, Nolan Arenado, Francisco Lindor, Buster Posey, Jackie Bradley Jr., Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, Mike Trout, David Ortiz, Kris Bryant, Aroldis Chapman, Jake Arrieta, Ichiro Suzuki
Rookie Cards (95; includes duplicates) – Notables include Aledmys Diaz, Michael Fulmer, Julio Urias, Willson Contreras, Tyler Naquin, Kyle Schwarber, Corey Seager, Kenta Maeda, Nomar Mazara, Trevor Story
Bowman Platinum's powerful return should impress with checklist alone
Big names, big ink and a smaller than normal distribution is a recipe for a hot product with longer-term potential.
Some of the names on the autographed checklist should reinforce that potential -- Alex Bregman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brendan Rodgers, Daz Cameron, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Lucas Giolito, Willson Contreras, Yoan Moncada, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Julio Urias, Kris Bryant, Kenta Maeda, Mike Trout and Trevor Story. (And that's just two of the checklists in this one.)
That product is 2016 Bowman Platinum, and it's initially billed as a Walmart-only brand doing well enough that it's now also available with 20-pack boxes on hand from Blowout.
Looks like 2016 Bowman Platinum baseball cards are on the way -- as a Walmart exclusive
Bowman Platinum is apparently making a comeback.How do we know this?
Topps released a final checklist for the baseball brand on Wednesday -- and that makes it a likely candidate to be arriving very soon as a
Topps.com exclusive. Update: Make that a Walmart exclusive.It will arrive on Aug. 24 with a parallel rainbow that includes Purple (/250), Green (/99), Orange (/25), Black (1/1) and printing plates (1/1) parallels as well as Ice parallels only available two per "value box."
Update 2: There will be two autographs per 20-pack box, while blaster boxes (value box) will have seven packs and a four-card Ice parallel pack. Fat packs will include 12 cards.
Sweet 16: MLB midseason surprises include unknowns & obvious
The MLB All-Star Game is nearly upon us and that gives us all a chance to take a break and assess the season so far and watch the home runs fly in tonight's Home Run Derby.
One of those sluggers is Cincinnati's Adam Duvall, who has 23 homers out of absolute nowhere and nearly no cardboard to show for it. As previously noted here on The Buzz, Duvall's first Rookie Card arrived in 2016 Topps Series 2. And to show how off the radar he's been he's a third-year big-leaguer with just one past Bowman card appearance -- no autographs -- and this Rookie Card is one that doesn't even have an RC logo. That probably hasn't helped sales, but some rarities are sellers.
There are other big names in the hobby this season who have played well -- in fact there are a lot of decent showings -- but here are 15 who have impressed on the field and should be noticed when it comes to cardboard.
Panini reveals VIP set for National Sports Collectors Convention
Panini America is readying for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention and part of that preparation was revealed on Wednesday in the form of its first promo cards for the show.
It's a six-card VIP set.
Need a 2016 Bowman Inception baseball card checklist? Click here ...
This year's edition of Bowman Inception is just a week away, and that means the latest round of Inceptioned insert cards, plenty of prospect autographs and maybe a few surprises.
Well, there won't be as many surprises now since Topps has released the checklist.
Need a 2016 Topps Stadium Club baseball checklist? Get it here ...
The wait is nearly over for 2016 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards as the recently retro-styled brand arrives on Friday with plenty of creative photos and plenty of fun in every box.
The checklist for the brand arrived from Topps on Sunday night so keep reading to learn more.
Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hobby box)
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: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 360
Base set completion: 321 of 350 (92 percent)
Duplicates: 0Notable players on base cards – Stephen Strasburg, Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, Albert Pujols, David Price, David Ortiz, Francisco Lindor, Madison Bumgarner, Ichiro Suzuki, Steven Matz, Alex Rodriguez, Addison Russell, Yu Darvish, Byron Buxton.
Rookie Cards (44) – Notables include Adam Duvall, Kenta Maeda, Max Kepler, Raul Mondesi.
Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (blaster box)
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: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Packs per box: 10 (plus one medallion pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion: 79 of 350 (23 percent)
Duplicates: 0Notable players on base cards – Stephen Strasburg, Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, Albert Pujols, David Price.
Rookie Cards (10) – Kenta Maeda, Pedro Severino, Guido Knudson, Miguel Almonte, Scott Alexander, Luke Maile, Keith Hessler, Jorge Lopez, Ariel Pena, Ramon Cabrera.
First Buzz: 2016 Panini Immaculate Collection baseball cards
What: 2016 Panini Immaculate Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 17
Box basics: Five autographs or memorabilia cards per six-card box (eight boxes per case)
What's buzz-worthy: Immaculate's baseball presence returns with on-card rookie autographs this time around as well as Rookie Patch Autographs that are also signed on-card. Also back, of course, will be the creative and beefy memorabilia cards collectors expect from the brand.
Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.
Bull Durham autographs aren't only highlights on 2016 Topps Archives baseball card checklist
Annie Savoy, Bobby, Crash Davis, Jimmy, Larry Hockett, Millie, Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, Tony and Bull Durham creator Ron Shelton.Those are the Durham autographs set to arrive in 2016 Topps Archives when it arrives on June 1, which is one week from today.
For those not familiar with the characters of the memorable baseball film, that's all of the main stars -- Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, Robert Wuhl, Jenny Robertson and a few others who helped bring the film to life.
Kenta Maeda autographed RC will be found in 2016 Bowman Chrome
It shouldn't be a surprise that he'll be included, but it should be a surprise when you pull him.
Topps announced on Monday that Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda will have autographed Rookie Cards in 2016 Bowman Chrome when it arrives on Sept. 7.
Buzz Break: 2016 Bowman baseball cards (hobby box)
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: 2016 Bowman baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 240
Base set completion: 101 of 150 (67 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 72 of 150 (48 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome prospect set completion: 48 of 150 (32 percent)
Duplicates: 0Notable players on base cards – Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado, Carlos Correa, David Ortiz, Ichiro Suzuki, Albert Pujols, Zack Greinke, David Price, Kris Bryant
Rookie Cards (22) – Corey Seager, Michael Conforto, Luis Severino, Jose Peraza, Zach Lee, Hector Olivera, Matt Reynolds, Carl Ewdards Jr., Frankie Montas, Trea Turner, Henry Owens, Miguel Sano, Trayce Thompson, Max Kepler, Kyle Waldrop, Jorge Lopez, Tom Murphy, Jon Gray, Gary Sanchez, Richie Shaffer, Aaron Nola, Miguel Almonte
Notable Prospects (both sets) – Yoan Moncada, Kenta Maeda, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daz Cameron, Brendan Rodgers, Carson Fulmer
May the Fourth can be with you -- even if you're a baseball fan
It's the fourth day of May and, of course, that's got a Star Wars tie. (If you don't get it, you probably haven't seen the movies.)
As part of this holiday of sorts Topps has created the 2016 Topps Star Wars Tribute baseball set -- a series of prints and jumbo cards in the style of the memorable early Star Wars stickers made by the company way back in 1977.
Got $15,000? If so, the 2016 Bowman Kenta Maeda Superfractor autograph can be yours ...
It's a redemption, but it will still sell well.
The 2016 Bowman Chrome Kenta Maeda Superfractor auto has been pulled from a pack of 2016 Bowman and made its way to eBay on Sunday.
It's listed by eBay user tcbuilt28 in Seattle, Wash., with a Buy It Now price of $14,999 -- along with a $2.75 shipping fee. (Update: It reportedly sold for $7,000.)
Buzz Break: 2016 Bowman baseball cards (blaster box)
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: 2016 Bowman baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 80
Base set completion: 34 of 150 (23 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 24 of 150 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome prospect set completion: 16 of 150 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0Notable players on base cards – Mike Trout, David Price, Madison Bumgarner, Stephen Strasburg, Yu Darvish, Nolan Arenado
Rookie Cards (7) – Jose Peraza, Brandon Drury, Max Kepler, Rob Refsnyder, Luis Severino, Trea Turner, Hector Olivera
Notable Prospects (both sets) – Kenta Maeda, Brendan Rodgers, Nick Gordon, Rafael Devers, Brady Aiken, Jhailyn Ortiz
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (April 29)
The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.
What's Buzzing Today: 2016 Bowman, Kenta Maeda, the NFL Draft & no more Topps football cards ... so now what?
Gallery & checklist: 2016 Bowman baseball cards
They say Chrome is king and the latest piece of the dynasty officially arrives tomorrow.
The biggest draw in 2016 Bowman might arguably be the Chrome autograph debut of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda, but there are plenty more players who will keep prospectors busy.
Kenta Maeda's Bowman Chrome auto debut comes at perfect time
The headlines after Kenta Maeda's fourth MLB start speak of superlatives -- all-time superlatives -- and that bodes well for his cardboard.
In part due to good timing.
In the Now: 2016 Topps Now baseball cards changing game (checklist & ongoing gallery)
Topps' new program creating real baseball cards in real time documenting the highlights of the here and now have caught on with some collectors as this season has begun with some historic starts and impressive debuts for MLB rookies.
It's 2016 Topps Now and the cards are only available for a 24-hour window. After that, the population reports are released and the next day's cards are unveiled -- all in made-to-order, real-time fashion.
First Buzz: 2016 Topps Heritage High Series baseball cards
What: 2016 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards
Arrives: Sept. 21
Box basics: One autograph or Relic per 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
What's buzz-worthy: The High Series once again arrives as an in-pack brand continuing this year's journey back to 1967 with a new wave of base cards, inserts and hits.
Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.