What: 2024 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition baseball cards
Arrives: May 15
Box basics: One encased and numbered buyback autograph per box (20 boxes per case)
Signers list: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' long-running buyback brand arrives once again with an approach that "showcases some of the game's past stars, superstars and legends."

Keep reading for more.

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: 2024 Topps Heritage baseball cards (hanger)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

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

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 ... 

--

I CAN'T LAND THE CARD, BUT ... THIS IS EVEN BETTER
The Item: Paige autographed 2012 FCW Summer Slamarama 12-by-18 promotional poster
The Price: Pricey ... but probably less than your new WWE hobby box
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: So, what is this? It's a piece of 2000s WWE history that ultimately would only surface regionally (in Florida) and is one of few collectible options for the company's developmental ranks in the years before NXT was on TV every week. Florida Championship Wrestling was NXT's predecessor with it being broadcast on regional TV only (and sometimes weeks after events happened ... not live). Meanwhile, many of today's current stars got their starts there with different names than you might know -- and the only "stuff" that might be found now for this summer in particular are a single in-demand (and counterfeited) card set, potential programs/magazines, tickets and maybe a calendar ... but FCW wasn't like NXT is now in a lot of ways. It wasn't uncommon for the stars of now to be taking money for tickets or helping the crowd members find their seats before a modest small-venue show. This is a large poster that uses a version of Paige's card from that set of the same name -- a pricey one that's eluded me due to price and the fakes (I'd only buy graded) -- and this auto is an early, full-letter signature unlike her few card autos. It came from a Florida-based collector who went to an FCW show on June 8, 2012, in Punta Gorda, Fla., and landed it at a signing to kick off the regional Summer Slamarama Tour that year ... and that was the first event. Supposedly only 300 fans per stop (while they lasted) got card sets -- that also shows why those are pricey (if they survived). This stop had six FCW stars in the set signing these posters and Paige is the biggest of them by far -- and she had only signed with WWE as an 19-year-old and made her FCW debut that January. How many of these are still around now? I have no idea ... but I've never seen another.
Grab a box right here: Land WWE stuff at BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

What: 2024 Onyx Preferred Players Baseball Collection autographed baseballs
Arrives: Mid May
Box basics: One signed baseball per box (three boxes per case; 12 boxes per master case)
Final player checklist: TBD
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This MLBPA-approved product hits the diamond once again with some big surprises in store and a roster of young names who are in demand as well as legends of the game.

Keep reading for more info and a checklist.

Continue reading →

Some modern-day grail items and some vintage classics are all up for grabs right now ... via eBay and AMT Memorabilia. 

Among the nearly 1,500 items live now? A pair of Mike Trout patch-auto books, rare slabbed ink from the likes of Jackson Chourio and Jackson Holliday and even a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle with a little bit of everything in between.

Keep reading for the basics and a gallery of a few notables that are live now.

Continue reading →

What: 2024 Historic Autographs Prime Vol. 2 trading cards
Arrives: April 17
Box basics: Two DNA Hair Cards plus one jumbo patch or cut auto per box (10 boxes per case) or one hit per premium pack (30 packs per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs once again dips into something unusual but long-collected in the past -- hair -- for a new card release while also working in some notable autographs (at least one per case) from the past.

Keep reading for more information.

Continue reading →

What: 2024 Historic Autographs RetroGraph 3 baseball cards
Arrives: March 27
Box basics: Six autographs per pack (24 packs per case ... or 96 packs per master case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs takes to the diamond via its autographed buyback release for a third time that includes legendary ink on memorable baseball cards from the past as well as ink from some of the biggest stars of right now.

Keep reading for more information.

Continue reading →

What: 2024 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Platinum autographed baseballs
Arrives: March 13
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's autographed baseball chase brand hits the field for another year with some big chase baseballs -- think legends of the game -- and then a varied mix of stuff in every case.

The biggest chase of them all this year? Keep reading for that and a gallery of what's in this one.

Continue reading →

What: 2024 Historic Autographs YesterYear trading cards
Arrives: Feb. 21
Box basics: Four cut autos per 36-pack case
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs tries a pack format that offers up new glimpses of the past, an NBA buyback card in every pack and a cut autograph card in every ninth pack.

Keep reading for more information.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Panini Flawless baseball cards
Arrives: Jan. 24, 2024
Box basics: Seven autos, two memorabilia and one gem card per 10-card box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Flawless returns with a new batch of high-end finds for superstars of the past as well as prospects and selected young stars of the present all in one spot.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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 Panini Chronicles baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Historic Autographs Ink'd Threads Fall Edition Signed Jerseys
Arrives: Mid-November
Box basics: One autographed custom jersey per box (16 per case) -- plus two Historic Autographs packs per box
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs turns its attention to memorabilia for a second time this year with this multi-sport release that will include autographs from around the sports world and beyond -- and Hall of Famers are once again found in every other box.

Keep reading for more information.

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 packs: 1984 Donruss Baseball Champions
Where to buy: Check throwback spots ... hit BlowoutCards.com for newer MLB cards

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

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 packs: 1984 Donruss Baseball Champions
Where to buy: Check throwback spots ... hit BlowoutCards.com for newer MLB cards

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

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Panini Immaculate Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 4
Box basics: Four autographs and two memorabilia cards per six-card box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Immaculate is back for a new season on the diamond with nothing but hits inside for stars from the past and then promising prospects and guys who may already be new to the majors just this year.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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 ...

--

A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ... 
The Cards: Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) 2023 Topps Throwback Thursday Star Wars Wave 4 (/3,039)
The Price: About $40 for lot of nine
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: A lot of the online small-set releases from Topps have tempted me the last few years, but at times when I have bit the actual finished product isn't as appealing for my main reason I'd grab something -- issues that hurt if you're grading. This line has been tempting but instead of buying a bundle for a card that jumped out at me (like this one) I instead picked off a singles lot from a re-seller. Why? Again, grading. I was looking back at all of the 1952s for this brand and this one was by far the best of the bunch with the colors and photo. The centering here? About as flawed as the times that annoyed me in the past, but one or two here were decent enough that I'll send one in for grading at some point. They probably won't land top marks but I'd still be fine with a slabbed copy of this one as Dawson is a relative newcomer to Star Wars cards and in a lot of memorable past roles elsewhere.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this but ... Star Wars boxes are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

What: 2023 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Dugout Dreams autographed baseballs
Arrives: June 30
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: A new name on TRISTAR's autographed baseball chase brand lineup arrives soon with one monster Grand Treasure ball and then plenty of past and present superstars all among the finds in these mystery boxes.

What's the biggest chase of them all this year? Keep reading for details on that and a gallery of what's in this one.

Continue reading →

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 ...

A STRATUSFYING TEST?
The Tape: Trish Stratus 100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed (WWE, 2003)
The Reason Graded: There's a lot of talk about "alternative assets" in recent years and to a part of that audience trading cards are included. For those of us who work, live and breathe in the cardboard realm and have for a long time, it's perhaps more common sense and cards aren't necessarily an "alternative" or even an "asset." (It's a hobby for me.) But, grading of other items -- everyday stuff like magazines, video games, movies and toys -- that were used and in some ways shouldn't exist in their original form now might feel more that way. (They do to me.) I write about what I like, but this is a scenario where I dipped into a different realm of grading -- basically just to go through the process and see if I like it and then say that I did it once -- and I chose something that ties back into my collection as a whole. (That's wrestling.) Sealed VHS, video games and the like clearly have their audiences and demand is there for some things. There are some interesting sale prices out there for VHS -- everything from blockbusters from the late-1970s and early 1980s up to the oddball/culty stuff of the early 2000s before DVDs won the battle and stuff that you'd think wasn't even on VHS. Why is it a thing? Well, most stuff got used ... not saved, sealed and left untouched. (Sounds like baseball cards way back in the day, right?) With some steep discounts around the holidays here for grading fees, I grabbed this tape unopened and submitted it. VHS grading isn't cheap so doing them in serious bulk like cards ain't happening, which limits the volume available (for now) and the markets some, but this tape is one I felt comfortable with as a test. Why?The front cover is well-designed with a WWE icon and Hall of Famer front and center and having that visual appeal to start is one of the keys to demand if the grade doesn't work out.
The Grade: Beckett VHS 8.0 (Seal: A)

Reality Check: There's no posted pop report -- so this is a guess* -- and there's also not a posted grading scale yet, either, but I'll say this result bummed me out a bit. There were no substantial damage here other than a couple very minor things on one back edge of the box (where the ink was dark) so I had visions of a higher grade. But, it is what it is. My sub-grades came back 8.0 on corners, 7.5 on edges, 8.5 on flaps and 8.5 on gloss ... so the obvious flaw I knew about hurt the most. But, if we're talking about a 10-point scale, well, this piece, to me, doesn't feel closer to average or lesser. (I've seen some mangled VHS and DVD covers that were thrown around bargain bins where corners demolished surfaces ... those are lesser.) But, like I said, there's no posted scale to know what kinds of defects affect things here or there and no real cautions of what to look for. So, I did this as a test ... no regrets. Will I do it again? Probably not at present costs (I was in and out in a month, though) or without a scale to educate myself ... but, if I were to find a sealed clean and impressive copy of a couple of favorites from the past then maybe. Also, I'd be more inclined to do a different but related direction -- I think sealed DVDs and Blu-ray could actually be more popular as slabbed entities as it's way easier to find them sealed and they can have the same kind of appeal with modern packaging/designs. Plus they are smaller and lighter, too, making them easier to store and display. All in all, I like this piece and came up a bit short of what I thought it would grade at ... but it was still moderately Stratusfying.

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

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Onyx Preferred Players Baseball Collection autographed baseballs
Arrives: Late April
Box basics: One signed baseball per box (three boxes per case; 12 boxes per master case)
Final player checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This MLBPA-approved product hits the diamond once again with some big surprises in store and a roster of young names who are in demand as well as legends who may not be the easiest autos.

Keep reading for more info and a checklist.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Historic Autographs Ink'd Threads Signed Jerseys
Arrives: April 5
Box basics: One autographed custom jersey per box (14 per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs turns its attention to memorabilia with this multi-sport release that will include autographs from around the sports world -- and Hall of Famers in every other box.

Keep reading for more information.

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: The pitch clock, 2023 Topps, big pull from a 1st Edition box, grading chatter, spring training hype and "are Mickey Mantle cards weathering the card dip?"

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 →

Sure, today and this week is about the newest of the new in 2023 Topps, but Wheatland Auction Services has some of the biggest of the big cards up for grabs in an auction ending on Sunday.

Everything from iconic Hall of Famer tobacco cards like Ty Cobb above -- a card presently at $7,500 -- to slabbed Rookie Cards of the Super Bowl QBs, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are all presently on the auction block beginning at just $5 with the sale ending this Sunday evening (7 p.m. Eastern).

Keep reading for a look at some of the pieces and details on even more that's up for grabs -- cards, lots, memorabilia and more -- via the Lancaster, Pa.-based company.

Continue reading →

What: 2023 Historic Autographs National Pastime autographed baseballs
Arrives: Jan. 25
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (24 boxes per case via two inners)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs turns its attention to autographed baseballs with this blind-boxed approach that keeps it simple while also offering up some legendary ink from past stars.

Keep reading for more information.

Continue reading →

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 ... and it's one of my biggest groupings ever.

RARER THAN RARE ...
The Book: Batman No. 457 -- second-print newsstand edition
The Reason Graded: This one is why you grade. Why? Well this book is more than obscure ... it's obscure on top of obscure with a pop report that shows that in a couple ways. I had this sitting in a junk box of books -- comics bagged in bulk with others taped shut in between a couple boards -- since the late 1990s with it having absolutely no thought in my mind for that time. When I opened up the bag, though, I remembered its cool cover -- that's why I saved it -- and in the here and now it's an example of how the grading world has changed a lot of stuff. It wasn't popular back in the day and that makes it more valuable (potentially) now. What is it? It's a second printing of a newsstand copy for an issue that had the debut of a key character, Tim Drake as Robin. The regular edition of this book has been graded almost 1,400 times -- actually still a modest number for the era -- but a newsstand copy is something else. And a second-printed newsstand copy? Nobody wanted that. How many could have even been made and how many went unsold or were trashed? There's some mystery there as with a lot of things but the pop report talks.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: Just four copies of the 78 graded have checked in at my mark -- not bad considering I got this in some Sears catalog mystery box with like 25 comics for $10 back in the early 1990s. It wasn't a really impressive buy at all at that time -- a lot of stuff that just wasn't appealing or was later printings and I'm betting some of them were pitched or given away. Nobody wanted that then. But now? The numbers game and speculation has people on eBay sellers challenging the market. A 9.6 -- with twice as many copies as this one in existence -- has an eBay asking price of ... well just see it for yourself. It's not alone, either, as a 8.5 checks in with an asking of $3,800, an 8.0 checks in at $3,500 and a 6.5 is $1,499. Other versions (first print direct and newsstand) are cheaper along with direct second prints as they've all got far higher pop reports. People like the easier versions a lot -- eBay highs as much as $255 but not for this one -- and who knows where the other three 9.8s might even be? What might mine command? I'm not sure ... but I know this is pretty solid potential for something that was pocket change from years ago. Again, this is why you grade.

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

Continue reading →