This one is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- 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 interesting cards from 2021 Topps Stadium Club.

ALTERNATIVE INK & BASE
If you poke around auctions you'll see guys with standard autos and then variations that use the 1991 Stadium Club design in place of the 2021 photo bar. And others use other looks (that are ultimately pretty much the same in the big picture of things) and then you can find variations without autographs, too. This being the 30th anniversary of Stadium Club it all works --  see the checklist here.

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

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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: 2021 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview: Click here

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

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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: The National, a collecting question, Project70, soccer breaks and big MLB pulls in today's edition.

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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 ...

VG THE MVP (SO FAR)
The Card: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Stadium Club #301 -- Rookie Card 
The Reason Graded: In my first bulk sub to CSG, which I recently got back -- 80 working days, by the way -- I worked in a few recent-year Rookie Cards just to see how some different kinds of stock are handled by the veteran grading company that has just turned its attention to sports cards starting this year. I sent this in before the season started, of course, but it looks like a smart slab now as Vladdy is demolishing things in MLB and is on pace for a monster season if he keeps at it.
The Grade: CSG 9

Reality Check: There's no pop report yet -- they say it's coming* -- but this one comes in at my anticipated mark, though I would have been happy to get a higher one. (You'll see those in the coming months.) This one has some high gloss and somewhat softer stock -- not the easiest grading combo -- but I think it's the backs here that are the key. This one not getting a higher grade made me wonder what might be holding it down -- a deal where I'd want to see subgrades, but not for $10 more. I do think, based on my results, that CSG is grading to a stricter standard (like BGS) vs. others (at least historically until recently) so I'm also OK with cards not checking in at 9.5s or 10s in bulk. My second bulk sub -- hopefully back soon, too -- included more stuff like this.

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

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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: PSA parent company buys Goldin Auctions, CCG to be sold, Jasson Dominguez, Trevor Bauer, The National and, of course Project70 on a busy day.

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Group breaks have been a game-changer for the card industry for several years now and from time to time Buzz will jump into a BlowoutTV break of some type and break down the results of what he landed by picking up a team. There are near-daily breaks right here with Matt on Blowout TV during weekday working hours and even more from Houdini and others over on the forum in the evening.

Now, it's time for this post's break breakdown -- a spot in an MLB mixer with some vintage flair.

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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: Kyle Schwarber, The National, Project 70, Trevor Bauer and big pulls lead the way.

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What: 2021 Bowman Draft baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 29
Box basics: No autos guaranteed in 10-pack LITE boxes (16 per case); three autos per 12-pack hobby boxes (eight per case); five autos per super-jumbo box (six per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The three-format approach comes to Bowman Draft, which has a tentative January arrival with the newest draft picks and more all in their MLB threads -- and with some new textures like Lava (above) among the Refractor rainbow.

See a gallery and more ... below.

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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: Kyle Schwarber can't stop smacking home runs, The National, new breaks, All-Star finalists and Project70.

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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: 2021 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.

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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: Deep thoughts, big breaks, non-sports chatter, Project70 and The National to get things going this week.

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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: MLB and NFL breaks, The National, Vladdy, Project70 and ... what if Matt Stafford can win a ring?

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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: Stadium Club arrives, Wander Franco, card centering, The National and some MLB breaks in this Saturday edition.

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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 ... 

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A RARE ROOKIE CARD PARALLEL 
The Card: Calvin Ridley 2018 Donruss Jersey Number parallel (/18) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $37.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was more of a premium pick-up for me yet still felt like a steal, too, as this is one of those rarer parallel type of cards where if you pass on one copy you might not see another again as it's a super-rare card in a release with a meaty, multi-format print run -- meaning some of the cards might never be found. It's relatively clean and I also had my eye on it for possible grading but there's a minor wrinkle or surface indent that could get a low mark (maybe). I probably won't risk that but it's no big deal as this one is staying in my school ties part of my stash. It doesn't hurt that he could have an even more dominating kind of season with future Hall of Famer Julio Jones on the move, though.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Donruss NFL (a few formats)

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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: Another no-hitter in MLB, The National, new Star Wars cards, Project70 and more.

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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: New pulls, old classics, The National, NBA pulls and the NBA Playoffs, the bubble and ... Wander Franco, Wander Franco, Wander Franco

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What: 2021 Bowman Sapphire Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Now initially via Topps.com
Box basics: One auto per eight-pack box
Sapphire Edition Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman Sapphire is live for the public today after a 582 Montgomery Club opener yesterday.

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

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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: It's Wander Franco's world now ... we're just living in it.

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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: 2006 Topps Update baseball cards (HTA Jumbo)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when/if available)

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

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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: 2021 Topps Heritage baseball cards (standard blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was 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: Wander Franco, Jasson Dominguez, The National, the College World Series, MLB investments and more Wander Franco in today's edition.

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What: 2021 Topps Dynasty baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 22
Box basics: One encased autographed card per box (five boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This high-end line returns with a little more color in its design than last year but plenty of the hard-hitting, high-end inclusions that are all limited in volume.

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

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You might have noticed a different approach to the newest card in a regularly appearing series from Topps.

Instead of using a pair of on-field images, the new Jackie Robinson 2021 Topps Game Within The Game card from artist Paul Jennis carries a historic twist. It uses the moment where Robinson shakes the hand of Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey after signing his contract with the team in 1945 -- his first step in forever changing MLB.

“I wanted to get Branch Rickey onto the card at the start of my planning process, but when he didn’t fit on the vertical painting, I thought it would still be impactful to get his hand into the final painting,” Jennis said. “Art is about symbolism. I can think of nothing more appropriate at this time in our nation’s history – with daily reminders that race is still an issue – of the image of Branch shaking Jackie’s hand nearly 75 years ago. Life is all about making the world better and lifting each other up, and that’s what the Dodgers did with their courageous act to sign Jackie to a contract as the first African-American player in the Major Leagues.”

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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: NBA Playoffs, Trae Young, Ben Simmons, a win from Prizm Draft, MLB pulls and The National.

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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: The futures of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant Rookie Cards, Ryan Mountcastle's big game, "real" NFL cardboard, The National and more.

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