It's been a busy day on The Buzz for headlines in the here and now of today -- you know, modern cardboard and sports business -stuff -- so I'll work from left field on this quick and simple vintage item with a story.

Call it a Buzz Buys (it is), call it afternoon/evening filler (yeah, it is), call it whatever you want depending on your collecting tastes ... I like to call this one interesting.

I recently found this old, semi-mangled print from the archives of The Sporting News from a dealer of other non-card materials and the simplicity of that clean pose got me to stop and look. Why? Well, a lot of photos just don't look like that from back then -- where, for example, you can see plenty of details on the fabric of Bill Connelly's Philadelphia Athletics jersey. (Yes, Philadelphia ... that's the Oakland A's two cities ago where they made plenty of MLB history from 1901 to 1954, winning five World Series and nine American League pennants.) This one just felt really different, though. That just felt like a superstar kind of pose, or at least somebody of note who needed a portrait taken by a major publication, and yet ... I didn't know his name.

Who's in the background? I dunno. When's it from? Based on what's scribbled on the back of this one -- a patchwork of handwriting from a few uses over the years -- I'm not that sure. So that's when I headed over to Baseball Reference to learn more and that's where this one got interesting to me. I learned plenty more.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? An NFL Salute to Service game with the look to prove it and a big-time game for a rookie, too.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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There's a first time for everything and tomorrow Willie Mays starts saying "Hey" to collectors opening packs of Panini America baseball cards.

The Hall of Famer debuts in 2023 Panini Three & Two baseball boxes with autographs, memorabilia cards and more as the company formally unveiled that news this week.

“Willie Mays is an absolute icon and we are absolutely thrilled to be working with him to bolster our baseball products,” said Jim Stefano, Panini America’s VP of Product Development, in a prepared release. “Mays is one of those rare transcendent players whose mere presence in our products makes them immeasurably stronger. We can’t wait for fans and collectors to see what we have in store.”

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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 ...

The Card: Joe Namath 2015 Topps 60th Anniversary Rookie Reprint Autographs #T60RAJN
The Reason Graded: Buzz first met this NFL legend almost 20 years ago and landed the ink for free thanks to some luck while autograph hounding but when it comes to certified autographs of this icon I didn't have any until recent years. Why? He's always been a pricey auto but that has come down a bit as he's been a steady signer and doesn't have quite as much hobby heat as the guy at the end of this month's list. This release was how Topps burned off its Hall of Famer autographs via packs on its website once its NFL deal was done, so the influx of big-name autos helped make the supply even stronger at the time perhaps without added demand. I scouted them all where I buy and this one looked near-perfect to me in both its centering and that ink. Seriously, look at that signature ... that's a perfect Namath auto.
The Grade: BGS 9.5/10

Reality Check: I absolutely thought I had a BGS 10 contender with this one, though I submitted it before I picked up my better loupe and I probably didn't check the back as closely as I should have. Either way, it's still a very solid card in my stash. I don't grade autographs all that often -- I fear results I won't like on those -- but this one I had to. Most of them landed this grade with only one higher so I don't feel bad about not landing a 10.

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

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He had a day ... but his team still lost.

Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey dominated in two ways on Sunday with 17 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown and a nearly league-leading 11 catches for 112 and another touchdown but the only wins went out to fantasy league owners who started him as the Seahawks won it 30-27.

He's probably not the top hobby guy on the team, but here might still be bargains out there for McCaffrey, whose Rookie Cards and debut autos can be found in 2017 boxes. That may not last with more games like this one. >> Check out his autos on eBay

>> Click here to shop for football boxes on BlowoutCards.com.

Keep reading for more guys who generated some buzz on the field this week.

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What: 2018 Historic Autographs Capitol of Baseball Series 1
Arrives: Nov. 7
Box basics: Two PSA/DNA authenticated cut autographs per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs looks back at seven great teams in New York City MLB history for this first of at least two planned releases -- this one will include "an overload of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio autographs" for starters.

Keep reading for more information.

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There were a few surprises in Week 1 of the NFL season but some of those simply aren't in spots that will affect cardboard all that dramatically. For example? The Buffalo Bills got spanked 47-3 and were down big at halftime, leading to the NFL debut of QB Josh Allen ... as you can see by the score, that just didn't matter. (He went 3-for-11 for 40 yards ... we'll worry about him in some future week.)

This week? There were some comebacks, some surprises due to injuries and suspensions and some highlight-reel runs that won't hurt cardboard at all.

That last one? It belonged to New York Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley who broke off a 68-yarder for his first NFL touchdown. That came part of a 106-yard day that was all for naught as the Jacksonville Jaguars won, 20-15. Barkley also added two catches for 22 yards to help him stay on the radar of many collectors, though, and highlight-reel moments probably matter more than Ws when it comes to cardboard -- so that's the kind of play that works.

>> Click here to shop for football boxes on BlowoutCards.com  >> Check out Saquon Barkley autos on eBay

Keep reading for more guys who generated some buzz on the field 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 Today: Some prospecting pontification and the rest is NFL chatter and pulls as kickoff time nears.

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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 NFL season is almost here -- so we're heavy on football in today's edition.

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An autographed baseball by one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history will be sold tonight, commanding some serious cash when it's all said and done.

The pitcher? It's Christy Mathewson -- a 373-game winner who died at age 45 back in 1925 after a legendary career with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in its first class alongside Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner.

About nine hours remain in the Mile High Card Company auction ... and the interest is strong.

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Two new bobbleheads coming in June are all about the Super Bowl -- but without saying it.

The first from bobble-maker FOCO is a statue of Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, who had a rather unforgettable look and an even more memorable speech with the team's championship parade.

He's now going to be forever commemorated in this eight-inch bobblehead that will cost $39.99 -- and he's not alone.

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Game-used memorabilia from one of baseball's greatest sluggers is hitting the auction block next month.

SCP Auctions will be handling the sale of several items from Mel Ott, a Hall of Famer who hit 511 home runs and led the National League in long balls six times during a 22-year career -- all with the New York Giants.

“It’s our pleasure to auction off these items from Mel Ott’s family,” says SCP Auctions President David Kohler. “He truly was a baseball treasure and we look forward to seeing how the bidding goes.”

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We're down to the last 12 NFL teams and that means we have just one question for the remainder of the football calendar.

[polldaddy poll=9625420]

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Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to shop for football boxes on BlowoutCards.com.

A number of treasures from the career of Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi will be hitting the auction block in January via SCP Auctions, which is handling the sale of the items for his family.

Among them are championship rings, a congratulatory telegram and other personal items all consigned by the late coach's only son.

“It is truly an honor for SCP Auctions to put these items up for bid on behalf of the Lombardi Family,” said SCP President David Kohler.

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LT is a VIP.

Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor is the latest guest for the Panini America VIP Party that's set for Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J. He's the fifth guest revealed by the company and only one announced (so far) on Friday.

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Christy Mathewson game-used memorabilia is elusive and expensive with the term "museum collection" being very applicable because there's just one game-used jersey known to be in the hands of a private individual.

And that one gamer, a 1900-04 New York Giants jersey, is headed to the auction block in late August via Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

"This Platinum Night auction will close within weeks of the centennial of Mathewson's final pitching appearance, the last of a staggering tally of 373 major league victories, third best in baseball history," reads the auction description. "The Sept. 4, 1916, contest against fellow pitching legend Mordecai Brown would likewise prove to be the last game of Three Fingers' career. And in that century that has elapsed since that battle of aging titans, only a single example of Mathewson's game-worn jerseys has surfaced within the collecting community.

"Heritage Auctions is honored and privileged by the opportunity to present that garment."

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Update: The card sold for $478,000.

"The Say Hey Kid" will likely be the next icon of the past to set a record on the auction block as one of the highest-graded specimens of a key card is now up for grabs via Heritage Auctions.

The card is a PSA 9 copy of Willie Mays' 1952 Topps card and the opening bid is $200,000.

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The current SCP Auctions sale includes items from the personal collections of Baseball Hall of Famer Don Drysdale and collections of memorabilia that include plenty of other big names, but it's a selection of championship rings here that's highlight-worthy.

Below is a gallery of 18 rings up for sale now and ending on April 23. Click below to enter the gallery, get a closer look, see who's owned them and what the bidding sits at now.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com.

Before he made his big-league debut in 1949, Monte Irvin had been a star in the Negro Leagues who was among the most-respected in the game -- a player who had all-around skills and quite a strong career before making the leap to MLB and ultimate enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

“Monte was the choice of all Negro National and American League club owners to serve as the No. 1 player to join a white major-league team,” Newark Eagles owner and Hall of Famer Effa Manley once said. “We all agreed, in meeting, he was the best qualified by temperament, character ability, sense of loyalty, morals, age, experiences and physique to represent us as the first black player to enter the white majors since the Walker brothers back in the 1880s. Of course, Branch Rickey lifted Jackie Robinson out of Negro ball and made him the first, and it turned out just fine.”

Irvin, who went on to eight seasons in the big leagues, hitting .293 with 99 homers and 443 RBI beginning as a 30-year-old "rookie," died on Tuesday. He was 96.

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He was known as "Little Napoleon" during his 17 seasons as a player that began way back in 1891 and during his 36 seasons as a manager that ended back in 1932, but the memorabilia cards of Baseball Hall of Famer John McGraw found in 2015 Panini National Treasures are a big deal.

Why? They're unprecedented in hobby history.

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