Panini America
Buzz Break: 2020 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks (mega 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: 2020 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (mega box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 20)
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, big questions, chasing Big Hurt's biggest card and this record-setting card sale.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 19)
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 rule the day in this weekend edition.
Auction Buzz: Some final-day history brewing over at Goldin
Update: The above card sold for $1.84 million when the auction ended -- the buyer being a direct-mail company's CEO.
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The action is picking up as the clock is winding down for the finale tonight at Goldin Auctions with this 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James card already topping the $1-million mark with its premium.
There's about nine hours to go before the auction might end with more bids beyond the current 24, but even the current mark would make it the most-expensive basketball card ever sold as well as the priciest modern card in any sport, topping past $900,000-plus sales of key Mike Trout autos via Goldin.
The Runnemede, N.J.-based auction house has a number of other big-ticket memorabilia pieces and interesting items in its current auction. (Don't believe me? Hit that link and look at the first six items -- they're huge and don't make my list this time.)
Keep reading for a deeper look at a few more items ending tonight.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 18)
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: Reeling in big ones, new pulls, a new soccer section, collecting Junior and more in this early morning edition.
Fast Five: Overlooked things collectors should consider
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 perhaps overlooked things baseball card collectors should consider.
USA BASEBALL
Nearly every year, nearly every draft pick already has appeared on a baseball card thanks to the USA Baseball deal with Panini today and a few other companies in the past. If you want an autograph, memorabilia card or just basic baseball card (or two, or three) for this year's No. 1 draft pick, Spencer Torkelson, all you have to do is rip into some USA Baseball packs. He's already got almost 200 different card appearances there -- nearly half of those autographs -- thanks to these releases and other prospect All-Star showcase products. The same can be said for a lot of notables from the last decade-plus and they won't cost you nearly as much as popular-brand MLB prospect debut cards or MLB Rookie Cards. Isn't the big appeal of first prospect cards or Rookie Cards their being early? USA Baseball can trump them all with players in their teen years having cards years before college or pro stardom. Torkelson, for example, has had cards since 2016 and had his first USA stuff in 2018 (Elite Extra Editon). He can be found in the last two Stars & Stripes releases, too. These cards are also easy enough to find to rip in bulk and stockpile/slab.Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.
Buzz Break: 2019 Donruss WNBA basketball cards (hobby)
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: 2019 Donruss WNBA basketball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one ...
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 17)
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 new section for wrestling breaks and a big bummer in today's edition.
First Buzz: 2020 Panini National Treasures college football
What: 2020 Panini National Treasures college football cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: Six autographs or memorabilia cards per eight-card box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: National Treasures hits the field for college once again with autographs and memorabilia for recent college superstars.
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
Buzz Break: 2020 Panini Absolute Baseball (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: 2020 Panini Absolute Baseball (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for this one.
First Buzz: 2020 Panini Origins football cards
What: 2020 Panini Origins football cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: One on-card rookie auto, one jumbo rookie patch auto and one jumbo or patch mem card per seven-card box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Origins' fifth season on the gridiron arrives with the same formula as the past but with a new crop of rookies and some new inclusions on the short-printed side.
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
Buzz Break: 2019-20 Donruss Optic NBA cards (mega box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2019-20 Donruss Optic basketball cards (Walmart mega box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 16)
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: Pondering custom jerseys and "beautiful" cards, Dan Snyder news coming, big pulls and more in today's edition.
First Buzz: 2020 Panini Chronicles baseball cards
What: 2020 Panini Chronicles baseball cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: Three autographs and one memorabilia cards per six-pack box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Panini's all-in-ones brand arrives once again with some familiar sets as well as some new ones all under one lid with either a hit or a Spectra card in every pack.
Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.
Panini America stays in college with CLC license extension
Panini America is staying in college.
Its licensing deal with the CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company, has been extended beyond its current deal that was signed in 2015. It was dubbed "a long-term extension" but no details were revealed other than it remaining an exclusive one for the schools that are covered by the program.
“We’ve been impressed by the creativity, innovation and value that Panini America has delivered to our partner institutions and the collegiate space in just five short years, and we look forward to working with them as they continue pushing the category to new heights,” said CLC VP Dave Kirkpatrick in a prepared release. “We entered this partnership on behalf of our client institutions back in 2015 with high hopes on the new direction, and we are pleased to say those expectations have been exceeded.”
eBay Buzz: Conor McGregor rarity, bargain-box zipper pulls, Max Weinberg and more highlights mostly up for grabs now
Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.
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SUPPLY VS. DEMAND ...
The Item: Conor McGregor 2014 Topps UFC Bloodlines Ruby parallel (/8)
The Price: Sold for $125
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't normally showcase old auctions but this one struck me as a tad surprising but also as a situation to offer up some thoughts, though it is admittedly a rare parallel card of a top name. What happens when wax boxes vanish because they get ripped and then rare stuff pops back up on the market years after a deluge? Well, sales like this and it's seemingly not alone as I have seen some Relic lots and other inclusions here command similar prices when they might not normally -- at least under conventional thinking that's not all that realistic about the markets. This brand is one with a hit in every box and 10 packs, too, making it a safe rip and a relatively fun one (I liked it and I'm not the biggest UFC fan) and in the box I opened I landed a parallel like this one -- mine was Ronda Rousey. The auto checklist has some solid names and every box also includes a cool engot card that can also command a few bucks and a lot more than you might think if it's a key name. I noticed a box of this one in stock over in the store and I'd totally grab it if I did higher-priced boxes more regularly ... but instead I'll let one of you do the honors and show me what I could have had.
Similar Pieces: Other 2014 UFC Bloodlines cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2014 Topps UFC BloodlinesKeep reading for a few more interesting items in this week's roundup ...
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 15)
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, Yasiel Puig to the Braves and crunching some numbers in today's edition.
Buzz Break: 2020 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks (mega 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: 2020 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (mega box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 14)
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: New breaks, Pete Rose's newest card, best catchers and ... is there a "base card revolution" happening?
Buzz Buys: A big Jasson Dominguez, Ernie Davis, oddball ink, MLB Hall of Famers, Buffy The Vampire Slayer & plenty more
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 ... and this time around there's some new stuff and some oddball stuff as I'm still waiting on a bunch of pick-ups to arrive.
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A BIGGER DEAL
The Card: Jasson Dominguez 2020 Bowman wall art (/99)
The Price: $17.50 (after promotional discount)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy's iconic card this year has eluded me beyond a couple of standard Bowman cards I pulled in blasters -- all I really wanted was a clean grading-worthy Chrome, but no -- so I opted for a limited version of a card that's a big deal this year but in bigger form as Topps wall art. This is an 11-by-13 version of the card that Topps sold on its site for $24.99 (sold out) but with a 30 percent discount if you buy three posters of any kind. I opted for this one and some other stuff you'll see here in the coming weeks and months. Will Dominguez pay off for the many chasing him? We'll find out eventually but this one fits into my stash pretty well no matter what as I try to pick off Rookie Cards as wall art -- mostly Heritage but I also include a few other iconic cards.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of these ... but 2020 Bowman can be yours in a few forms hereKeep reading for more interesting items ...
Fast Five: Players to consider stockpiling right now ...
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 players to stockpile right now.
LEGENDARY LULL? MAYBE FOR SOME STUFF ...
Once Tom Brady's new-team cardboard arrives there will be some heat there but for long-term stockpiling, I'd be looking at other things for this Hall of Fame lock and all-time great. His Rookie Cards from 2000 boxes are stupid expensive so stockpiling those ain't easy even if you have a Centurion black card -- there's just not an infinite amount to be found. But there are other types of cards that you should be able to find far cheaper and can sit on for the future. Don't think there's heat here on non-rookie, non-auto stuff? Click here. I'm not even recommending loading up there. Brady game-used jersey cards might be first on my list -- none of his gamers will be cheap to find at this point for card companies -- though they aren't super-cheap either. (I perhaps own one pulled long ago.) But you should also consider standard flagship types of cards and parallels -- basic Topps, Score, Playoff, Panini staples -- with an eye on grading. Prices on basic Brady cardboard out there is often far cheaper than, say, LeBron James, Ken Griffey Jr. or Kobe Bryant with plenty of options. And he's a lock as being his sport's all-time best -- and keep in mind that some Patriots stuff might have lulls with the move to Tampa Bay ... perhaps moreso if the season is delayed or shortened.Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 13)
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: Reactions to NFL news, football collector highlights and some big pulls in today's edition.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 12)
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 insane pulls with multiple Mike Trout rarity appearances from just two cases, big collecting questions and more in today's edition.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (July 11)
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, pondering multi-player Rookie Cards, a thought about grading and more in today's edition.
Fast Five: Areas of collecting perhaps overlooked by many
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.