Zion Williamson's first cards are here thanks to Panini America's promo packs at The National last week and there's ultimately only one place to get them right now -- and it will be a wait until there's more.

That's a recipe for success -- one with what's expected on the court out of the NBA's No. 1 draft pick as well as what's expected from his first official NBA cardboard. Panini Contenders Draft Picks arrives with his next Duke cards on Sept. 4 with NBA Hoops including his New Orleans Pelicans cards debut in October.

The only homes for Williamson cards right now? Panini's Silver National packs, its gold VIP Party packs, its VIP Party Black Boxes and its National VIP set. Before that? Just a few Panini Instant cards from draft night. Everything else out there? Part of a  huge fake cardboard problem that's been sucking big money out of peoples' pockets as they want a piece of the Duke star.

Now, how well is the real stuff selling?

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 Today: Is a signed Rookie Card buyback still a Rookie Card? One Target, 48 Bowman Mega Boxes? Those questions and more in today's edition.

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: 2018 Panini Elite Extra Edition baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby when available)

Buzz picked up three of these boxes in the bargain bin ... and the results dictated that they all be shown together.

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 Today: Post-National chatter, a look at breaks today and pondering whether a good photo makes a good card.

Continue reading →

Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Ty France, 3B, Padres — Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas
Baseball America’s highlight line: “If the new Triple-A ball is going to lead to massively inflated offensive numbers, it’s fitting that there’s a player posting one of the best statistical seasons we’ve seen this century. France is now hitting .396/.473/.780 with 26 home runs. He could become the first full-season minor league hitter to top .400 since Erubiel Durazo hit .404 in 1999, and he may do it while hitting more than 30 home runs as well."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 25
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: He's putting up a year that has historic superlatives involved and he's got just one brand where you can find his baseball cards right now, 2019 Donruss Optic. He's got roughly 25 cards there but we're still left to wait on a certified autograph. He should get another MLB look soon, though the name-drop of Erubiel Durazo should tell you how much stock can be put into historic MiLB seasons in the long run when it comes to cardboard.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

Continue reading →

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.

--

ZION HITS PACKS ... AT THE NATIONAL
The Item: Zion Williamson 2019 Panini National Rainbow Spokes parallel (/50) BGS 9.5
The Price: $1,499.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The NBA's No. 1 draft pick has officially hit packs via the promos that Panini America made for the just-ended National Sports Collectors Convention and its Panini VIP Party on Saturday night. While we haven't seen any ink in wrappers just yet, these promo packs will be the only place to find him until the first 2019-20 draft picks and NBA sets arrive later this year. This is one of a few cards that was graded at the show -- and it won't be the last Williamson cardboard to end up slabbed. There will be many to come ... it's just a matter of when and where, especially when it comes to autographs.
Similar Pieces: Zion Williamson Panini cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for the promo packs section 

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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 Today: Bieber error leads to tweets and that leads to cash, big pulls, new breaks and news from The National that also includes the FBI.

Continue reading →

All that limousine riding and jet flying is to get to the Panini America VIP Party on Saturday night.

Professional wrestling legend "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is the ninth star that Panini has revealed for the event tomorrow night in Chicago.

The 16-time world champion is a member of several wrestling Halls of Fame and has been a global star for WWE, WCW, the NWA and other past organizations as one of the top heels in pro wrestling history. He had his first certified autographs made by Panini in its 2009 Americana release -- and, if you're to believe him back in the day, his shoes cost more than your house.

Continue reading →

The Panini America VIP Party has another Hall of Famer suiting up.

Former Atlanta Braves slugger Chipper Jones will be on hand for the Saturday event made for high-rollers in Chicago, and he's the eighth star announced for the show.

The former third baseman and outfielder hit .303 with 468 home runs and 1,623 RBI in his 19-year career that included a World Series ring in 1995, eight All-Star appearances, an NL MVP award and an NL batting title.

Continue reading →

The No. 2 pick in the NHL Draft has a new team.

Panini America revealed on Thursday that it has signed Finnish hockey star Kaapo Kakko to an exclusive autograph card deal. That means the new New York Rangers star will only have autographed Rookie Cards via Panini, which no longer holds an NHL card license after its deal there ended following the 2013-14 season.

“Kaapo Kakko is nothing less than an international hockey phenomenon and his arrival in the U.S. – and New York, no less — is one of the most exciting developments the sport has seen in years,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop in a prepared release. “He’s expected by many to drive the hockey trading card market this season and is poised to become the next great athlete in the sport of hockey, and we’re thrilled to have him as an exclusive member of the Panini America team. We’re looking forward to working closely with him to create exciting and creative trading cards for fans and collectors and having him be a part of a number of new initiatives in the trading card category.” 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 ...

The Card: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Living Set #179 RC
The Reason Graded: While I own a few Topps Living Set cards the arrival of this second-generation MLB star in this weekly release sparked my first purchase from this popular brand that's clearly popular with flippers. I ponied up for 10 copies of the card --solely with potential grading in mind -- but didn't receive a single perfectly centered card in my batch, which was a bummer. After some grumbling, I picked out this one from the batch and sent it in.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded as well as I thought it could -- maybe better -- so I wasn't unhappy with the grade and it appears that I'm perhaps on the luckier side with just two 10s out there better than it via BGS ... for now. This is a card that will likely be graded more and more often so those won't last but but it appears that this one is arriving between 8.5 and 9.5 more often than not. I have a second one I'll submit to PSA at some point with my sights set on a 10 there. We'll see sometime later this year.

Continue reading →

Da Bears will have a spot at the Panini America VIP Party.

Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka is the latest star to be revealed by Panini for its big event coinciding with The National this weekend. He's the fourth guest announced for the event rewarding high-rollers in the hobby.

Continue reading →

Panini America's VIP Party will have some basketball legends in the house.

Hall of Famer Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and former NBA Slam Dunk Champion Spud Webb will be part of the big show Saturday night in Chicago.

Earlier in the day, Panini revealed that Patrick Renna of The Sandlot also will have spot on this year's VIP roster for  the event rewarding the high-rollers in the hobby.

Continue reading →

"You're killing me, Smalls."

Patrick Renna -- aka Hamilton "Ham" Porter from The Sandlot -- is the first guest who will be on hand at the annual Panini VIP Party on Saturday night in Chicago.

Panini revealed Renna's spot on this year's VIP roster on Tuesday afternoon as the first of several who will be on hand at the event for high-rollers in the hobby.

Continue reading →

The Blowout MegaMix will be a big highlight at The National this year.

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 calm before the storm known as The National, cheap Michael Jordan cards, a big 2019 Bowman Mega Box pull, Jack of All Trades and plenty more in today's edition.

Continue reading →

The tip of the iceberg is here when it comes to Panini America's promo card plans for The National this year.

Its reveal began Thursday evening with a look at a 10-card set going to all VIP attendees of the show that's set to begin on July 31 in Chicago.

One of the cards was not yet revealed and will be a surprise held for closer to showtime -- update ... it's Zion Williamson.

Continue reading →

What: 2019 Panini Illusions football cards
Arrives: Sept. 25
Box basics: One autographed memorabilia card, two autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-pack box (16 boxes per case via two inners)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: This third release for the gridiron arrives with plenty of foilboard and color, plenty of rookies, their autographs and plenty more "with an evolved look and feel" as well as "the biggest stars and a variety of autograph and memorabilia content you can only find in Illusions."

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2019 Panini Prizm NASCAR cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: Four autographs per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Prizm hits the track for another run with plenty of color, plenty of ink and plenty of horsepower as the NASCAR season keeps on going, too.

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

Continue reading →

What: 2018-19 Panini Immaculate Collection basketball cards
Arrives: Aug. 28
Box basics:  Three autographs and two memorabilia cards per six-card box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Immaculate hits the hardwood once again with "a plethora of patches and autographs" as part of a high-end package loaded with top rookies and veterans of the past and present.

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

Continue reading →

What: 2019 Panini Flawless College Football cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: Two gems, six autographs and two memorabilia cards per box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Flawless hits college gridiron yet again in a high-end package showcasing new stars headed to the NFL as well as past college greats in a mix that starts with gem-embedded base cards.

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

Continue reading →

What: 2019-20 Panini Prizm Premier League soccer cards
Arrives: Aug. 23
Box basics: One autograph per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Prizm takes to the pitch for the Premier League for the first time with all 20 clubs represented in this one as part of a 300-card release loaded with parallels, inserts and ink.

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

Continue reading →

What: 2019 Panini Contenders Draft Picks basketball cards
Arrives: Sept. 4
Box basics: Six autographs per six-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: The newest crop of young stars from the college hardwood -- as well as some legends of the past -- hit cardboard in a product that once again includes an autograph in every pack.

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

Continue reading →

This year's floor for The National doesn't quite yet look like this ... but they're already getting ready in Chicago.

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 National is coming, new eBay Bucks offers might be arriving, breaks, NFL players who didn't deliver and more.

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 Today: The National chatter heats up along with Blowout MegaMix anticipation -- and big pulls worth a look in today's edition.

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 Today: The National and big pulls in several different recent releases ... check 'em out.

Continue reading →