PSA
Auction Buzz: Michael Jordan's debut, iconic views, rare Pokemon, Hellyboy's Big Baby & more on block via Heritage
Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block ... check 'em out.
It's going to be a busy end of the year for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions with a number of regularly scheduled events as well as some showcase auctions with high-profile stuff all on the calendar. This time, we look at a few things from a few active sales this month.
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ANOTHER BIG JORDAN
The Item: Michael Jordan Oct. 26, 1984 (NBA Debut) Chicago Bulls season-ticket stub (PSA 4)
The Price: $65,000 after 25 bids (ends Sept. 27)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Last month, a Michael Jordan (and Kobe Bryant) card sale via auction re-wrote some hobby history and, while we're confident this one won't fetch $12.9 million, this one is in some rare air. It has already hit its estimated price from the auction house and while its grade is low there are only three higher. "The most important athletic debut of the post-war era?" asked Heritage in its listing. "A strong argument could be made. Perhaps only Wayne Gretzky could challenge Michael Jordan in balloting seeking to identify the most dominant figure of his respective major sport, but once you step outside the sports arena and into the wider popular culture, M.J. leaves The Great One in his dust. He remains one of the most recognizable humans on the planet two decades after his retirement from the NBA." Jordan scored a modest 16 points in a 109-93 win over the Washington Bullets on this night and only 14 of these have been grade overall.Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.
MiLB Madness: Keith Comstock, the Madison Neverminds, Savannah Bananas, some pre-minors cardboard & more
Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... sometimes stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new fun cards and oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness.
REMEMBER ME?
The Card: Keith Comstock 1989 ProCards Las Vegas Stars (CGC 10)
The Buzz On This: This classic prank photo appears on just a standard baseball card -- it's not an error/variation and it's not one that was pulled from production at any point because of its joke photo. It's one that's been out there all these years, isn't super rare and it has had its moments of fame when reporters found it again and again over the years, telling its story and helping pump up interest to where it's definitely a cult classic. I've graded this one more than a few times with good results -- I own top marks in slabs from PSA (a 10), BGS (two 9.5s) and CGC now. This was a recently graded copy of mine that I had planned to use in my monthly Making The Grade series here, but I realized just today that my lineup for MiLB stuff for this series this month was depleted ... so here we are. Only three PSA 10s exist, six BGS 9.5s and three CGC 10s ... none have checked in higher via any company with a decent volume graded between all of them.Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards (and other stuff) you can find in all baseball these days -- not just in MiLB.
Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan dual-Logoman 1/1 autograph sells for $12.9M via Heritage -- new record for any sports card
Update: The card sold for $12,932,000 -- an all-time record for any sports card -- at 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning.
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It's already topped the $7-million mark with time to go before the auction ends tomorrow night, but there's no telling the heights this card might reach.
There's a realistic chance that the Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card will become the priciest sports card of all time -- not just priciest basketball card ever -- when the dust settles at ends Heritage Auctions on Saturday and it's really only got two rivals.
Right now, with its buyer's premium attached, this card sits at $7,015,000 after 46 bids (click to view) and that already gives it the title of the biggest basketball card of all time. The previous NBA high was for a similar modern card, a 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Steph Curry Logoman auto, that sold privately for $5.9 million to an investment fund July 2021.
And there aren't too many past auctions that top that.
Auction Buzz: Big cards, iconic images & debuts via Heritage
Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block ... check 'em out.
It's going to be a busy second half of the year for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions with a number of regularly scheduled events as well as some showcase auctions with high-profile stuff all on the calendar. This time, we look at a few things from a few active sales this month.
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AS BIG AS IT GETS
The Item: Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs (1/1) -- PSA 6
The Price: $4,150,000 after 32 bids (ends Aug. 23)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one has plenty of time remaining but as you can tell it's already one of the biggest monsters to ever hit the auction block -- and that's with the grade that, well, would be a bummer on any other card from the modern era. But, with game-used NBA logos from two of the game's all-time greats and their ink? Well, it's all about the card, not that dinged corner. "Do you hear that rumbling? It's the sound of the standing world record price for a basketball card getting ready to fall," Heritage said in its listing. "For five years, the 2009-10 National Treasures Steph Curry logoman autograph card has enjoyed the view from the top of the heap, the $5.9 million private sale to an investment fund in July 2021 demonstrating the virtually unlimited elasticity of the market's upper edge. ... We're proud and privileged here at Heritage for the opportunity to take the title back for the auction world," Heritage continued, "providing the manner of competition and high drama that private transactions lack, and which serves as a far more fitting tribute to the iconic subjects this remarkable trading card celebrates." ... This one is estimated by Heritage to top the $6-million mark when it's sold.
Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (June 18)
What's Buzzing: Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge? That's the question leading the way in this midweek edition.
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1 -- Ohtani or Judge?
2 -- Still talking 2025 Topps Series 2
3 -- This thread is kind of a big deal
5 -- A slab question
6 -- NBA Finals chatter--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (June 3)
What's Buzzing: Jac Caglianone debuts tonight, more MLB chatter, new pulls, inside an Indiana Pacers fan cave and more in this Tuesday edition.
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2 -- All your MLB chatter is here
3 -- Inside an Indiana Pacers fan cave
4 -- NBA Finals thoughts ... and more here
5 -- A lot of grading "takes" here ... that might be wrong
6 -- Jac Caglianone debuts tonight--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (May 31)
What's Buzzing: NBA Finals chatter, cornering the market, new pulls, PSA ponderances and more in this Saturday edition.
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1 -- NBA Finals chatter
2 -- "If you corner the market will it raise value?"
3 -- Building a team's Hall of Famer checklist
4 -- New baseball pulls are here
5 -- Sigh ...
6 -- Reactions to possible new options from PSA + Wondering where the 10s went?--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (May 30)
What's Buzzing: Reactions to PSA considering new services, NBA Finals, James Wood and more in this Friday edition.
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1 -- Reactions to possible new options from PSA ... Wondering where the 10s went?
3 -- Check out baseball breaks here
4 -- More grading chatter
5 -- James Wood is on their minds
6 -- Check out all of the new pulls here--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Feb. 20)
What's Buzzing: Talking Panini Prizm Deca NFL, big flips, 2025 Topps and more in today's edition.
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1 -- Talking big flips
3 -- New MLB pulls
4 -- A worry for PSA card-holders?
5 -- Thoughts on Prizm Deca NFL
6 -- Winning form from 2025 Topps--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Feb. 17)
What's Buzzing: 2025 Topps chatter, Kelce vs. Gronk, a Hall of Fame question, alleged fake cards in slabs and more in this Monday edition.
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1 -- NBA chatter is here
2 -- 2025 Topps still has 'em talking
3 -- Whoops
4 -- A Pro Football Hall of Fame question
5 -- Kelce vs. Gronk
6 -- New 2025 Topps MLB breaks are here--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Making the Grade (Jan.): Stranger Things, newer stars, older mags, legendary ink and more star power as we hit a new year
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 ...
THEY'RE BACK ... SOMETIME SOON
The Item: Stranger Things Season 1 Target-exclusive Blu-ray set (2016)
The Reason Bought: How many Netflix series these days get a physical DVD release of any kind? How many get chain store-exclusive variant versions? Not that much of anything TV gets a physical release, really, not at least anywhere near the volumes of the past and that thought, along with the fact that the final season of this franchise is finally dropping sometime this year, got me looking here. I really liked the feel of this DVD set that's made to look like an old 1980s VHS sleeve that's had plenty of wear and tear and I also liked the idea of a graded item with that feel -- one where its actual flaws can blend in well and not stand out as glaring reasons why an item didn't grade higher.
The Grade: CGC 9.4 (A+ seal)Grade 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.2 9.4 9.6 9.8 9.9 10.0 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 1* 0 0 0 0 1* Reality Check: There are definitely other* copies of this one graded, but a pop report doesn't yet appear to be live for CGC Home Video (or it was down when I prepped this) and my number didn't come up on the verification search, either. That's OK for me as slabbed movies and games aren't as high on my radar in slabs as cards and magazines in terms of a "commodity" ... these are more the kind of shelf item with maybe some longer-term potential substance to them. To me they're more of a name-your-price novelty -- and, as an aside, I do like CGC's cases a lot more than others in this realm. This was a relatively cheap addition as well -- less than a lot of retail card boxes -- and over time affordable items can build a collection. One scary part? This is not far away from being 10 years old ... time flies.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Making the Grade (Dec.): Juan Soto, The Mask, Tua, Penny, LeBron, Shotzi, JFK, MJ, Mariah May, Machete & much more
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 ...
STRONG SEASON ... WHAT'S NEXT?
The Card: Juan Soto 2018 Topps 582 Montgomery Club Set 1 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: A big season that came up short of the goal ... but now it's time for a historic payday while still in his mid-20s. Soto's Rookie Cards (2018) aren't all that rare, really, but there's a lot of demand -- but they still might be good buys depending on where he goes next. (Mets? Watch out.) All those thoughts were in mind when I popped this one into a submission earlier this year along with other key names from this small set for Club members. It's not a traditional RC since it's from a small set, but it's still a good Soto to me ... so I slabbed it.
The Grade: CGC 10Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 4 Reality Check: Top grade of a small volume works for me. I'm sure there will be more and I'm sure the pops are higher elsewhere, but the range of the grades here shows it might not be the easiest kind of card to grade thanks to that retro stock.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Oct. 10)
What's Buzzing: Spencer Rattler gets the call, new pulls, NFL Week 6, Aaron Rodgers and more.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Aug. 25)
What's Buzzing: Pondering this year's MLB award-winners, more preseason NFL chatter, Bobby Witt Jr. remains legit, Joey Votto and more in this Sunday edition.
First Buzz: 2024 TruMystery Going For Gold Buyback Edition
What: 2024 TruMystery Going For Gold Buyback Edition
Arrives: Sept. 25
Box basics: One slabbed buyback card per box and one memorabilia redemption per case (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: TruCreator's blind-box line keeps the Olympic spirit going next month with a buyback release that puts a slabbed card in every box and a little more once per case.
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Aug. 8)
What's Buzzing: Always check the online scans, a PSA question, Hall of Famers, Kyle Schwarber and more in today's edition.
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: New pulls, Topps Chrome, The National, Autographics and ... PSA is grading comic books? (Yep.)
Making the Grade (July): Rhea Ripley is golden and Wemby is, too, while Tiffy Time, The Beckhams & Dazzler do their thing
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 ...
MAMI'S HOME ...
The Card: Rhea Ripley 2020 Topps Chrome WWE Gold Refractor Autographs (/50) -- rookie-year auto
The Reason Graded: I picked up this one a few years ago for a pretty modest price -- about the price of a box back then -- and since then Ripley has emerged as the top name among a newer wave of stars who, barring injuries, should be helping redefine women's wrestling for some time. I had this one in my get-graded stacks for a long time as I don't often slab up auto cards -- I don't like surprises -- but I did it on this one and a standard auto earlier this year since they looked quite clean.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine) with 10 autoGrade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 Reality Check: As good as it gets and this card is a monster as it is. A raw copy pushed $500 not that long ago and a PSA 9 sold for that much as well earlier this year. A perfect 10 absolutely works for me on this one ... it's the best color here if you ask me, too.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (June 26)
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: Gunnar Henderson, the NBA Draft, NFL chatter, PSA's slabs, The National and new MLB pulls.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (June 8)
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: Awaiting NBA Finals Game 2, Topps flagship chatter, Jayson Tatum, fake slabs, grading fees and 2024 Score NFL reactions.
Making the Grade (June): Muhammad Ali, The Crow, Space Jam, Wemby, Spidey, Connor Bedard & Liv Morgan before WWE?
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 ...
GRADE LIKE A BUTTERFLY ...
The Card: Muhammad Ali 2021 Topps Muhammad Ali The People's Champ Collection Black parallel (/56)
The Reason Graded: When I spotted this card (ungraded) at about the price of a blaster, I bit as that was a good number for a parallel from this set that was released week by week for a year on Topps' site. Since it was both a rarer parallel and, if you ask me, one of the better-looking cards in this retro-styled set with that exposure photo, I also opted to slab it. Why? Well that stock and color is a grading challenge -- but it was one I was willing to take as this one looked strong.
The Grade: CGC 10Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Reality Check: I was right and it graded actually better than I had hoped (I figured a 9.5) making this a win atop of a win.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Check those 2024 Bowman card backs ... for some weird facts
Have you looked at your 2024 Bowman card backs yet?
It's fine if you haven't -- we know you're busy looking for the new big names, their colorful Chrome parallels and, of course, their autographs -- but for years now there have been tons of trivial nuggets that appear on cards that can be downright odd.
They're found on the "Up Close" blurbs across all base and prospect cards in this release -- and plenty of past ones -- and after ripping my first blaster of the year I did my check for them ... and again they delivered ... even with a small sample size.
The Adley Rutschman card above was perhaps the standout of the small bunch in my box with "bountiful hugs," the origin of "Rooster" as part of a Top Gun: Maverick name-drop and a nod to family sports, too. They're not all that jam-packed, but every card has Up Close details from what I've seen this year.
Let's take a look at 20 more card backs from 2024 Bowman cards ...
First Buzz: 2024 TRISTAR HT Dugout Dreams Encapsulated
What: 2024 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Dugout Dreams Encapsulated Autograph Edition
Arrives: July 24
Box basics: One autographed item per pack (eight packs per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's new mystery brand arrives at The National with a special edition at the show this year -- and with some of the biggest names in the history of the game possible.
Keep reading for details on that legendary inclusion and a gallery of what's in this one.
Making the Grade (May): A perfect Victor Wembanyama Prizm, old comics & mags, new MLB stars, Stacy's Mom + plenty more
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 ...
MY FIRST WEM-BAM!-YAMA ...
The Card: Victor Wembanyama 2023-24 Panini Prizm Green Prizms -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: My first -- and actually only -- batch of Prizm NBA blasters included this gem and I knew instantly that it would be in a slab once I saw its centering and then no issues among the sometimes-pesky edges for Prizm and similar stock of the last few years. (Sometimes clean ... sometimes not.) In this case, I had this one in a box headed for grading even before I had its Buzz Break box broken down and posted here ... and it's a solid keeper for me vs. my Hoops finds that all had things that me scared off of slabbing them.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total Population 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 Reality Check: That's pretty much the perfect scenario isn't it? Top grade for a retail blaster -- at suggested retail price even -- pull ... even if there's a curtain that seemed to lather up some people out there. This won't be the last you see of this generational talent in this series ... but this is it for this month's slabs.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (April 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: A good question, a PSA 10 question, MLB pulls, MLB chatter, 2024 Topps Heritage and Caitlin Clark in today's edition.