Sammy Sosa
Buzz Break: 2025 Donruss baseball cards (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: 2025 Donruss baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a couple other formats)Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.
The National: An autograph -- or two -- to hunt down each day
Via @tristar1 ... Bo Jackson
This year's National Sports Collectors Convention is nearly here -- it's set for July 30-Aug. 3 in Chicago with a strong roster of autograph guests ready to sign for collectors who get a ticket and get in line for their moment beyond the ballpark.
Some signers are free if you attend the VIP reception on opening day of the show or buy a VIP ticket package -- a bonus for taking the time to hit every day of the show -- but landing other signers will take some planning and a few bucks.
It's tough to see everything at The National -- it's that big -- and the time it takes to work through autograph lines is valuable in that it impedes your shot at seeing it all. But, if you have wanted to meet a player and get that ink, a number of past and present stars are on the list this year. With that said, here are my picks -- skewing toward the best names for the lowest prices possible -- to grab off the autograph list during the full days of the show this year. (Keep reading for the full signers list at the end ... and, remember, times are always subject to change.)
Buzz Break: 2004 Topps Cracker Jack baseball cards
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 pack: 2004 Topps Cracker Jack baseball cards (retail)
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... BlowoutCards.com for other Retro Rips
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Legendary cardboard: 25 fun & notable Ichiro Suzuki cards
Ichiro Suzuki’s 2001 MLB arrival didn’t just change the game on the field — he helped feed growing international demand for baseball cards via plenty of new premium brands that helped pave the way for the ultra-deluxe stuff of today.
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A legendary career and baseball journey on two continents makes its final stop this month in Cooperstown, N.Y., and the Hall of Fame and there’s a lot that can be said about that in several directions.
Ichiro Suzuki changed the game with his arrival in MLB, eschewing the longball in favor of speed and hits — lots and lots of hits. But, “hits” are also the story of all those years when it comes to baseball cards with the prized rarities found in packs with autographs on them — or pieces of memorabilia in them — being an unstoppable force in those years.
Of course, hits didn’t start with the Japanese star’s arrival, but many of his cards in sets alongside another now-legendary 2001 rookie, Albert Pujols, helped change the cardboard world even faster. Demand for their stuff prompted several new brands from several companies making MLB cards back then to try new things, capitalizing on their new stars who could move packs and boxes of cards -- just like they could move players around the bases and move butts into seats to watch games. One could argue that 2001 was in part a big piece in the evolution of what we see in today’s sports card landscape -- a focus on rarities with small print runs and with premium prices that weren’t like the wax paper-wrapped pocket-change treasures of not that many years before.
Now, what’s to come here is absolutely not a definitive list of top cards — and it’s not one purely based on volatile values or one limited solely to Rookie Cards. Why? There’s a lot to choose from for Suzuki on all fronts — there could be several ways to take on this challenge. He has more than 50 different Rookie Cards between his 1993 Nippon Professional Baseball and 2001 Major League Baseball debuts (depending on how you want to argue about RC definitions) and he had roughly 500 cards in 2001 alone. Many of them are rarer cards where it is impossible to own them all thanks to small print runs and rare serial-numbered versions.
In all, he appears on more than 19,000 different cards made over the years between NPB and MLB -- and even though his playing career ended in 2019 his cardboard career has not. He’s got a place in the game in seemingly every new baseball card set on the way and that figures to be the story for the rest of cardboard eternity. He’s not just a Hall of Famer … he’s an international icon.
Here’s a small sampling of 25 Ichiro Suzuki cards that are both fun and notable.
First Buzz: 2025 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Platinum
What: 2025 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Platinum autographed baseballs
Arrives: March 21
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's autographed baseball chase brand hits the field for another year with some big chase baseballs and then a varied mix of stuff in every case.
The biggest chase of them all this year? Keep reading for that and a gallery of what's in this one.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Jan. 19)
What's Buzzing: NFL chatter, Jayden Daniels, Patrick Mahomes, Roki Sasaki, 2025 Topps and more in this one.
1 -- NFL postseason reactions so far
2 -- Sammy Sosa ... Hall of Famer
3 -- Plenty of Roki Sasaki thoughts here
5 -- Patrick Mahomes cardboard is on their minds
6 -- 2025 Topps interest remains strong ... and read more here--
Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.
Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.
Buzz Break: 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
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 pack: 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (value)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Dec. 24)
What's Buzzing: Collecting goals for 2025, pondering what Shohei Ohtani can do next, NFL Week 17, Rickey Henderson and more in this one.
First Buzz: 2024 Topps Pristine baseball cards
What: 2024 Topps Pristine baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 23
Box basics: Two autographs and one Auto Relic per six-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: The basics are here -- the checklist and odds -- as this one gets another run in the Topps MLB lineup using its colorful combo approach of encased hits and more in every box.
Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.
First Buzz: 2024 Topps Finest baseball cards
What: 2024 Topps Finest baseball cards
Arrives: Aug.7
Box basics: Two autos per six-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: The checklist and odds are in for a new year of finest as well as the six teaser image you can see above as the flashy and colorful brand arrives once again with a new batch of players and plenty of artistic flair
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
First Buzz: 2024 Topps Chrome baseball cards (updated)
What: 2024 Topps Chrome baseball cards
Arrives: July 17
Box basics: One autograph per 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case); three autos per 12-pack jumbo box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Sapphire Checklist: Click here
Logofractor Checklist: Click here ... Logofractor odds here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: The full Topps Chrome details are still to come but a checklist and early teasers are here for when the neon of 2024 Topps flagship goes Chrome next month.
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
First Buzz: 2024 Donruss baseball cards
What: 2024 Donruss baseball cards
Arrives: June 12
Box basics: Three autographs or memorabilia cards per 24-pack hobby box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Donruss arrives for another baseball campaign with a mix of past greats and future stars on a variety of looks -- and with an array of Optic cards in there, too.
Keep reading for a gallery and more info.
Buzz Break: 2021 Donruss baseball cards (hanger 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: 2021 Donruss baseball cards (hanger box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for this one.
First Buzz: 2023 Topps Luminaries baseball cards
What: 2023 Topps Luminaries baseball cards
Arrives: Feb. 7, 2024
Box basics: One autograph or autographed Relic card per box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click hereWhat's buzz-worthy: This high-end line returns for a seventh campaign for MLB with every card a hit limited to no more than 15 copies and with a number of outrageous booklet cards in the mix.
Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.
Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster)
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: 2023 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
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: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
Checklist: N/A (base parallels regular A&G but not everything is in here)
Odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)
Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.
Buzz Break: 1990 Bowman baseball cards (two wax packs)
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 lot: 1990 Bowman baseball cards (two packs)
Where to buy: Check junk bins ... hit BlowoutCards.com for newer MLB cardsKeep reading for a breakdown and gallery for what was in this one.
First Buzz: 2023 Leaf Signature Series baseball cards
What: 2023 Leaf Signature Series baseball cards
Arrives: Aug 30
Box basics: One 1/1 autograph per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: Leaf Signature Series returns to the diamond once again with just one 1/1 autographed card per pack and a mix that includes past, present and potential future stars all together in the same spot.
Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.
First Buzz: 2022 Leaf Vivid baseball cards
What: 2022 Leaf Vivid baseball cards
Arrives: March 31, 2023
Box basics: Six autos per hobby box (12 per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)What's buzz-worthy: A new brand in the Leaf lineup is packed with colorful designs and showcases talent from the past, present and future as well as their autographs.
Keep reading for more.
First Buzz: 2022 Topps x Juan Soto baseball cards
What: 2022 Topps x Juan Soto baseball cards
Arrives: Now via Topps.com
Box basics: Two parallel cards via 25-card box (autographs one in five boxes)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)What's buzz-worthy: Topps teams up with one of baseball's top young stars for a set that offers up some thoughts from the Padres star and his nods to other players in MLB's past and present.
Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary (mega)
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 Chrome Platinum Anniversary Edition baseball cards (mega)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby/LITE)
First Buzz preview with checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary (mega)
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 Chrome Platinum Anniversary Edition baseball cards (mega)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby/LITE)
First Buzz preview with checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Buys: Rachel Balkovec, Bo, Joe Namath, old mags, Cooper Kupp's dad, 'cero miedo,' WWE stars, sweet patches & 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 ...
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HISTORIC INK
The Card: Rachel Balkovec 2022 Topps Now MiLB Autographs (/99)
The Price: Around $10 (since I had discount rewards piled up) via Topps.com
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This autographed card was a first for Topps Now this year -- some minor-league cardboard -- since as you can see she was a bit of a history-maker in MiLB and baseball in general. Topps Now cards have had delays at times this year with stock shortages and this one was actually initially scheduled to arrive much later this year but it looks like the signing came together faster than expected. I believe this is my first Topps Now auto in my stash. Why? Cost is always a factor -- most are too much for me to bother looking -- but in this case it was about as low as it gets and then I snuck in toward the end of the line and added this on the cheap with rewards points from buys.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MiLB boxes are here.Keep reading for more interesting items ...
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Opening Day MLB cards (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: 2022 Topps Opening Day baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.comKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Buys: Big buys, big cards, plenty of WWE & 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 it's the biggest Buzz Buys ever. (A collection of pick-ups from recent times as well as in the past year or so.)
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BUZZ FELT RICH AGAIN ...
The Card: Derek Jeter 2012 Panini National Treasures Prime Button (/6)
The Price: More than I'll admit.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a premium-priced pick-up for me but I only landed it after getting rid of a lot of smaller cards slowly but surely -- and that's something I should do more often. Sure, it's centering is off -- that's the one obvious issue -- but I always liked the simplicity and lineup of options for this first year of Panini National Treasures. I typically stick to the old guys but a button card of a new Hall of Famer wasn't a bad add and at the price it's a good long-term hold. I got this at a fraction of many Jeter game-used button cards out there. That's all I'll say for now -- I'm keeping these a little shorter than normal as this is the biggest roundup of pick-ups I've ever done.
Grab a box right here: Panini National Treasures boxes (all years)Keep reading for more interesting items ...