Spencer Torkelson
Making the Grade (Sept.): Some football, plenty of oddball, even more Shotzi, old comic books, perfect slabs & plenty more
Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.
TOP-GRADE VARIATION
The Card: C.J. Stroud 2021-22 Bowman University Chrome Prospects -- image variation
The Reason Graded: If you poke around in the archives for the Buzz Breaks of this release, you'll likely find a break where I missed this one and just simply called it a Refractor despite it being an image variation (all are Refractors on these). It should have been obvious based on the practice photo vs. game action, but I only spotted it well after the fact -- months, if not years, later -- when going through my old boxes. When I stopped to look, this card looked absolutely flawless and since it's somewhat rarer than the others it's also still a bit pricier for a standard card. (It's no monster but it's definitely better than a few types of Refractors.) Since it was so clean and the NFL season is upon us, I put this one into a bulk submission.
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 3 0 0 0 1 4 Reality Check: This card checked in at exactly where I thought it would. Fun find and a win -- and it wasn't even tucked away in a box penny sleeved. The divide between mine and the other copies graded is also an interesting one -- perhaps there's a common flaw on copies due to position on the sheet or from machinery? No idea ...
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
Buzz Break: 2025 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hanger)
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 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2025 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hanger)
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 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2023 Topps Heritage 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: 2023 Topps Heritage baseball cards (mega)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (April 19)
What's Buzzing: Wrestlemania weekend and new WWE cards, Corbin Carroll, MLB chatter, NFL and more in this Saturday edition.
-
1 -- Wrestlemania chatter îs here
2 -- Talking Mania packs & Cactus Jack
3 -- Checking in the Detroit Tigers thread
4 -- New baseball breaks are here
6 -- Off-season NFL chatter is 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 Update 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: 2024 Topps Update baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (hobby & jumbo)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 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 box: 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
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.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number MLB (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number MLB (Hot 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 Heritage High Number baseball cards (hobby Hot Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Chrome Update MLB cards (hanger)
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 Chrome Update baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Black November Wave 3 ... here are five deals I'd grab now
If you hadn't noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now right here as the new wave of Blowout Cards' Black November sales is here
Many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz once again had to ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases -- and here are five that caught this collector’s eye ... and there's far more that just might suit your tastes in the big sale.
--
STRIKE NOW ... BIGGEST INK IS REDEMPTION
2022 Topps Heritage High Number Hobby Box & Case
This release being in Black November sales will be one of those things we look back at years from now and wish we had loaded up on it a lot more ... and a part of that sentiment could come as soon as next year. In fact, Oct. 31, 2024, is when the redemptions for Julio Rodriguez's very-in-demand autos in this one expire. Now, you shouldn't expect his ink in every case -- that's a reason it's a $600 card for just the basic version -- but there are a few autos per case and a hit per box here for starters. Atop that, there are inserts and variations all flowing regularly that can have key names attached and easily pay for the box. Beyond that, the base set itself is small so you should land most of the set in every box (or come close) and that means you can stockpile key names here for slabbing or future deals ... or sell them off in lots as timing works for you. Among the rookies? Rodriguez, Spencer Strider, Bobby Witt Jr., Spencer Torkelson, Jeremy Peña and a ton of others. Among the auto Relics? Mike Trout, Matt Olson, Joey Votto. Among the standard autos? Bryce Harper, Witt, Carlton Fisk, Juan Marichal, Jim Palmer, Rodriguez, Juan Soto, Votto, Olson, Trout, Nolan Ryan, Ronald Acuña Jr., Steve Carlton and many others. The long-running power of the brand and the relative scarcity (difficulty to pull ink) can make some names big surprises here. There are a lot of formats to consider here but this one is, by far, the one with the biggest potential. Oh, and there are Hot Boxes, too.Keep reading for a few more boxes you should consider (and are likely to end up in Buzz's cart).
Buzz Break: 2022 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 box: 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
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.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number MLB (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (June 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: NBA Finals chatter, pondering 2023 Topps Chrome, The National, Kyle Schwarber, new pulls and "It doesn't matter what his name is!"
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome (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: 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome (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: 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.
Buzz Break: 2022 Bowman Platinum 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: 2022 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview/checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Initially at Walmart (here when/if available)Keep reading for a full breakdown and a gallery of what was in this box.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Update baseball 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 Update baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview/checklist: Click hereKeep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number MLB (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (mega box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Stadium Club 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 Stadium Club baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.
Buzz Break: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number MLB (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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (mega box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.