PSA is going paperless -- so your carbon-copy submission forms are out and online submissions are in.

The move is effective on April 1 and was announced by the Newport Beach, Calif.-based company on Monday.

PSA "will no longer be accepting paper carbon copy submission forms for orders involving cards, tickets, packs or dual service authentication and grading requests," said the company announcement. "Like most PSA collectors are doing already, you will be required to enter your ordering information online and print out a completed, corresponding submission form."

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Professional Sports Authenticator hit a milestone for Pokémon cards this month, proving that grading of gaming cards is a growing trend that isn't slowing down any time soon.

The one millionth Pokémon card graded was a Full Art Charizard GX from the 2019 Pokemon Sun & Moon Hidden Fates expansion set -- a PSA 10 copy -- and it's the latest big card among many graded since just 2016 when grading of this gaming franchise's cards exploded in popularity.

“The support shown by the Pokémon collecting community has been tremendous. The majority of the million cards were graded inside the last three years, which is quite remarkable,” Collectors Universe CEO Joe Orlando said in a prepared statement. “There is also a lesson to be learned here: Every generation defines what is nostalgic to them. Pokémon started its rise in the U.S. during the late 1990s. Today, the young people who were playing the classic game then are now well into adulthood. As a result, the game has enjoyed a kind of rebirth in the hobby. That fact coupled with the continued global popularity of the game enabled PSA to reach the million-card milestone.”

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When Tom Brady or Jared Goff touch a football for the first time on Sunday in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, they won't be close to the first people to handle them.

Beyond the typical game preparations and inspections, each of the 120 footballs for the biggest NFL game of the year will have been "tagged" by PSA/DNA with synthetic DNA ink. Each team has 54 balls prepped to be used at some point during the game and there will be 12 additional balls prepped exclusively for kicking plays.

They will be marked with nearly invisible counterfeit deterrent markings that have a one in 33 trillion chance of being duplicated, according to the company.

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Professional Sports Authenticator has opened its doors in Japan.

The company revealed on Tuesday that it opened an office in Tokyo this month to collect submissions from collectors for slabbing, grading and authentication.

PSA announced that its overseas satellite office will be led by Tony Aram, a "bilingual financial expert and collector who has lived in Tokyo for more than 40 years."

“Because the practice of authenticating and grading cards is just now gaining popularity in Japan, there is an enormous opportunity to attract new consumers and future hobbyists to the benefits of trading card grading,” he said.

Part of the move is due to the country's love of Major League Baseball and former Nippon Professional Baseball stars such as Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki who have continued to captivate fans -- but also because of demand for grading of n0n-sports, gaming and NPB cardboard. The move also will help the language and time-zone differences that can be barriers, the company said.

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Professional Sports Authenticator has a new president.

Steve Sloan has been tapped to lead PSA and PSA/DNA Authentication Services, according to an announcement from the company released on Tuesday. He'll replace Joe Orlando, who has served as its president since 2002 as well as the CEO of Collectors Universe since last October and will continue in his CEO role.

"While I will still be involved in PSA each day, my responsibilities have increased so it was time to pass the baton to someone who can focus on the day-to-day business," Orlando said. "Since taking on the role of Collectors Universe CEO, I have been working with Steve on the transition. Steve will be responsible for the performance of PSA moving forward and there is no doubt in my mind that he is the right person for the job.

"My contributions to PSA will continue, but it’s important that I further immerse myself in the other segments of the business, namely our coin division [PCGS] at Collectors Universe. ... The services and collectibles information we provide have become staples of the hobby for more than three decades. We simply want to build upon the outstanding foundation Collectors Universe already has.”

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The longest-running sports card and memorabilia authenticator has hit a milestone.

PSA has authenticated and slabbed its 30 millionth collectible and it's an iconic one -- a 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Card. The milestone came earlier this week with a submission of cards from a collector based in Tampa, Fla.

“PSA is certainly very proud of reaching this significant number,” said PSA President Joe Orlando. “We’ve had so many different collectibles come through the doors here over the years that it seems only appropriate that future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady’s signed Rookie Card was recognized as our 30 millionth certified piece.”

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A trio of autographs from a tech icon are on the auction block and the potential demand -- and the estimated values -- might surprise you.

The signer? Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who by many accounts wasn't interesting in signing autographs. The former CEO and chairman helped bring the Apple Mac, iPod and iPhones to life along with plenty of other iconic gadgets before he died at age 56 in 2011.

“Identifying Jobs as a reluctant signer is a major understatement,” said Steve Sloan, vice president of PSA/DNA, which authenticated all three pieces in an upcoming RR Auction sale. “And for us to be able to authenticate three of his signatures inside of a month is truly a rarity.”

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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: Fanatics Authentic Alabama Crimson Tide football block (50 cards)
Price: $14.95 (via JCPenney.com)

What's inside one of these? Keep reading for a rundown and gallery.

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