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: 2018 Donruss Optic Red & Yellow #153 Baker Mayfield (RC parallel)
The Reason Graded: I found this one in a Mega Box and it was by far the best highlight of the bunch there so that's why you see it here. Mayfield has shown himself to be a spark plug among a good rookie crop since back when I pulled it, so that's another reason. A third? This brand is one that I like more than others. The color scheme of this card, a retail-exclusive, also looked good, so I figured I'd slab it up and see how it looked when it came back. These were very pricey when they first started arriving on eBay but I'm sure they have settled down by now -- still an impressive card to me either way and I'll be tucking this one away in my stash alongside my Bowman Chrome Tom Brady RC for the simple long-term appreciation. (Mine, not financial.)
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: At the point I submitted this one, there was at most one graded and I'm still surprised that there are so few slabbed. I also was surprised with the grade figuring I'd check in at a likely BGS 9 but I'll take it. I think high-grade copies of retail-only parallels found in certain formats could be tougher future finds than people might think.

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

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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.

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A CAREER IN A CARD ...
The Item: Ichiro Suzuki 2017 Topps Triple Threads Jumbo Patch Combo Relic booklet (1/1)
The Price: $29,999 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: First and most importantly I don't think that price is ever going to be hit, but we'll lead off with some powerful window-shopping as the legendary MLB career of Ichiro Suzuki has come to an end. This piece shows him with the only three MLB teams he ever played for and it includes some impressive jumbo patches, too. This is the kind of magic that has been somewhat commonplace -- yet still not easily pulled -- in boxes of Triple Threads since it arrived back in 2006.
Similar Pieces: Ichiro Suzuki cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for Triple Threads boxes (all years)

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

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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.

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HERITAGE IS HERE
The Item: Bud Selig 2019 Topps Heritage Inaugural Brew Crew Autograph
The Price: $25 after one bid (two-plus days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The first copy of this card to hit eBay comes a day before hobby boxes arrive and it's a card that sparked a number of different reactions when I mentioned it in a Pick Six for this release. This former MLB Commissioner was a key to the Seattle Pilots being moved to Milwaukee literally just days before the team took the field for the first game. This set isn't going to be the easiest to piece together and this card is arguably the most important of the bunch. It will be one to watch. I could see it push $200 but it could surprise as anything is possible early on.
Similar Pieces: Other 2019 Topps Heritage autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019 Topps Heritage boxes

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

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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: 2019 Topps Heritage chatter, big pulls, hobby-funding strategies and more in today's edition.

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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: Pondering the appeal of Topps Heritage and Alvin Kamara's hobby status, a big Michael Jordan card at auction, new football leagues and big pulls in this Saturday edition.

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The Alliance of American Football kicked things off for its inaugural season with a pair of games on Saturday night and two more on Sunday -- but it didn't take long for there to be a moment that lit up Twitter.

It was Shaan Washington's fumble-causing, helmet-ejecting demolition of San Diego QB Mike Bercovici.

The San Diego defender gets that exact moment on his Rookie Card as one of the first seven 2019 Topps Now AAF cards that are available now.

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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 Alliance of American Football, investing in Juan Soto and highlights from big pulls in this Sunday edition.

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Topps is taking its cardboard to the football field once again.

The Alliance of American Football will have Topps football cards ready in time for its opening weekend -- early next month -- and it will be initially via the Topps Now platform and then in packs in March.

“We’re excited to collaborate with The Alliance of American Football,” said David Leiner, Topps' GM of Global Sports and Entertainment. “Topps is a storied company that takes pride in its heritage and innovation. The Alliance is melding high quality football and innovation, making them a perfect partner for Topps.”

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