What's Buzzing: Blue Jays open big, Shohei Ohtani takes the mound, NFL Week 5, Topps NBA and ripping into Bowman Chrome and more in this Sunday edition.

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1 -- Checking in on the Vladdy Jr. thread after the Blue Jays' blowout of Yankees

2 -- Shohei Ohtani talk after his first postseason start 

3 -- More MLB threads are here

4 -- NFL Week 5

5 -- Results from some 2025 Bowman Chrome rips

6 -- Topps NBA chatter

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Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

If you're one of those baseball collectors who's been all about the anime, this one's for you.

Buzz was busy today adding a bunch of cardboard to the preview gallery for the forthcoming 2025 Bowman release (click here to see all of those and order your boxes), but this one -- all 30 cards in the 2025 Bowman Anime insert set -- gets its own standalone.

Why? These baseball cards are unique and they're a popular style of artistic card inclusions from a few companies in a few sports in recent years. This time there are 30 standard cards for stars of the past, present and future -- and then four Japanese icons will have Kanji Variations to find as well.

You can learn more and see the 30 standard cards after the jump.

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The condition of this ball says it all.

My latest addition to this Collecting Game-used series is again one that I found on the cheap -- less than the cost of a 2024 Bowman mega box -- but it's one that commands attention based on its look alone. That makes it a cool ball, too, but there's also an All-Star attached. (Admittedly, many game-used baseballs are near-anonymous ... not this time on either front.) Why did I grab it? Beyond the visuals, it's also a player I collect, Bo Bichette, though he's too pricey to command the cash I'd need for an ironclad MLB Authenticated game-used helmet, jersey or bat. That one reason baseballs like this can be a little more appealing -- it' a one-of-a-kind item with full ironclad authentication without breaking the bank.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

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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: NBA collectors are talking, spring training chatter, new NFL breaks, 2024 Topps, a question for all and ... is Joey Votto a Hall of Famer?

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Second verse, same as the first -- well this time with a little less Lava.

It's apparently National Hat Day today, so I figured I'd get this Collecting Game-used series back on track (I missed doing one last month) with another game-used cap from down on the farm and this time it's from a specialty game and a player who actually did play in a pair of big-league games last year after spending the summer for the Columbus Clippers. If you don't recognize the logo, this one's from a game where they were the Veleros de Columbus during MiLB's Copa de la Diversión games.

As I noted last time, sometimes, unraveling the mystery is part of the fun with gamers ... and that mystery part doesn't happen as often with MLB stuff where it's as if everything that's used can get an MLB Authentication sticker and have a place in a database forever before it hits a collection or gets chopped up to live inside a baseball card. But down on the farm? It can be a different story. Sure, stuff gets documented and sold with a team letter or certificate often -- especially at the end of a season when the players are gone (and might not come back) -- but not everything.

Most of my items in this series are MLB or other things that are ironclad in their documentation or I have been able to photo-match the item exactly to a photo, video or event. This time? Not so much (though I admittedly ran out of time to really dig), but it did have some features and some mystery that worked out for a bargain price and it turned out to be another player who got a taste of the major leagues this past season and has played in The Show for a few years.

Keep reading to see the details this time.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? One from deep in the box ... an MLB mystery revealed.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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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: 2022 Topps Clearly Authentic baseball cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five MLB players who impressed Buzz this week.

BIG NAME, BIG GAME
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B Toronto Blue Jays -- Rookie Cards in 2019 releases
MVP or not, you should all know Guerrero after last season and this year he's atop MLB with four homers in seven games -- and three of those were in a single game against the Yankees on Wednesday night. He's hitting .333 with eight RBI and six runs but I think the key here is that he's a main guy on a team with a crop of young home-grown stars -- and that is a recipe for hobby success if they get things done this season.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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This month's Collecting Game-used item isn't from deep in my stash or some treasure I had to research after finding it on the secondary market -- this one's ironclad but the condition here offers up some interesting questions.

It's a ball taken from the field of play just 20 days ago and you can see the precise pitch and its big-league moment after the jump. For me, this was a first -- my first Bo Bichette game-used item -- and I landed it on the cheap via the home team when the Blue Jays came to town. But, as you can see here, that's a pretty interesting mark where you can literally perhaps see the physics involved after a round ball hit a round bat spinning at a smooth (and documented) 2,046 revolutions per minute. And, if you view the video of it, it's not hard to imagine how those marks perhaps came to be.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five MLB players worth a look after this season ... and, no, not the super-obvious guys.

A CAREER YEAR ...
Ozzie Albies, SS, Atlanta Braves -- RCs in 2018 releases
The Braves' loss of Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending injury didn't lead to the team faltering without one of MLB's biggest stars in the midst of another strong year. Instead, other guys kept at it and other guys stepped up and the team is still leading the NL East as the season winds down. Albies? He's having a career year in pretty much everything but average with 30 homers (previous high 24), 103 RBI to reach that plateau for the first time and even a career-high 19 stolen bases. Big-picture, there are other shortstops out there with numbers like this but they might be pricier when it comes to cards for whatever reasons. His RCs in 2018 releases are all over the place yet affordable and his 2015 cards might get overlooked here and there as he's listed as "Ozhaino." (You might set up a saved search for that name, too.) He's a home-grown player on a contender who's only 24 and among a core of young players ... a recipe for strong cards if they win it all.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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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: 2017 Leaf Perfect Game National Showcase baseball cards
Where to buy: Here when available ... see all Perfect Game boxes here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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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 ...

WORKS FOR ME
The Card: Dan Marino 1984 Topps #123 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: I never really aspired to own a Dan Marino RC -- or a number of other notables from the past -- but this one presented itself on the cheaper side of things for this card (about $135) and considering how this one looks I grabbed it. Why? Go window-shopping for these cards raw -- it can be depressing to see how sloppy the printing and cutting can be for this set. (Want more proof of extreme possibilites? Click here.)
The Grade: BGS 9

Reality Check: I knew this was a strong grade for this card but I didn't look at the pop report for this heavily graded and iconic Hall of Famer RC. Just 415 check in at a higher mark out of nearly 9,000 graded -- less than 5 percent of the total grade higher -- and this one accounts for just seven percent of the total population for this card. My card isn't perfect -- there's a minor couple of spots in the black border line above "Dan" and some very, very minor specs here and there on the edges but at a glance there are not massive differences here vs. higher grades ... other than the fact that a BGS 10 copy of this card has sold on eBay for more than $4,500. I'll take mine all day long -- and getting a nine here is tough as it is.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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This is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five reasons a sports card can be appealing ... beyond just value.

A STRONG PHOTO
We all know a lot of cards from any sports (or non-sports) set from the past that has a photo that's just so clean or different that it stands out from the rest of the pack every time we see it. It doesn't have to be a star, it doesn't have to be a bum ... it's just memorable. Sometimes cards like these can actually command more value than others around it (probably moreso in the years before hits and inserts) but that added appeal can't hurt. The card you see here? It's a simple portrait -- literally nothing but the image -- no design here -- and that's why I chose it. It shows the power of letting the photo have its moment. I own hundreds of Derek Jeter cards that I don't really want or need but the strong photo here makes me want and need it. It's rarer (/100) and from the 2019 Topps Transcendent VIP Party set, but this one would be a card I'd chase if it were from Opening Day. It's all about the photo.

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I'm 2-for-2 this season ... and my hit streak isn't over. There will be more.

What am I talking about? Picking off game-used baseball bats for the retired player I collect, Nick Swisher -- and in this case it's another 100-percent game-used and photo-matched piece ... but one without an MLB Authentication sticker. (Here's last time if you missed it.)

How was this possible? Some research and some luck -- but also knowing what things to look for with game-used bats. In this case, the bat model is somewhat common (used in his Yankees and then Indians years after Louisville Sluggers for most of his career before that) but the handle customizations were not the norm for most of his career. The grip was the first clue when trying to lock down a timeframe of when this bat was used and then a date written underneath the "33" sticker on the bat knob once in hand provided a starting point for still-image searches. Once I found those, then I went to video for additional ironclad matching.

This bat is another reminder that not every item that gets used gets a sticker -- and that's where you can find gems for any player.

You can keep reading to see the details this time.

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This one is a quick idea for a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's something to think about.

This time? Young MLB stars I'd be eyeing on cardboard right now (some obvious choices).

THE NEXT BIG THING ...
New York Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez makes his MLB cardboard debut in 2020 Bowman 1st Edition which will be followed up by the standard 2020 Bowman release soon. The 17-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic is getting a boatload of attention here -- and the prices on his base cards in this debut release are nutty (for a base card) but justified (given the type of release), so I present a strategy. If you're going to chase him, get one of his parallels instead -- preferably a numbered version. Yes, it will cost you more but it might be a safer long-term hold since they will be rarer than the standard card. If he delivers big, it won't matter -- all will be in demand -- but the numbered stuff will be safer either way. Also a thought? If you can't go there on this one, consider he's got stuff in 2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks and 2019 Elite Extra Edition -- including autographs -- as well as 2019 Leaf Metal Draft.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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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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ALLLLLL ABOARD?
The Item: Zion Williamson 2019-20 Panini Contenders Draft Picks College Ticket parallel (/5)
The Price: $50,000 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Zion packs are here and there are a number of possibilities with the various parallels in this one -- and there are a number of them that are rare like this card. Will this price be hit? Well, big things are also possible for NBA phenoms -- and there are other active auctions that are higher (seriously, hit that link below) for the No. 1 overall draft pick. So ... maybe. Part of me wants to cite the arrivals of Shaq and LeBron James in comparison to this but the hype train just seems to be bigger and pricier than those Hall of Famers. Will it last? We'll see -- again, anything seems possible with NBA cards and the global demand without a massive global supply -- but the key is to ride the track however you want to as a seller, buyer or collector. We have some time before NBA Hoops arrives with him in pro colors so the Duke stuff will get plenty of attention until that time.
Similar Pieces: Other Zion Williamson Contenders autographs on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019-20 Panini Contenders Draft Picks

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

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Carlson, who won’t turn 21 until the middle of October, has made a mark in the Cardinals’ upper levels. He blitzed the Texas League after opening as its fourth-youngest player, putting forth an OPS of .882 before moving to Triple-A Memphis. That mark still stands as the TL’s second-highest figure. He’s quickly adjusted to the Pacific Coast League, where he’s notched at least one hit in all 10 of his games."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 160
First Chrome auto: 2016 Bowman Draft 
One auto to consider: 2016 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: Almost half of his cards are autos, so that's a good thing when seeing such a low overall number but that's also something that will help keep the competition on the auction block on the fierce side if people keep up with him. The Cardinals often have heavily watched prospects, so he's one who will get attention with a strong season.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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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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THREE OF A KIND
The Item: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. & Eloy Jimenez 2019 Bowman Sterling Red Refractor Auto (1/1)
The Price: $3,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The return of Bowman Sterling after a few years on the bench is a showcase of this year's  strong rookie crop and some promising prospects with an autograph in every single pack. Three of the top names from those rookies are on this card -- one that also has versions much easier to find -- and they are not alone. There are a number of key guys to look for here and there are some prospect auto sales that might surprise you so far -- hit that link below and then flip to completeds. The big rookie autos are the big deal right now but it's the prospects who could potentially pay off even more later.
Similar Pieces: 2019 Bowman Sterling autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019 Bowman Sterling boxes

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

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Have you seen the latest cool cards from a new release? With so many options for collectors of all kinds arriving every week it's possible you haven't. That's where Buzz comes in. This week's list is not for those who are deep prospectors, rather it's for those who might look to dabble with young MLB players without the wait for them to arrive. My list, which should be an obvious one for most collectors, simply spotlights six rookies who are playing well. Their biggest cards are already priced big -- but that doesn't mean you can't find some nice underpriced stuff and build some gains as they play well this season.

The new six: No product this time -- just six MLB rookies Buzz is watching.

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SLIGHTLY OFF THE RADAR?
The Player: Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers
The Stats: Hitting .307 with 13 HRs and 30 RBI in 52 games
Why he's Buzz-worthy: You won't necessarily see him atop the season's leaders for rookies since he's only played in 52 games this year, but he's already in The Show in just his third campaign as a pro. He hit .317 in 222 MiLB games and that might be the biggest key here in my mind -- he's not just a power guy unlike others you will see on this list. He did have 36 homers and 122 RBI in those MiLB games, too, but the production here just seems balanced and reliable with some pop. An example of that? In his first three at-bats on Wednesday night he had a homer, a double and another homer, upping his average to .309.
Total autos: 300-plus
First Chrome autos: 2017 Bowman Draft
Off-radar autos: 2016 Elite Extra Edition (USA Baseball)

Keep reading for five more interesting players in this week's roundup ...

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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: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Living Set #179 RC
The Reason Graded: While I own a few Topps Living Set cards the arrival of this second-generation MLB star in this weekly release sparked my first purchase from this popular brand that's clearly popular with flippers. I ponied up for 10 copies of the card --solely with potential grading in mind -- but didn't receive a single perfectly centered card in my batch, which was a bummer. After some grumbling, I picked out this one from the batch and sent it in.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded as well as I thought it could -- maybe better -- so I wasn't unhappy with the grade and it appears that I'm perhaps on the luckier side with just two 10s out there better than it via BGS ... for now. This is a card that will likely be graded more and more often so those won't last but but it appears that this one is arriving between 8.5 and 9.5 more often than not. I have a second one I'll submit to PSA at some point with my sights set on a 10 there. We'll see sometime later this year.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Brailyn Marquez, LHP, Cubs — Low-A South Bend Cubs
Baseball America’s highlight line: “The unquestioned best pitching prospect in the Cubs’ system, Marquez put together his best start as a pro on July 25. The lefthander set a career-high with 14 strikeouts, doing so in part with a fastball that touched as high as 101 mph. The start continued a stellar July in which Marquez has whiffed 33 batters in 21.1 innings. He’s also allowed just one home run since May 1."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Only MiLB team set cards
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: This 20-year-old is in his fourth season of MiLB ball and his total numbers aren't overwhelming -- 11-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 253 strikeouts in 224 innings. It's this season that has that Ks ratio up so that's a good sign but he's got nothing but MiLB team set cards to chase right now. He should be one to watch once he gets some prospect cardboard in packs but this feels like a long-term watch since he's still in A-ball.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Joey Wentz, LHP, Braves — Double-A Mississippi Braves
Baseball America’s highlight line: “While his Mississippi rotation-mates have soared, Wentz has found Double-A to be a little more difficult. But lately there have been some very positive signs. His velocity has ticked back up to the 91-94 mph range, which helps his changeup play as the above-average and even plus pitch it can be at its best. Wentz tied his career high in strikeouts with nine on July 1 and then set a new career high with 10 strikeouts on July 6."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 225
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman
One auto to consider: 2015 Leaf Perfect Game
Buzz’s card take: That BA blurb didn't seem all that sold on him but the reason he's here might be his overall stats -- 19 strikeouts in 12-plus innings with just two runs and five walks in his last two starts. A 1.42 ERA ain't shabby, either. He doesn't have a lot of cards in general -- and just under 100 autographs -- despite arriving back in 2015 Leaf Perfect Game releases. His first Chrome autos arrived just last year so check those boxes if you were busy chasing Shohei Ohtani this time last year. The Braves are going to be getting plenty of looks from collectors with all their young talent ... so he's worth a look, too.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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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 packs: 2019 Topps Now Future World Series baseball packs (two packs)
Where to buy: Click here (previously only offered via Topps.com)
Cards per pack: 3

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Baseball's biggest rookie has signed with a new team -- at least for autographed memorabilia.

Topps announced that Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has signed with Topps Authentics, making it the exclusive home for his newly signed items.

“We are thrilled to add Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as one of our exclusive athletes with our memorabilia line, Topps Authentics,” said David Leiner, Topps Global GM of Sports & Entertainment. “He is exactly the type of player and person who embodies Topps with his great athletic ability, perseverance and excitement that he brings to the field every day. We are proud to partner with baseball’s next rising star and give fans an opportunity to be closer to the game.”

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There are eight guys with realistic chances at being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame tonight (announcement is set for 6 p.m. EST on MLB Network) and there's one good thing to be had here for potential new baseball card collectors or veterans still needing them.

Most of them have Rookie Cards can be easily landed thanks to the timeframe when they were made -- and they have plenty of cards to chase in boxes made since.

The first lock of the bunch is former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, MLB's career saves leader (652), who is a contender for the highest Hall of Fame voting percentage ever. That mark is 99.6 percent of ballots and is held by Ken Griffey Jr. back in 2016. Unlike Griffey -- and others you'll see here -- Rivera has just one Rookie Card. It can be found in 1992 Bowman, a set that added gloss and white stock into the brand's repertoire along with a deeper checklist (and guys in street clothes). Rivera has more than 5,500 different cards but only one gets the RC label -- that's a rarity in this day and age that helps bolster its value. (If you want one, buy it graded. They have been counterfeited.) >> Check out his autographed cards (and more) on eBay

Who else is out there and potentially headed to Cooperstown?

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