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 ... and it might be the biggest edition ever.

BIG SEASON AHEAD?
The Card: Josh Allen 2018 Donruss Optic #154 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I pulled a pair of these from a number of rips -- probably deep in the archives here if you poke around -- but I never slabbed any of them back then, instead grading guys like Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and maybe a Nick Chubb. Meanwhile, it turns out this guy might be The One over the long term from this rookie class. After this past season's successes and close finish at the end, I figured it was time to grade a pair of these and I'm still working through some of my past pulls to see if I need to grade more for this franchise QB.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: I was happy with this one (and I'll drop my other one here at some point later this season) as Optic stock can be hit and miss, particularly on the backs. Sometimes it's dents and wrinkles or minor dents but this one was clean. It looks like these do grade pretty well with nearly half of them getting this mark. An interesting comparison to make here? PSA has graded more than 2,500 of these with more than half being 10s, while BGS has graded only 160 and SGC has slabbed 320.

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

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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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BATTING LEAD-OFF ... THE PITCHER
The Card: Tatum O'Neal (as Amanda Whurlitzer) 2013 Panini Golden Age Exhibit Box-topper
The Price: $14
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a modern take on the old Exhibit postcards and this one is one of a few cards in a huge set that stands out to me. Why? It's one that shows an actor in character as she was the ace of The Bad News Bears. The key here? This is a box-topper set that had 40 cards in it ... so that's a lot of boxes to open to complete a set -- just one per box -- and the collation could be quite repetitive in my experience as I ripped a ton of these over the years. While a lot of sets from even a decade ago have dried up in wax form and gotten perhaps too steep for the typical return, these are still very affordable and include some good stuff. The only drawback? A wide array of inclusions may not be for everybody and now all these years later some of the good autograph redemption cards (only a few) can't be redeemed for that ink. (Points now as they are long-expired.) There are a lot of on-card autos in this release that have no equal -- including autos from her and other Bears.
Grab a box right here: 2013 Panini Golden Age

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 5.

The box: 2013 Panini Rookies & Stars football cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2019 Topps Alliance of American Football cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 240
Base set completion: 175 of 175 (100 percent)
Duplicates: Yep ... as many as four copies of some cards

Notables on base cards -- Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, Trent Richardson, Mike Singletary, Mike Riley, Lori Locust, Dr. Jen Welter, Mike Martz, Rick Neuheisel, Jennifer King, Pepper Johnson, Denard Robinson, Mike Bercovici, Zach Mettenberger, Christian Hackenberg, Garrett Gilbert, John Wolford, Drew Jackson, Jhurell Presley, Kenneth Farrow II, JaQuan Gardner, Charles Johnson, Dontez Ford, Mekale McKay

Rookie Cards (160) -- Only cards with logos -- other RCs definitely in there without them.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2019 Topps Alliance of American Football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 100
Base set completion: 91 of 175 (52 percent)
Duplicates: 5

Notables on base cards -- Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, Trent Richardson, Mike Singletary, Mike Riley, Lori Locust, Dr. Jen Welter, Mike Martz, Rick Neuheisel, Jennifer King, Pepper Johnson, Denard Robinson, Mike Bercovici, Zach Mettenberger, Christian Hackenberg, Garrett Gilbert, John Wolford, Drew Jackson, Jhurell Presley, Kenneth Farrow II, JaQuan Gardner, Charles Johnson, Dontez Ford, Mekale McKay

Rookie Cards (67) -- Notables (based on season stats leaders) in gallery.

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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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