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 ...

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The Card: Aaron Judge & Tyler Austin 2017 Topps Heritage #214A -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: I liked the price on this slab (under $13) so I bit on it about this time last year. Why? Well, he was a pretty big deal back when this one arrived and I've always had a thing for multi-player RCs from the vintage years of Topps baseball (vintage flagship or Heritage). I own more than a few copies of this one raw, but I figured grabbing it for less than it would cost to slab one was a bargain ... plus they were going for more than that at the time I grabbed it. The richer (or more dedicated) slab grabbers out there will find his solo variation or the autographed card of his from this release, but for the price I'm good with this version.
The Grade: BGS 9

Reality Check: I didn't check the pop report to see the huge divide between the 9-9.5 difference but the price divide was just as dramatic ... and I'm still fine having a BGS 9. Centering here is off on mine but the rest looks fine with no obvious issues. Why is this one batting lead-off? Well, with prices increasing out there to slab -- if you can slab at all -- I think simpler RCs like this won't be as easy/cheap to find (well, at least newly graded ones) and this is the time of year to grab some guys. I think Judge is a easy stash if you find him on the cheaper side and he's healthy.

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

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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 Topps Gallery MLB cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion: 
85 of 150 (57 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Altuve, Gary Sanchez, Jacob deGrom, Andrew McCutchen, Kenta Maeda, Yoenis Cespedes, Francisco Lindor, Adrian Beltre, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Corey Seager, Noah Syndergaard, Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado, Carlos Correa, Giancarlo Stanton

Rookie Cards (22) – Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Andrew Benintendi, Dinelson Lamet, Amir Garrett, Sean Newcomb, Jake Thompson, Christian Arroyo, Paul DeJong, Jharel Cotton, Josh Bell, Mitch Haniger, David Dahl, Jordan Montgomery, Antonio Senzatela, Yuliesky Gurriel, Alex Reyes, Lewis Brinson, Ian Happ, Anthony Alford, Manny Margot, Hunter Dozier

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 3.

The box: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter (hobby)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

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

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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 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 100
Base set completion: 
45 of 100 (45 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kris Bryant, Buster Posey, Ichiro Suzuki, Mookie Betts, Jose Altuve, Nolan Arenado, Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Yu Darvish, Trevor Story

Rookie Cards (16) – Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, Andrew Benintendi, Jharel Cotton, Carson Fulmer, Robert Gsellman, Tyler Glasnow, David Dahl, Raimel Tapia, Antonio Senzatela, Ryon Healy, Matt Strahm, Yulieski Gurriel, Jorge Alfaro, Jose DeLeon, Tyler Austin, Manny Margot

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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 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 48
Base set completion: 
43 of 300 (14 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton, Gary Sanchez, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Stephen Strasburg

Rookie Cards (10) – Aaron Judge, Alex Bregman, Yoan Moncada, Jose DeLeon, Tyler Austin, Reynaldo Lopez, Josh Bell, Jorge Alfaro, David Paulino, Hunter Dozier

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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 Topps Finest baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
43 of 100 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Buster Posey, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Miguel Cabrera, Kyle Schwarber, Ichiro Suzuki, Josh Donaldson, Giancarlo Stanton, Max Scherzer, Manny Machado, Mike Trout

Rookie Cards (7) – Tyler Austin, Yoan Moncada, Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman, Yulieski Gurriel, Ryon Healy, Reynaldo Lopez

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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 Bowman baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 80
Base set completion: 
34 of 100 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
23 of 150 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome prospect set completion: 
16 of 150 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager, Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts

Rookie Cards (10) – Carson Fulmer, Tyler Austin, Hunter Dozier, Jake Thompson, Gavin Cecchini, Jose DeLeon, Orlando Arcia, Jorge Alfaro, Teoscar Hernandez, Jharel Cotton

Notable Prospects (both sets) – Yu-Cheng Chang, Tetsuo Yamada, Luiz Gohara, Anderson Espinoza, Christin Stewart, Amed Rosario, Takahiro Norimoto, Luis Garcia, Stephen Gonsalves, Rafael Devers, Tyler O'Neill

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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 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24 (plus one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
173 of 300 (58 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Addison Russell, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Albert Pujols, Max Scherzer, Kyle Hendricks, Trevor Story, Francisco Lindor, Manny Machado, Kenta Maeda, Josh Donaldson, Jake Arrieta, Giancarlo Stanton, Yu Darvish, David Ortiz, Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Correa

Rookie Cards (21) – Jharel Cotton, Alex Bregman, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, Orlando Arcia, Alex Reyes, Tyler Glasnow, Robert Gsellman, Tyler Austin, Matt Olson, Manny Margot, Trey Mancini, Teoscar Hernandez, JaCoby Jones, Carson Fulmer, Gavin Cecchini, David Dahl, Joe Musgrove, Hunter Renfroe, Ryon Healy, Bruce Maxwell

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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 Topps Heritage baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24 (plus one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 9
Cards in this box: 220
Base set completion: 
202 of 500 (40 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Short-prints (Nos. 401-500) (8) –  Mike Trout, Troy Tulowitzki, Michael Fulmer, Stephen Strasburg, Dee Gordon, Jake Odorizzi, Francisco Lindor, Christian Yelich

Notables on base cards – Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Jose Altuve, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, Anthony Rizzo, Mookie Betts, Miguel Cabrera, Josh Donaldson, Mike Trout, Joc Pederson, Ichiro Suzuki, Matt Wieters, Yadier Molina, Yasiel Puig, Joe Mauer, Javier Baez

>>> For a checklist and the variation galleries, click here

Rookie Cards (16 cards, 32 rookies) – Alex Bregman, Yulieski Gurriel, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin, Dansby Swanson, Rio Ruiz, JaCoby Jones, Dustin Molleken, Trey Mancini, Donnie Hart, Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, Orlando Arcia, Brent Suter, David Dahl, Raimel Tapia, Matt Dermody, Danny Barnes, Robert Gsellman, Gavin Cecchini, Carson Fulmer, Yoan Moncada, Tony Renda, Wandy Peralta, Jake Thompson, Roman Quinn, Ryon Healy, Jharel Cotton, Brian Goodwin, Spencer Kieboom, Luke Weaver, Alex Reyes

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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 Topps Series 1 baseball cards 
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (several formats)
Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 353
Base set completion: 
301 of 350 (86 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Chicago Cubs World Series champs, Kris Bryant, Giancarlo Stanton, Felix Hernandez, Jacob deGrom, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Miguel Cabrera, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Corey Seager, Kyle Schwarber, Nomar Mazara, Addison Russell, David Ortiz, Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo, David Ortiz, Jose Altuve

>> Related: Check out all of our handy 2017 Topps Series 1 MLB links here.

Rookie Cards (26) – Dansby Swanson, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin, Yulieski Gurriel, Alex Bregman, Orlando Arcia, Braden Shipley, Matt Carasiti, Jake Thompson, Gabriel Ynoa, Reynaldo Lopez, Alex Reyes, Jeff Hoffman, Luke Weaver, Josh Bell, Brian Goodwin, Matt Strahm, Seth Lugo, Joe Musgrove, Tyler Glasnow, David Dahl, Robert Gsellman, Ryon Healy, Chad Pinder

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We're less than a month away from the arrival of 2017 Topps Series 1 -- and that means we're less than a month away from the newest crop of MLB Rookie Cards.

Topps revealed the RCs on the checklist and a sampling of images on Wednesday.

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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 five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Aaron Judge & Tyler Austin, 2016 Donruss football breaks, Olympic cards & more.

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