Utah Stars

Making the Grade (March): Shohei Ohtani, Tiger, Spider-Man, young WWE stars, strong vintage, cheap NFL rookies & more
Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading, so here's this month's grading diary.
CLOSE TO PERFECT
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: Ohtani's historic 2024 season had me assessing all of my cards from my 2018 stash -- mostly lower-end stuff that's heavily graded -- but not graded by me. Why? I don't grade the heavily submitted stuff because a lesser mark wouldn't be as worthy of going through the process and, really, in most instances a card can always be found already graded if it's needed. But, with his 50-50 season being so big, I opted to slab a few basics and this is one that made the cut. The stock used in 2018 is almost as thin as it gets and all that dark ink definitely showcases flaws, but I picked a pair of cards I thought were perfect from my stash and sent them in.
The Grade: CGC 10

Grade 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 P10 Total
Population 0 0 0 1 1 6 16 32 54 90 0 200
Reality Check: I don't know where I missed a perfect mark here but I'll still take a 10 ... less than half check in there and I think it's really harder than that -- people are examining their stuff harder before sending them in. The fact that these have checked in as low as a seven show how this one isn't easy sledding when it comes to slabbing. And as for my perfect aspirations? Well, it doesn't exist.
Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.
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This entry was posted in Baseball, Basketball, Comics, Football, Movies, Non-sports, Pro Wrestling, Golf, Making the Grade, Music, TV, Vintage and tagged Cryptozoic, Fred McGriff, MiLB, MLB, NBA, NFL, Nick Swisher, NXT, Panini America, The Big Bang Theory, Topps, WWE, 2012 Big Bang Theory Seasons 3-4, 2015 Topps Chrome WWE, 2016 Bowman Draft, Alexa Bliss, Bo Bichette, Drew Barrymore, Freddie Freeman, Hank Aaron, Impact Wrestling, Kathy Ireland, Moses Malone, Playboy, The Amazing Spider-Man, Tiger Woods, TNA, Vintage, 2001 SP Authentic Preview, 2018 Topps, Shohei Ohtani, 1975 Topps, 2008 Donruss Americana II, Tua Tagovailoa, Ron Boone, 2018 Topps Heritage Minor League, Pete Alonso, 2019 Topps Heritage, 2019 Bowman, Electra Avellan, AEW, Aerosmith, 2013 Panini Select, 1975-76 Topps, 2020 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks, Shotzi Blackheart, 2021 Topps Heritage, Bryce Young, 2021 Impact! Wrestling, 2022 Topps, Jordynne Grace, Spencer Strider, Shadowman, Shotzi, MJF, Tiffany Stratton, 2023 Panini Select WWE, Sol Ruca, 2023 Panini Phoenix, 2024 Topps Heritage, Utah Stars, 2024 Panini Prizm WWE, 1993 Eclipse National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon I, National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon I, 2024 Panini Prizm WWE Undercard, Handsome Jack, Moon Knight, Al Smith, 1975 Topps Zoo's Who, Crime Dog, 2024 Fantasy Super Cosplay Wrestling, Borderlands 2 on March 1, 2025 by BlowoutBuzz.
Buzz Buys ... A LOT: Exploring some vintage NBA
Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. Sometimes it's just bargain-hunting, sometimes it's just something that strikes me. And other times it's a lot -- a group of things -- and that has happened enough lately I figured I'd try something different as a regularly appearing item. Sometimes my lots will be wins, sometimes they won't be ... but I'll let you decide.
--
DIGGING UP ONE GEM?
The Lot: A lot of nine 1975-76 Topps NBA stars
The Price: About $11
Keep reading for more on this one ...
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This entry was posted in Basketball, Vintage, Buzz Buys ... A LOT and tagged NBA, Topps, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Washington Bullets, Dan Issel, Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, 1975-76 Topps, Freddie Brown, Calvin Murphy, Cazzie Russell, San Diego Sails, Artis Gilmore, Kentucky Colonels, Utah Stars, George McGinnis on April 15, 2024 by BlowoutBuzz.

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NEW RELEASES

Baseball (all dates subject to change)
Oct. 1 - 2025 Panini Three & Two
Oct. 1 - 2025 TRISTAR H.T. Gr. Slam
Oct. 8 - 2025 Bowman Chrome Mega
Oct. 22 - 2025 Topps Diamond Icons
Oct. 22 - 2025 Topps Holiday
Oct. 23 - 2025 Pulse Series 2 Retail
Oct. 24 - 2025 Leaf Lumber
Oct. 30 - 2025 Onyx Vintage Extended
Oct. 31 - 2025 Leaf A Bronx Legacy
Oct. TBD - 2025 Leaf Vivid
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse All Star
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse DSE
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse Foundry
Oct. TBD - 2024 Pulse Lumin HSE
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse Stratos HHS
Oct. TBD - 2024 Wild Card 5 Card SD
Oct. TBD - 2024 Wild Card Splat

Basketball
Oct. 16 - 2025 Donruss WNBA
Oct. TBD - 2024-25 Prizm Black

Football
Oct. 1 - 2025 Leaf Vivid
Oct. 8 - 2025 Panini Black
Oct. 9 - 2024 Panini Flawless
Oct. 10 - 2025 Panini Certified
Oct. 10 - 2025 Donruss Hobby Tin
Oct. 10 - 2025 TRISTAR H.T. Minis PSE
Oct. 15 - 2025 Panini Impeccable
Oct. 16 - 2024 Panini Eminence
Oct. 17 - 2025 TRISTAR H.T. Jerseys 2
Oct. 22 - 2025 Panini Absolute
Oct. 23 - 2025 Pulse Retail 2
Oct. 24 - 2025 Panini Mosaic
Oct. 29 - 2025 Panini Phoenix
Oct. 31 - 2025 Panini Prizm Draft
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse Foundry HSE
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse Meridian HSE
Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse Stratos HSE
Oct. TBD - 2024 TruMystery Chips
Oct. TBD - 2025 Wild Card Comix R&L
Oct. TBD - 2025 Wild Card Metallix PD

Hockey
Oct. 8 - 2024-25 Ultimate Collection
Oct. 15 - 2025-26 UD Series 1
Oct. 29 - 2024-25 UD Premier
Oct. TBD - 2024-25 Engrained Icons

Other/Multi-sports
Oct. 1 - 2025 Topps Triumphant Tennis
Oct. 3 - 2025 Leaf Metal Halloween
Oct. 3 - 2025 Panini Absolute K League
Oct. 3 - 2025 Panini Turn Four Racing
Oct. 3 - 2025 Wild Card Haunted Hits
Oct. 6 - 2025 Futera World Unique 21
Oct. 10 - 2025 Leaf History Book SE 2
Oct. 15 - 2025 S.B. Supercharged 2
Oct. 17 - 2024-25 Panini Noir Soccer
Oct. 17 - 2025 Topps UFC Knockout
Oct. 22 - 2025 Panini Impeccable LIV
Oct. 24 - 2025 Panini Prizm NASCAR
Oct. 29 - 2025 Panini Combat Anth.
Oct. TBD - 2025 AEW SP Game Used

Non-sports
Oct. 1 - Topps Chrome Spongebob
Oct. 9 - Keepsake Invincible S1P
Oct. 10 - Topps Chrome Dune
Oct. 15 - Historic Autos 15th
Oct. 15 - Historic Autos WWII
Oct. 15 - Topps Disney Wonder
Oct. 17 - Pieces of Past Royalty
Oct. 30 - Decision Color Cut SE
Oct. TBD - Keepsake Bob Marley
Oct. TBD - Pieces of Past Asia

Gaming
Oct. 10 - Pokemon ME Build & Battle
Oct. 10 - Pokemon Mega Latias EX
Oct. 10 - Pokemon S&R EX PC
Oct. 10 - Yugioh CD: Fallen & Virtuous
Oct. 24 - Pokemon Trainer's Tool Kit
Oct. 24 - Pokemon Gengar/Diancie
Oct. TBD - Pokemon S&V Pri. Ev. PFC

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