What's Buzzing: Cactus Jack WWE, grails, Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh and more.

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1 -- Cactus Jack WWE on their minds

2 -- Talking grails ... 

3 -- Still pondering Kyle Schwarber and Cooperstown

4 -- Talking Ohtani

5 -- Big Dumper is nearing a record and 50 homers

6 -- A licensing development?

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

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What's Buzzing: Collecting football Hall of Famers, Aaron Judge, Big Dumper MLB chatter, a licensing rumor and ... ESPN adding MLB.TV?

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1 -- ESPN adding MLB.TV next after just adding WWE?

2 -- Talking Aaron Judge

3 -- All your MLB chatter is here

4 -- Picking off football Hall of Famers

5 -- Big Dumper is nearing a record and 50 homers

6 -- A licensing development?

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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.

What's Buzzing: Big Dumper closes in on record, Rafael Devers, NFL chatter, one card from every sketch card set ever, wrestling cards and ... a licensing development?

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1 -- Big Dumper is nearing a record and 50 homers

2 -- A licensing development?

3 -- Rafael Devers ... "so last month"

4 -- "Looking for one of EVERY licensed sketch card ever"

5 -- Talking wrestling cards

6 -- All your NFL chatter as the season nears

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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.

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

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PARALLEL POWER?
The Card: National League Wins Leaders (Spencer Strider, Zac Gallen, Justin Steele) 2024 Topps True Photo variant & Gold Foil parallel
The Price: About $11 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The concept of this one is simple and it's striking -- knock off the border of a base card completely, using just its photo -- and I think it works. But there's also one thing here that's striking -- and not in the best way. These are arguably too rare to make that big of an impact with me and I think perhaps other collectors who might not bother to grab their players or even think about a team set or full set. How rare? They are one in 677 hobby packs and I'm confident they'd be more popular if people could reasonably collect a team run or set. Why? Because they're something dramatically different and you can compare the regular card and this version side by side. I also grabbed a Gold Foil parallel for this one this time after I bit on the variant ... just to say I had one. Even paying $10 for this was a stretch for me ... and those odds and that price might say that these aren't as popular as they could/should be. These are one in basically every third hobby case.
Grab a box right here: MLB cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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What: 2025 Topps Chrome WWE Cactus Jack wrestling cards
Arrives: Aug. 29
Box basics 20 packs per hobby box (12 boxes per case) -- four autos per case
Checklist: Click here
Odds: TBD
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Topps returns to the WWE ring for just the third time this year with this follow-up to its Wrestlemania-branded Cactus Jack teaser release from Wrestlemania now coming to collectors in a full-box form -- it's the third Chrome set of its new run with the license.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What's Buzzing: Reacting to The National, MLB chatter, WWE's reality show, new pulls and more.

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1 -- The National reactions are here

2 -- More card economy thoughts 

3 -- All your MLB chatter is here

4 -- Reactions to WWE: Unreal

5 -- Inside a Topps Chrome box

6 -- New MLB pulls are here

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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.

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

NINES ARE FINE
The Card: Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Archives -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: The unique 1960 Topps design always stands out to me. Why? Because one of my first clean vintage cards as a kid was a Gus Bell form the set, which I got since I knew he was a big-leaguer's dad. (Yay, trivia!) So that's perhaps one reason I held this Judge RC instead of letting it go. (Plus, I didn't rip as much of this brand ... so it was the only copy I pulled.) Judge's dominating 2025 season should make you stop and wonder about slabbing any RCs or early/rare stuff you have now ... just because. He and Shohei Ohtani are all-timers playing right in front of our faces now and are as safe as it gets when it comes to grab and slab or buy and hold -- even with plenty of their cards being graded.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: I knew this wouldn't be a 10 contender with the finicky stock here and the centering being a smidge off by my typical standards for a slab, but, like I said, it was my only copy. Most check in at this grade, so the nine makes sense, too, and the volume below it also shows this card isn't the easiest to grade.

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: 2004 BenchWarmer Series 1 (Canadian box) trading cards
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... See newer BenchWarmer boxes here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of everything in this box.

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Mystery Box Buzz Break is a new series here on The Buzz -- it's essentially a Buzz Break but only for "mystery boxes" that seem to be everywhere these days -- and not just in the sports realm. Like this and want to see more? Is there a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The mystery box: Big Event NY wrestling JSA mystery box
Where to buy: Via eBay (find new WWE cards at BlowoutCards.com)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and a gallery of what was in this box. (Yes, it was a box and not a bag ... but that's their image.)

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What's Buzzing: A QB question, The National, new pulls, Ichiro Suzuki and the Hall of Fame and more in this Monday edition.

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1 -- A QB question 

2 -- The National is days away

3 -- Wrestling chatter

4 -- New MLB pulls are here

5 -- Ichiro Suzuki and new Hall of Famers get their moments

6 -- Nick Kurtz

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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.

What's Buzzing: Ichiro Suzuki heads to Cooperstown, The National, Nick Kurtz, new pulls and more.

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1 -- Ichiro Suzuki and new Hall of Famers ready for their moments

2 -- The National is this week

3 -- Nick Kurtz thoughts

4 -- New MLB pulls are here

5 -- A big Goodwin Champions pull

6 -- Hulk Hogan dies at 71

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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.

What's Buzzing: Nick Kurtz is putting on a show, The National is next week, talking Topps Chrome and more.

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1 -- Nick Kurtz is at 24 homers ... four on Friday night

2 -- The National is next week

3 -- Talking Topps Chrome

4 -- Showing off some movie baseball cards

5 -- Go Bananas, folks ...

6 -- Hulk Hogan dies at 71

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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.

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. 

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A LANDMARK RELEASE 
The Lot: 27 cards from 2006 Topps Heritage Chrome WWE
The Price: Not much more than a Chrome blaster these days

Keep reading for more on this one ...

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What's Buzzing: Collectors react to the Hulk Hogan news, The National nears, sketch cards, Tom Brady Rookie Cards, Ozzy Osbourne and more in today's edition.

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1 -- Hulk Hogan dies at 71

2 -- The National nears

3 -- They had been talking Tom Brady Rookie Cards, but ... 

4 -- Talking sketch cards

5 -- Collectors react to the death of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne

6 -- Reactions to an alleged autograph forgery ring

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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.

What's Buzzing: The National nears, Paul Skenes, Shohei Ohtani, waiting on Topps WWE, fake autos and ... the future of sticker autos?

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1 -- The future of sticker autographs? 

2 -- The National nears

3 -- Talking Paul Skenes

4 -- Waiting on Topps WWE ... 

5 -- Talking Shohei Ohtani

6 -- Reactions to an alleged autograph forgery ring

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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.

For years now, autographed books coming direct from the publishers -- or direct from the authors themselves -- have been an affordable way to collect ink from notable names in all realms of pop culture.

It's not a perfect system with stamped autos, fakes and autopens sometimes in the mix -- a problem for publishers to catch as they are not authenticators -- but thanks to dedicated collectors on the Blowout Cards Forum and elsewhere, those problems often get caught and fixed ... or at least become well-known enough to avoid if it's an issue that goes uncorrected.

Getting ink in-person is always best -- book tours still happen, of course -- but landing autographed editions from publishers, online sellers or celebs themselves via their websites or other appearances are common.

Our latest subject and autograph in this ongoing series? Former AEW and WWE champion Saraya. 

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What's Buzzing: More reactions to an alleged large-scale autographed memorabilia forgery operation, The National, Juan Soto and plenty more in this Friday edition.

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1 -- Reactions to an alleged autograph forgery ring

2 -- The National nears

3 -- Talking Juan Soto

4 -- Wrestling cards are on their minds

5 -- Collectors' new pulls

6 -- Inside some new Star Trek boxes

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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.

This new department will be an occasional series that will take a quick look at a game or gaming release with card elements -- essentially a breakdown of what's in a box, but not the typical kind of a Buzz Break. (Buzz isn't a gamer so this will just be what's in a box vs. gameplay analysis.) Maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

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The Game: Ravensburger WWE Legends Royal Rumble Card Game (2020)
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... BlowoutCards.com for other gaming -- or for traditional wrestling cards

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery from this one.

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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 pack: 2024 Topps Stars of MLB Network baseball cards
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... Click here for MLB boxes

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

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What's Buzzing: Showing off Michael Jordan cards, new NFL and NBA pulls, The National, a big wrestling weekend and more 2025 Score chatter.

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1 -- Showing off Michael Jordan cards

2 -- Inside a new NFL box

3 -- Mosaic NBA delivers some ink

4 -- All your wrestling chatter heading into a big weekend

5 -- Talking 2025 Score NFL

6 -- The National is on their minds

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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.

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 sets: 2025 Superstars & Legends and 2025 Superstars & Legends Rewind Series wrestling cards
Where to buy: Click here ... BlowoutCards.com for traditional wrestling stuff

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery from this one.

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Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

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RETRO RECORD-HOLDER
The Card: Roger Maris 2014 Panini Classics Home Run Heroes Jerseys (/25)
The Price: $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I ponied up a little bit for this one vs. my typical range for Maris mem cards since it's a rarer card, has a material (jersey/pants) swatch vs. a bat and is from a brand that packed a lot of potential for big names back in the day. Yet, at the same time, that price was a bargain. Yes, its centering is just slightly off, but otherwise it's clean -- that errant spot on the right side is part of the printed design on all cards here. It was an easy addition for a player I collect and pick off stuff for a few times a year. Those top corners are really clean on this one, which might not always be the case with those bold colors.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but MLB cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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What's Buzzing: Chrome, Dave Parker, NFL collusion, new wrestling cards, The National and signed books are today's topics.

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1 -- Talking 2025 Topps Chrome

2 -- An NFL issue?

3 -- Collectors remember Dave Parker

4 -- Wrestling cards are on their minds

5 -- Checking in on the signed books section

6 -- The National section is open as the show nears

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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.

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS
The Card: Caitlin Clark 2024-25 Panini Instant WNBA (/26,980) -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I watched and waited for the most part with Caitlin Clark cards as Panini Instant stuff arrived regularly and her in-pack WNBA Rookie Cards arrived later in the year. But, when this award-winner card popped up with a clean and iconic studio photo? Well, I pretty much instantly (pun not intended as it's simply true) grabbed a 10-pack with an eye for a slab. It's in a past Buzz Buys (hit the archives) and this is the result a few months later.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)

Reality Check: This one is heavily made and should be heavily slabbed -- the number of Pristines has at least doubled just in the few weeks since I got these back from CGC -- but many won't be checking in at this top mark. I didn't slab to expect a perfect 10 but I thought this one had potential after going through my stack. Three of my 10 had solid centering and this one was first to make that cut ... with this mark I may not need to send in the other two. It's my lone Clark slab ... and it's strong enough it might stay that way just so I can say I went 1-for-1 grading here. We'll see.

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

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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: 2020 Topps WWE Slam Attax (Topps India Carry Box)
Where to buy: Will take some looking -- get standard WWE boxes here

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.

Continue reading →