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 ...

FROM THE BARGAIN BIN TO ...
The Card: Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Topps Traded -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I picked up this at the last minute -- literally at closing time -- at a past National Sports Collectors Convention after some digging through a bargain bin where cards were literally bouncing around inside cases in a plastic tub. For just $5 this card (as a raw copy) was mine after one thing jumped out at me -- its back with all that black ink was perfectly cut and its front was super-close to centered. It's not that I needed this card, really, as I picked up about three or four sets from the 1989 JCPenney Christmas catalog -- just $12.99 apiece -- back in the day, but I found the rough back edges to be an issue when revisiting all my copies with the the stars that survived past purges. This one made it into one of my bulk grading subs earlier this year as it was past time to grade one. Yes, it's got a very slight rough spot on the front left -- some extra fuzz as it's some light cardboard -- but everything else here (especially the back) was too clean to not send it in.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: That's definitely the kind of grade I was going for here, though a lot of them seem to check in at that mark -- about 17 percent of the current population -- which seems high for the era, but, at the same time, these were released as boxed sets and not in packs so they perhaps didn't get handled as much during packaging. Plus, inner cards in the boxes got protected pretty well. I'll take it. This one has always been one of my favorite RCs for this icon ... because I could afford this one and not the other big one that many love. I have them all now, of course (I think), but I'm pretty sure few or even none of my copies from back then would grade like this one did. Not bad for a $5 find and then $10 more to grade it.

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: 2022 Topps Heritage Minor League baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery of highlights with this one.

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What: 2022 Topps Heritage Minor League baseball cards
Arrives: Nov. 23
Box basics: Two autos per box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Collectors can turn back the clock to 1973 for a third time this year following the minor-league season with this release that celebrates the prospects of the game.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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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 Bowman baseball cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for what was inside 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 box: 2021 Bowman Chrome (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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What: 2021 Bowman Sapphire Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Now initially via Topps.com
Box basics: One auto per eight-pack box
Sapphire Edition Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman Sapphire is live for the public today after a 582 Montgomery Club opener yesterday.

Keep reading for more info as well as a full gallery of images.

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What: 2021 Bowman Inception baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 15
Box basics: Two autographs per seven-card box (16 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman Inception returns after some time off with this return noting players' first cards in a new way -- Inception Introduction cards. (The mock says "Initiation" ... so maybe it will be that by the time these arrive in November.)

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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What: 2021 Bowman Sterling baseball cards
Arrives: Oct. 1
Box basics: Five autographs per five-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman Sterling returns once again as an auto-per-pack product with five parallels in every one of them as well as a mix of prospects, rookies and veterans all in one colorful place once again.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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: 2020 Leaf Draft Baseball (retail blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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