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 ...

A START FROM THE HARDCOURT
The Card: Ja Morant 2019-20 Donruss Optic #168 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: As I noted last time, I have made an effort to slab some of my better (basic) Rookie Cards for key NBA names in the last couple of years and Morant is among them. Why? Well, I didn't pull all that many to start with, so they still sort of still feel special to me unlike some brands (Chronicles) where I cleaned up and have plenty of the basics. Last time here, you saw my Zion Williamson Optic Rookie Card, so I figured this time I'd drop my Morant ... If I remember correctly I found both of them in the same box.
The Grade: CSG 9.5

Reality Check: It graded well, which is what I was hoping for, and via CSG that's not always the easiest thing to get. Optichome-stock cards of the last couple years seem to always have issues on the backs from what I have seen with chippy edges and sometimes-textured stock that isn't all that smooth and clean. This time? It's clean and I think this mark on the CSG pop report (*they say it's coming very soon) might be a lot smaller than other places.

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: 2020 Topps MLB Sticker Collection box
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... some past sticker releases here

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

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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: 2021 Topps WWE wrestling cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here (for hobby)

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

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

What's Buzzing: Storage wars (or something), Bowman Draft breaks, WWE breaks, NFL pulls, NFL chatter and more.

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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 Topps UK Edition baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in 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: 2013 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy trading cards
Where to buy:  It'll take some hunting ... in the DVD section. (Regular non-sports cards here at BlowoutCards.com)

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

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

What's Buzzing: New breaks, the Jasson Dominguez Superfractor surfaces, football favorites, notable birthdays and more.

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YourDozen.com is back and we're predicting WWE Day 1 action on Saturday and NFL Week 17 action this weekend -- and you have until 7 p.m. Eastern Saturday to get your picks and predictions in. (Keep in mind, though, that one of the tiebreakers is who entered first.)

This week's prize is a mystery once again and it could be revealed at any time between now and then. Or, it may only be known to the winner, which could be you ... if you take the minute to make 13 simple predictions below.

>>> CLICK HERE TO ENTER <<< 

Did you get in on last week's action? Check the leaderboard and contact fish@blowoutcards.com to claim your prize if you're the winner.

How does it work? It's short and simple. Register and you'll get a dozen questions where your answers will be compiled and compared to others. Whomever gets the most correct gets the prize -- or at least a shot at it if there's a tie.

The goal with YourDozen.com? Have a little fun and get free stuff into some of your hands.

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

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: 2021 Topps Chrome Ben Baller Edition baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in 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 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview: Click here

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

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

What's Buzzing: John Madden, NFL dumpster fires, YouTube critiques (sorta), a monster Topps Heritage case and more.

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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: 2021 Topps Athletes Unlimited Softball cards
Where to buy: Initially only via Topps.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

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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 Topps Japan Edition baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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

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Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness. 

MONEYBALL DOWN ON THE FARM?
The Card: Amanda Brady 2021 Choice Hudson Valley Renegades #34
The Buzz On This One: When was the last time you saw an "advanced scouting analyst" baseball card? This is a first for me and I've seen quite a bit of oddball cardboard in my time doing this series. Brady is an analyst in the Yankees organization and this card is "exactly what I always dreamed my first baseball card would be," she tweeted. There's a pretty good chance there are other analyst cards to come as the MiLB checklists continue to include the non-traditional but, right now, this is the only one I've ever seen.

Keep reading for more examples of weird baseball cards you can (almost) only find in MiLB.

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

What's Buzzing: Chewing on the 2021 Bowman Draft checklist, new pulls, storing cards in albums, Jay-Z Rookie Cards and more in today's edition.

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Mia Yim vs. Io Shirai, NXT -- Oct. 2, 2019 (WWE photo)

If you're a regular reader of this Collecting Game-used series, you've seen plenty of game-used baseball memorabilia, some NFL and then some other pieces here and there every month, but to finish off the series this year I figured I'd go with a first for me and my stash of photo-matched pick-ups.

This month, it's my first piece of WWE match-used memorabilia.

Since wrestlers are classified as independent contractors out there on the business side of things, they are responsible for their gear's creation and own it all when their time ends with a promotion, if they decide to move on or change their look for whatever need arises or for character changes. To simplify that, it means with some luck you can get Superman's cape from Superman instead of going through the movie studio -- and that simple metaphor is why I lead things off with the epic photo above.

My new piece is from wrestling veteran and former WWE star Mia Yim -- also known as Reckoning at the recent end of her recent run -- and she had all of those things in play that led some match-used memorabilia to my hands. She's had a pretty consistent gear style for most of her career until the name change and promotion and she recently posted on social media that it was time for some new stuff. That's likely a sign of some new chapters to come and that's how I found this piece -- she was selling the old to add the new. Another cool part? I was able to match things to a number of matches and even some cardboard from Topps. Heck, I even now know who made it for her.

You can see it in action above -- and get the details if you 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: 2021 Topps Heritage WWE wrestling cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here

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

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What: 2022 Super Break First-time Football Edition
Arrives: March 1
Box basics: One buyback card box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Super Break opens 2022 with a new crop of NFL buyback cards in graded and raw form with all-time greats' firsts and Rookie Cards among the biggest draws.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2021 BenchWarmer Holiday trading cards
Arrives: Jan. 28
Hobby box basics: Seven cards per box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: BenchWarmer revealed its newest holidays-themed release during the weekend and it's one that includes a mix of past and present cards with ink in every box.

Keep reading to see a gallery and more.

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

What's Buzzing: Joe Burrow has a big game, some strong pulls, eBay Bucks, retail hunting and more.

Continue reading →

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: Three 1/1s in one basketball break, Topps Minis, new pulls, NFL chatter and more.

Continue reading →

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: Project70, ripping into Houdini boxes, new pulls and more in this holiday edition.

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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 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview with checklist/SPs/more: Click here

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

Continue reading →

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: 2021 Impact! Wrestling Series 4 trading cards
First Buzz preview & all-series checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Initially only via ShopImpact.com (still available right now)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this one.

Continue reading →

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing: New NBA, Heritage and WWE pulls lead the way, but there's also Pokemon Celebrations, the "49ers are trash" says a San Fran fan and one asks "Are there MLB players without certified autos?"

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