Buzz Break: 2023 Leaf Metal Pop Century 1/1 Proofs

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: 2023 Leaf Metal Pop Century 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here (when available)

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

Cards per box: 1
Base set completion: 
N/A
Duplicates: 0

Inserts/short-prints: 1 (all in gallery below)
Clear Blue Pop Century Perfectly Cast Signatures (unsigned) Pre-production Proof (1) – Megan Cavanaugh (1/1)

What’s Buzz-worthy: My latest pull from one of these comes from A League Of Their Own with Cavanaugh playing Marla Hooch, the talented second baseman of the Rockford Peaches who had a number of simple but memorable scenes before, taking the stage, finding love and leaving the team. (That's oversimplified ... just watch the movie.) The role was Cavanaugh's first and it's probably of her most-memorable, too, despite spots in a number of TV and film roles that include Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Miss Congeniality 2, Home Improvement, Bob, Friends and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius where she voices his mom. This card is a clear one which is a little odd as the authentication sticker and the cert inside the top-loader show through but otherwise this was a decent little find here with the in-uniform visuals, though she's not a pricey card in general. (I found ink for $10.) ... As noted before, in past years, the proofs from Leaf's annual celebrity ink-fueled line Pop Century were released as slabbed cards and sometimes as 1/1 Proof autos, too, at a higher price per box. This year? One proof per pack in sealed top-loaders with a sticker and cert attached to both. At a glance on some cards that's a little distracting -- some are on clear plastic -- but ultimately the backs are all blank here along with the autograph spots. The price should be a little more friendly on these this year without slabs and ink but the lineup in Pop Century was as stacked as it gets so there should still be interest here as 1/1s, though there are many varieties per card with all the colors and textures, can sell well for names who are in obvious demand ... and maybe even for some you might not know. For me, these were bonus items with a purchase ... I'm not sure how a price tag attached would affect my feel for these ... but a big name selling well might make pretty much any packs here a winner if you get lucky in a small lot. If not, you still land a 1/1 card that's semi-encased, though I definitely like the slabbed approach better. We'll see how I feel after ripping the rest of my packs but, overall, I like this approach as it's something that could trend affordable while remaining unique and something that could pique the interests of a lot of collectors out there with all of the various genres found here. There's potential.

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Product Grade: A
Pack Grade: B (not as big of a name but found with image tying to the role, which helps appeal here)
Fun Grade: B (these were bonus items for me with a purchase -- not sure how a price tag would affect my reaction ... would depend on price)

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