Buzz Break: Boston Red Sox Mystery Publications Grab Bag

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: Boston Red Sox Mystery Publications Grab Bag
Where to buy: Via Red Sox on MLB.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.)

Programs/magazines in this box: 14
Official Yearbooks: 1987, 1994, 1996, 1999 All-Star Game, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017
Game Programs: July-Aug. 2021
Other: 2004 Red Sox Magazine, 2006 Maple Street Press annual, 2018 Harvard-Yale at Fenway Park

Notable names on covers: David Ortiz, Roger Clemens, Mo Vaughn, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra, David Price, Chris Sale, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez & more.

What's Buzz-worthy: With the Red Sox moving on in the postseason, I figured now's a good time to break down this bargain-style pick-up (only $15 direct from the Red Sox on MLB.com) that I landed just last week. Why? Well, I like some variety and the hunt and there's a lot more of that than what I've seen from some of the $30 blasters out there right now in the retail realm. (Don't worry ... I'll do most of those, too, at some point.) This is advertised as a mystery bag but the box was pretty impressive when it arrived as the yearbooks are heavy, thick book-caliber media guides full of colorful content for this legendary franchise. Its listing is a little lean out there on the MLB mothership, simply promising "eight to 12 different publications that can be from the 1980s to current day" and "you never know what you'll get." That definitely was the case with this one for sure with the oldest being a 1987 yearbook with Roger Clemens on the cover of a piece that's actually quite clean for its age. Pretty much everything here was unread excellent-mint or better with the one dryer item (Maple Street Press annual) being the only one more beat up than the rest where I wouldn't have bothered with it. Only one had any other damage of note (1996 yearbook with some surface gloss damage) but it was otherwise a very clean piece. The rest are clean autograph-worthy pieces for somebody like me but something that could really impress a Sox diehard who hasn't dabbled in this realm or a new collector. There's not a ton of money in this realm most of the time -- but one of these actually does show a $20 solo sale on eBay so you never know. There's got to be modest if not decent break-up potential here if one is patient or if the mix gets a little more exotic than this one. (I almost did two to land some free shipping but did a different item ... not thinking the mix would be as interesting as it was here. I was thinking more game programs across the board.) Publications grading is a ton more complicated than card-grading -- and it's not fast or all that cheap -- but it's certainly a bit more untapped than cards. A nice piece in a nice grade from never-handled pick-ups like this (magazine or program lots can be iffy condition-wise) could lead to some gems. All in all, for something different, this one hit the spot ... I just wish I could find the same for other teams. There's very little downside to a cheap, different "break" like this.

Product Grade: A- (good volume and value)
Box Grade: A- (some nice surprises in this mix)
Fun Grade: B (not cards and can have damage)

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