Buzz Buys: Big NFL gains, WWE legends, Naomi Osaka, vintage silver, J.J. Watt's rookie ink & Vontae Mack no matter what

Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys.

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OFF-SEASON GRAB
The Card: Calvin Ridley 2018 Donruss Optic Aqua (/299) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $2.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card is a perfect example of an off-season pick-up that can show you some volatility and gains when in-season. The price above is a "then" price. The asking price now where I grabbed it? Basically add a zero and then a few bucks. Now, I'm not sure it'll sell for that much right now, but that's the kind of stuff that can easily happen when a player has a hot start to a season and is among the league leaders. Ridley had at least 109 yards in all but one game (that one a big fat zero) and he's a go-to for his struggling team right now. His auto isn't much to look at so I don't grab them as often, but I don't mind his RCs and memorabilia cards when I can land them cheaply.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Donruss Optic football cards

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

BIG SIX SILVER
The Card: Christy Mathewson 2015 Elemetal troy ounce silver card (portrait version) (/1,909)
The Price: Around $50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is an encased silver bar that features one of two designs for this MLB legend on its front -- his portrait or his windup pose that you can see to the left of the card here in the slab. These come blind-wrapped in a cigarette-style pack and he was among a few T206 players who were presented in this hybrid series that combined precious metals with some baseball greats. (Others were Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and Cy Young.) These arrived a bit pricier than what I paid here back in the day so I never chased one -- I prefer the other pose but was glad to land one of these for this price. The eBay asking prices are a bit higher now compared to when I grabbed this recently with highs pushing $90 for actual sales. I grabbed this since I dabble with Mathewson super-casually ... like a card or two picked up every year as they grab my attention.
Grab a box right here: Click here for MLB boxes

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D-VON, GET THE TABLE!
The Card: The Dudley Boyz 2002 Fleer WWF All Access Match Makers Memorabilia #MMDB
The Price: $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card is a freaking classic because if there was one thing that Buh Buh Ray and D-Von were known for in their successful multi-year, multi-company runs it's their love for demolishing tables in matches. This is one of the Fleer memorabilia cards from back in the day that went there with unique pieces in cards at times atop the shirts and mat Relics we get pretty much all the time today. (Oddball Relics will be coming later this year in WWE Fully Loaded, by the way.) I landed this one along with some other key WWE cards from the past as my ability to find boxes on the reasonable sides of things -- at least for stuff I'd like to rip -- has been dampened a little bit. A lot of Fleer WWE stuff has dried up -- wax is pretty much impossible for some releases -- and I don't remember the last time I saw anything for this one, let alone copies of this card. (There have been some sales this year -- a bit higher than I paid.) I didn't grab this one for the money at all ... this one's going in the stash.
Grab a box right here: Click here for WWE boxes

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TWO OF A KIND
The Card: Patrick Surtain & Jaylen Waddle 2018 Leaf U.S. Army All-American Bowl Freshman Class 2018 (/40)
The Price: About $11
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is another off-season pick-up and it's a card that could have some demand as Waddle has been a strong player for Alabama the last three years and could be one of their top guys when the stats are final this season. If you recognize Surtain's name, well, it could also be from his play these days -- he's on defense -- or it could be because his dad played 11 years in the NFL. Football prospecting isn't easily done -- these sets are pretty much your only bets until the year they can be drafted -- but there can be serious movement on cards of key guys here until pro stuff arrives. 
Grab a box right here: Click here for Leaf U.S. Army All-American boxes

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HALL OF FAMER STEAL?
The Card: J.J. Watt 2011 Panini Certified Mirror Red Signatures (/250) Rookie Card parallel (Fanatics encased)
The Price: Under $50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: It felt pretty good to land an autographed RC parallel for this price and he'll soon be a member of the NFL's 100-sack club (two more) so I figured why not. You can find his college draft picks autos for less and he's definitely not as expensive as he used to be -- but he's easily just as iconic and should end up in Canton pretty fast once he's done and an NFL card here (even if a sticker) felt like a good pick-up. Among active players, he's fourth in sacks but is easily one of the NFL's most-iconic current players on defense. It's merely encased by Fanatics but looks clean enough to be a 9.5/10 contender to me if it were graded -- another reason I grabbed it.
Grab a box right here: Click here for 2011 Panini Certified boxes

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NO MATTER WHAT
The Card: Chadwick Boseman/"Vontae Mack" Trading Cards 5 by artist Cuyler Smith (/90)
The Price: $15
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a card I didn't initially pick up with the arrival of new Trading Cards lithos this year but with the shocking and untimely death of this star in August had me looking and I grabbed one. Beyond Black Panther I don't think Boseman had any card appearances, but this one that's a tribute to his role in Draft Day as an Ohio State star turned Cleveland Browns pick of GM Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) as part of an action-packed single day that is the movie. The card's centering is a bit of a bummer but I needed this Vontae Mack no matter what.
Grab a box right here: Click here for non-sports boxes

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OFF THE WALL
The Card: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2019 Topps Finest Blue Chips wall art (/99)
The Price: $17.50 (after promotional discount)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Finest is a release that has had some insert sets I like here and there, and this one is a throwback to a subset from its 1997 edition. It's simple design but a good bat-flip photo where he's literally standing on one toe makes it even better to me. (Though it would better on Chrome stock with etching.) I normally only grab RCs when it comes to Topps' wall art offerings but thew this one in to mix things up. Simple as that.
Grab a box right here: Click here for MLB boxes

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ONE OF THE BEST
The Card: Ted Williams 2020 Topps Project 2020 -- Artist: Tyson Beck (/9,507 made)
The Price: Direct from Topps
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There are a few artists from the 20 in Project 2020 that continue to deliver and this guy is among them. I have pretty much no need (or general interest) in Williams cards in this series, but the attention to detail here drew me in -- and it's not the first time I have had my eye on Beck's stuff. I like how the original card back got some play here along with smaller details from the front of the original like the sock mascot getting some swings in. I also like how the name line from the original and its shocking yellow backdrop gets used here in a different way.
Grab a box right here: Click here for MLB boxes

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ROOKIE CARD BY DEFAULT?
The Card: Naomi Osaka 2019 Topps International Tennis Hall of Fame #50 -- Rookie Card?
The Price: $24.95 for the set via the International Tennis Hall of Fame (now sold out)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card (and set) recently blew up as she was the winner of this year's U.S. Open and this was her first traditionally released trading card -- Osaka was one of two current stars Topps put in its 50-card set made for the Hall of Fame. A BGS 9.5 copy that was on eBay around the time of her win sold for nearly $600 while raw copies were as high as $300 or so last month. They have since settled but I managed to grab three sets from the Hall's store before they vanished. (Topps had them long ago at $19.99 a set back when they arrived.) Her only other cards are from magazines or event/giveaway sets and then the super-premium Transcendent Collection release (link below) that has six cards (most being 1/1s) making her a high-end chase. Technically I think this is her Rookie Card though the boxed set still isn't the most-traditional kind of release ... but it's basically the only option.
Grab a box right here: Click here for Topps tennis boxes

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SET'S APPEAL
The Set: 2002 Fleer WWE Absolute Divas Tropical Pleasures -- 10-card set
The Price: About $20 shipped
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: With newer WWE boxes drying up (or their costs out-performing their typical contents), I've been revisiting past cards and grabbing singles here and there somewhat heavily in the wrestling realm. (It's easier to collect with fewer releases but challenging with smaller print runs compared to traditional sports cards.) I found this insert set that includes Ivory, Trish Stratus, Lita, Stacy Keibler, Terri, Torrie Wilson, Jacqueline, Molly Holly and Victoria for less than the suggested retail price price of a blaster. These cards were found just two per hobby box and include a number of names who ultimately will go down as WWE Hall of Famers and iconic stars of the time. (Five already have been honored, actually, but there will be more.) Some of the key names here can sell for a few bucks on their own, so a seller letting a set go for this price probably won't be a common thing out there. (If there are more, sign me up ... finding grading-caliber copies here aren't easy and that's one of my goals for a couple cards here.)
Grab a box right here: Click here for WWE boxes

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AFFORDABLE OPTION
The Card: Calvin Ridley 2018 Panini Spectra Building Blocks triple-mem card (/99) 
The Price: $3.75
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy has had a solid year and I've been picking his stuff up since he's part of my school ties stash of my collection so this isn't a new buy. He has a ton of memorabilia cards to choose from, so cards like this probably don't have the gains that his RCs do after a strong start to a season ... but I know this much -- I'd be picking up cards like this a lot more than some RCs. (Heavy flippers and new/returning investor types are driving up plentiful RCs for a lot of players ... making them more volatile. Meanwhile, cards like this one are numbered to 99 copies and cost far less.)
Grab a box right here: Panini Spectra NFL boxes (all years)

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BUDGET BAT DOWN!
The Card: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2019 Topps Walmart Acuña Highlights
The Price: About $2
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I picked this one up in the recent past because I liked the photo, which is found on a couple of his iconic 2018 Rookie Cards -- the "bat down" variation and then the more-findable and popular Holiday version. This is from a simple highlights set only found in certain packs of 2019 Topps packs at Walmart. They're not all that rare but it'd take you a few boxes/packs to collect 'em all. It turns out I already had one but I didn't know since my stuff isn't all that organized ... but I'm OK with extras on this guy. And I'm a sucker for this memorable photo -- Topps can use it all day long as far as I'm concerned.
Grab a box right here: Click here for MLB boxes

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SHE'S BACK
The Card: Ember Moon 2017 Topps WWE NXT Blue Autographs (/50)
The Price: $9
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This high-flying WWE star is back in the fold after being out for some time with a severe Achilles tendon injury that realistically was a career-threatening one. Rather than returning to the main shows with WWE, she's actually back on NXT where she'll be right in the title picture while also working with some new looks, too. (This card's photo is early in her career.) She does some impressive moves that could grab your attention immediately -- I was sold the first time I saw this -- and her cards are generally pretty cheap.
Grab a box right here: Click here for WWE boxes

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REMEMBER HIM?
The Card: Eddie Lacy 2017 Panini Majestic Award-winning Autographs
The Price: $3.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There's something to be said for collecting football cards of college stars -- you don't have to worry about current performances and you can often find some solid cards on the cheap if you're watching regularly. It also seems to be easier on the potential losses side, too, compared to a lot of the big names who people buy and buy and buy ... until they don't and the players are done. This guy's done but since I'm a school collector it's all good as an addition. There was a time where this card easily sold for much, much more.
Grab a box right here: 2017 Panini Majestic (when available)

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EDWARD R. ROONEY!
The Card: Jeffrey Jones 1999 Inkworks Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow Autographs
The Price: Under $9
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I could be wrong here, but I think this is the only certified auto for the principal from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the dad from Beetlejuice and the mad scientist from Howard The Duck. While I'd totally be cool with his auto from sets from those films -- or even just card sets there -- this one was the only to get him a certified auto. A Bueller set would be really cool ... put that on my retro-set want list. The cast inclusion checklist would be solid -- and a lot of the key names have done private signings in recent years.
Grab a box right here: Click here for non-sports boxes

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REMEMBER ME?
The Card: Mike Trout 2020 Topps Project 2020 -- Artist: Blake Jamieson (/74,862 made)
The Price: Direct from Topps via a five-pack
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was the 100th card in the series that seems like it came out eons ago but the series is only closing in on the 300 mark in a 400-card checklist. There's still plenty of cardboard to come. I grabbed a five-pack of this one since it was the first to tease possible Trout autographs (just 10 total made) worked into orders at random. Sadly, I didn't land one. This card isn't my favorite but I gambled on the ink and I'd rather have something that echoes the original card than just does whatever.
Grab a box right here: Click here for MLB boxes

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SHE'S BACK, TOO
The Card: Carmella 2015 Topps WWE Undisputed NXT Prospects Black (/99) -- First NXT Card parallel 
The Price: Under $3
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Her only card appearances in 2015 are found in Undisputed, the higher-end hit-per-pack release that has really dried up in pack form. This is a pick-up from several months ago, so the nuttiness of today's market might mean higher prices than what I paid ... but I'm generally just a WWE buyer for fun, not dollar signs and was picking off some notables to add to the stash. Fun fact: Did you know she's a former New England Patriots cheerleader and a former Laker Girl before she decided to become a wrestler? (Really ... and her dad was a WWE jobber back in the day, too.) Her return seems to have come with some new schtick so we'll see how it goes.
Grab a box right here: Click here for WWE boxes

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LEGENDARY CAMEOS
The Card: New York Yankees' Monument Park 2018 Topps Big League Rainbow Foil (/100)
The Price: $2.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a relatively rarer (print-run wise) parallel from a low-end set but it includes nods to Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth who are surrounding Miller Huggins on the front of this card showing Monument Park. Simple but unique cards like this may not sell for much but rarer parallels of key names could over time. It seems the wax boxes of this one aren't all that plentiful right now like you might think ... and that's just two years removed from its arrival. Cheap boxes will get ripped faster than those big pricey ones even if the odds aren't as good at landing something big.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Topps Big League

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