Buzz Buys (Feb.): Joe Montana, Jobu, pop art, new Shotzi ink, WWE newcomers, old magazines, Jalen Milroe & much more

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ... 

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CROSSING HIM OFF 
The Card: Joe Montana autographed 1988 Topps card (BAS slabbed)
The Price: About $65
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Rewind the clock to the early/mid 1990s and Montana is the unquestioned top QB on cardboard with perhaps only a small number of RBs or WRs even coming close to competing with him for popularity on cards. Back then, in a new era of certified autographs from brands such as Pro Line and Classic or mail-order autographed items, there was ink to chase but Montana was never, ever on my radar. Why? Look at that auto ... there's still not much going on there that would have sparked me to pay a premium price for a glorified initialgraph with a slight more added on. Fast-forward to now and the Hall of Famer still has all those rings and all those MVP awards, but he's been surpassed on the stat sheets and cards ... it happens. The 68-year-old has done a lot of signing for Leaf for its releases and buyback brands -- I think this was one from there -- in recent years and it had been on my radar for literally months as I really like the look of many of his 1980s Topps cards. A relatively clean copy with an on-card auto is a no-brainer if the price is right and I got this one for about half of the asking price of man identical copy I'd been watching. All these years later, I can cross Montana off my ink-needed list.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but NFL cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

JUST ONE LEFT ...
The Card: Shotzi Blackheart 2021 Topps WWE Undisputed Rob Schamberger Illustrations Superstar Autographs (/10) 
The Price: Far less than a new Chrome WWE box (almost $100)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card had been way high on my list for a while now as I want to, as they say, collect 'em all ... and in this case my collection is, I believe, just one card short now that I have this one. This is the version signed by the wrestler, and there's another version also /10 signed by the artist. However, the blurbs on all of the backs are wrong as this card says it's signed by him and the other card says it's signed by her. Others in the release have the same issue, though I didn't bother to check them all. Why? I'm just working on the Blackheart run and I just need the one signed by the artist. It will go with my base card, a Topps Vault 1/1 and also the original painted artwork seen on the card that I also own. I also have an in-person auto card that came with the original. Why don't I have the artist auto? That pesky error has some sellers trying to get many times what I paid here for the artist version even though his little boxed autograph that's a combo of his initials and the year he signed looks nothing like "Shotzi."
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but WWE cards are here.

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STRIKING IMAGE, CLEAN SIG
The Card: Vinette Robinson as Rosa Parks 2022 Rittenhouse Doctor Who Series 11 & 12 Autographs
The Price: Under $10
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card wasn't on my radar at all but it simply jumped out from the pack on a deep dive of non-sports autos online. The photo is a striking reproduction of the original subject -- I did a double-take -- and the autograph is strikingly clean. That's a perfectly crafted card.
Grab a box right here: Non-sports cards are here.

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THEIR LATEST STAR
The Item: Jalen Milroe autographed 8-by-10 Iron Bowl photo (Fanatics Authentic)
The Price: About $65
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This Alabama Crimson Tide QB's next stop will be in the NFL, so when I spotted this signed photo at about 25-percent off of its regular price I finally (still somewhat reluctantly) bit just to have the auto in my stash and move on. I'll wait until after all the speculators and flippers grab ink at draft pick prices and get mine on the backside of the peak prices at some point. He has a lot of autos thanks to NIL deals, but a lot of them are on stickers and his auto isn't always cleanly done there. I went with the safe bet and the image is from one of his biggest plays -- a fourth-and-31 game-winning TD in the 2023 showdown with Auburn. Normally I'd prefer a crimson jersey photo and a day game with bright lighting, but this was one of his finest plays. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but football cards are here.

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GETTING ARTISTIC
The Item: "Lisa" by Brett Parson (a Weird Science homage) 12-by-18 print (/85)
The Price: $24 on sale via Hero Complex Gallery (Los Angeles)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Pop art galleries are constantly showcasing creative work from artists and a few of them are always in my email inbox with new stuff where I have window-shopped for years. This time, thanks to a sale, I grabbed this ode to a 1980s comedy classic from John Hughes with so many cast members worked into the collage. It's got a style that's clearly modern but still got some light Archie vibes to me, too, to give it that certain feel. I dig it. The over-sized format wasn't very photo-friendly with my space, so I used their image here (mine's numbered as part of its edition). The cartoonist is based on Massachusetts and has worked in the comics realm titles such as Tank Girl, Grommets, The Goon and on other projects for DC/Vertigo, Boom!, 2000 AD, Albatross Funny Books, Warner Bros. Animation, Dream Works TV and Sony Music.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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JOBU AT A DISCOUNT
The Item: Jobu officially licensed Major League 10-inch replica  
The Price: About $20 thanks to sale and damaged-box discount (light slash in lid)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This arrived perhaps a decade ago and it's always been on a "get one" list in my head, but I never really got around to it until now. Who's Jobu? Click here. This replica is pretty close to the real deal and, while it's an odd item, I'm a huge fan of the movie ... and not a huge fan of other knock-offs that wouldn't be worthy for even Major League 3 (aka Major League: Back to the Minors) where it's just bad ... very bad.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but baseball cards are here.

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INTERNATIONAL APPEAL
The Card: Mina Shirakawa autographed 2022 Bushiroad ReBirth For You X Stardom (signed via High Spots live stream)
The Price: About $55 shipped
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This Japanese star's arrival in AEW with storylines and matches involving Mariah May and Toni Storm have had her on my radar but she's not yet had any substantial American card presence of her own. Atop that, I'm not familiar enough with Stardom merchandise in Japan to know what items are released signed, what's a facsimile auto and, well, I wouldn't know her signature well enough to spot potential fakes. So, with all that said, when she was signing for one of the industry's leading companies for wrestling ink -- they do signings with live streams where you can see your items signed and with inscriptions in real time -- I bit immediately. I'll keep an eye out for other stuff but landing ink was a key first step. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but wrestling cards are here.

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GOING GREEN
The Card: Bo Bichette 2020 Topps Tribute Rookies Green (/99) -- RC parallel 
The Price: $6.55
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This parallel from a premium brand was an easy grab at the price for a collector ... simple as that. 
Grab a box right here: MLB cards are here.

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ORANGE CRUSH
The Card: Patrick Surtain II 2024 Panini Instant NFL (announced /115)
The Price: $9.99 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was an add-on over in the Instant realm to get free shipping, but I grabbed it as I liked the photo, knew it would probably be low-volume card and he's a school ties guy for me. Just 115 copies does feel on the low side.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but NFL cards are here.

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ALL A BLUR
The Card: Julio Rodriguez 2023 Topps X J-Rod Behind The Scenes Of "The J-Rod Show"
The Price: Pocket change
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This set took a look at the young Seattle star and one insert in the release focused on the clips that Topps created for use in promotion of the flagship set. Here's the video for this card. Did it spawn more sales? Who knows ... I know it wasn't a factor in this one based on my price.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but MLB cards are here.

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MATCHING MISMATCHED TWINS
The Cards: Elise Avellan & Electra Avellan 2011 Panini Americana Proof Platinum (/10) & Retail Proof Platinum (/10)
The Price: $13 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: "The Crazy Babysitter Twins" can be found in a few Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino movies -- Planet Terror, Death Proof, Machete and Machete Kills -- and in some other smaller roles, too. Who are they? They're Rodriguez's twin nieces and they made the cut in this Americana release. I found both of these basically at the same time and they are both /10 but they show the difference between hobby and retail. Foilboard is hobby, standard stock is retail. I landed their ink long ago but every once in a while I will look and see if there are others worth a look. Why? I still try to collect names on cards from Tarantino movies and there are a few in Americana.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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HEADING TO THE NFL
The Card: Lori Locust 2019 Topps Alliance of American Football Red parallel (/99)
The Price: About $8
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This short-lived league's card set is landed with a lot of first-timers for cards as well as some established names, too. Since this card was made, she's worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an assistant defensive line coach and since 2023 has worked for the Tennessee Titans where she's a defensive assistant coach now. She got a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay and is one of just three women to hold an NFL coaching spot.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but football cards are here.

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ALWAYS TIME FOR TIFF
The Item: Tiffany Stratton autographed Rob Schamberger 11-by-14 print (JSA authenticated)
The Price: $52.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This WWE newcomer has a lot of stuff out there -- and a lot of it is pricey -- and with her card autos that's even moreso, despite them all being findable. I grabbed this thanks to a sale price via High Spots with the only surprise being the contrast between the ink and the silver ink used to sign. (It looks better at a different angle but a blue Sharpie sig would probably have been a better choice.) Since Schamberger has moved on from working with WWE (now creates for AEW) there won't be new creations -- signed or unsigned.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but WWE cards are here.

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TIFFY TIME ... PART II
The Card: Tiffany Stratton 2023 Panini Impeccable WWE Silver parallel (/49)
The Price: Under $40
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This first Impeccable card for Stratton has been a popular one -- some fans out there paid much more than I did -- as it's a key name on a higher-end set. It's a second-year card so some of that is an anomaly, yet at the same time the feel for this card is a nice one. The printing and cutting also is very clean for this year vs. the debut.
Grab a box right here: WWE cards are here.

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BEFORE THE ROOKIE CARDS ...
The Card: Dale Earnhardt (with Dale Jr. and Kerry Earnhardt) 1993 Maxx Premier Plus
The Price: $3
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card (and its basic-stock version) has always jumped out at me among many Earnhardt cards as these are early cameos for both of his sons who later ended up on cards of their own. I have a slabbed copy of it somewhere from the past -- but not with an elite mark -- and that was a thought here when I saw this one. We'll see if it makes a cut in a bulk sub at some point. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but NASCAR cards are here.

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NEW DREW
The Cards: Drew Barrymore 2010 Razor Pop Century Authentic Celebrity-Worn Wardrobe & 2007 Topps Hollywood Zombies 
The Price: About $20 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This trio of memorabilia cards was one I picked off with a future project in mind -- a hint is that one of them no longer exists -- while the art card is from one of the weirdest card sets ever made and mocking one of the viral moments of 1990s TV.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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ANOTHER DOMINATING AUSSIE
The Cards: Zaria 2024 Panini Instant WWE -- first WWE card (announced /172)
The Price: About $11 apiece
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The timing of this card's arrival wasn't good for me, so I didn't buy my customary 5- or 10-pack lot for a newcomer direct from Panini. Instead, I just did a trio of this one off eBay and it checked in with a very low number in comparison to other debuts. This Aussie newcomer has very little cardboard before WWE and arrived with some serious impact, making this, in my mind, a potential bigger card down the line. At some point, I'll slab one or two of them.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but WWE cards are here.

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THREE MORE JOES
The Cards: Joe Namath 2009 Topps American Heritage Chrome (/1,776), 2023 Panini Prestige Xtra Points Premium Red (/399) & 2023 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Red Ice Prizm
The Price: Under $5 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Chrome is a nice selection from a non-sports release, while the other two are good colors for a Crimson Tide collector -- and all three are potential slabs for my taste. While I prefer the Alabama stuff, the Prestige card here is clean and it might be the leading candidate there, though not a high-priority card.
Grab a box right here: Football cards are here.

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INCOMPLETE PAIRING
The Cards: Shaun Alexander 2000 Collector's Edge Masters Rookie Sentinels (missing foil /numbering) & 2000 Collector's Edge Masters Rookie Sentinels  Gold (/1,000)
The Price: About $5.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was a curiosity grab and is a reminder that value is in the eye of the beholder. Are botched cards worth more? Maybe, maybe not. I liked the look of one with and one without foil here -- it's a remarkable difference, though the no-foil card's print job isn't as clean and the back doesn't have its added ink so that might effect the look, too. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but football cards are here.

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TWO OF A KIND ...
The Cards: Shotzi Blackheart 2022 Panini Immaculate Collection WWE Modern Marks (/99)
The Price: Around $35 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This set would be perfect if those were on-card autos and I believe that so much that I don't even know how many I own at this point ... it's a few.
Grab a box right here: WWE cards are here.

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NOT QUITE ...
The Item: Drew Barrymore -- Esquire, February 1994
The Price: $1 ($11 shipped)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This cover is a simple one but a striking one -- and there's not some massive cover story inside on her, so it kind of stands on its own -- so when I spotted this copy it looked strikingly clean so I put in a placeholder bid ... and that $1 bid won. There are more issues here that nix the idea of slabbing (spine got jacked in the mail and there are a few small spots on the bottom quarter that hurt too much) but had it arrived clean otherwise I probably would have. The ink used on these mags isn't glossed, so those covers can be mangled by fingerprints and obvious age damage as this is now more than 30 years old.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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MO' BO ...
The Cards: Bo Bichette assorted Topps Heritage parallels and other Topps small-set and Chrome parallels
The Price: About a blaster box (1972 Heritage is a mini but rest are cheaper)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This small batch of pick-ups is kind of what I watch for -- minis, Heritage minis and parallels with some inserts, some promo cards and more parallels. 
Grab a box right here: MLB cards are here.

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IN THE HEADLINES ...
The Cards: Million Dollar Baby (Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Hillary Swank) & Johnny Carson 2005 Topps Chronicles 
The Price: Around $10
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This obscure set was an attempt at documenting headlines of the day with an eTopps style release about a decade before Topps Now became a thing. There were 52 cards made that year and released throughout the year. This pairing shows the span and there are other surprises on the checklist as well as a lot of meh options, too. I never bothered with them back then but these two and a couple others did get my attention more recently. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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PARALLEL POWER
The Cards: Nick Swisher assorted 2015 Panini Elite parallels 
The Price: About $12 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This small run is really the only type I'll do these days for parallels -- if they're dirt cheap and lower volume. Why? I just don't feel the need to own them all ... I might but it's not a priority even for my player. If I don't have 'em, oh well. I'll find 'em eventually. 
Grab a box right here: Baseball cards are here.

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PREVIEW PACKS A PUNCH
The Item: Warner Bros. 1988 movies preview booklet and photos 
The Price: About $12
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This meaty press kit details an entire year's worth of upcoming movies from the studio and included so many clean and crisp photos -- that's why I bit here. How many notables can you spot here? There are a bunch ... and they basically cost me 50 cents per photo.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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TIFFY TIME III
The Cards: Tiffany Stratton 2022 Panini WWE stickers, 2022 Panini Chronicles Rookies & Stars, 2023 Panini Chronicles Luminance Pink (/349)
The Price: About $12 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The first two are from her RC year, while the Pink card is a striking one from her brief run as the NXT champ with colors that go perfectly with the background. All are potential slabs in my book, though a couple are ones I have done already (likely other colors) but wouldn't mind more of. 
Grab a box right here: WWE cards are here.

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THE NEW ARRIVAL
The Cards: Penta El Zero M assorted AEW inserts and parallels 
The Price: Under $10 for all
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This iconic star has moved to WWE but all of this was grabbed way before that. The colorful variety of Allure really has grabbed me with some super-cheap singles prices out there in the world, while the Metal release had some flashy stuff that caught my attention, too. 
Grab a box right here: AEW cards are here.

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A THROWBACK SET ...
The Cards: 1993 Skybox Demolition Man set
The Price: About $10 shipped 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This small set is 100 cards but you get character cards and highlights for a few notables here -- Sylvester Stallone, Sandra Bullock, Wesley Snipes, Denis Leary and Benjamin Bratt among others. Stallone has plenty of cards thanks to Rocky, but the others might be some of their first cards. The stock is soft, so corners can have issues but a nice-grade card of a good name or good visual here might sell for more than you might think. It's more of a low-risk, decent-reward scenario if you go there and do well. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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MORE INTERNATIONAL APPEAL
The Card: Antonio Inoki 1974 Yamakatsu New Japan Pro Wrestling (pink background version)
The Price: $7.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This name for this price at that age made this an easy pick-up as it's just something different and a card of a legend in Japanese wrestling. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but wrestling cards are here.

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A SEALED THROWBACK
The Item: Halle Berry -- FHM, June 2001 (unopened)
The Price: Around $10
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was more of a throw-in with a couple other magazines that I thought had (and still do have) potential as a slab, though my magazine grading submissions have slowed down substantially. Why? I've got too many waiting for a turn. This was sealed but not without some issues -- this would probably need a pressing that adds time and cost -- so that's a reason why it might not make the cut. 
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but non-sports cards are here.

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