Buzz Buys: Original WWE card artwork, Santa Claus' signature, NFL standouts, a Heisman contender, 1990 Pro Set homage, Black Lotus, The Fly, The Rock, Katy Perry's autograph & more

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 ... and this time around there are some really unique pieces and some normal stuff found over recent months.

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BETTER THAN A BOX.
The Piece: Sasha Banks 2019 Topps WWE Undisputed original art by Rob Schamberger
The Price: Same as a box of this year's Undisputed cards
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: For the last two years, Topps' Undisputed sets have included a subset showcasing the work of WWE artist Rob Schamberger whose pieces also have been found on countless prints, shirts and more as well as in WWE Canvas 2 Canvas video shorts. How popular is his work? Well, wrestler-signed prints have their own section over at WWE Auction and he also had original card-sized works in last year's Transcendent boxes -- and this year's Undisputed set has his autographs as one of its chases. One card from last year's set that got my attention upon arrival was the Banks, which I even submitted for grading and I hadn't really thought about that one until just recently with this year's new set. What popped up? Well, he launched his new website, Schamberger Labs, where collectors can find prints, original pieces and more and that's where I found this original. For months now, I had been eyeing an original watercolor/ink piece to showcase here (story perhaps to come later ... if I do grab that one) but with the new site announcement one recent morning I checked things out and was shocked to see this original. (His photo is above since it's too large for me to photograph well.) I hadn't really imagined any art from this set ever being available but I grabbed it with little hesitation. I figured these pieces might be locked away in Topps' or WWE's possession given the card presence, but, no, the Banks and a handful of other pieces were up for grabs. (Some are still there.) These 11-by-15 pieces aren't overwhelmingly large to manage -- mine is in a photo top-loader for now -- and there's a strong chance I'll display it at some point, though I never really display any of my buys. (Well, beyond showing them off here.) This was one of my favorite finds of the year ... and it's been a good year (of shopping at home).
Grab a box right here: 2020 Topps WWE Undisputed

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

THANKS, PIZZA HUT!
The Card: 2020 Panini Phoenix NFL Fanatics factory set
The Price: Just $50 (thanks to a recent Fanatics/Pizza Hut promotional discount)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: It pays to hang out over on the Blowout Forums and this item is proof why. One user recently spotted a discount code good for $50 off any order over at Fanatics that was available with the purchase of a specific Pizza Hut combo for about the price of a blaster box. While it was good on anything on the site, I used my code on one of these factory sets that applies a different texture to the 200-card Phoenix set -- a version only made for Fanatics. Some of the notable rookies and some guys I pulled out of my set can be seen in the gallery above. There might be some good break-up value here based on asking prices on some sites, but I think this one is a decent grab because Phoenix is a perhaps-overlooked brand that could have long-term attention. It's certainly not as popular as Prizm or Optic ... but I think it should be. This set is pretty big for an Optichrome-stock release and that also makes it a better bargain even if a generous volume of sets was made. There is some safety in numbers. 
Grab a box right here: 2020 Panini Phoenix NFL Fanatics factory set

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YOU'VE GOT RED ON YOU ... 
The Card: Nick Frost as Santa Claus 2018 Topps Doctor Who Signature Series Purple Autographs
The Price: $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: No, this wasn't a buy since I'm a Santa Claus collector -- but they are out there -- this is one of just three releases where you can find ink (just 21 different cards in all) for this British comedy legend who you have seen in Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul and other projects alongside Simon Pegg. I don't have Pegg's auto yet -- he's in Star Trek sets -- but will at some point to go with this one. Shaun of The Dead is a classic.
Grab a box right here: See other Doctor Who boxes here

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A PRESEASON PICK-UP ...
The Card: Calvin Ridley 2018 Panini One Bronze Rookie Patch Autographs (/49)
The Price: Under $19
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The prices on this guy's stuff has picked up a tad since when I grabbed this but his team's successes (or lack thereof) this year and his minimalist autograph might be limiting some of demand. In 11 games this season, he's got 59 catches for 905 yards and seven TDs -- already a career-high on yards and soon to be on catches and TDs. If you're a regular reader here, than you know he fits the school ties niche of my collection and I grabbed this one since it was so cheap from a premium brand where big-name rookies can be very volatile. The /99 copies of this card have sold for as much as $71.99 on eBay in recent months. Asking prices for the /25 parallel are pushing $300 right now and asking prices for this one are as high as $80 ... so I feel good about this grab. (Ultimately those prices don't matter as this one is headed to the permanent stash.)
Grab a box right here: 2018 Panini One football cards

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PLAYER-WORN ... FROM A FAVORITE BRAND
The Card: Randall Cunningham 2019 Panini Spectra Epic Legends Materials Neon Pink (/15)
The Price: About $12
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This brand has gotten my attention since its arrival years ago because it's a thick-stock set loaded with hits and some of the weirdest and most-colorful textures and styles out there on cardboard. Some don't work but some really do -- so I have to look. I grabbed this cheap patch card of a past favorite of mine since it was an interesting color combo -- a team color and pink. You wouldn't think that would work that well but I think it does.
Grab a box right here: 2019 Panini Spectra football cards

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HEISMAN CALLING?
The Card: Mac Jones 2017 Upper Deck USA Football
The Price: All under $1
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is another months-ago pile of pick-ups for the current Alabama QB who is definitely in the hunt as a Heisman contender along with his long-bomb target Devonta Smith. Jones' autographs have exploded in price ($12 when I grabbed one to over $100 now) as well as his jersey cards in this release and even these base cards have gone from pocket change to around $5-10 a pop depending on where you are looking. I really just grabbed these any time they got cheaper, knowing that those dark-blue borders would just lead to disappointment if I pondered grading. These are the only cards that the junior has no matter what happens on the field with his undefeated team or on the awards front right now ... so anything here will get attention of buyers. There seems like more potential to come.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... see football boxes here

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HIS LONE RC
The Card: Kyle Hendricks 2014 Topps Heritage High Number -- Rookie Card
The Price: $10
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I'm a big fan of 1965 Topps and I bought boatloads of Heritage back in 2014. But, because of timing or prices or, well, whatever (I really don't know) I never grabbed one of the High Number sets ... and I should have. They are the home of one rookie auto per box (red-ink versions possible) and a boatload of Rookie Cards of guys like Jose Abreu, Mookie Betts, Jacob deGrom and this guy. Unlike those guys, this is the absolute only RC for this Cubs pitcher. I didn't need it per se, but I grabbed it after some early-season success this year. It's a bit of a volatile card -- again, since it's his only RC. At some point, I'll maybe grab a set where somebody has pulled out the auto to get everything a little cheaper than they can go for now.
Grab a box right here: 2014 Topps Heritage High Number sets

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IT'S ALMOST OVER ...
The Cards: 2020 Topps Project 2020 Mike Trout, Frank Thomas, Derek Jeter & Rickey Henderson (artists noted below)
The Price: Direct from Topps
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: One of this year's biggest releases -- at least until it suddenly wasn't (daily sales-number wise) -- was this set that let 20 artists re-imagine 20 different cards from Topps' past. I bought a number of these before they nearly hit a six-figure peak but only a few since (not because of market changes ... more due to COVID-caused delivery delays) and this the last of what I have in hand now. Artists here include Tyson Beck, JK5, Naturel, Fucci, Ermsy, Sophia Chang, Keith Shore and Ben Baller. Trout and Henderson cards caught my attention most times and others here were part of bundles or had some interesting extra incentives to grab them. With the year almost up, I figured I should get these in now. I'll have a few more coming soon but likely not before 2021. The series will be wrapped up by then, and I'd expect we'll see something similar to it next year. (Will I have more willpower by then? Probably not.) As you can see, I prefer the Project 2020 cards that are closer to emulating the originals more than other pieces that just do whatever.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... see MLB boxes here

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PARALLELS TO BE SEEN
The Card: A.J. McCarron 2018 Panini Prizm Lazer Prizm 
The Price: About $1
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This isn't some legendary steal or dark-horse playing time candidate -- this is a type of Prizm parallel that simply must be had in hand to appreciate. It's crazy but it's cool how the light reflects around the shapes that are part of this texture. With new Prizm here for this year you can find a handful of these cards (albeit in orange) in every blaster. At some point, I'll probably go on a run and pick off a number of my players in this parallel from a few years. I like them that much ... and I don't normally go for really eccentric stuff.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Panini Prizm football cards

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SELECTIVE ON SOFTBALL
The Cards: Haylie McCleney 2020 Topps On Demand Athletes Unlimited softball cards (/4,234)
The Price: About $7 shipped for five cards
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: More than a few times while this set was available I pondered whether I should grab a couple for the unique inclusions inside or for players with little to no cardboard and maybe some school ties. I didn't ever see the checklist for this pro softball league's first card set before it arrived, though. It was pretty big for the price -- 62 cards for just $20 and it sold pretty well -- that's a higher number than a lot of Topps On Demand releases. That volume led some re-sellers to break things down by card and I grabbed five copies of this player due to some school ties -- not actually realizing she was in the league and was its defensive player of the year. She's a former Olympian and will be on the next team when the Games that were to have happened this year are eventually held. A follow-up set where she was mentioned on the checklist will be in my hands at some point soon.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... see MLB boxes here

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AN ARTISTIC ADDITION
The Card: Thurman Thomas Scratch Offs Card Art by Matthew Lee Rosen (painted 1990 Pro Set original)
The Price: These vary depending on player/release
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one hits a sweet spot for me -- it's an old 1990 Pro Set card that's been painted by artist Matthew Lee Rosen as part of his entertaining lines of modified cards from the past that are artwork of a different pop culture-inspired kind. Remember those old Pro Set Playbook scratch-off booklets in every pack that gave you points toward free stuff? If you're like me you do ... you probably scratched off tons of them (I still have the old Pro Set binders to prove it) back then. And you have probably trashed a ton of them if you have ripped any boxes since. This is such a smart ode to those years and it's not alone. His lineup of art cards (click here) using pink bubble gum paint and even epoxied "macaroni and cheese" or Alpha-Bits cereal cards are tributes to varying card sets or features from the past. They can be hilarious and many have some smart additions to original previously purchased cards (some old, some new) -- and that's what makes them allowable. He also hosts some guest artists here, allowing them to offer their various types of creations to collectors. If you're looking for something different for a supercollector who has it all already, there's a chance that something like this might stand out from the rest of the pack or at least be something different as a gift. Think of them as sketch cards ... but with different styles and approaches.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... see football boxes here

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CAUGHT ON THE FLY ...
The Cards: Kamala Harris & Mike Pence 2020 USA Election Topps Now three-card bundle (/5,594 made for the fly card)
The Price: Direct from Topps (with a rewards discount)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: "Hey, didn't you used to be ... " is how snarky insults in the sports world were dished out by The Sporting News' The Fly in its "Caught On The Fly" pieces back in the day. This? Well, this is nowhere near that but it's got that vibe to it thanks to reality. The fly seen here was all over the Internet and a part of more than a few comedy bits earlier this year when it landed on Mike Pence's head during the VP debate in October. While Topps had more editorial snark as part of the three-card bundle that came before these cards (read the description lines on the card fronts) the only groans here came from the photo selection. Hey, it happened ... and that was the only reason I bought here. Many others did, too. The fly card sold more than the other two cards you see above combined ... and it's because of the fly. Guaranteed.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... check out Decision boxes here

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GRABBING A RAINBOW
The Card: Angela Fong 2012 BenchWarmer Hot For Teacher Autographs rainbow (/25 down to 1/1)
The Price: More than $100 (in a few steps)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Ok, this started as bit of a whim earlier this year when there was less of the typical wax to be found out there in the wild on the cheap ... so I started dabbling with niche releases or stuff that's just off my typical card radar. This one sort of ties into my wrestling stash, though, as Fong is a former FCW wrestler known as "Savannah" (before NXT and when it was on regional TV) and then briefly a ring announcer for ECW and then early in NXT. She left WWE and later worked for Lucha Underground as Black Lotus for a couple seasons along with two Japanese stars who have been in WWE more recently, Io Shirai and Kairi Sane. BenchWarmer autos are generally very affordable and plentiful -- she has almost 450 different signed cards to just a single unsigned WWE card appearance (Slam Attax) -- so I thought I'd try something, though I was super-late to the BW party here. Basically, I found somebody who had been collecting her stuff heavily -- heavily -- and I picked off a rainbow of her autos here in a couple of swoops. Why? It's her first-year auto (only others are an insert auto and a kiss auto) and I liked the simplicity of the design here as well as the cleanly cut thick stock that was used. You'll see more Fong cardboard here in the coming months as I had goals of picking off a few card types here and there for her -- stuff you likely don't see elsewhere if you don't collect BW cards -- and I think I've actually completed the list of things I figured I'd chase (or come close) for this on-a-whim project.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... check out BenchWarmers boxes here

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A PAST FAVORITE
The Card: Nick Swisher 2006 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Numbers Patch (/35)
The Price: About $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This brand is one that I never would have contemplated ripping by the box -- out of my price range then -- but as singles this card and ones like it still hit a sweet spot. They have some colorful patch pieces and a simple clean design with nice gloss and etched foil touches with relatively low volumes. I have a few of these stashed away and they don't pop up often now ... so I grab them when they do as long as prices aren't too high. (This is about as high as I'd go ... but I wanted another when I saw it.)
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... check out MLB boxes here

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THE ROCK SAYS ... 'BARGAIN'
The Card: The Rock Gold Smackdown 20th Anniversary chase Funko Pop! figure
The Price: $5
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't buy as much of these as I used to -- chasing oddballs meant an occasional Toys R Us stop in the past -- but WWE Shop recently did a $5 Friday deal where they burned off these chase figures at a sliver of the regular price. Did I need it? Probably not, but since it was a chase I threw it in my order with some other $5 items. Old stuff and variants can command some surprising cash at times with these and if the price is right and you like the subject or the property (movies, TV shows, bands ... there are many) these are worth a stash. They'll always be around and collected in some form since the Funko Pop! footprint is so vast. Dwayne Johnson, for example, has at least eight different appearances as one of these toys between this WWE persona and other roles ... and maybe more. Somebody, somewhere is bound to be collecting 'em all, too. Right?
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... check out WWE boxes here

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MY NEWEST AUTOGRAPH
The Card: Katy Perry autographed Smile CD booklet (free with CD via Newbury Comics) 
The Price: $17.99 (for the CD)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This autographed CD came via the Boston-based chain that often offers up signed CDs and all kinds of other exclusives between comics and collectibles. This was offered earlier this year and I jumped on the chance at ink from this A-lister in the music realm. How do you get the ink? By being quick enough to order a CD from them when they announce their signed CD deals with the performers -- often revealed via Twitter. Why do they do this? To help artists sell more units in an increasingly digital realm and a number of big names have signed in the past. Among those up for grabs right now? The Goo Goo Dolls, Melanie C (Sporty Spice) and Lisa Loeb to name a few I know among many I admittedly don't really know (see the link above). They aren't all in my musical realm -- but the ink is the thing -- and the biggest names go fast. This one arrived in my mailbox just today as my arrival was delayed by her new arrival -- she was delayed a bit with her signing due to the birth of her daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, in August. (Oh, by the way, track No. 4 on this one? "Daisies.") Perry's auto can be a pricey and in-demand one -- a lot of these are up for grabs now over on eBay but they won't last long ... just like they didn't last long via Newbury.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of this one ... check out non-sports boxes here

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