Buzz Buys: Santa Claus, The Hot Mess, Wander Franco, NFL stars, Cora Jade, Samuel L. Jackson, Bo Bichette, MTV & 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 it's a big one to end the year.

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HIS TIME OF YEAR
The Card: Nick Frost as Santa Claus 2018 Topps Doctor Who Signature Series Autographs
The Price: About $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This set is a loaded one in terms of its depth for the long-running, multi-generational UK television series that has a number of stars in it where you may also know them from elsewhere. One of those names? Nick Frost, who you might know as Simon Pegg's right-hand man in hits such as Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and Paul. He's a veteran actor and star in the UK so he's got far more notable credits than those and then, of course, this smaller spot in the Who universe that got him this card. He's got about 20 total certified autos from three Doctor Who releases and this is the newest one. I grabbed it months ago -- they may have dried up since then -- to drop this right here this time of year.
Grab a box right here: None for this one ... see non-sports boxes here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

IN YOUR FACE
The Card: Jaylen Waddle 2021 Score Autographs 
The Price: About $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This Alabama star is one who I perhaps overpaid for a but, but this one is cheaper than a lot of his NFL autos out there -- at least where and when I was looking for them. I liked the in-your-face feel of this photo and his minimalist sig still looks pretty good on the sticker and card with this approach. Will I grab more at some point? Probably ... this was the start but ultimately we'll see how prices go. I tend to lightly dabble on ink until rookies' first seasons are over -- that approach saves me some money.
Grab a box right here: See 2021 Score boxes here.

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KIND OF A BIG DEAL 
The Pieces: Wander Franco 2021 Bowman 1991 Bowman Wall Art (/99)
The Prices: Under $10 (after recent double-sale promo) ... regularly $24.99
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was my Black Friday steal of the year with Topps offering a meaty discounted price on its wall art this year and then an extra discount atop that if you bought three. (That part is always in play ... even now.) What makes these interesting? These 10-by-14 card-stock posters are printed to order and they don't make more than what's requested -- with a cap of 99. What might a Franco /99 item like this sell for once they are gone for sure and once he's dominating like it appears he will? I'm betting more than $10 so I ordered a few Based on the serial-numbering on mine, there aren't a ton more available (unlike others' posters you might order) and these will likely disappear from the Topps site once 2022 stuff starts arriving. I picked up a few posters in their big sale so don't be surprised if you see more of these here soon.
Grab a box right here: None for this one ... see regular-sized 2021 Bowman boxes here.

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NO STAPLES HERE
The Card: Stephen Root 2020 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Autographs
The Price: $4
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: His auto is a bit minimalist -- I think that is affecting the price here -- but you should know Root from Office Space (Milton!), Dodgeball, King of The Hill, The Big Bang Theory, 24, True Blood, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, NewsRadio and many other roles ... and even more if you know him as a voice performer. He only has four certified autos -- this one and three cards here with inscriptions that are limited to just 25 copies apiece. (Yes, those can involve his stapler.)
Grab a box right here: See non-sports boxes here.

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HAD TO PICK ONE OFF
The Card: Trevon Diggs 2020 Donruss Elite Status Die-Cut (/24) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $12
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Diggs' crazy interception-fueled season got me looking back at his RCs from last year and this one jumped out at me as it's from a set I like with a low volume and the combo of college pic (works for me) with a pro team designation. Elite's photos in combination with the die-cut designs in recent years have really gotten me to grab a few times ... kind of like this guy with errant footballs this season.
Grab a box right here: See NFL boxes here.

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INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
The Card: Daniel Vidot 2011 Select National Rugby League 
The Price: $6
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: When NXT 2.0 recently launched I'll admit there were a ton of names I didn't know -- and there are some I still don't -- but on some basic name-checks during the first few weeks this guy popped up. He's known as Xyon Quinn in a WWE ring now. He doesn't yet have NXT cardboard -- my bet is that Panini Prizm will include some of the new names -- but he does have time on cards from playing professional rugby in Australia. I couldn't tell you much about him on both fronts, but at least I now own some new international cardboard. Non-wrestling cards of wrestlers aren't super common but that helps make them easier to collect ... if you can find them.
Grab a box right here: None for this one ... see other sports boxes here.

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A PRE-NXT DEBUT
The Card: Elayna Black (aka WWE's Cora Jade) 2021 AAW Alive -- pre-rookie card (first indy card?) 
The Price: $25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: If you ask me, this 20-year-old might be the women's face of the new NXT right now -- at least of the stars we hadn't seen before the youth push and revamp of the show -- and then especially after its first pay-per-view. She made her indies debut in December 2018, so she doesn't appear to have much of anything out there for cards in general beyond this one -- and it's from this year. It actually mentions her heading to WWE on the back, so it feels a little different than some other sets but is apparently legit (apparently approved and released by the promotion.) There's a slight chance Cora Jade might pop up in one of the remaining Topps WWE releases (the women's set is last on the schedule) but we will more likely see her pop up in new Panini releases. I'll probably grade one of these -- hence my bad photo as I left it in a semi-rigid case -- but have had the one grading company I use regularly kick back a card from an indy set ungraded. Go figure. (It'll get slabbed someday ... maybe once I have some debut WWE stuff.)
Grab a box right here: None for this one ... see WWE boxes here.

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A BIGGER EXAMPLE
The Card: Bo Bichette 2020 Bowman 5-by-7 jumbo card (/49) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I have a reason for my bad photo here -- this is a jumbo card and it didn't fit in my lightbox well. It comes from one of 49 numbered 5-by-7 oversized 2020 Bowman sets Topps sold alongside its posters. I'm a sucker for this card in any form, so I knew I wanted one.
Grab a box right here: None for this one ... see regular-sized 2020 Bowman boxes here.

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SAY 'WHAT?' AGAIN ...
The Cards: Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) 2019 Topps Star Wars Stellar Signatures Stellar Art Reproduction & 2020 Sketch Reprint (/100)
The Price: Under $30 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: These art cards are perhaps a little bit of an afterthought in the annual Star Wars autograph-fest known as Stellar Signatures. This year's set is nearly here -- and I'm not sure I'll be able to afford a couple of the autos I want to find -- but this year's set does include another take on these. Every box includes a set like this so these are limited and I picked off both of these Jacksons as well as a few other icons on the cheap. I like the meaty feel of these framed cards and I like them more at low prices.
Grab a box right here: See non-sports boxes here.

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THREE OF A KIND
The Cards: Hammer, Ken Griffey Jr. & Frank Thomas 1992 MTV Rock n' Jock Softball Challenge set
The Price: About $30 total
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Remember MTV's Rock n' Jock Softball Challenge? You might not if you're a certain age -- or barely remember them if you're another age (they're perhaps forgettable) -- but they were a semi-regular event where the sports world and the music worlds crossed over. This is the entire set made for the 1992 game played on Jan. 11 that year and just 20,000 copies were made. For the time, all three of these names were home runs. The first softball game happened in 1990 and they apparently kept going with All-Star events in other sports until 2001 ... as far as I know this is the only one that had cardboard.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ...see MLB boxes here.

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LEGENDARY (SEAT) LUMBER
The Card: Josh Gibson 2005 Bowman Heritage Pieces of Greatness Relics (stadium seat)
The Price: $9
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: With the stars of the Negro Leagues getting a lot more attention as a formal part of MLB history and its record book beginning this year, I did some looking among guys on cardboard and bit here. Why? Just to have one of a few Relics showing stars from that part of the game ... even if it's a stadium seat piece. Topps included him in this set as well as 2005 Bowman Sterling before additional cards showed up in the first Allen & Ginter set in 2006 and then in other releases since. For the price, it was a comfortable addition.
Grab a box right here: See MLB boxes here.

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MARYSE'S NEWEST CARD
The Cards: Maryse as the Gobbledy Gooker 2021 Topps WWE Living Set (five-card bundle)
The Price: Direct price from Topps
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one initially wasn't going to be on my short list of WWE Living Set cards but with its clock winding down -- we might get a finale next week -- an eagle-eyed collector of this forgettable WWE character got me to change my view. Based on the costume, this wasn't an appearance for the original hatching of the character that the card back focuses on but rather it's a 2009 appearance where WWE star Maryse took on the role as part of an in-ring ambush. With more than a few of her cards in my stash (mostly autos) I figured I needed one of these ... both in a slab (gimmick!) and perhaps inked for both of her cards if any signings pop up. It'd be epic to have this signed alongside her card from earlier in the series.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ... See WWE boxes here.

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THE AUTO I WANTED
The Card: Lauren Shehadi 2021 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs 
The Price: $25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This annual release's arrival either came at an odd time for me or there wasn't much inside to get me to bite, but this MLB Network star's second Topps auto -- the first one not dramatically short-printed -- was one I grabbed right away. Shehadi's first autos from back in 2017 are rare -- only 10 were signed and numbered -- but she must sign though-the-mail regularly as there are plenty of signed/slabbed versions of that regular card out there on eBay ... they pop up perhaps more often signed than unsigned.
Grab a box right here: See MLB boxes here.

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PROJECT70 ... STILL GOING
The Card: Juan Soto 2021 Topps Project70 by Efdot (/1,972)
The Price: $19.99 via Topps
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This X-Men inspired Project70 card was one that got me to look ... likely due to a lot of the small touches here that added up to a pretty cool piece. I don't remember the last time I grabbed one but this Soto is one of the few that got me to bite this year. Will I do more? Maybe, but I do have other options out there to collect ... so it'll have to wow me.
Grab a box right here: See MLB boxes here.

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AN UNDER-RATED MOVIE
The Card: Bernie Mac as Stan Ross 2004 Touchstone Mr. 3000 promo card
The Price: About $5
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a novelty card of sorts but it is official -- and it does have stats on the back for Stan Ross, aka Mr. 3,000. This comedy has its bad spots but it's actually quite solid overall for a modern sports movie. This image was used on the media kits sent to those covering the film for their publications. Was the card included in that press kit? It seems likely but I don't know for sure. I had some pieces from the kit long ago -- I dabble with those for sports movies -- and finally picked off this one not that long ago.
Grab a box right here: See MLB boxes here.

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GET IN THE RING ... ERR, OCTAGON
The Card: Sean Sherk 2010 Topps UFC Main Event Cage Relics
The Price: Under $3
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: These cards are often quite cheap and that's in part because Topps made plenty -- they are pieces of the plastic-wrapped Octagon fencing snipped and glued into cards. I don't think Topps did this often -- and it's never happened for pro wrestling -- but I like them because they are different as well as affordable.
Grab a box right here: See UFC boxes here.

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WILL I GRADE IT?
The Magazine: Kurt Cobain People Weekly April 25, 1994
The Price: $9.99
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Magazine grading has been on my mind of late -- and while most slabbers out there stick to annual staples like Sports Illustrated and Playboy there are a lot of iconic issues (sports and non-sports) that could be of interest to people if in slabs with strong grades. This one is an iconic cover of an iconic magazine and, unlike Rolling Stone, it will fit in a grading slab. I swear I had sone of these from way back -- it's likely in a box in storage somewhere -- but when I saw this copy it looked pretty good. Will I grade it? Maybe ... I think others might be in line before it but it's a candidate. I will have slabbed magazines as part of Making The Grade at some point next year.
Grab a box right here: See non-sports boxes here.

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PROMO CARDS
The Cards: Jessica Alba 2002 Topps Dark Angel promo cards (10-card lot)
The Price: $9.99
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: At some point earlier this year I went on a bit of a promo-card kick with some small lots of cards here and there that I thought might have some slab appeal if I could land something that would grade really well. This small lot missed the mark on condition, but it's the first/only promo card for the series that arguably brought Alba to the masses. The autographs here are the biggest draw -- I don't think I ever saw a single pack of these, let alone opened them -- but I could see main character cards and a promo like this being nice ones to grade and chase in high-grade form, especially if they aren't cards you see all the time.
Grab a box right here: See non-sports boxes here.

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HIGH-END FEEL
The Card: Joe Namath 2013 Upper Deck Quantum (/65)
The Price: $5
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This Exquisite-style brand is one that didn't catch on for multiple releases, but this strong photo of a Hall of Famer and iconic player in both the NFL and for Alabama was one that I couldn't pass up at this price. Simple as that. I'd probably grab more at the price if I could ... it's nice. These cards might also make for strong simple slabs, too, but the bottom corners of this one weren't going to cooperate this time.
Grab a box right here: See football boxes here.

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HOT MESS, CONFESS?
The Photo: Laurel Van Ness (aka Chelsea Green) autographed 8-by-10 photo (via The Wrestling Universe Sstore)
The Price: $7.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I picked up a number of wrestling autographed photos from that chain that regularly has wrestlers show up and sign for fans and then sells stuff online, too. They slashed their prices quite a bit for their sale, so I bit on a number of stars who were either really affordable (most wrestling autos own't cost you more than $40, anyway) or were on images or sigs for personas I didn't have. Before Green's current run and before her time in WWE, she was known as The Hot Mess Laurel Van Ness ... a drunken jilted bride kind of character. This isn't the perfect pic for The Hot Mess -- that would be something like this -- but it was the one available. I'll admit I haven't seen all of the chapters in the LVN saga but they're funny enough that Green has a few spots in my wrestling and auto stash. This one won't be the last.
Grab a box right here: See WWE boxes here.

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