Buzz Buys: Spectra QBs, Dan Rather's notes, Alabama stars, Robert Forster ink, Star Wars, Pamela Anderson's auto & more

Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there's a mix of pricey and cheaper buys.

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I WAS SEEING GHOSTS FOR A WHILE ... 
The Card: Sam Darnold 2018 Panini Spectra Neon Blue (/75)
The Price: $15.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I'm generally a fan of Spectra despite its funky looks at times and I spotted this one just after his return at a price that seemed lower than the norm so I grabbed it. I was a tad worried in games after that, thinking this was a bad pick-up, but it seems he's rebounded a bit so we'll see whether this was a decent pick-up in the longer term. I like the look of these sequin-looking cards with this particular parallel, so that's probably another reason I went this route.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Panini Spectra football cards

Keep reading for many more interesting items ...

HIS ONLY AUTOGRAPHS
The Card: Robert Forster 2019 Rittenhouse Twin Peaks Archives Autographs 
The Price: $28
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This new release arrived not long after this veteran actor's recent death on Oct. 11 making his first two certified autographs found here potentially his only autographs we'll ever see -- unless, however, Rittenhouse somehow was working on future releases in advance. I'll admit that I've never watched a minute of either Twin Peaks series, but I knew that this auto was the first one I'd want from this set when it was announced. Why? Forster was a key piece of the Quentin Tarantino classic Jackie Brown and I do try to pick up names from those movies when I can. While he was in a number of films in the past, that was the one where I know him best. I paid a little more than I was hoping here but figured I'd not wait for them to dry up online, not knowing how scarce his autos are. Unfortunately, that small but noticeable nick on the top border was not there when I spotted this card -- about the only drawback here, otherwise it's the kind of card I'd even grade. (I don't do that often ... keep reading.) 
Grab a box right here: 2019 Rittenhouse Twin Peaks Archives

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FROM THE NOTEBOOK ...
The Card: Dan Rather 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter Relics
The Price: $10.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This TV news icon has autographs in Ginter this year but I picked this one off first for its unique feel -- it's a page from his notes as the Relic swatch -- and I figured his autographs might be more findable compared to pieces like this one. Ginter is known for unique inclusions and autos like Rather will hold up as the better ones over time save for maybe the elite MLB names and none of them generally sign in big quantity. Good Ginter autos and Relics are a safe buy in my mind, so when they get cheap enough I'll pounce -- they can also dry up fast once wax starts to disappear.
Grab a box right here: 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter

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ALL SLABBED UP
The Card: Pamela Anderson 2017 Leaf Pop Century Pop Century Signatures 
The Price: $54.25 (raw)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This pick-up is not a new one -- it's been in my waiting queue for a spot here for a while. I didn't want anything with a lower grade, so I went with a minimum 9.5 or slab authentic and it just didn't get that mark. (That's why it's here vs. being in a Making The Grade entry.) I consider Anderson a 1990s icon, so I wanted an auto in my stash. She's had a lot in the last decade or so, so it's not as expensive as they had been, but I was picky and waited it out for this one, which has an on-card sig and a relatively good photo. What wasn't great was a spot on its surface where the stock had lost (or maybe never had) some gloss on one border. No big deal but I didn't want a good card slabbed as an 8.5 or whatever that might not have as much appeal. Generally I don't grade autographs or other hits because there can be condition issues from manufacturing or signing sessions that can create surprises when grading. This might have been an example of that had I not gone the minimum-grade, go-authentic route.
Grab a box right here: Leaf Pop Century boxes (all years)

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ROLL TIDE, ROLL TIDE
The Card: Devonta Smith & Henry Ruggs 2017 Leaf Metal U.S. Army All-American Bowl Freshman Class (/35)
The Price: $22.72
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This prep All-Star card is one where there are two WRs currently members of the Alabama Crimson Tide who are helping re-write the record books. One is a likely first-rounder this year and the other one might be, too. They are both in the top four of the school's all-time leaders in receiving TDs with more than 40 between them with Smith being the guy who caught the title-winning pass from Tua Tagovailoa against Georgia in the national title game. With Tagovailoa perhaps done, there's a good chance these juniors could be, too. They all have autographs in this set and I recently picked this one off to go with ink I already have. With such low production you never know when you might see others pop up if you pass on something you want.
Grab a box right here: Leaf U.S. Army All-American Bowl (all years)

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THE FORCE IS COMING
The Card: Yoda 2017 Topps Star Wars May 4th Online Exclusive
The Price: Under $1
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Let me you in on a little secret that absolutely nobody out there knows about -- there's a new Star Wars movie coming next month. There's so much for the Wars on cardboard -- it's been a Topps license since 1977 -- so, for me, this pick-up was a cheap one just to see how some of the on-demand cards sold online look and feel. It uses the vintage design but has better printing and cutting of today and I generally like the retro stuff more than new designs on skinny, white stock. Why? Probably because it's the oldchool stuff that I saw first for Star Wars cards. This one was nice but also relatively simple.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but Star Wars are here

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IS IT SAFE TO BUY HIM AGAIN?
The Card: Baker Mayfield 2019 Panini Spectra (/99)
The Price: $3.65
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Like I said before, Spectra gets my attention a little more easily than others out there so this on-the-cheaper side base card for a notable guy from last year got my attention. I was definitely on the hype train for Mayfield entering the season but it's not gone well ... so if you're a believer there should be some bargains out there on his pricey stuff from last year as some speculators bail. Spectra's base design isn't quite as colorful as others this year (or compared to past years) but I also liked the seeming interaction between the photo here and the design. It's not a perfect card but I like this release and will dabble at times when the feeling hits.
Grab a box right here: 2019 Panini Spectra football cards

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SOME AEW MUSCLE
The Card: Riho 2014 BBM True Heart (Japan)
The Price: $2.75
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I'm not sure how much cardboard there is from this All Elite Wrestling champ during her time in Japan, but a recent match or two got me to look. She's a 22-year-old who has wrestled since 2006 -- quick, do that math -- and she's a definite underdog at 5-foot-1 and 93 pounds. She's the women's champ for the new promotion right now with an interesting back story, which included tag matches with Kenny Omega. Mismatches make for some must-watch moments and varying styles can make them fun to watch, too, and both of those things are in play with her. This is not a Rookie Card or anything (I've seen cards from as early as 2011) but I picked it up just for the heck of it, not knowing if (or when) AEW might get cardboard.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but wrestling boxes are here

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COLORFUL DARKNESS
The Card: "The Kingpin Walks" -- 2018 Upper Deck Daredevil Seasons 1 & 2 cyan printing plate (1/1)
The Price: $7
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This series is one worth the Netflix binge (if you can still find it there) and I'll admit this pick-up came in the midst of a watching marathon awhile back. The price was right on this one and it shows a memorable moment for what I believe is the key character for the series. Printing plates can be criminally cheap at times, so I do searches for them every once in a while to see what pops up.
Grab a box right here: No boxes in stock ... but Marvel boxes are here

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A TASTE FOR THE GAME
The Card: Tim Wakefield 2010 Topps Chrome National Chicle Chrome Refractors (/499)
The Price: $1.36
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This art-driven set is one where I'd like to see a bit of a comeback because of classic images like this where for whatever reason former Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is taking a bite of the ball. This is a fun and memorable card from the release and I added this one on the cheap awhile back since I already had one of the four printing plates. The centering isn't great but this one was just a for-fun grab that would let me re-visit the set right here right now.
Grab a box right here: No boxes in stock ... but MLB boxes are here

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A PIECE OF THE SCANDAL
The Card: Lefty Williams 2018 Panini National Treasures Relics (/99)
The Price: $4
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Williams was one of the "eight men out" -- a member of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who was banned from MLB for life after throwing the World Series. Because he's been on the Ineligible List, he's not been allowed to appear on much MLB-approved cardboard in the past but Panini America's licensing has allowed him to appear on cards since they are not subject to MLB Properties approval. He's got fewer than 80 different cards in all, and fewer than 30 of those are memorabilia cards -- and this one was criminally cheap. His earliest mem cards are found in a few 2012 releases from Panini, but the brand that has included him the most is National Treasures. He hasn't had any mem cards since this one, either.
Grab a box right here: National Treasures baseball boxes (all years)

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WAY BEFORE OBI-WAN ...
The Card: Sir Alec Guinness 1962 Dutch Gum Star Bilder B 
The Price: $1.99
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There's a whole world of non-sports food- and tobacco-issue sets out there from other countries and this is a sample of how you can land a notable name from them on the cheap. Sure, it's not in good shape, but it's a card of the award-winning actor who brought Obi-Wan Kenobi to life in Star Wars and it's from a pretty big 150-card set issued in Sweden. Others on the checklist here included Anthony Perkins, Henry Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and a number of other notables ... and even Lassie the dog.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but Star Wars are here

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JUST KEEP LIVING ...
The Card: Ted Williams 2018 Topps Living Set (PSA 9)
The Price: $6
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Living Set is a favorite of many with it selling plenty of cardboard every week and this one is a Hall of Famer who sold more than 10,000 cards his time up, helping make even slabbed copies a little cheaper than you might think. I grabbed this since it was an affordable slab more than because "The Splendid Splinter" fits some collecting niche for me -- but it didn't hurt that it's pretty clean for a PSA 9.
Grab a box right here: No boxes in stock ... but MLB boxes are here

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NO PENALTY NEEDED
The Card: Challenge flag -- 2015 Panini Father's Day Game Dated Materials Cracked Ice (/25 but not numbered)
The Price: $5.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one was a bit of a steal as this card was priced like a standard version and this parallel (and even the standard card) can go for plenty more than that at times. Panini made cards from challenge flags in a few promo sets and I pick off these and other oddball memorabilia cards any time they get cheaper because they're just not the typical kind of cardboard. This isn't the first time you've seen one of these here -- I'm pretty sure I picked off a regular one and had it here in the past -- and it won't be the last.
Grab a box right here: Promo packs section is here

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BO'S "OH, NO" MOMENT
The Card: Bo Jackson 1991 Pro Set (PSA 9)
The Price: $4.15
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This moment came to mind for many college football fans this past weekend when likely No. 1 overall draft pick Tua Tagovailoa suffered a similar fluke injury just before he was going to come out of the game with his Alabama Crimson Tide winning big once again. I picked up this card of the former Auburn star recently since it's a decent-grade specimen (especially for a Pro Set card) of a memorable moment ... I just never thought I'd have a timely reason to present it. (If you're curious, there have been 59 copies of this card graded with a surprising 36 copies getting 10s and 17 checking in at this grade.) The top of the 2020 NFL Draft has been shaken up for sure and the college season will likely have more surprises, too, before it's over. The good news so far is that the QB's injury probably isn't anywhere near as bad as Jackson's was -- he'll likely play again ... in the NFL. A more interesting thought about this card is this -- would a on-field bummer of a moment even make cardboard these days? My gut feeling is that it wouldn't.
Grab a box right here: No boxes in stock ... but NFL boxes are here

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