The Panini America VIP Party has its quarterback.

Former Philadelphia Eagles star Randall Cunningham is the fifth celebrity guest set to attend the Saturday-night event rewarding high-rollers in the hobby after he was revealed as an attendee on Wednesday evening.

Earlier today, Panini revealed Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka as the fourth guest for its big show coinciding with The National this weekend in Chicago.

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"You're killing me, Smalls."

Patrick Renna -- aka Hamilton "Ham" Porter from The Sandlot -- is the first guest who will be on hand at the annual Panini VIP Party on Saturday night in Chicago.

Panini revealed Renna's spot on this year's VIP roster on Tuesday afternoon as the first of several who will be on hand at the event for high-rollers in the hobby.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Brailyn Marquez, LHP, Cubs — Low-A South Bend Cubs
Baseball America’s highlight line: “The unquestioned best pitching prospect in the Cubs’ system, Marquez put together his best start as a pro on July 25. The lefthander set a career-high with 14 strikeouts, doing so in part with a fastball that touched as high as 101 mph. The start continued a stellar July in which Marquez has whiffed 33 batters in 21.1 innings. He’s also allowed just one home run since May 1."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Only MiLB team set cards
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: This 20-year-old is in his fourth season of MiLB ball and his total numbers aren't overwhelming -- 11-11 with a 3.45 ERA and 253 strikeouts in 224 innings. It's this season that has that Ks ratio up so that's a good sign but he's got nothing but MiLB team set cards to chase right now. He should be one to watch once he gets some prospect cardboard in packs but this feels like a long-term watch since he's still in A-ball.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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The Blowout MegaMix will be a big highlight at The National this year.

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: The calm before the storm known as The National, cheap Michael Jordan cards, a big 2019 Bowman Mega Box pull, Jack of All Trades and plenty more in today's edition.

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The tip of the iceberg is here when it comes to Panini America's promo card plans for The National this year.

Its reveal began Thursday evening with a look at a 10-card set going to all VIP attendees of the show that's set to begin on July 31 in Chicago.

One of the cards was not yet revealed and will be a surprise held for closer to showtime -- update ... it's Zion Williamson.

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This year's floor for The National doesn't quite yet look like this ... but they're already getting ready in Chicago.

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: The National is coming, new eBay Bucks offers might be arriving, breaks, NFL players who didn't deliver and more.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: The National chatter heats up along with Blowout MegaMix anticipation -- and big pulls worth a look in today's edition.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: The National and big pulls in several different recent releases ... check 'em out.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard plus box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
129 of 300 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, Mookie Betts, Jose Canseco, Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve, Trea Turner, Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Christian Yelich, Alex Bregman, Giancarlo Stanton, Clayton Kershaw, Jeff Bagwell, Post Malone, Mayumi Seto, Instagram Egg, Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, Dan Rather, Brian Fallon, Vincent Stio, Emily Jaenson, Mike Piazza, Dale Murphy, David Ortiz,  Nolan Ryan, Don Mattingly, Rod Carew, Frank Thomas, Ryne Sandberg, Jackie Robinson, Chipper Jones, Carlton Fisk, Tony Gwynn, Ivan Rodriguez, Eddie Murray, Whitey Ford, Carl Yastrzemski, Roger Maris, Gary Carter, Steve Carlton, Rickey Henderson, Ernie Banks

Rookie Cards (11) – Eloy Jimenez (SP), Pete Alonso, Ramon Laureano, Touki Toussaint, Cedric Mullins, Chance Adams, Sean Reid-Foley, Corbin Burnes, Danny Jansen, Kolby Allard, Kevin Newman

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2019 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 100
Base set completion: 
44 of 100 (44 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ronald Acuña Jr., Cody Bellinger, Juan Soto, Albert Pujols, Giancarlo Stanton, Max Scherzer, Jose Altuve, Francisco Lindor, Ozzie Albies, David Price, Alex Bregman, Miguel Cabrera, Yasiel Puig

Rookie Cards (14) – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (SP), Eloy Jimenez (SP), Michael Kopech, Christin Stewart, Dakota Hudson, Corbin Burnes, Touki Toussaint, Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams, Cedric Mullins, Ryan O'Hearn, Danny Jansen, Josh James, Ramon Laureano (no RC logo)

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If you've never seen a Babe Ruth autographed baseball, hit The National. You'll see plenty of them.

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: The National, printing errors, 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter & plenty more in today's edition.

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The 2020 Topps baseball card design is here -- and the borders are not.

Topps teased the look for next season's flagship baseball card set on Thursday and it's a look that's got a nearly full-bleed design save for one edge that will have the player's name, position and team info on a modern and multi-faceted bar.

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Topps 3D baseball cards are back for another three-dimensional run.

Once again, this one arrives as a new Topps On Demand set initially only found on Topps.com, and it uses a plastic multi-layered look at selected 2019 Topps baseball cards via its online distribution platform. They are now live with a sale window that will last for the next 27-plus days and they will ship in October.

>> Need a box? Click here

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This T206 Honus Wagner was on display at The National last year -- you never know what you'll see. 

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: The National is just days away, the Blowout MegaMix arrives even sooner, important baseball discussions, Mike Trout vs. Willie Mays and new pulls worth a look.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2019 Topps Archives Signature Series Active Player Edition baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 1
Base set completion: 
N/A

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Historic Autographs is headed to The National next week in Chicago with a show-exclusive product ready to go as well as some big promotions for those who hit its booth.

Nearly $8,000 worth of buybacks will be up for grabs at the show with those cards as rewards for purchases made on HA products at the show.

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What: 2019 Topps Dynasty baseball cards
Arrives: Nov. 6
Box basics: One encased autograph per box (five boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: This high-end brand returns for another season with an on-card autograph in every pack that's limited to no more than 10 copies as usual -- but with some new inclusions this year that include batting glove Relics.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Grip it and rip it (twice), investing in NFL players, The National, Star Trek, a bad redemption mailday and where might Zion Williamson sign?

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2019 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (Walmart blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby/jumbo)

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard, one commemorative patch pack)
Cards per pack: 14 per standard
Cards in this box: 99
Base set completion: 
87 of 350 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Cody Bellinger, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Albert Pujols, Clint Frazier, Gerrit Cole, Scott Kingery

Rookie Cards (14) – Kevin Kramer, Austin Wynns, Jeffrey Springs, Jose Briceno, Aramis Garcia, Josh James, Trevor Richards, Kyle Wright, Carlos Tocci, Pablo Reyes, Patrick Wisdom, Taylor Ward, Adam Cimber, Robert Stock

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 47
Base set completion: 
27 of 300 (9 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ronald Acuña Jr., Post Malone, Walker Buehler, Manny Machado, Mookie Betts, Roy Halladay, Cal Ripken Jr., Don Mattingly, Danielle Colby, Fred McGriff, Rickey Henderson, Ryne Sandberg, Frank Thomas, Wade Boggs

Rookie Cards (1) – Pete Alonso

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: A collection of Tom Brady RC wax boxes, big Allen & Ginter pulls, inside a Barry Sanders collection, The National, NBA rips and ... check out the heaters.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Michael Baumann, RHP, Orioles — Double-A Bowie Baysox
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Baumann came within one out of a no-hitter on April 30. He got another chance last week and, this time, completed the feat. Baumann threw a no-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts against Double-A Harrisburg in his first start last week, his most dominant start in a season full of them. The 2017 third-rounder is 3-5, 2.80 with 113 strikeouts and 33 walks in 86.2 innings this year between high Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, cementing himself as one of the Orioles’ most promising pitching prospects."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 60
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Chrome
One auto to consider: 2017 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: About half of his seriously low card volume is thankfully certified ink so that's good that he has them -- but it's also bad news in that it means there is less stuff for buyers to fight over when he has performances like this. The two products above are the only places to find his autos. In three MiLB season, he's 20-12 with a 2.74 ERA and 262 strikeouts with 259 innings pitched. Those are solid numbers overall mostly fueled by this season's strikeouts.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Onyx Authenticated's plans for The National this year are simple -- but they deliver ink from two top prospects.

Present proof of a $100 purchase on the company's products at its booth and you'll get a bonus autographed card.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Baseball discussions, NBA 1/1 cards, MLB trade deadline chatter, opening a store, NBA breaks and The National.

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What if Mike Trout had been found on a 2011 Bowman Chrome Rookie Card autograph and it had a Superfractor parallel?

That didn't happen, but that dream cardboard scenario could have been close to reality if a new item in an upcoming Goldin Auctions event is any indicator.

It's a PSA/DNA certified Trout autograph -- that part's for sure -- on a card that looks like it could be a genuine Super from that year's release. It's a card that could have been printed by Topps but then never released when a signing couldn't be lined up in time.

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