What: 2018 Bowman Platinum baseball cards
Arrives: This week/next week initially only at Walmart
Box basics: Two autographs per Collector Box
Checklist: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman Platinum returns to the retail aisle for another summer with the same formats as last year -- Collector Boxes, blaster boxes and jumbo packs -- with some of this year's biggest young names inside as well as MLB veterans and rookies.

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

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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. Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros — Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Season so far: Hitting .314 with 23 doubles, 10 homers, 57 RBI and 13 SBs in 69 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Tucker, the Astros’ No. 1 overall prospect, absolutely destroyed the Pacific Coast League this week and has done so all June long. In the season’s third month, Tucker, still just 21 years old, holds a .415 average and a 1.085 OPS. More than that, he’s also a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 650
First Chrome auto: 2015 Bowman Chrome Draft 
One auto to consider: 2012 Elite Extra Edition (USA Baseball)
Buzz’s card take: He's got a ton of cards but he hit 25 homers last season and he's in the World Series champions organization, so there are a few reasons to chase and watch. If you can't land the Chrome, that really early USA option should have some decent appeal with a number of collectors. He's a Top 15 prospect per Baseball America and a Top 20 guy to MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus -- so you should know his name already if you dabble in prospects.

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

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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 pack: 1985 Topps Baseball Photo Rub-downs
Where to buy: Where/if you can find

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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 boxes: 2018 Boys of Summer (baseball) and Gunslingers (football) repacks (MJ Holding)
Where to buy: Walmart and other retail chains ($9.98 apiece)

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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: NSCC and Juan Soto chatter along with big pulls from around the collecting world in today's edition.

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Barring some unforeseen need for shelving in the next few days, I made one last trek to a Toys R Us on Saturday afternoon -- Store No. 8919, according to my receipt -- in advance of its closing forever.

By this time next week, the long-running toy chain will be no more as bankruptcy will be the final chapter of this story that began back in the 1940s. It will end a run that clearly had its share of successes -- and mistakes -- but one that has left an indelible mark on pop culture and kids everywhere -- and probably their parents' pocketbooks, too.

I don't wanna grow up ...

Jogging my memory a bit, I've been to Toys R Us stores in probably five states -- that's not a lot as I didn't really grow up as a true Toys R Us Kid, meaning we had to drive a couple hours to find the closest one when I was younger and most in my toy prime. But this particular store? It just might be -- actually, I can pretty much guarantee this -- it is the first Toys R Us I ever visited. When? I'm not sure when the first time happened but those same doors I walked through today were the doors I walked through long ago looking for 1988 Donruss baseball cards and other "bargain packs" all those years ago. It's definitely where I first bought a Jose Canseco Baseball Card Kit and it's where I first discovered The Conlon Collection in baseball card form. (The price was right and the history there is still priceless today.) It's where I'm sure I bought a few NASCAR diecasts in the more recent past, too, as we would visit relatives on vacation and I'd hit all the different stores in town looking for cards and whatever other interesting toy or collectable piqued my interest at the time.

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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: St. Louis Cardinals Authentics game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.99 (via MLB.com)

What's inside this box? Keep reading ...

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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: Nick Senzel is out for the year, breaking up a vintage collection, NSCC chatter, big pulls & more.

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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: 2018 Topps Series 2 (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 361
Base set completion: 
317 of 350 (91 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Jake Arrieta, Justin Verlander, Paul Goldschmidt, Max Scherzer, Andrew Benintendi, Yadier Molina, Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols, Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton

Rookie Cards (24) – Notables include Scott Kingery, Christian Villanueva, Tim Locastro, Kyle Farmer, Jordan Luplow, Jen-Ho Tseng, Mitch Garver

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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: 2018 Topps Pro Debut baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 180
Base set completion: 
162 of 200 (81 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Erik The Peanut Guy, Todd "Parney" Parnell, Bo Bichette, Ronald Acuna, Michael Kopech, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., MacKenzie Gore, Hunter Greene, Adam Haseley, Gleyber Torres, Jo Adell, Austin Beck, Brendan McKay, Jake Burger, Pavin Smith, Cristian Pache, Nick Senzel, Mike Soroka, Kacy Clemens, Austin Riley, Dylan Cozens, Mickey Moniak, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Tyler O'Neill, Yu-Cheng Chang

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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: 2018 Topps Finest (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com 
Packs per box: 12 (via two mini-boxes)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
44 of 100 (44 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Gary Sanchez, Albert Pujols, Stephen Strasburg, Kris Bryant, Clayton Kershaw, Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Bregman, Buster Posey, Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Adrian Beltre

Rookie Cards (7) – Shohei Ohtani, Miguel Andujar, Rhys Hoskins, J.P. Crawford, Nicky Delmonico, Brandon Woodruff, Chance Sisco

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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: NSCC chatter, potential NBA Draft stars, National Treasures soccer, big pulls and more in today's edition.

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Have you seen the latest crazy items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

--

... BUT WHAT IF IT WAS DEREK JETER?
The Item: 1993 Upper Deck SP Michael Tucker-Marc Newfield "Mona Lisa" error card
The Price: You have to see it to (not) believe it.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: One man's worthless printer's scrap is another's "Inverted Jenny" and that's a reference to a legitimately valuable error version of a postage stamp. In this case? Well, unless there's a huge Michael Tucker fan out there this is somebody wanting to (tongue in cheek) "test the market" or get some potential viral attention with a weird auction listing. (Mission accomplished.) Now, if it was a Derek Jeter card? Somebody would be buying ... no doubt about it.
Similar Pieces: Check out Derek Jeter 1993 SP cards here
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for MLB cards

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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An autographed baseball by one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history will be sold tonight, commanding some serious cash when it's all said and done.

The pitcher? It's Christy Mathewson -- a 373-game winner who died at age 45 back in 1925 after a legendary career with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in its first class alongside Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner.

About nine hours remain in the Mile High Card Company auction ... and the interest is strong.

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What: 2018 TRISTAR Signature Series National Edition
Arrives: Aug. 1
Box basics: One autographed item per envelope (eight envelopes per case).

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Signature Series returns with just 80 eight-pack cases of authenticated autographed memorabilia just in time for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland.

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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: NSCC chatter, opinions on the state of the hobby and big pulls like this Gleyber Torres 1/1 auto ...

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What: 2018 Topps National Baseball Card Day baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 11
Pack basics: Six cards per promo pack (50 packs per box)

What's buzz-worthy: National Baseball Card Day returns for another season with rewards for purchases at participating card shops that day -- and a bonus card you can land later.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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It's not the flashiest autograph, but it could be one in much wider demand soon.

The ink from Kansas City Royals prospect Seuly Matias can only be found in a single product right now -- 2017 Elite Extra Edition -- and he's a 19-year-old putting up some impressive numbers in Class-A ball this season.

He's got 22 home runs in just 201 at-bats for the Lexington Legends this season -- and that's more ink than he has certified autograph cards.

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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 pack: 1986 Topps Baseball Tattoos wax pack
Where to buy: Where/if you can find

What's inside this? Keep reading ...

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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: NSCC chatter and big pulls -- including this Derek Jeter 1/1 from a blaster box -- lead the way today.

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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. Jo Adell, OF, Angels — High-A Inland Empire 66ers
Season so far: Hitting .318 with 14 doubles, 14 homers, 47 RBI and 11 SBs in 50 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “At just 19 years old, Adell is quickly emerging as one of the top five-tool prospects in the minor leagues. He earned a promotion to the California League roughly a month ago and has taken the circuit by storm.”
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 400
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2016 Leaf Metal
Buzz’s card take: He’s heavily hyped and was very pricey when his first Chrome ink arrived. A season like this won’t change that. Bargain-hunting could be tough here — but he’ll also likely keep appearing on prospect checklists.

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

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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: Fanatics Seattle Mariners game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $29.95 (via JCPenney.com)

What's inside this A+ box? Keep reading ...

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What: 2018 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Oct. 3
Box basics: One encased autograph per box (20 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps brings its buyback line to the collecting masses once again with a focus on MLB's retired stars all in one place.

Keep reading for more and 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: NSCC chatter, big pulls from a few past and present boxes and showing off some Braves cards.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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 packs: 2009 Topps American Heritage American Heroes Edition (25 blister retail pack lot)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per lot: 25
Cards per pack: 8
Cards per lot: 200
Base set completion: 
84 of 125 (67 percent)
Duplicates: 47
Triplicates: 17
Quadruplicates: 8
Quintuplicates: 3

Notables on base cards: Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Stewart, George Washington, Norman Schwarzkopf, Ulysses S. Grant, James Madison, Frank Robinson, Wyatt Earp, Frank Serpico, Theodore Roosevelt, Navajo Code Talkers, Jonas Salk, Clara Barton, Kelen Keller, Herbert Hoover, Jane Addams, Elenor Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Woodrow Wilson, John Quincy Adams, Nellie Bly, John Steinbeck, Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's Midnight Ride, The Underground Railroad, Lewis & Clark Expedition, Battle of Gettysburg, Doolittle Raid, Battle of Midway, D-Day, Battle of Iwo Jima, First American Spaceflight, March to Montgomery

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