Penn State star Saquon Barkley has a new team -- and it's Panini America.

The Dallas-based collectibles company announced on Monday that it has signed a deal with the star running back to be an exclusive member of the Panini Authentic team as well as to sign trading cards.

“Saquon Barkley is a franchise-type talent that promises to be one of the first players selected in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft. We’re thrilled to partner with him in such a meaningful way as he begins his NFL career,” said Panini CEO Mark Warsop. “Fans and collectors almost instantly devoured his first Panini America trading cards on the Panini Instant platform. That demand is certain to increase throughout his rookie season. Barkley will absolutely be a key driver for our NFL business in 2018.”

Continue reading →

What: 2018 Baseball Treasure baseball coins
Arrives: April 18
Box basics: One one-ounce copper coin per pack (36 packs per box, 12 boxes per case)

What's buzz-worthy: A new way to collect baseball players arrives next month with the possibility for precious metal coins in packs, too.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

Continue reading →

If you've wanted a Shohei Ohtani autographed jersey, Topps Authentics is on it.

Autographed baseballs and seven different autographed jerseys are among the first wave of signed pieces up for grabs from the company's memorabilia division with prices starting at $399.99.

The former Nippon Professional Baseball star and former Pacific League MVP signed a deal with Topps back in January after signing with the Angels in December. We recently got the first views from his first signing with Topps -- with known cards to come including Allen & Ginter, Topps Chrome and Bowman. His debut autographs arrived in 2018 Topps Heritage last week and he'll have more this week in 2018 Donruss from Panini America.

Continue reading →

Fanatics is stockpiling New York Yankees sluggers.

Giancarlo Stanton joined its team of exclusive autograph signers on Wednesday -- a group that includes his teammate Aaron Judge along with a number of other stars in the game today. It's a pact dubbed as "his first-ever exclusive memorabilia deal, allowing the company to become the sole distributor of his highly sought after collection of autographs and collectibles" via Fanatics Authentic, its memorabilia division.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to select the right memorabilia partner, and I’m excited to start this relationship with Fanatics as I get ready for my first season in New York,” Stanton said in a prepared statement. “The Yankees have the world’s best fans, and knowing that Pinstripes faithful located in New York and abroad can have access to the largest assortment of trusted, officially licensed products made me really feel comfortable with the Fanatics team.”

Continue reading →

This year's Panini NBA Player of the Day program tips off tomorrow with bonus packs and other bonuses ready for collectors who pick up cards at participating hobby shops.

In its fourth year, the program will include more than 50,000 prizes and autographed cards with its biggest draw a chance to have an NBA player visit the winner and a hobby shop next year. The program runs through April 15.

“The Player of the Day promotion helps hobby shops sell more trading cards while rewarding collectors who purchase Panini products,” said Jason Howarth, VP of marketing for Panini America. “We are thrilled to support hobby shops selling our NBA trading cards by expanding this proven promotion to even more hobby shops. Over the past two years, we’ve given collectors the chance to meet NBA stars, future stars and legends.”

Continue reading →

You may not know his name, but his work helped shape a big part of the hobby you know today.

He's Jefferson Burdick and he spent a big part of his life documenting the hobby as as he built The American Card Catalog, which helped classify cards made before 1951. He's one of four recipients of this year's Henry Chadwick Award from SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research.

The award was established in 2009 "to honor baseball's great researchers — historians, statisticians, annalists and archivists — for their invaluable contributions to making baseball the game that links America’s present with its past."

Continue reading →

Topps will have a big name in baseball on hand for its inaugural Industry Conference next month in Scottsdale, Ariz.

It's Cincinnati Reds prospect Hunter Greene, who was the No.. 2 pick in last year's MLB Draft, and his first Topps autographs will be part of a meet-and-greet session with those in attendance.

Set in the heart of the Cactus League just as play begins, the conference will include several speakers during the three-day event. Check-ins and a welcome reception are set for the evening of Sunday, Feb. 18 before the full slate begins the following day at the Talking Stick Resort.

Continue reading →

The XFL will return in 2020 -- but it won't be like the short-lived football league from 2001.

Check out the announcement of its return below -- it may not be what you think after you hear much of what's planned for the new league. Immersive, interactive, reimagined, faster, simpler and family-friendly is what owner Vince McMahon promises from his $100 million venture.

And, after you check out the Q&A below (starts at 30-minute mark), check out our Buzz Poll questions below.

[polldaddy poll=9925924]

-

[polldaddy poll=9925926]

-

[polldaddy poll=9925931]

-

[polldaddy poll=9925930]

-

>> RELATED: Check out this Buzz Break of a 2001 Topps XFL card box

Have any other thoughts on the new XFL? Leave a comment.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

Topps has revealed some new info for its inaugural Industry Conference set for next month in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Set in the heart of the Cactus League just as play begins, the conference will include several speakers during the three-day event. Check-ins and a welcome reception are set for the evening of Sunday, Feb. 18 before the full slate begins the following day at the Talking Stick Resort.

Continue reading →

Major League Baseball's new international star will sign for Topps.

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani will have autographs from the company in packs before spring training, according to a deal announced on Monday morning.

“Getting a deal with Shohei Ohtani was a priority for us because we want the best for our Topps fans,” said David Leiner, Topps Global General Manager, Sports & Entertainment. “Ohtani is a dynamic two-way player who has gained a lot of attention because of his incredible talent. We are thrilled to offer his trading cards and autographed cards to baseball fans.”

Continue reading →

Topps Now's second season was one that showed continued growth and more than a million cards sold -- with the biggest card of them all arriving in December.

That was for the debut of Shohei Ohtani, which sold more than 17,000 copies.

That wasn't the only highlight, though.

Continue reading →

TRISTAR has a new exclusive team member -- and he's "the greatest baseball player of all time" based on Hall of Fame voting.

It's former Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds star Ken Griffey Jr. and a full line of autographed memorabilia from him is available now from the Houston-based company after the new deal was announced on Tuesday night.

Continue reading →

We all know that Friday is a big day in the film world with the arrival of the next Star Wars film, The Last Jedi.

It's a behemoth we've seen teased on TV and online for months -- and even longer in the toy aisles -- and now that we're days away from its release there's even more to potentially be seen and heard about the latest chapter in the legendary franchise. But, like spoilers, I've tried my best to avoid most of it -- all of the merchandising and marketing that can include everything from food to car commercials and then all that stuff in the toy aisle.

So, maybe it's just my situation -- it's a black hole of sorts I don't want sucked into because there's just too much I'd potentially want but ultimately don't really need -- but when I saw that there was a massive amount of sports-related Star Wars items in one online location I didn't expect?

Well, that's why we're here ...

Continue reading →

TRISTAR has a new ace.

The Houston-based autograph and memorabilia company revealed its newest exclusive player on Monday night and it's Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander. 

He's not been a big signer for companies -- or for certified autograph cards -- in some time. The last time he had any substantial volume of signed cards was in 2012 and those cards were mostly still low-volume. You have to go back to 2007 when roughly a third of his certified autograph cards were made to find a decent amount of cardboard.

All that, combined with a dominating run to a World Series, drew him to TRISTAR's stable to help satisfy the growing demand for his ink.

Continue reading →

One thing that collectors may not see in their day-to-day hobby habits is the growing international interest in sports cards and other collectibles made here in America.

But it's all growing and the global game of sports cards -- as well as global interest in gaming -- is as strong as ever and that means that members of the Blowout Cards team will be traveling the globe this week.

Where to? Shanghai, China, for the Shanghai Ruika Carnival.

Continue reading →

The details for Panini America's plans for Black Friday and Cyber Monday promo pack programs are here.

The first of the two shopping promos begins on Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving, which is the biggest shopping day of the year throughout all of the commerce world.

The Black Friday release will include a 75-card NFL set with 25 rookies numbered to just 399 copies. There also will be a 25-card Panini Collection insert with parallels for these sets numbered to 50, 25, 10 and 1/1 versions.

There also will be a 75-card set combining all of the other sports in the Panini portfolio -- a set that will also have rookies and the same parallels spotlighting stars of the NBA, MLB, NASCAR and other possibilities.

Continue reading →

There's some extra cardboard coming to card shops for the holiday season.

Topps revealed on Friday its 2017 Topps Holiday promotion, which will include three-card packs of a new set complete with holiday touches and December superstars alongside possible autographed cards.

Continue reading →

Comic Book Certification Service has a new owner.

It's Beckett Media and CBCS will join the Beckett brands alongside Beckett Grading Services and Beckett Authentication Services.

“The entire CBCS/Beckett team is committed to growing the hobby, both in North America and internationally,” said Jeromy Murray, Beckett’s VP for grading and authentication. “We can’t wait to begin connecting with comics collectors and retailers at shows, conferences and hobby shops world-wide.”

Continue reading →

Look away, Atlanta Falcons fans.

Nike revealed a new shoe on Thursday -- the only one made -- that takes us all back to Super Bowl LI. How? It's made out of game-used footballs from the New England Patriots' historic comeback win.

It's a single Nike Air Force Low SB51 Comeback and it's going to be auctioned for charity.

Continue reading →

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: Big pulls, big possibilities in MLB and "the world's greatest forger."

Continue reading →

The first of the First Off The Line products from Panini America is here.

What's First Off The Line? It's a new program where a small fraction of the print run for a product arrives early with an extra inside the boxes carrying the program's notation.

The first product for this experiment of sorts sold out quickly via Panini and it's 2016-17 Panini Immaculate Collection, and it includes green in every box.

Continue reading →

The Green Bay Packers' quarterback has a new home -- at least for autographs.

Steiner Sports revealed on Tuesday that it has signed Super Bowl champion and two-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers to an exclusive deal for autographed memorabilia.

He joins a roster of new signees that includes the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and a football roster that previously included Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Lou Holtz and Archie Manning among others.

Continue reading →

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: Showing off hockey, NHL card rumors, big baseball pulls and ... clearing out a store for hot new wax.

Continue reading →

New York Yankees fans will have a new place to land autographs of their future star infielder Gleyber Torres.

He's joined the Topps Authentics team, Topps' autographed memorabilia division, where his pieces will now be found on an exclusive basis.

“I’m happy to be part of this big family,” said Torres in a prepared statement. “I’m happy to be here and [for] everything Topps has done for me.”

Continue reading →

The big fight has come and gone along with the TV highlights and Twitter replays, but the spectacle that was Saturday night's showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor lives on once again.

Today marks the arrival of a digital magazine -- The Super Fight Issue -- from the Beckett On-Demand line.

Continue reading →