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: MLB breaks, big industry changes, Ted Williams, an early 1980s NFL break and more in today's edition.

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One of the biggest annual events in the hobby is coming soon -- and Blowout Cards is getting ready ... are you?

The full plans for the Panini VIP Party coinciding with this year's National Sports Collectors Convention will be officially revealed here sometime soon, but we're already getting some details of what will be up for grabs for those who are interested in getting in on the event.

And we can get you on The List.

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The live-break experience that is Loupe is coming to a computer near you.

It's a big day for the live-steam app as it's adding a desktop/laptop element to its streaming services today.

"Today, Loupe is thrilled to roll out the No. 1 most-requested feature by our community: A web experience. The same Loupe you know and love, but on your browser," read the company's announcement. "Just go to loupetheapp.com on your desktop or laptop and sign into your Loupe account through Apple ID or your Google email. From there, everything works just like it does in the mobile app. Pick a stream to watch, chat with others, and purchase securely using Apple Pay or Google Pay. It couldn't be any simpler."

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With less than one week left before pre-orders close -- this coming Monday is the final deadline -- your shot at getting your hands on the annual Blowout MegaMix is winding down.

You can order boxes or cases of this one and have it delivered now (click here to pre-order) -- or order to pick up your box at the National Sports Collectors Convention. If you don't do either, there will be a very limited volume of these remixed boxes to be found at this year's show set to begin on July 27 in Atlantic City, N.J. -- but that's only while supplies last.

If you didn't know, there's a new approach this year that ups the variety to ideally hit more collectors' sweet spots while lowering the price point to let more fans dig into the chase. That simple change? Packs. The left side of the sellsheet you see above is just the start of what's up for grabs in this edition -- this time it's a box with at least 10 packs inside as the starting point. New this year there also will be sealed cases of these boxes available -- six boxes per case -- that offer up some smaller bonuses and a surer shot at some of the bonus items that are planned to land every third box with this one.

The bonuses this time? See the right side above -- that's the start. If you keep reading, we'll offer up a look at more of what's in store for this year's MegaMix.

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Loupe has a busy month ahead of it before The National opens on July 27 -- and they're just getting warmed up.

As you might have seen on Twitter, earlier today we revealed that Loupe will add to the BlowoutMegaMix this year with credits as high as $1,000 that the finder can use on the app. Those will be randomly seeded as bonus items in the 'Mix this year, which is available now (click here to pre-order -- note your shipping option at the drop-down). Or, you can pick it up in-person at the show while supplies last.

Beyond that, Loupe's voting for America's Best Card Shop has one week remaining (vote here) and the winner will be revealed at the show. The Final Four candidates are Baseball Card Connection (Effingham, Ill), The Card Vault (Foxborough, Mass.), Honey Hole Collectibles (Escondido, Calif.) and Real Sportscards (Champlin, Minn.) The winner gets a grand-prize package worth more than $50,000 as well as an exclusive Loupe streaming deal.

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Topps is fixing the problem.

Collectors who find any dual-autograph card of Tampa Bay Rays outfielders Austin Meadows and Randy Arozarena in boxes of 2022 Topps Definitive Collection baseball cards will be able to get a replacement card and more from Topps, according to a letter released by the company on Friday.

"We believe the autographs are not of the players pictured," Topps said in its announcement letter (see it in full after the jump) addressing the problem. "While these types of issues are exceedingly rare, we take this extremely seriously and will work with customers holding this card to make the situation right."

In fact, Topps is going above and beyond with the fix for this -- any collector who receives the card will receive a full replacement box of the pricey Definitive release (that's around $2,000) as well as a replacement card of equal value.

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Some Doctor Who Series 11-12 exclusives are coming to San Diego Comic-Con with Rittenhouse Archives later this month.

The company revealed its plans for a bonus-pack program at the show on Tuesday, and it's for fans who buy a UK Edition box (or case) of the recently released product at the event. It's also a move that will be in play for other upcoming shows, according to the company.

"We are pleased to announce a special program for upcoming comic-cons and other conventions, in which specially marked Doctor Who Series 11-12 trading card packs will be available with Doctor Who UK Edition Series 11-12 trading cards purchased at these in-person events," the company said. "The first event will be the San Diego Comic-Con."

Keep reading for the full details.

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CLICK HERE FOR THE CHECKLIST

National Baseball Card Day is going global ... and it's going beyond baseball.

Topps revealed on Wednesday that Aug. 6 will be International Trading Card Day in hobby shops around the world with Major League Baseball stars in play along with UEFA Champions League soccer stars and even the Garbage Pail Kids on tap.

What will it mean? Keep reading ...

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Update: The Card Vault was the winner.

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The Final Four have been revealed.

America's Best Card Shop -- a four-month long competition presented by Loupe, which has joined forces with industry leaders such as Topps, the Miami Marlins and Blowout Cards -- nears the final step in selecting a winner as the Final Four were revealed on Wednesday from more than 1,400 candidates.

They are Baseball Card Connection (Effingham, Ill), The Card Vault (Foxborough, Mass.), Honey Hole Collectibles (Escondido, Calif.) and Real Sportscards (Champlin, Minn.) The winner gets a grand-prize package worth more than $50,000 as well as an exclusive Loupe streaming deal.

>> CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE WINNING SHOP RIGHT HERE

"We were overwhelmed by the response to Loupe Presents: America’s Best Card Shop," said Loupe founder and CEO Eric Doty. "A vast majority of the submissions came from customers who wanted to nominate their favorite LCS, which is exactly why we started this initiative. It proves that the foundation of the hobby is in community ties and the personal relationships that are forged over sports cards. It was really cool seeing how many collectors made the effort to help out the people who run their local card shop."

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If you're looking to replace your unfulfilled redemptions at The National this year, Panini America recommends that you sign up for a spot now to save time at the show.

The National begins this time next month (July 27-31) in Atlantic City, N.J., and for non-expired redemptions that that have been in the company's system for at least 120 days Panini will be doing its annual trade-in at the show that helps clear out its  backlog faster.

The company noted registrations should be done at this link. 

"If your plans change and the time you initially reserved doesn’t work for you any more, you can always change to another open time slot," said the company's announcement. "But only if you pre-register between now and July 11. And only if you hold a non-expired redemption where the ticket has been open for a minimum 120 days."

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

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

If you want to collect 'em all, you'll have to hit an MLB team shop.

Topps and MLB Players Inc. revealed this morning that the 2022 Topps Players Clubhouse baseball card line, which will get a pack of cards into your hands if you buy at least $149 in "officially licensed MLB Players products displaying the MLB Players logo, in a single transaction, at this team store location" beginning on selected dates -- starting today -- while supplies last with a limit of one pack per person.

Packs will not be sold at the participating team shops, according to the announcement.

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All those college draft picks and NIL cards from Topps will have school names and logos beginning next year

Fanatics revealed on Thursday that it has "new broad-scale college physical and digital trading card deals" with more than 100 top schools and will have exclusive rights for several years with deals that "will include both exclusive and non-exclusive co-branded trading card products, incorporating official university trademarks and featuring current student-athletes and former athletes playing in the NFL, NBA and MLB." It's a three-year deal beginning in 2023.

"Fanatics has been closely monitoring the ever-evolving NIL landscape, and we felt this was the perfect time to launch multiple, strategic college trading card programs that will allow schools and current student-athletes to create new levels of direct engagement with fans across hundreds of the top programs nationwide," said Derek Eiler EVP of Fanatics College. "There are tremendous opportunities for this untapped area of the hobby and to expand further across the collegiate sports landscape."

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a new team for years to come.

The 23-year-old Toronto Blue Jays star who hit 48 homers last season signed a "long-term historic partnership" with Topps that was revealed on Tuesday.

"Topps has become synonymous with baseball after over 70 years of commemorating record-breaking moments and iconic players through our rich heritage of trading cards," said David Leiner, Topps VP and GM of Global Sports & Entertainment. "This new partnership with Vlad is an extension of our dynamic product portfolio, showcasing players’ talents and personalities in compelling and innovative ways. We’re excited to continue evolving with fans and collectors alike as we kick off a new chapter for our brands through upcoming collaborations with the biggest superstars in sports and entertainment."

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If you want to collect -- or already collect -- Topps Formula 1 cards, then you might want to check out a member of the BlowoutTV squad who will be on location this Saturday for a marquee event.

The breaker is BuffsBreaks and he'll be in Miami for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix 2022 with a breaks steam conducted live from the Loupe shop beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern after qualifying for the big race.

New users who download the Loupe App using loupe.cards/buff will get $20 toward their first purchase. He'll have plenty of F1 cards available in all formats as well as giveaways on the Loupe App.

The Miami Grand Prix is set for Sunday with a pre-race show at 2 p.m. Eastern on ABC with the race set for approximately 3:25 p.m.

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

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

Don't call it a Dusty Finish ... it's more like a Royal Rumble countdown for a new tag team.

A week before Panini America's first WWE card release drops as part of its new card licensing deal, Fanatics and WWE revealed on Monday that the former license-holder will become its next exclusive card-maker at the expiration of that deal in a few years. Before that, Fanatics will handle WWE's "e-commerce and licensed merchandise, as well as physical, digital, and non-fungible token trading cards" as part of a "comprehensive, long-term sports and entertainment partnership." (Translation: It will handle its website sales like it does for other sports leagues via WWEShop.com.)

“Fanatics is the industry leader and Michael Rubin is a visionary,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO in a prepared release. “We believe this multi-platform partnership will set a new standard for WWE e-commerce, apparel and merchandise, while providing our fans globally with more ways than ever to engage with WWE and our Superstars.”

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Card collectors now have another online marketplace to consider for their buying and selling.

BuySportsCards.com officially launched earlier this month and it's "a specialized marketplace focused on making it as easy as possible to buy and sell sports cards," according to its founder and CEO Conner Walden. So far, the site includes sections for all major sports as well as sections for misc. sports and even multi-sport releases. The site has 0% seller fees right now, which is likely to continue through the first half of the year or potentially longer.

Walden is a 25-year-old entrepreneur who also owns a card shop in St. Louis and he created BSC because he said he "believes collectors, dealers and local card stores deserve a better experience when buying and selling sports cards online."

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USA Baseball remains on Panini America's team.

Both parties revealed on Monday that a second "long-term extension" of their deal that launched a decade ago has been signed, giving Panini the exclusive rights to create baseball cards for its stable of teams. That includes the Collegiate National Team down to the developmental squads for teens.

“Our relationship with USA Baseball has given us the ability to showcase tomorrow’s stars first as they make their way through the USA Baseball program,” Panini CEO Mark Warsop said in a prepared release. “We look forward to continuing the partnership and featuring the top prospects in the game.

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Who's the best? It's a simple question with a number of potential possibilities -- and there's a contest launching today to get a definitive single answer.

America's Best Card Shop is a four-month long competition presented by Loupe, which has joined forces with industry leaders such as Topps, the Miami Marlins and Blowout Cards. The winner gets a grand-prize package worth more than $50,000 as well as an exclusive Loupe streaming deal.

"Our goal is simple, and it's all in the name: We want to find the best sports card store in the United States," read the program's announcement. "If you own a brick-and-mortar sports card store in the U.S. (or want to nominate one), we'd love to hear from you."

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Update: The feed is live. Hit the button to view. 

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What happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas this time ... because Blowout Cards will be there.

A million-dollar break of 25 cases of 2020-21 Panini Flawless and Flawless FOTL basketball cards -- an event that's pretty much the most-valuable group-break ever -- will happen at 7 p.m. Eastern Thursday night in Las Vegas. This high-stakes break will be streamed via YouTube (right here and right here) and is sponsored by Goldin. It will be hosted by Layton Sports Cards and Blez Sports Cards. Blowout will be there as a case sponsor with action from the scene captured online -- and we'll also embed the video feeds right here on The Buzz.

Spots in the now sold-out break were $40,000 apiece and were filled via both Layton and filled via Blez. There will be 15 standard cases and 10 FOTL cases in the break.

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Bryce Harper has a new team.

Fanatics revealed on Thursday that the reigning National League MVP has signed an exclusive, multi-year deal to become "the sole distributor of his full portfolio of officially licensed memorabilia products." That will include baseballs, bats, jerseys, photos and some game-used equipment. He's also signed with Topps, which is a division of Fanatics, for autographed cards.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to announce an exclusive partner in the autographs and collectibles space, and I’m so excited about teaming up with Fanatics as we get ready to start the season,” Harper said in a prepared release. “We have the best fans in the world in Philadelphia and I’m very proud of the incredible product selection we’ll be offering together.”

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They won't give and they won't give ... neither one will agree.

And that's bad.

It's something that leaves all those stadium seats empty -- just like all those baseball-hungry stomachs with nothing to eat and those baseball-loving hearts that are a bit broken right now. Those fields of the spring and the cathedrals that bring many fans' summers to life are silent. There are no balls. There are no strikes. There's nothing. All we really wanted was a stadium hot dog with a side of strikeouts -- and maybe a home run from the good guys to go along with our peanuts and Cracker Jack.

What can fill that void?

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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: Wander Franco's Rookie Card, collectors continue to react to the Fanatics-Topps deal, about Logan Paul's Pokemon case, new breaks and ... what changes should Fanatics make?

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Fanatics will be buying Topps, according to a report from Sportico on Monday night, and the deal will be publicly revealed by the companies on Tuesday.

In August Fanatics revealed it has a deal to be the exclusive card-maker for Major League Baseball and it added the NFL and the NBA soon thereafter, giving the leagues equity in the new company. A CNBC report estimated the deal at $500 million and that excludes the company's candy division. That will now be known as The Bazooka Company after its famous gum brand.

Beyond a continuation of Topps MLB this should mean the return of Topps' NBA and NFL lines at some point.

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Update: The first official confirmation of the sale came via Twitter -- and it's effective today.

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If you’ve ever been to a major sports card show or sports-related convention, you’ve likely seen a throng of people holding a pack of baseball cards while gathered around a very-excited host dishing out lots of free packs and prizes.

If you haven’t, you’ve almost certainly heard it -- as Pack Wars typically draw the loudest and most boisterous attendees. These screaming sports card fiends are playing the game popularized by Big League Cards owner and Topps frontman Alan Narz.

Narz has hosted Pack Wars nearly everywhere imaginable: at hobby shops and card shows around the country, at Super Bowls, at MLB All-Star Games, and even in Walt Disney World. Now, he’s bringing Pack Wars to the Tampa Bay area, where he’ll be leading the action at the Tampa Bay Collectors Con mega-show this Saturday -- at 2 and 5 p.m. -- and it's free for anyone to participate ... and it will include a Pokémon twist.

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Today's technology-fueled hobby continues to draw attention from all around the planet and one company is looking for hobby-minded people to join its team.

The firm is LUDEX LLC and it's a Chicago-based software developer with a new spot in the trading card industry. It is seeking Machine Learning Engineers and Full Stack Developers to join its growing squad.

"Come be a part of a technology startup that is truly changing the game!" read a company announcement. "Innovation and collaboration are our core values and pushing the boundaries of technology is our bread and butter."

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