Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

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Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION IS IN ...
The Album: The Big Lebowski soundtrack (Mercury, 2014 -- first pressing)
The Reason Graded: As you can probably tell, I'm a dabbler with grading in a few -- but not yet all -- directions, but the notion of having a pristine item encased for permanent protection to be appreciated as an artifact of sorts appeals in a lot of ways. Video games, Funko Pop! figures, other toys, VHS, tickets, press photos and more can be graded just like cards, comic books, magazines and coins. I've tried grading VHS and there's a chance I might do more there with a different company that I use for pretty much everything else, but vinyl is one that, well, I jettisoned most of what I had long ago. That means this was more of a first project than just a first try. (I didn't have much vinyl as my early music-buying years were where the Sony Walkman and then CDs were a thing or emerging, not records.) I spotted this soundtrack cheaper than it might have been elsewhere and it's an original, so I grabbed it with an eye for a slab with Texas-based Tuned In Grading as this one is memorable as more than just a soundtrack but a film that's a cult classic with tons of interest and action beyond a couple hours of screen time. And the total package is cool front and back with scenes and even key characters noted.
The Grade: Tuned In Grading 9.0 (sealed)

Reality Check: I did this one to basically to go through the process and see if I liked the results and then to decide how I would approach doing more. It seems based on their grading scale and description that a 10 isn't easy -- that's fine in my book and that took away some of the grade-shock here. (A nine is fine in all realms, really, but we all want perfection and in some genres a nine has a few slots above it on the scale. Not here.) There isn't really a pop report just yet (but I know of at least one copy*) and it appears that the typical overall grade is a meshing of five applicable sub-grades -- record, cover, inner sleeve, labels, shrink -- but since this is a sealed record only two of those are in play. They both clicked at nines for me -- the cover here had a small bend on the back, while the shrinkwrap has a couple minor spots on the right side but I didn't notice one of them previously. I wasn't totally surprised as I knew the small bend would hurt me but everything else seemed strong. Part of me wants to try something vintage that's not sealed next time, but that's easier said than done in terms of balancing condition, an item I like and price -- I know of a few I'd try but I'm a stickler for condition and this kind of grading isn't quite as cheap as others but still less than some so I'd want something with an appealing grade. Plus, if it's not sealed then other things get looked at ... that you can't examine unless you're buying stuff in-person. Part of me also thinks albums without shrink-wrap could look better in the sleeve but I haven't really read up on what the musical devotees prefer. I think, generally, I dig it but I think for storage and size I like the idea of slabs for CD, DVDs and stuff that's more game-sized more ... but the size here also makes all the details you see on the back of this one as well as that main art on the front pop a bit more, too.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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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: New WNBA cards, NFL Week 9 and trade deadline chatter, the World Series and more in today's edition.

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What: 2023 Panini Prizm football cards
Arrives: Dec. 20
Box basics: Two autographs per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Prizm takes the NFL field with plenty of color and flash, new rookies, more Manga and other surprises in store such as two-player Color Blasts and vertical versions of those colorful coveted cards.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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: 2022 Panini Zenith football cards (value)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview/checklist: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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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: A big 1/1 Prizm Draft find, World Series, NFL chatter, some collecting thoughts and inside a new Star Trek case.

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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: World Series chatter, NFL Week 8, playoff integrity, baseball cards at Costco and more.

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What: 2023 Leaf Eclectic Football cards
Arrives: January
Box basics: Four autographed cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Eclectic takes the football field with a few brands together all in one spot with stars of the past, present and future all in play as part of an autograph-only release with plenty of energy and with nearly everything limited to no more than 10 copies per card.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

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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: It's TacoFractor Time, World Series chatter, NFL Week 8 and more in this edition.

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What: 2023 Panini Absolute Football cards
Arrives: Dec. 13
Box basics: Three autos and two memorabilia cards per three-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Absolute arrives for NFL fans for another season with plenty of the familiar but also with some new players and other touches that add to the brand's long-running legacy.

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: Victor Wembanyama arrives, NFL Week 8, Corbin Carroll in the World Series, TacoFractors and more.

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What: 2023 Panini Phoenix football cards
Arrives: Dec. 1
Box basics: Two autos and one memorabilia card per 12-pack box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Phoenix arrives for its eighth NFL campaign with another colorful and meaty base set, plenty of inserts and more inside.

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: Corbin Carroll might be the best TacoFractor to own, blasters for the win, baseball cards at Costco and more in today's edition.

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What: 2023 Wild Card Seven Card Studs football cards
Arrives: Nov. 24
Box basics: Seven encased autographed cards per box (12 boxes per case via two inner cases)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Wild Card's once again on a very numbers-based presentation and this time it's nothing but quarterback autographs from the past, present and future all in there with numbered packs that guarantee specific volumes inside -- and all cards here are limited to no more than seven copies.

Keep reading for more info and a 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: NFL Week 8, the NBA season tips off, Pro Debut, TacoFractors and more.

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What: 2023 Onyx Vintage Football cards
Arrives: Jan. 10, 2024
Box basics: Two on-card autographs per four-card box (24 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Onyx takes a retro-styled look at football stars from a few levels in this one with a mix of signed and unsigned cards in each box.

Keep reading for more info and a 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: NFL reactions, MLB chatter, a Superfractor issue might be worse than thought, new pulls and, yes, TacoFractors!

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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: College football and NFL chatter, favorite comic book covers, talking coins and currency and more in this Sunday 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: MLB postseason stars, a Connor Bedard sighting, new pulls, an NBA Mount Rushmore, grading Star Michael Jordan cards, NFL Week 7 and TacoFractors.

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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: Caleb Williams, new pulls, a Topps Finest question, NFL Week 7, Allen & Ginter X and, yes, TacoFractors.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less 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.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ...

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MORE LIKE TOPANGA NOW
The Cards: Danielle Fishel 2023 Topps Now 10-pack (/4,993)
The Price: Bundle price from Topps
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is among the newer pick-ups for me from Topps this year -- there have not been that many, really -- but the novelty of this one got me to bite on some Topps Now hoping for maybe landing a parallel and something that might draw an elite grade. I got nothing on the parallel front and, well, maybe one of this 10 might be slab-worthy at some point ... but this one was not cleanly made (at least in my batch) with some corner issues and surface spots (lower left side most often). That made this not as fun as I had hoped but I did it anyway as I missed on the auto packs that were reasonably priced -- I would have bought one had I not missed the drop -- and those who have landed unsigned parallels are asking prices that are even higher than what ink cost ... so this one's novelty appeal is strong -- for now. Hopefully, more unusual cards will show up among Topps Now offerings in the coming weeks and months. Novelty Now will get my attention as stuff that's different and unique will have more appeal in the long-term than some might think. I still think a single auto (or maybe a low-volume auto parallel) mixed into regular Topps Now orders could draw more buys, too.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one but MLB boxes are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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: 2022 Panini Prestige NFL cards (jumbo)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (in a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one along with a gallery of images.

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What: 2023 Panini Certified football cards
Arrives: Nov. 10
Box basics: Two autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-pack box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Certified is back once again with some new touches as well as plenty of the familiar foilboard as it takes on a new NFL season.

Keep reading for more info.

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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: 2023 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks football cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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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: The Phillies rout 'em, NFL chatter, new pulls, TacoFractors and more in today's edition.

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: MLB postseason chatter continues, NFL chatter, new pulls, TacoFractors and more in today's edition.

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