What: 2022 BenchWarmer Atlantic City National trading cards
Arrives: Sept. 30
Hobby box basics: Two stamped autographs per eight-card box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: BenchWarmer's National release arrives post-show with a limited print run and a number of possibilities beyond just ink.

Keep reading to see a gallery and more.

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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 ... and this time around it's a bit heavy on autographs I've picked up over, say, the last year.

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TURTLE POWER!
The Card: Kevin Eastman 2019 Topps The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Green Artist Autographs (/99)
The Price: Around $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is an autograph from one of the original creators of the TMNT franchise that has been seen in countless comic books, video games, movies and other stuff out there in the world for years now -- a franchise among franchises. I'm not sure how rare his autograph is out there in the comic book world -- typically, artists do signings somewhat regularly -- but for trading cards he signed about 30 different options in this release that included one artist auto and one sketch card along with a very nice premium-style set ... and I think that is it for his cards. Poke around here on The Buzz and you'll see how these sets look and how I did pretty well opening a couple of them in the past. Why? The prices dipped rather dramatically in the year or so after they arrived but they have picked back up price-wise and aren't the cheapest of ripping options now -- but the sketches can be nice enough to pay for it all sometimes. I figured this auto was a key one in the long run, so I added this to go with my others. And, if you want to add some more pop culture trivia here, Eastman was the editor and publisher of Heavy Metal magazine as well as married to Julie Strain, a model and "The Queen of B-movies" who has appeared in BenchWarmer sets and helped create other card sets herself.
Grab a box right here: 2019 Topps The Art of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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What: 2022 Topps X Ermsy Entertainment Blend trading cards
Arrives: Now via Topps.com
Hobby box basics: six cards per pack
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: This popular Project artist takes on Topps' long-running non-sports brands with an online-only release of his own where he slices and dices into the Garbage Pail Kids, Wacky Packages, Mars Attacks and more all in one spot.

Keep reading to learn more and see a full gallery of images.

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What: Decision 2021 Rainbow Edition trading cards
Arrives: Late July/early August
Box basics: Two cut signature cards per case (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The Decision political cards will be making a comeback this year and this one offers up a preview of that while also revisiting some of the greatest hits of past editions in parallel form.

Keep reading for 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: A big move leads to questions, prospects you can't quit, some questionable autographs, The National and more.

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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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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: Liv Morgan shocks the WWE Universe, some huge blaster pulls, ripping old Prizm NBA 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: Star Wars Chrome Sapphire, an NFL thread to see (fake cards), new pulls, NBA signings, The National and more.

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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.

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

BETTER THAN LAST TIME ...
The Card: Ja Morant 2019-20 Panini Chronicles Luminance #165 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: Somewhere in a past item in this series there's a Pink parallel of this cool card buried in a post as it was one of only a few bummers I've had with a low mark -- one that was too low for my taste as I had apparently missed a rough edge. This time? Well, this was the one I didn't send in back then and that's because I thought it had an edge spot that I thought might nix a top grade ... but I was wrong again. With this card having an iconic photo -- one that makes it easily his best RC to me (I'm merely a casual NBA ripper) -- I threw it in a bulk sub to see how I'd do. It's an absolutely epic photo ... even though it was a missed dunk.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: This is a card with a pretty big volume graded -- and a good chunk of those checking in lower than mine. All in all, it's a win that takes away the sting from last time.

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

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here. 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.

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NEW CHROME
The Item: Ken Griffey Jr. 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary Aqua Wave Refractor
The Price: $249.95 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't think this price is a solid one -- but as an early arrival on eBay it might get hit as this massive set (700 cards) could create challenges of easily finding any one name you're hunting, let alone a parallel of an iconic player with a solid photo and a team-appropriate parallel color. All those variables are why Junior bats lead-off here. The parallel rainbow isn't quite as vast as was originally planned for this year-later, delayed-but-now-here release, but it is one that will still create collector challenges if they dare to do it all. (I think some people might try sets given the convergence of Chrome and a Heritage-ish feel.)
Similar Pieces: 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary

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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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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: Logoman chatter, autographed books, NFL, a simple question, Star Wars Sapphire and The National.

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What: 2022 Pieces of the Past Historical Jumbo Edition
Arrives: July 18
Box basics: Four hits per 12-back box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Pieces of the Past takes on a big approach with more than 100 subjects, plenty of hits and even hot boxes appearing one per case.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2022 Topps Star Wars Chrome Sapphire Edition
Arrives: Sold out today on Topps.com (online-first release)
Box basics: Two parallel cards per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: The first two series of original Topps Star Wars cards from 1977 get Chromed with a Sapphire treatment in this release that will pack two parallels per box.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2022 Historic Autographs Prime
Arrives: July 27
Box basics: Three DNA Hair Cards or two DNA Hair Cards and one Prime autograph per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs dips into something unusual but long-collected in the past -- hair (yes, hair) -- for a new card release while also working in some notable autographs from the past.

Keep reading for more information.

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What: 2022 Leaf Metal Pop Century trading cards
Arrives: Late-July
Box basics: Four autograph or memorabilia cards per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf's annual celebrity release is back for another Metal go with some mystery autos in the mix this time alongside notable names from Hollywood and standouts from other areas of pop culture, too, all in one spot. And another inclusion? Embedded ticket stub cards.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images.

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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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HISTORIC INK 
The Card: Rachel Balkovec 2022 Topps Now MiLB Autographs (/99)
The Price: Around $10 (since I had discount rewards piled up) via Topps.com
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This autographed card was a first for Topps Now this year -- some minor-league cardboard -- since as you can see she was a bit of a history-maker in MiLB and baseball in general. Topps Now cards have had delays at times this year with stock shortages and this one was actually initially scheduled to arrive much later this year but it looks like the signing came together faster than expected. I believe this is my first Topps Now auto in my stash. Why? Cost is always a factor -- most are too much for me to bother looking -- but in this case it was about as low as it gets and then I snuck in toward the end of the line and added this on the cheap with rewards points from buys.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... but MiLB boxes are here.

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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: 2021 Topps Star Wars Bounty Hunters trading cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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What: 2022 Best of BenchWarmer trading cards
Arrives: July
Hobby box basics: Eight cards per box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: BenchWarmer's newest release includes more than 200 stars all in one spot with a mix of standard cardboard, gems and autographs.

Keep reading to see a gallery 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: New Star Wars, new F1 and MLB pulls, The National and more in this Friday 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: NBA Finals, they say "art moms" are a key, baseball TV talk shows, big pulls, low averages and "Galactics are overrated?"

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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: 2022 Bowman mega boxes are here, pondering The National, vintage cards, Marion Barber, Game of Thrones and J-Rod in today's edition.

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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.

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

MY FIRST NEW-LABEL SLAB ...
The Card: Derrick Henry 2016 Panini Origins Rookie Autographs #112
The Reason Graded: My latest submission of stuff from CSG is already back -- in times far faster than what's posted on their site -- and this card of Tennessee Titans star (and former Alabama Crimson Tide standout as well as Heisman Trophy winner) Derrick Henry was my choice for my first fast sub under their new format. Why? I thought it looked quite flawless with a solid on-card sig with literally nothing obviously wrong with the card. With this being perhaps my best NFL auto for him I opted to slab it since thick-stock cards like this have tended to grade cleanly for me.
The Grade: CSG 9.5 (10 auto)

Reality Check: I was a little surprised this didn't check in higher as the only couple of white spots on the card appeared to be to be part of the design's specs and splats but ... I'll live with it. This one might also be reflective of CSG's tough standards, which don't appear to have gotten easier at all with their new slabs and slightly tweaked scale at its top. (Cards previously in a CSG Gem Mint 9.5 are now Gem Mint 10s.) All in all, I'm good with this card and their new scale and look -- straight-on scans don't do these slabs justice. While I liked the previous style (and own plenty) this one is tight and right ... just like their time for return, price and structure that lets you see the front and backs of the cards as they were in-house. There won't be tampering/fake slabs when you can look up the card online -- a big plus over other slabs if you ask me.

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: NBA Finals are set, Project100 Wave 2, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts are warming up 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: NBA chatter, fantasy football mishaps in MLB, pondering non-sports licensing, MLB chatter and more.

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