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 ... it's a bit of a super-sized edition.

DOMINATING THIS YEAR
The Card: Jonathan Taylor 2020 Donruss #317 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: If it's not my main collecting focus within the sport I'm at best a dabbler when buying football -- and this is a recent example. I grabbed this since it felt like the cheaper side of things as Taylor has had flashes of brilliance this season (and last year) -- in fact, this was less than $12 not long ago and he's put on some real shows in the weeks since. That's why I have him leading things off here over some far-pricier pick-ups and new slabs I have gotten back lately. (Keep reading for those.)
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: I liked this for the price but I'm not sure I'd go higher based on the pop report -- or pay up for a 10 when they're seemingly checking in there at a heavy clip. (Yet, he seems like the real deal -- so if you're solely focused on NFL he's a must-look.) This isn't my favorite of his RCs, but the brand might be my No. 1 for the last few years. Why? The simplicity. I liked the design for this one but the images can be a little limited for the RC crop with all the COVID issues that were seen on cardboard last year. I was a little surprised to see so many copies graded for this one as cheaper cards like this shouldn't be submitted for grading with steep processing fees -- at least right now. (There were probably a lot of them sent before PSA halted submissions as he was impressive late in his rookie season.)

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

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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 ...

A CAREER YEAR
The Card: Dansby Swanson 2017 Topps Heritage #76B action variation SP -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Bought: I'm a sucker for Heritage RCs and multi-player cards from the past, but I've never really chased the SPs that have been immensely popular since around this year where a few key names went solo from their card counterparts and have cards of their own -- both signed and unsigned. I had Swanson stashed on my fantasy league all season (mostly on the bench behind a favorite of mine you see here often) and saw the career year as it was happening. I had been eyeing this card for years now -- I own plenty of the regular ones as well as a couple of the Chrome types (I might slab those) -- and grabbed this awhile back. With the Braves' World Series showing, I figured I'd have him batting lead-off here ... and he won't be alone from the ATL here this month.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: I wasn't really worried about the pop report but I also didn't realize there were so few cards above this one. I will stash this one away with my Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. slabs I've picked up or slabbed on my own the last couple years like I suspect many have and will be doing. I probably need to slab some of their pitchers and you might see a Freddie Freeman Heritage card or two here in the future. (I lean toward the new guys more but have had some good Heritage pulls.)

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: Astros are World Series bound, pondering the NBA at 100, a big 1/1 Aoki Chrome soccer pull, inside a Star Trek case and 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: 2021 Topps Star Wars Chrome Legacy trading cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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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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COLLEGE FOOTBALL ICONS
The Card: Paul "Bear" Bryant & Knute Rockne 2010 Panini Century Collection Souvenir Stamps Sports Combos (two stamps dual material) (/100)
The Price: More than I'll admit ... but it's a keeper.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is just the second time I've grabbed one of these key memorabilia cards with a piece of a fedora worn by Bryant and a jacket from Rockne -- two of the greatest coaches in the history of college football. Rockne has a number of memorabilia cards out there (more than 50) but Bryant only has a literal handful of cards -- and almost all of them were in this release. Why? Hats aren't all that big. As far as I know, all but a 1/1 card or two is in this release ... meanwhile, the prices for the few Bryant fedoras that may exist -- if they ever hit the market again -- won't be card-conducive in the future since they are pricey. The last two Bryant houndstooth fedoras auctioned? Together, they topped $100,000 on the auction block. These are limited to only 100 copies and I hadn't picked up one of these in a long time. Why this time? You never know when more might pop up.
Grab a box right here: 2010 Panini Century Collection (when available)

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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 Battle Plans trading cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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: Ripping into 2021 Donruss and The Walking Dead, a 1/1 auto missing its ink and more on this NFL Sunday.

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What: Game of Thrones The Iron Anniversary Series 2
Arrives: Dec. 8
Box basics: At least two autographed cards (one an inscription) per eight-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Pre-order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Game of Thrones lives on with new cardboard and this second series for this anniversary line will include new ink, sketches and more.

Keep reading for more info and 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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WITH CLAWS I
The Card: Wolverine sketch card by Skip Charron -- 2017 Upper Deck Marvel Annual Sketch Cards (1/1)
The Price: $24
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There are a boatload of quality sketch cards out there in the world that seem seriously undervalued right now despite the fact that everything is one of a kind. This one is nice -- a color piece of an iconic character -- but these types of cards are also really the kind of item where one can't say "go grab all of these" as they are one of a kind and they can all be so different between artists and subjects. Why does this one lead off this time? To make that point -- if you can't find boxes, don't like prices on new Rated Rookies who haven't even hit your store shelves yet or just want to try something different ... then you might check out stuff you might not have at this time a year or two ago. That's what I did here.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ... see all Marvel boxes here

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Fast Five is a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five items Buzz would be grabbing right now.

AUTOGRAPHED & AUTHENTICATED ROOKIE CARDS
It seems like more and more collectors love their slabbed Rookie Cards -- to the point where some popular RCs' pop report numbers seem nutty. But what's a natural thing to try and round up once one has 'em all in whatever grade suits their budget? Well, to me, a run of autographed and authenticated/slabbed Rookie Cards would be compelling in some instances if it's do-able for a player. Certified autos are easy to find for a lot of guys if you just want ink of any kind, but signed RCs like the one you see above are impressive, too. Years ago people often said "no" to cards like this but I think those hesitations have vanished with these after-market autos when found in slabs. (This example isn't cheap, but it's nice.) If you collect a player who does signings, then amassing ink on RCs and then getting them slabbed and authenticated yourself also can make this a collecting project more than just a commodity.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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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 ...

A COLLEGE CLASSIC
The Card: The Four Horsemen 1955 Topps All-American #68 SP -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: College football is back for another season, so I'll lead things off with a vintage classic. This card featuring Notre Dame quarterback Harry Stuhldreher, halfbacks Jim Crowley and Don Miller as well as fullback Elmer Layden is one that's been on my want list -- albeit very casually -- for a long time. I recently found one at a price that wasn't uncomfortable so here we are. I don't need a high-grade copy of this one -- just one that looks pretty good so I can say I have it. Besides their place in college football history, The Four Horsemen have a place in sportswriting history, too, as Grantland Rice gave them this name early on in what was a perfect 1924 season that ended with a national title. His New York Herald Tribune story started like this: "Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as Famine, Pestilence, Destruction and Death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone before which another fighting Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds this afternoon as 55,000 spectators peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below." It's one of those pieces that's often cited when talking college football or sportswriting history and it's often emulated and it later sparked a marketing scenario -- the players would go on to pose on horses in uniform. In a lot of ways, that marketing is still replicated every Heisman season and beyond. This set is a landmark release, especially for college collectors, and this is one of a few big cards.
The Grade: BVG 2.5

Reality Check: Mine checks in low, but it's not the lowest -- there are 18 copies worse than mine and 14 others with this grade. It's very interesting to compare that total and then consider how few cards there are above a seven here.

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

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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 that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... 

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A STEAL ON JOE WILLIE
The Card: Joe Namath 2015 Panini National Treasures Century Materials Holo Silver (/15)
The Price: $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one is a steal for the volume made and considering that, unlike a number of Namath's recent memorabilia cards, it's got a game-used piece inside of it and not a player-worn swatch. I easily would have paid more for a card like this for this brand (one I've historically liked) with a prime piece and so few made. In fact, I'm sure I have paid more for cards with more copies made compared to this. Would I go this high for a player-worn card? Perhaps but it wouldn't have been as easy of a no-brainer to grab.
Grab a box right here: National Treasures football boxes (all years)

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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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FLOWN IN THE FINAL FRONTIER?
The Card: 2018 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Museum Collection Aviation Jumbo Relics (5-by-7) Space Shuttle Columbia Mission STS-75 MLI Blanket
The Price: About $85
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This over-sized piece is one of a number of space-related memorabilia cards that you can find (as redemptions) in this past Goodwin release, and I opted for this one since it's got a lot going on with its swatch and because it's noted as being used for Mission STS-75 that went to space in the spring of 1996. What exactly an MLI blanket is I didn't know when I grabbed it, but apparently "Multi-layer Insulation" blankets help protect various pieces of equipment from heat and light while in space. I liked how this piece has a rivet hole on one side and some Velcro on another along with some striping to help make it a little more interesting than just a big plain white swatch of material. A lone drawback here is that it's not easy to store at 5-by-7 and about a half of an inch thick but it's a cool card. (I wrapped it in a sealed magazine bag and then boxed it away.) Did I need it? Probably not, but it's pretty interesting and I will have more oddities like this coming in the future. If it grabs your attention, there are a number of standard-size cards with varying pieces inside them to suit more budgets easier than this card. Other blanket swatches look like tin foil and you can find other pieces in cards, too. I may need to get one of those.
Grab a box right here: Goodwin Champions (all years)

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This month's item in this Collecting Game-used series is a perhaps a bit loose in its definition of "use" but here we go ...

In January, I wrote about an item I picked up in last year's Ballers prop auction -- that one a copy of a book held by The Rock in one scene that was the subject of some viral chatter with Elizabeth Warren not all that long ago. Their tweets sparked more than a few stories online as the two went back and forth about her fandom for the show ... then, months later, that book popped up on the auction block with its feathered corners and even an odd extra item inside.

This time? A far more anonymous item that was in the auction and billed as "training-used" by a key character in one episode.

You can keep reading to see the 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: The National, new Star Wars cards, Giannis, Tua cards, new MLB pulls and more.

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What: 2021 Topps Star Wars Masterwork trading cards
Arrives: Feb. 23, 2022
Box basics: Four hits in every four-pack hobby box with two autos guaranteed (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' high-end Star Wars brand drops once again with some new inclusions for new series within the legendary galaxy and with plenty to chase.

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 box: 2021 Topps Star Wars The Mandalorian Season 2 trading cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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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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A RARE ROOKIE CARD PARALLEL 
The Card: Calvin Ridley 2018 Donruss Jersey Number parallel (/18) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $37.50
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This was more of a premium pick-up for me yet still felt like a steal, too, as this is one of those rarer parallel type of cards where if you pass on one copy you might not see another again as it's a super-rare card in a release with a meaty, multi-format print run -- meaning some of the cards might never be found. It's relatively clean and I also had my eye on it for possible grading but there's a minor wrinkle or surface indent that could get a low mark (maybe). I probably won't risk that but it's no big deal as this one is staying in my school ties part of my stash. It doesn't hurt that he could have an even more dominating kind of season with future Hall of Famer Julio Jones on the move, though.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Donruss NFL (a few formats)

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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: Another no-hitter in MLB, The National, new Star Wars cards, Project70 and more.

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What: CZX Crisis on Infinite Earths trading cards
Arrives: Jan. 19
Box basics: One autograph, one sketch, one CZX STR PWR, one parallel and more per box
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Cryptozoic's high-end line takes on a new DC twist with the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” TV crossover that included episodes of Arrow, Batwoman, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash and Supergirl.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery sampling the possibilities in this one.

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The Kids are coming to HBO Max.

Danny McBride -- you know, Kenny Powers -- and his Rough House Pictures production company are bringing an animated Garbage Pail Kids series to the network at some point soon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project arrives in part due to Rough House's David Gordon Green being a GPK fan, and, according to the report, the "series will be family-friendly and appeal to audiences of all ages."

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What: 2021 Rittenhouse Women of Star Trek Art & Images trading cards
Arrives: Oct. 13
Box basics: Three autographs per 24-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: The women of the long-running science fiction franchise get another run on cardboard with a rather comprehensive release that even includes autographs signed by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry back in 2008.

Keep reading for more details.

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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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A PIECE OF THE GAME
The Card: Dri Archer 2014 Panini National Treasures Rookie NFL Football & Lace (/4)
The Price: $25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I've always thought these cards with big and bold pieces of event-used footballs from the NFLPA Rookie Premiere are cool regardless of who they are made for. (Archer last played in 2015 so not much interest in that way.) This was the second time I've grabbed one of these -- the last being years ago at this point -- as I haven't really seen them pop up as much in recent years. (Can't say I'm constantly looking but they aren't super-plentiful, either.) This is literally half of the laces on an NFL ball embedded into a card and three-dimensional cards like this aren't done as often as they should be if you ask me, especially for premium brands. Sure, they cost more to make as those big swatches could have gone to several cards but all of them combined don't have as much oomph as cards like this do.
Grab a box right here: National Treasures boxes (all years)

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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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LATE-SEASON MAGIC
The Item: Tua Tagovailoa 2020 Panini Chronicles Score Rookie Red Zone Autographs (/20)
The Price: $989.99 Buy-It-Now 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a big card -- on Optichome stock -- from a new arrival on the hobby side recently and it's a sample of a number of fun and expensive cards that can be found in the season catch-all NFL release that combines several brand names into one. It's been a long time since I found new NFL out in the retail wild (the 5 a.m. campers win) -- so much so I thought this was from the release giving us a new go at 2021 draft picks in their school colors. (That's still to come.) Nope, it's the release giving us another crack at the strong rookie crop that was ... in new NFL gear images with a little less Photoshop than during the season. It seems like it wasn't that long ago I was ripping into Chronicles Draft Picks boxes for these same guys ... but the NFL version is perhaps in a little stronger demand from more collectors. I've been a big fan of Chronicles for pretty much all sports and formats for a couple years now ... it's worth the look.
Similar Pieces: 2020 Panini Chronicles autos 
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2020 Panini Chronicles boxes

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

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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 ... a number of pick-ups from recent months.

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(FULLY) LOADING UP 
The Card: Rhea Ripley 2020 Topps WWE Fully Loaded Green (/50) & Purple (/25) Chair Relic Autos
The Prices: Less than others have paid ... but high for me.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The Green parallel here was one on my radar long, long ago when the teaser images from stars were teased online as they signed here. Ripley, now the Raw women's champ, is one of only a few younger stars in this release and was immediately on my radar when I didn't land any of her ink in my pre-ordered case. Meanwhile, the rarer Purple was a recent pick-up as it was bargain-priced compared to others out there on the secondary market. Her stuff is popular with the standard version the only card here typically under $100 on eBay, while the 1/1 version of this card recently sold for $1,000. Her autographs in other releases generally sell pretty well but I haven't seen others that high recently ... but I'm sure it's possible. Some Superfractors should be out there somewhere from Chrome and Finest. I'm not alone as a buyer, either.
Grab a box right here: 2020 Topps WWE Fully Loaded

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