Fast Five: Autographs Buzz would be chasing right now

Fast Five is a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of 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 autographs I'd be chasing right now ...

LEGENDARY INK
Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- click here to see his autos on eBay
This NBA legend is on my daily saved eBay search because, well, I've taken too long to find one of his autos and they have really, really taken off. Why I hadn't landed one yet is because I'm just too picky -- I want an on-card auto with a clean sig and a relatively good photo for the former Lakers and Bucks star who has six championship rings, 19 All-Star nods, six MVP awards and still ranks first in career scoring, third in blocks and fourth in rebounds despite having retired more than 30 years ago. (What makes his 38,387 points even more remarkable? Zero three-pointers for his career.) He also was part of the legendary UCLA program with John Wooden -- he won NCAA titles all three years he was eligible and the Bruins lost just two games in his three seasons as a player -- and he is seemingly always a wise voice on social issues today (and that's not a new development). Another plus. His autographs have really taken off in price in recent years when I could have found a quality one for around just $100 not that long ago. He's been a steady lower-volume signer for years with more than 1,200 different options out there for fans ... and there are many apparently seeking them out. He can be found in many NBA releases in recent years with his highest volume of autos in high-end brands like Flawless, National Treasures and Eminence.

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

LIFE AFTER STAR WARS?
Daisy Ridley -- click here to see her autos on eBay
She bought Rey Skywalker to life in the three most-recent Star Wars movies and was an in-demand auto from that first Topps release. That huge demand also helped get her autograph deals in non-sports and even sports releases the last few years with pretty much everything being in low volume and that keeping the prices high -- but still available. (She also signed for Star Wars Authentic releases and can be found in this one if photos are your thing.) You'll probably still find her 0n cards in new Star Wars releases for years to come, but she's in the spot now where we might be wondering what's next. That might have some of her Star Wars demand coming down to more realistic prices unless she ends up in some other big projects or franchises ... in other words, now might be the time to start looking for bargains. I'd still probably stick to Star Wars items or look for full-name sigs (he autograph isn't the flashiest) but there could be some good finds in the time before she shows up in more Wars.

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OFF THE RADAR? (PROBABLY NOT)
Atlanta Braves All-Star and MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. -- click here to see his autos on eBay
When you hit the link above you're going to see plenty of big-money autos of his up for grabs with price tags that are for the millionaire-investor class or something. What I'd recommend is narrowing that search to recent years (not 2018 or earlier) to find some bargain sigs that are clean and on-card like the one above. His auto is always signed with relatively light pressure so auto quality is a concern here ... and perhaps one of the reasons he makes this list. Finding his ink isn't all that tough -- he's got plenty of ink since his RC arrival in 2018 -- but perfect copies might be. He's put up big numbers so far in MLB and has top-tier potential as his game improves. Now's the time to be loading up on the cheaper stuff if you ask me -- a lot more people will be able to buy those vs. cards already having six-figure price tags attached.

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AN AVAILABLE AUTO ...
Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders -- click here to see his autos on eBay
A lot of younger legends who were icons in the 1980s and 1990s don't really have to do autograph deals these days, but Sanders is one who not only is signing and a steady cardboard presence but he's also one who seemingly is plugged in a bit with the card world. It's not uncommon to see him showing off stuff from new Panini signings or giving away signed cards on Twitter. He's not the cheapest autograph all the time, but now's the time to be looking and ripping new boxes because once he decides to stop signing they could get a lot pricier. Why? Many active or returning collectors will look to icons from his era perhaps more than ever. The 1990s and its stars are definitely in-style on cardboard.

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JUST LIKE KAREEM ...
Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal -- click here to see his autos on eBay
Before there was Zion Williamson, there was a landscape-altering player whose arrival helped change the world of cardboard in big ways -- Shaquille O'Neal. His arrival helped legitimize draft picks cards as releases with big-money potential as he signed an exclusive with Classic (later Score Board) and that was the only place where his cards and autographs were found for a time -- all in his LSU uni (or street clothes) -- until his NBA Rookie Cards arrived. His autograph is one that can be downright rough-looking in some instances (especially on stickers) and there's been chatter that some eras might not have been his ink (I've never really looked into it all that hard) but a good-looking on-card auto has been on my mental want list for a while now. (It's just like Abdul-Jabbar ... I'm picky.) I actually don't mind a lot of his Classic LSU stuff but a lot of people might want cards from his years with the Lakers. He's signed a lot for Panini (low-volume cards) in recent years.

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Who would you pick? I asked Buzz followers on Twitter ... here's a sampling of replies.

@Jrodbad -- Stephen Strasburg, but not for the reason you might think. My reason? He wears 37 and is the best 37 Club member in MLB history, so I want his autograph.

@90sNicheFBCards -- Vince Lombardi. As a Packers fan, it’s just sort of the Holy Grail of PC autos to me!

@BriGuy_1970 -- Pelle Lindbergh #gonetoosoon

@YankeeSpartan -- Mickey Mantle because he was my father's idol.

@JLCrum1 -- Prince. Because Prince.

@ap003008 -- Roberto Clemente. One of the most influential players of all time + a Pirates legend.

@HookEmMikeE -- Lou Gehrig. To have played in that era with so much class and passion for the game and life is so respectable to me and as a Yankees fan it adds so much more. Everyone wants Babe, Mickey, Jordan, Griffey which I’d love to own as well, but if just one Gehrig would be it!

@kyletravis21 -- Babe Ruth the ultimate autograph. ✍️

@tylerfauber1 -- The great one, Roberto Clemente.

@ZoopSoul -- Owen Hart. My all-time favorite heel.

@BillySimsAfro -- The musician Jim Morrison.

@fighthobby -- It would be the 2009 Topps UFC TUF Auto of Kimbo Slice that he autographed “Kevin Ferguson” that has never surfaced (as far as I know).

@therealdfg -- Gordie Howe. Because he's Gordie Howe.

@SportSecurities -- Walt Disney

@KrystalJenssen -- Lou Gehrig. Above all Yankess Legends, he’s the one I want. The guy was amazing! Unfortunately, I’ll probably never be able to afford one.

@jlzinck -- Tony Conigliaro. Was a Hall of Famer before getting beaned.

@AndrewKeesee -- Woody Guthrie cuz he’s a boss.

@laxman_13 -- A Vladdy Jr. rookie auto. Loved the Jays since I was a kid. They remind me of my grandparents who have since passed away. Baseball just brings a sense of joy and peace to my mind and having a collection of cards on a shelf near me is a small reminder of that.

@npbaker1 -- Jim Thorpe. I live about 20 minutes north of Canton. Not many options for cards of players on a Canton team.

@ClipsandVols --  Jimi Hendrix. An absolute icon and they are extremely tough to find.

@Grammy2601 -- Aaron Judge, Derek Jeter or Kobe Bryant for me, as I have all my Cowboys autos just need to get a big auto from NBA and MLB now.

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

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