Fast Five: Safe cardboard buys during these crazy times

Fast Five is new department here on The Buzz -- a quick list under a single topic. Five items that could have a common tie, fit a theme, be fun for a starting collector, or be 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 something to think about.

This time? Five safe types of card purchases you can make as we deal with anxiety of no sports in some surreal times.

THE ONE YOU KEEP ...
The Card: One you have always wanted but hadn't grabbed yet ... a comfortable card for your collection.
A lot of newcomers might be sweating their big-money cardboard (or bulk box buys) that they bought into this year with intent on some meaty short-term big flips -- you know, because of names like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Mike Trout and so on. But there are other components in the hobby that are just as hot out there but perhaps over the longer term. And then there are those that aren't ... but they are still heavily collected. The first and perhaps most-important pick-up I'd recommend right now? The card you've always wanted but never chased -- for whatever your reason you are into cards. That definition and card can vary for many but it's probably not one you might regret later. One example for me landed just this week fits this bill -- it's a Nick Swisher 2016 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition Superfractor ... a 1/1 card I landed as it was finally pulled from a break by a former Swisher teammate, Phil Hughes, over on BlowoutTV. (They both got their World Series rings as New York Yankees in 2009.) Was it cheap? Maybe, maybe not ... but, to me, it's a buy that I won't worry about over time. These might be the times to grab a card like this -- a comfortable card long as it's responsible for your budget ... no regrets.

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

CLASSIC NAME FROM A CLASSIC BRAND
The Card: Hank Aaron 2020 Topps Heritage Real One Autographs
This is an example of a card -- not necessarily this specific card -- that I'd be looking at right now as a safe buy. ("Investment" is not really a word I use as a cardboard lifer ... but this is one of those scenarios.) A legendary name from a long-running and popular brand that is an affordable classic now should be secure and in demand later. There will always be demand for cards like these for the big names from the most-popular brands no matter what the cardboard world looks like. I was lucky enough to pull Aaron ink from this brand in the last decade -- so this one isn't necessarily my favorite -- but it's one to look at.

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SOMETHING FUN
The Card: The Famous San Diego Chicken 2018 Donruss dual-mem card
Stuff that's different and unique should hold interest and have decent continuing demand over time over more "typical" stuff -- and one of the first things that came to mind for those variables first with some "fun" involved was one of the recent cards for this sports icon made by Panini America. Now, this isn't a big-money pick at all ... but it could be one that, over time, might surprise people. The Chicken had his first traditional cards in 1980s Donruss MLB sets and made a return with autographs and memorabilia cards in the recent run of basic Donruss baseball sets from Panini. This two-piece looks like it's a wing or a thigh but there are other combos to look for, too. Fun stuff with low price tags are safe buys at any time.

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HIGH-GRADE VINTAGE NON-ROOKIES
The Card: Joe Namath 1973 Topps (PSA 9)
This is just an example of this scenario -- and, yes, I'm aware that the grading industry is facing some issues these days (trimmers need to knock it off and go away). That said, there will always be big demand for high-grade copies of cards from vintage years -- and some might argue that goes up into the early 1990s for Rookie Cards -- because landing those 9s and 10s aren't easy via PSA and might be impossible in many cases with the standards used by BGS. The biggest names' on smaller cards in elite grades, though, might have fewer people looking or slabbing compared to a Rookie Card (that thought is why I picked Namath) but there are some sets where PSA 8-10 can command a lot more money than you might expect. I'd argue that there's also a lot more growth potential for cards like those where the pop reports are lower -- and you can potentially do even better if you can find grade-able stuff raw and do the slabbing yourself with an eye for top cardboard. The supply is a lot tougher on vintage and the printing, packing and cutting technology was also brutal in comparison to today ... and that's all a key here.

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MODERN-DAY LEGENDS
The Cards: Tom Brady autographs
Today's Tom Brady news -- and with more to come -- will have an impact on his autographed cards for sure. Some diehard Patriots fans will be bummed by the news that he's done playing as a Patriot but that could have them looking to land something they hadn't yet gotten. (I doubt we'll see people burning jerseys ... moves that might dampen demand ... in this case.) Meanwhile, a new team should also spark a ton of attention if new cards arrive with ink ... some good potential for stuff that will definitely stand out of the pack of Brady ink. He's got more than 14,000 different football cards appearances but less than 10 percent of those are autographs and they are, for the most part, all low-volume creations with some of the highest demand of anything out there. (And some early cards have had counterfeiting issues.) Money-wise, Brady doesn't have a lot of reasons to want to sign -- but he still does -- but you have to wonder whether he will continue to over time or post-career once it ends. He's not cheap -- so those big-dollar cards likely will fluctuate in uncertain times -- but there will always be demand. If you can find a quality card -- I'd look recent, on-card ink and graded -- at a reasonable price, it's worth jumping on if you can. If not wanting cardboard, TRISTAR has a sure thing with these.

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What would you want to see in a future Fast Five? Let Buzz know on Twitter or email.

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