Making the Grade (Aug.): Aaron Judge, Rickey Henderson's Rookie Card, Roger Maris, WWE stars, three Mariahs & more

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

NINES ARE FINE
The Card: Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Archives -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: The unique 1960 Topps design always stands out to me. Why? Because one of my first clean vintage cards as a kid was a Gus Bell form the set, which I got since I knew he was a big-leaguer's dad. (Yay, trivia!) So that's perhaps one reason I held this Judge RC instead of letting it go. (Plus, I didn't rip as much of this brand ... so it was the only copy I pulled.) Judge's dominating 2025 season should make you stop and wonder about slabbing any RCs or early/rare stuff you have now ... just because. He and Shohei Ohtani are all-timers playing right in front of our faces now and are as safe as it gets when it comes to grab and slab or buy and hold -- even with plenty of their cards being graded.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: I knew this wouldn't be a 10 contender with the finicky stock here and the centering being a smidge off by my typical standards for a slab, but, like I said, it was my only copy. Most check in at this grade, so the nine makes sense, too, and the volume below it also shows this card isn't the easiest to grade.

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

RICKEY LOVE RICKEY
The Card: Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I own a number of slabbed copies of this iconic and dare I say perfectly crafted card -- that thing is flawlessly designed compared to its 1980 counterparts right down down to a perfectly placed facsimile auto and matching team colors atop a perfect photo -- but I'd never actually submitted any of my raw copies of this card for a slab. Why? It's not an easy grade -- even if you have one without the obvious wear and tear of it being a 45-year-old card of the Hall of Famer.
The Grade: CGC 7

Reality Check: I had hopes of a higher mark but as you can see from the stats -- and there are a lot graded here -- even an 8.5 is a challenge. Mine has the color just slightly misaligned (see blue striping at the bottom) and some print spots but is otherwise pretty crisp. I had a pair of these in my get-graded pile before Henderson died late last year at age 65 but only sent in this one with my batch earlier this year. At some point I'll do more, but I already have a number of slabs here from all companies in many grades amassed over the years. You can hold your 1952 Mantles or 1968 Ryans ... this is my kind of iconic oldschool card.

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LEGENDARY LUMBER
The Card: Roger Maris 2002 Topps Tribute Memorable Materials Relics
The Reason Graded: I spotted this raw over on COMC and subbed it without ever seeing it in-hand and knew that was risky as the thick foilboard stock here could be a problem with scuffing and other issues. It was affordable enough to go ahead and take that chance, though, and I like the card with it being all about his 61 homers in 1961. Plus, when it comes to memorabilia cards anything an eight and up is a stronger card as it is --  especially when it comes to earlier years for mem cards. This comes from what was the highest-end brand at that time so, in theory, it might have gotten a little more TLC when being made ... but I was slabbing this one just for a nice new Maris slab no matter what.
The Grade: CGC 8

Reality Check: This grade was a little surprising to me, but it could have been worse. The surface here is clean but I think minor spots knocked it down -- it still looks better than that -- but I'll survive. (It was still cheaper than some of my Maris adds in recent years.)

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WELL BEFORE THE HEEL TURN
The Card: John Cena 2021 Topps WWE Slam Attax Chrome Green Refractors (/50)
The Reason Graded: I've pulled and graded a different color of this one in the past -- so hit the archives for more thoughts -- but this immediately popped into my slab-it stack with his legit heel turn earlier this year as part of his retirement tour. This UK gaming card is from the only Chromed Slam Attax release and it shows him as a member of the WCW's nWo -- a group he was never a part of in reality. What's the deal? The moment was part of a surreal theatrical style (action and taped scenes during the pandemic) match at Wrestlemania 36 against Bray Wyatt. Watch and experience the enigma that is the Firefly FunHouse Match here. In Wyatt's childish, dark and imaginary mind, Cena was a villain of the highest order in recounting the legend's career, his career and he was re-imagining their places in wrestling history. Or something. This was the only acknowledgment of that moment -- and I think that match -- to hit cardboard after delays to various in-pack WWE products. It simply got skipped over when newly arriving late stuff dropped.
The Grade: CGC 9.5

Reality Check: These cards are among the cleanest Chromed creations I have ever seen -- and I've opened plenty -- so not landing a 10 here was a slight bummer. Other than his RCs and autos/mem, this card is right up there to me for both novelty and weird importance.

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HAMMERIN' HANK
The Card: Hank Aaron 2021 Topps Heritage 1972 Topps Die-cuts
The Reason Graded: This really doesn't feel like a Topps Heritage insert but it is -- a 1972 Topps border with most of what would be its white border cut off to make it closer to a 1975 mini. This copy looked really, really clean when I spotted it for next to nothing on COMC, so I grabbed and then slabbed. Why? Something affordable, different and a big name from a popular brand -- but something not the norm.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: It's not the highest and it's not the lowest, but I thought I might be able to check in at the high mark. A minor front spot and perhaps some light spotting on the back around some of the die-cut curves probably dropped me down. At my total price, I'll survive ... and it's one of a number of Aaron slabs in my stash.

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A BARGAIN FIND?
The Card: Derek Jeter 2013 Topps Heritage Chrome (/999)
The Reason Bought: I found this one already graded for about half of what it might typically sell for and bit relatively quickly. Why? The volume made, a nine is fine and it's a brand where these didn't flow heavily but there could be strong and growing demand over time. But, with a lot of pack formats for this release and Chromes seeded into all of them, who knows how many have actually been pulled? Or, how many might still out there in packs? Boxes are not as easily found now, either.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: I was surprised to see so few of these graded -- Heritage can be a challenge but it's still Jeter and Chromes should grade easier for this year vs. now (Chrome or not). While they do skew more toward 10s than not, this was still an easy buy and there are a few that have checked in lower.

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A FLASHY PARALLEL
The Card: Mariah May 2024 UD AEW Steel Cage -- RC parallel (/249)
The Reason Graded: A rarer parallel than this entered my collection first and I subbed this card in its wake after some good results -- see the archives for the other one -- so this was an easy follow-up for the international star who is now in WWE and known as Blake Monroe. (This ring name is a shortened version of her actual name, Mariah May Mead, and WWE often wants a unique moniker for future trademark/merchandise purposes.)
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: I'm fine with nines but I did have higher hopes here. At the same time, the corners and surfaces can always be funky with foilboard and packaging. Were there any obvious issues on this one? Not that I noticed. Maybe it was a few minor things that dropped it down -- or maybe something on the back corners or edges. I'll admit I don't sweat those and my 10 on the other card was cool enough for me ... that this took away some of the sting.

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AN EARLIER CARD
The Card: Mariah May 2023 Stardom x WebPon Clear Card
The Reason Graded: Speaking of sting (no, not Sting), this card was a slight bummer as, well, I don't have any idea what might have dropped this down. What is it? It's a plastic card sold by the Japanese wrestling promotion she worked for before AEW and WWE and it's among very few card-like options for her in that time. It wasn't sold in packs that I am aware of -- just sold as a single along with other small plastic novelties showcasing stars of the company such as keychain-style trinkets.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: You never know with acetate surfaces -- and edges -- so I wasn't shocked here ... I just hoped for a smidge higher. I won't do the spend to chase her rarer stuff to come, but selective buys of unusual and early stuff will happen here, especially if I think it might grade well. She's going to be one of the future game-changing talents in WWE after already putting on shows with some strong and outrageous matches -- ones including blood -- with "Timeless" Toni Storm in AEW. Her time in Japan also seems to show -- she's got a frenetic and sometimes violent approach to moves, especially kicks -- and that style could add even more moments in WWE atop some heavy character work seen so far.

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ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE
The Book: The Amazing Spider-Man No. 35 (Disney 100 variation cover)
The Reason Bought: This one is a re-imagining of the often-emulated Todd McFarlane covers for issue Nos. 300/301 of the original long-running series of the same name, and this time it's showcasing Mickey Mouse as Spider-Man as part of the various takeovers of iconic past Marvel covers with Disney stars seen instead. I have picked off a couple of these already slabbed as I like the idea and some of the past books. I never owned either of the originals here -- and I actually don't think I've ever grabbed any of the many ASM 300 homages over the years, either (artists love to show their love for it by emulating it) -- but this one worked. It's weird. It's fun.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: That pop count is high -- really high for a modern variant if you ask me -- but I don't mind it. I'm betting these will remain popular as they are just unique even if the volume exceeds the need for a premium price over time. If I were a heavier comics buyer and not just a selective dabbler, I might consider chasing more of these Disney 100 issues.

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IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY
The Card: Koska Reeves (aka Mercedes Varnado, aka AEW's Mercedes Moné, aka WWE's Sasha Banks) 2022 Topps Finest Star Wars Blue Refractors (/150)
The Reason Graded: When this then-WWE star popped up in the second season of The Mandalorian in late 2020, I tried to chase a lot of the early stuff  -- back then, it was mostly online releases as Star Wars was as delayed as anything else in pack form -- and after that, well, my interest in these cards kind of trailed off and, to be honest, it has for her cardboard showing action in the ring, too. I'll still check in from time to time here, though, and picked off this card raw as it looked quite clean and I liked the color and price.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Since this was a COMC pick-off, a 10 wasn't a given -- I didn't see it in-hand before grading -- but Chrome can be reliable if the overall printing is clean (compared to standard cardboard). This was a win.

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A THROWBACK ... ERR, BLOWBACK?
The Card: Manny Machado 2020 Topps Throwback Thursday 1976 Topps Bubble Gum Champ (announced /615)
The Reason Bought: Go find card No. 564 in the 1976 Topps MLB set ... this is a nod to that Kurt Bevacqua and his extra cardboard claim to fame, though none of the cards picked for this week of the #TBT set truly came close to the 1976 bubble. See the card and story here.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: I picked this off already graded and I liked the overall package for the price -- less than it could have cost to grade it if I had tracked one down and sent it in, but with no 10 guarantees. Will this year's Heritage High Number include some kind of nod to this original card and also Oscar Gamble's 1976 Topps Traded classic? They should, but ... we'll see.

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REMEMBER THESE?
The Card: Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon 2010 UD (baseball) Celebrity Predictors
The Reason Graded: A number of unusual inclusions popped up in traditional sports sets after the multi-sport surprise-fest that was Topps Allen & Ginter (2006-on) and then celeb catch-alls such as Donruss Americana brands (2007-on) among other brands that proved to be hits and this is one of them. Upper Deck went the caricature route for a number of celebs in this MLB insert set -- perforated cards of couples who may or may not split -- and also politicians leading up to the 2008 election. This one looked pretty clean and I felt that Carey was a good name from recent decades to slab.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: These cards were printed on skinny stock and that dark edge can showcase flaws easily, but this one checked in with a strong mark. When it comes to grading, only three different cards from this set have been graded by CGC -- this is the only 10. It's not an expensive card but a high-grade copy might appeal to more people than one might think.

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FINALLY LANDED ONE ...
The Card: Herb Washington 1975 Topps -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: Note the position noted on the card -- pinch runner. That's because Oakland A's owner Charles O. Finley hired the former NCAA sprinter, NFL draft pick and aspiring Olympian for some specialized play on the field as one of the many unusual twists that he felt might sell some tickets. Washington appeared in 92 games for the World Series champions with zero plate appearances, 29 runs scored, 29 stolen bases and 16 caught-stealing attempts as a rookie. He played in 13 games in his second season with two more steals out of three attempts and four more runs, to finish his career at 105 games played ... all without an at-bat.
The Grade: PSA 6

Reality Check: All versions of the 1975 set -- Topps, O-Pee-Chee and Topps Mini -- are pretty sloppy often found with really crooked cuts, bad centering, print spots and then typical vintage wear heavily found among cards you will see if you go hunting. I've looked for anything in a slab for a while now with the best combo of visual appeal, decent grade and price. This one was the winner for me for about the price of a Heritage blaster. (How did this card not get revisited in Heritage last year?)

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PURPLE POWER!
The Card: Paige 2019 Topps WWE Money In The Bank Purple parallel (/25)
The Reason Graded: This was another COMC pick-up and I did it since the price wasn't bad for a rarer card of a name I generally collect (not as heavily these days, but regularly enough) and the parallel color here matching the gear color for the WWE star in the image as a bonus. (She typically wore black but also had other colors like this.) Because of that, though, I didn't see a speck of white here on an edge and perhaps some very minor corner spots ... but once I saw it in-hand I understood the grade.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: Not surprising to see lone copy graded considering so few were made ... both reasons I still like this one even as a nine.

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COLLECTED 'EM ALL ...
The Card: Shotzi Blackheart 2021 Topps WWE Undisputed Rob Schamberger Illustration Artist Autographs* (/10)
The Reason Graded: The first thing I owned out of all of the possibilities here was actually the original artwork, which was sold by its creator. With that buy, I also landed an artist-signed base card. Then, I found another base and slabbed that (poke around in the archives). This is the artist version of the certified auto with the only other inked card being one for the wrestler, which is also limited to only 10 copies. Joining them in my stash is a Topps Vault 1/1 and I grabbed that, too. I officially own 'em all now ... but haven't slabbed 'em all yet. Give me time. (* -- Topps actually put the stickers on the wrong cards for these two sets, so the slab is correct for what the card says.)
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Ideally, everything I will slab here lands a 10 ... and it's not an unreasonable expectation as the stock here is thick and cleanly cut.

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YOU KNOW THERE'S BO ...
The Card: Bo Bichette 2019 Bowman Sterling Refractors (/199)
The Reason Bought: I don't dabble with pre-rookie prospect cards as often -- there's plenty made for dabblers in that realm -- but I will from time to time check prices on cheaper slabs for some names. Bichette is one of them.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: I landed this for $17 ... easy grab to me since it's a Refractor. Did I overpay? Maybe, maybe not ... doesn't matter as I'm just a collector.

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BIG-NAME FILLER SLAB
The Card: Ronda Rousey 2018 Topps Slam Attax WWE -- rookie-year gaming card
The Reason Bought: I've not bothered to slab any of my favorites from Rousey's WWE run -- things just felt flat by the end and I lost interest, despite pulling a few fun cards. This UK gaming release is one that I didn't see much of (not sure if I ever opened any packs), so grabbing this on the cheap wasn't a hard call.
The Grade: CSG 8.5

Reality Check: As you can see by the stats, the production here is not conducive to high marks -- and it often isn't for a few years or editions of these cards due to packaging (UK) or issues that come in releases made in a second location (India). I didn't check the pop report before grabbing this, so I actually like it more than I thought I would. Only a single card tops it out of a decent volume of cards slabbed.

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PICKED OFF ANOTHER COLOR
The Card: Bo Bichette 2020 Topps Walgreens Yellow -- RC parallel
The Reason Bought: This parallel might be one of the rarer finds out there for this one, though with so much made across the board in 2020 it might not be that rare at all ... it's just rarer than the heavily made standard card. This one was only found in packs sold at/made for Walgreens. Since I collect Bichette, I grabbed this slab so I could cross it off the list.
The Grade: BGS 9

Reality Check: The pop report seems about right -- elite scores here should be tough given the stock used.

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DARE TO COMPARE
The Cards: Nick Swisher 2007 Topps Heritage & variation (bolder team name, slightly different logo color)
The Reason Graded: This pair of COMC grab-and-slab cards were ones that I knew I needed to sub together ... so you could see the variation difference. It's subtle -- and so subtle I don't even know how many copies I might have stashed away somewhere. Not together, I'm not sure I could tell the difference even with the slight change to the team logo. (The rings are black and green but it still doesn't seem obvious.)
The Grades: CSG 9 & CGC 8

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Reality Check: I had hoped to land matching grades here but knew that Heritage in this year would be a challenge. The stock can be funky -- espeically surfaces -- and centering/corners can be an issue, too. I didn't care as I liked this one -- it's his second Heritage card and from an original set that has a lot more color and flash to it vs. its counterpart from a year before. I might pull out my others and see if I can improve upon my eight at some point.

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... EASY AS 1-2-3
The Card: Rosario Dawson (aka Bouncy Becky) 2023 Topps Garbage Pail Kids x View Askew Blue parallel (/50)
The Reason Graded: I think I presented a different color of parallel for this card here previously -- check the archives for more of my thoughts there in either Buzz Buys or Making The Grade (or both) -- but this was one of the better (if not the best) card from this pricey release in my book. Because of that, I bit on a couple parallels and graded them.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: Skinny stock and stickers can be a recipe for funky grades, but I'm fine with nines. Would have been better to check in higher but I still dig it. If these packs ever drop in price, I might dig in ... if not, singles or lots might get a look from me at some point.

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CRIMSON TIDE FILLER
The Card: Mac Jones 2021 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks Status -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: A little low-price Crimson Tide filler on the cheap but in high condition. Works for me every time.
The Grade: CSG 9.5 (now 10)

Reality Check: I'm betting that those pop report numbers stand as people definitely have better options to slab for Jones if they want to at this point. I suspect most of these in the pop report came from early rippers of this early release brand, aiming to grade and flip 'em many, many NFL games ago.

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ANOTHER 37/37 37 PARALLEL ...
The Card: Dante Hicks & Caitlin Bree (aka Brian O'Halloran & Lisa Spoonauer)  -- "Yes" 2017 UD Clerks 37 parallel (37/37)
The Reason Graded: There's one kind of 1/1 card to land in this release if you ask me -- the 37/37 serial-numbered cards on the "37" parallel ... and this is at least the third time (though it might be more) I have landed one of them. Last month's is the one card of those that can't be topped -- it's the holy grail of this one.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: Nines are fine but in this case the grade doesn't really matter to me. I just wanted to have my 37/37 "37" collection in slabs.

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THE PROPER COLOR OF PARALLEL
The Card: Patrick Surtain II 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Red Prizms -- RC parallel
The Reason Bought: With so many Alabama draft picks in recent years, I've struggled to do my basic goal for a name. Normally, I'll try to pick off a slab, an auto, a mem card (if they have one) and/or some kind of notable RC but that hasn't happened for a lot of the defensive stars. In this case, the color makes this one work and it was dirt cheap -- less than it would even cost to grade via a bulk sub.
The Grade: CSG 9

Reality Check: The volume isn't a surprise here since it's a defensive player ... but I was surprised to see none checked in higher.

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HER FIRST CARD?
The Card: Salma Hayek aka Rita Escobar 1999 Fleer/Skybox Wild Wild West -- "Rookie Card?"
The Reason Graded: I didn't do a deep dive to cross-check her credits to card sets from the past, but my gut says this just might be a first card despite her having roles for about a decade before this. She was in some notable projects, but I don't think any of them had cards before this arrived. It's not a rare or pricey card set, but sealed boxes for fresh base will be tough to find as there were certified autos from some massive names to be found in this one.
The Grade: CGC 8

Reality Check: Also complicating matters? The stock is perhaps not all that grading friendly with gloss and soft/brittle stock that might mean funky edges or corners (and possibly bricking if still in packs). The eight here surprised me -- I was being an optimist -- but it also didn't. I landed this one via just buying a set somebody built -- dirt cheap -- but I figured I'd slab away as some asking prices out there for first cards like this for good names can be surprising at times. I might try to grade one again just for fun, but after this kind of result it's not a higher priority. Eights may be great here.

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MORE EARLY SEASON BUYING ...
The Card: Tyler Soderstrom 2020 Bowman Draft 1st Edition
The Reason Bought: Here's another early season pick-up from the cheap realm -- $6 already slabbed -- and that's perhaps a combo of the grade and it being an easily found basic debut card.
The Grade: CSG 8.5

Reality Check: I didn't need it, but his power numbers looked good early on -- and it seems there's a lot of youth in an A's uniform right now that's perhaps worth the look as a collector. I'm an old-timey A's fan -- so there are a few names in 2025 that have me window shopping.

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TWO MORE FROM ESQUIRE'S PAST COVERS
The Cards: Britney Spears & Pamela Anderson 2004 Esquire magazine Women We Love playing cards
The Reason Graded: This pair of playing cards showcases photos from past covers of the long-running magazine and two top names of recent years where, yes, they have card appearances but perhaps not as many as one might think. That's why I slabbed here. This card deck, which I have mentioned a number of times before in Buzz Buys or Making The Grade, was one where I graded all of the aces and these are the final of those. (Poke around in the archives for the others in this series.)
The Grades: CGC 9, CGC 8.5

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Reality Check: The grading here isn't a given -- the stock is kind of a fibery lightly glossed (if at all) approach with full-bleed all-black backs that can have aging issues. My four could have perhaps checked in worse than how they did, so that's not discouraging me ... perhaps I'll send in a few more notables at some point.

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