Making the Grade (June): High-grade Heritage, iconic comics, history-makers, Clerks, WWE favorites, Beetlejuice and more

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

TOUGH ONE?
The Card: Bo Bichette 2022 Topps Heritage image variation (found in Heritage High Number packs)
The Reason Graded: Some of you might wonder why this card is in the lead slot this month since it's a simple image variation -- but a great one -- from a brand that's not quite as pricey as it used to be. (At least for singles ... you can find this for about $2 or less.) But, finding one of these that will get a high (real) grade? Not so much. The centering can always be a bear here but that's not the constant problem spot. It's the backs of these that use full-bleed black ink where cards that may look flawless on the fronts are often demolished when it comes to those those back edges.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: This one? It still has a some minor spotting -- that's why it's not a perfect 10 -- but it's way better than every other one I've seen and that's why I subbed this after I found it raw. Why? That front is pretty much a perfectly crafted design and I definitely don't mind retro-styled sets like this one -- I call it the old-guy flagship set as it is for me vs. basic Topps. The stuff feels more sturdy with its stock and printing -- I'm not sure I trust foilboard to age that well, either -- but the trade-off is that Heritage is harder to grade and land those higher marks. In all ways, this one is a win for me, a Bichette collector, and that's why he's batting lead-off. (It also doesn't hurt he's starting to warm up on the field this season.)

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

TURN BACK THE CLOCK
The Card: The Rolling Stones 2014 Topps Heritage News Flashbacks
The Reason Graded: It was 60 years ago that these rockers topped the Billboard chart with "Satisfaction" and this card from a long-running -- but dead as of this year -- insert set in Heritage that had many notable cameos over the years. The pennants homage to 1965 as part of this design is, well, satisfying and I think the 1965 Topps set is an all-timer.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: When I saw how clean this card was -- I pulled it from a recent-years break of packs here -- it made it into a sub. Off the top of my head, I've graded a couple cards from this set over the years and there are others I still want to land. This year of Heritage is easier to grade than the Bichette but the retro stock can still have common issues seen often.

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THE BIG DOG
The Book: Deadpool No. 5 (2024) -- Dogpool photo variant cover from Deadpool & Wolverine
The Reason Graded: This was my second of two subs for this one ... and this one came in with the typical top mark. Win. As I noted with my previous copy, Dogpool has been around comics a while now -- hit the archives to see a couple of earlier appearances I landed for Buzz Buys pieces -- but a real-life dog named Peggy helped bring 'pool to life on the big screen ... and that led to this variant cover. I picked off a pair of these raw and graded both as a fun but weird slab for my stash.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: I was surprised to see so many graded as I didn't recall there being any graded at the time I subbed ... but it's also not surprising with a modern issue for a popular universe/character and hit movie.

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SEEING RED
The Card: Tiffany Stratton 2024 Panini Prizm WWE Red Prizm (/299)
The Reason Graded: Like Bichette and some other names you'll see here when you keep reading, Stratton is one I collect and slab often. I knew I wasn't going to bother with the deep lineup of parallels here and I wasn't as big of a fan of the photo ... but a color match with the parallel and the gear color made this an easy (and likely) one and done.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Lone copy graded -- not a surprise as it's a third-year card -- but a 10 works for me as Prizm WWE wasn't always the cleanest stuff when it comes to details for higher grades.

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ONE OF A KIND ...
The Card: Nick Swisher 2013 Panini Prizm Black Finite Prizms (1/1)
The Reason Graded: People always say don't grade 1/1s -- I get that logic -- but I actually prefer to not grade autographs or memorabilia cards that I like a lot even moreso vs. 1/1s. It's not about the pop report or a max mark, it's just about a card I like being protected ... as long as it's not a disappointing mark. I slabbed a few 1/1s for Swisher since he's my player but no longer on new cards.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: A 10 is a win -- you never know with chrome-style stock with paper backing -- so no worries there. It was so clean I pretty much expected a mark in this ballpark.

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A BARCODE BEAUTY
The Book: X-Men No. 3 (1991) -- newsstand copy
The Reason Graded: The key here is that barcode -- this isn't the typical comics shop version with some logo in that spot -- this book is from a retail outlet where comics often got demolished with a flick of the finger on a spinner rack. (So many broken spines, so little time there.) This was the third issue of the Jim Lee reboot that sold boatload of copies with its first issue and a lot after that, though it wasn't my favorite of the X-books back then. I bought a decent amount early on but no kind of volume like the first issue -- though I only did a few of that one -- and other new arrivals around this time like many collector/hoarders of the era.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: The key question here is how many of the graded books are newsstand copies? It's likely to always be a mystery, but it can't be the majority and that's why, at times, asking prices and sales prices can be higher for books with the barcode. That's why I have slabbed a number of my books like this -- it's stuff that generally isn't that hard to find but newsstand in an elite mark seems to be.

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DIGGING THE DESIGN TOUCHES
The Card: Bryce Young 2022 Skybox Metal Universe Champions Golden Touch
The Reason Graded: This multi-sports brand is the home to a lot of past looks re-done with new players and new printing, but it's not one I have ever actually opened. Why? Just not as compelling to me for its price -- even at retail -- but I have picked off singles of some names. I really like the fingerprint concept here and how it's applied to gold foil and I previously picked off a clean raw copy only to be bummed out when its top got bumped and damaged somewhere in its life, which nixed that copy's grading potential.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: This is my second copy I picked up raw and then subbed -- it's perhaps not as clean as my other one but doesn't have the bumped-top damage. I'm fine with nines but did think this would check in higher.

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BEFORE WWE ...
The Card: Elijah Holyfield 2019 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket Autographs variation (/21)
The Reason Bought: He's the son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield, is a former Georgia Bulldogs standout and an NFL player for a short run that got him some football cards. But all that isn't why I grabbed this one. Late last year he was signed by WWE and has been part of its LFG reality show where competitors worked their way into a full-blown wrestling deal with their story documented for content. Did I watch the show? Nah, I only made it through part of the first episode, but I did pick off a few of his cards out of speculative curiosity -- plus I liked the volume on this one. Also a plus is that it's No. 21/21. (A uni number parallel card number match.)
The Grade: SGC 9.5 (10 auto)

Reality Check: Lone copy graded is not a surprise given how it's rare. He didn't win the reality show but it does appear he's staying on the WWE radar ... so he's likely still getting developmental time before more eventual TV time in NXT.

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PICKED OFF SOME INK
The Card: Bo Bichette 2020 Bowman Transcendent Collection Image Variation Autographs (/25)
The Reason Bought: With even flagship box prices getting riskier given the floor of possible finds in a typical box, I've instead opted for an occasional pricier single card in select spots. Tack on some shipping or taxes for a 2025 Topps Series 1 box ... or this? Well, I went with the rookie-year, on-card auto from an ultra-premium brand when on sale. While I collect Bichette, I think this is just my third auto in a slab -- and I'm not even sure I have picked up any ungraded -- just because the floor for prices there seems too high to me given the variety of options and the fact that he's still signing.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: That's not a bad volume graded vs. the overall total -- and nothing tops it. Over time, rarities from debuts should be in demand even if the brand has others that are comparable but more popular. (Topps Transcendent is perhaps going to beat this one head to head.) As a Bichette collector, this is a nice card.

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NOT BAD FOR FREE
The Book: W.E.B. of Spider-Man No. 1 (2021, second printing)
The Reason Bought: I landed this slabbed book free as a throw-in from a seller when I picked off an older issue that I'd wanted to land for a long time in a slab. This was a nice surprise, though modern era books aren't really as appealing to me despite being often better-quality creations than my early 1990s buying years. As slabs, though, if they look good they are appealing -- they just don't have a more historic feel to me like stuff from back in the day.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: I'd guess that the seller was doing some speculating here since it's a second print of a first issue in a series. The grade is where most checked in but that number isn't super high ... so I guess prices were still light and getting rid of stuff was more appealing than having it sitting around.

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BIG PULL
The Card: Brian O'Halloran & Rosario Dawson (aka Dante Hicks & Becky Scott) 2022 Zerocool Clerks III Dual Autographs Orange (/37)
The Reason Graded: Dawson's ink was a mental target of mine when I ripped a couple of these boxes and finding this made that move a win -- the collation was likely botched as these boxes didn't have an auto guaranteed every time despite having a more-premium price every time. Naturally, this card made it into a grading order last year when I opted to grade a few of my multi-auto cards from a few sets in this realm. While I prefer to not slab ink at times -- I don't want any surprises on cards I really like -- this one looked solid, so I did it.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: A 10 was a nice surprise of a return even if I had kind of expected it. Dawson's ink isn't all that rare though she can be pricey and likely is lower volume than other notables in products (such as Star Wars) where she's found. This is a nice card that will always stay in my stash.

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BIG PROMISE
The Card: Oba Femi 2024 Panini Prizm WWE Undercard -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: I'm a broken record here, but he's the real deal. It's just a matter of time before he arrives on the main roster and his overall package -- size, power and listen-to-me ability when talking -- make him a force. Want more thoughts and highlights? Check past Buzz Buys and Making The Grade items in the archives ... he's all over the place there.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: I opted for this since it's a Rookie Card and I've liked the look of the donuts texture all the way back to its Spectra days.

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BIG BUY
The Card: Michelle Yeoh 2004 Rittenhouse James Bond: The Quotable James Bond Women of James Bond Autographs
The Reason Graded: Her historic Oscar win for Best Actress in Everything Everywhere All at Once got me to bite on a big, bold on-card auto here back in 2023 and this one had been on my radar to slab since then, too. She has had a lot of roles in big franchises -- so you can collect a number of cards a few directions (Bond, Marvel, Star Trek) -- but a lot of them have a shorter auto, especially in newer years vs. this 2004 creation. They're all also a little pricier than they used to be thanks to that award.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: I pessimistically figured this might check in at a nine due to a very, very minor spec of white near one corner -- but it clearly isn't something that isn't that bad and I wasn't totally surprised that this was a 10. Without that minor spot, this one should check in at perfect. This mark makes me dig this card even more and I had some hesitations after I bought it as it wasn't as cheap as I had hoped to grab raw. Ultimately, the market for her stuff after buying made this a win either way. A 10 makes that risk even better.

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COLLECTED 'EM ALL
The Card: Jimmy Carter 2004 Topps Chrome (MLB) Presidential Pastime
The Reason Graded: Poke around in the archives and there should be a couple references to a standard Topps version of this card and after I wrote about that I opted to grab and slab this one off COMC to go with it. I always liked the feel of this elegant MLB insert set from back in the day and this photo of Carter working on a Habitat For Humanity house was different than a lot of the other cards you'd see.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: While I got a surprise bummer of a low grade on my flagship version, this one made up for it with a top mark on Chrome. Works for me.

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EARLY INK
The Card: Shotzi Blackheart 2020 Topps WWE NXT Roster Autographs Silver parallel (/25)
The Reason Graded: Her WWE run may be over -- for now -- but the cardboard will last and so should her name as she resumes her wrestling career anywhere else with the same moniker. (It's hers, not a WWE creation.) This set and its various colors of parallels have appeared here many times -- I opened plenty, bought plenty and have graded plenty -- and this auto was a favorite with a big, bold auto and sometimes more (this one got a heart) with an auto style that didn't last as she had to sign a lot of autos in a few years with WWE. I ponied up a little bit for this parallel and it went into a grading sub not long after I got it in-hand.
The Grade: CGC 9 (10 auto)

Reality Check: Nines are fine, though I'll admit I wanted higher here ... but seeing the centering a nine is likely correct. Her last wave of autos from Panini in 2024 and in Topps Chrome this year all have an auto that's closer to this style so those will get some slabbing attention from me, too, in the future.

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SEEING RED II
The Card: Babe Ruth 2021 Topps Now Turn Back The Clock Cherry parallel (/7)
The Reason Bought: I found this one already graded for a decent price -- less than a typical blaster box these days -- and that was a win given how there are only six other cards like it. Is the photo perfect? Nah ... but I like the total package of all the variables here. This is a nice card. A simple card, but a nice card.
The Grade: CSG 9.5

Reality Check: Lone copy graded ... really its only issue might be the vertical centering but I think part of that look is an intentional part of the design. Either way, a big name and a low-volume card means I'm fine with it.

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OH, CANADA!
The Card: Bo Bichette 2020 Topps Opening Day Canada variation -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Bought: These cards were a retail bonus in Opening Day packs sold in Canada, so a lot of those corners on raw copies out there show how they might have lost the battle in packaging. Rather than hunt and sub, I waited it out and found one already graded for less than a blaster box. Why? It's technically a parallel of his RC and I'm slowly but surely tracking down everything that's affordable for the various versions --- short of every single rare parallel -- for this card and basic rookies in general.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: The pop report does show how there's a little bit of a challenge here for grading. It's not an impossible 10 but nines are more likely and lower is definitely possible.

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CHEAP & GOOD FILLER
The Card: Pete Alonso 2017 Bowman Draft Picks
The Reason Bought: Those tweener years and sets between first Bowman cards and Rookie Cards can often be found in good volume with low prices -- raw or graded -- even if they are a star. This is neither a first or an RC and that's how I found it for less than $5 -- and I suspect prices might be just as low or lower for slabs with far larger pop reports.
The Grade: CSG 9.5 (now 10)

Reality Check: About half of the cards graded checked in at a 10, while the second half reflects pretty well how the skinny stock here can create challenges.

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MORE RED ...
The Card: Tua Tagovailoa 2020 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks Absolute Football Spectrum Red -- RC parallel
The Reason Bought: Right color, right team, right price ... this guy is always going to have a spot in my slabs stash. I'm pretty sure this isn't even my only copy of this card -- if there isn't one in the archives there will be another to come here in the coming months.
The Grade: CSG 9

Reality Check: Not the lowest, not the highest ... all good.

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THAT WEIRD LOOK
The Card: Kerry Wood & Pat Cline (aka "Future Stars") 1997 Best Orlando Rays
The Reason Bought: I mentioned this card in my monthly MiLB card series recently -- Kerry Wood just looks weird in what later became a Tampa Bay Rays jersey -- and grabbed a team set with an eye for slabbing  ... but you can imagine how those dark edges can look in some cases with cards that were simply stacked in a team set bag when sold all those years ago. Instead of subbing and waiting for what I knew would definitely not be a top grade, I opted to grab this one already graded.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: I didn't check the pop report here as I simply knew I wanted it ... but nothing higher is a nice nugget. I was a little surprised to only see five graded but with his big arrival including a lot of cards back then I'm sure the oddball stuff like this wasn't on radars as much as his MLB Rookie Cards in Bowman stuff from this same year.

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RED RUCA, TOO!
The Card: Sol Ruca 2023 Panini Immaculate Collection WWE Red (/35) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Bought: It took some time for this unique character in WWE -- surfer girl in vibes, acrobatic gymnast in actions -- to land a championship in NXT but she's arrived at that point now and should be a player going forward with several names graduating to WWE's main roster. I haven't picked up a on of her stuff (2023-forward) but probably should have. This RC parallel is from a brand that is growing on me for basic singles -- remember they don't show up often in every pricey box here -- and this one was found at a decent price already graded.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: Nothing checks in higher -- that makes this one a win, too, beyond it being a rarer RC parallel.

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TIFFY TIME II
The Card: Tiffany Stratton 2025 Topps Chrome WWE Women's Division Geometric Refractors Aqua (/125)
The Reason Bought: This simple insert set is my favorite in Chrome this year but the color choice for parallels is just odd to me -- note here the blue border stripes atop her arms. That's a weird decision and It's even rougher-looking on the standard Chromes and not Geometrics ... so I went here on this star this time. On this parallel, those colors seem to blend in somewhat well with the pattern of the stock.
The Grade: PSA 9

Reality Check: Only two graded and none higher ... another lower-pop scenario that helps out things if people are looking.

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THE RED DRESS
The Card: Lydia Deetz (aka Winona Ryder) 2015 Aquarius Beetlejuice Playing Cards (Queen of Diamonds)
The Reason Graded: I'm all about an oddball slab here and there and, well, playing cards seem to be some fertile ground for oddball cards with notable names or characters in play. This 1988 Tim Burton classic never had any cardboard but this character card looked interesting enough for an odd slab here -- about the only similar kind of cardboard play for the original film are cards made for a cartoon series in 1990. Not even close to the same for me.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: Lone copy graded is not a shocker. I'm not sure what might have dipped it down here other than maybe some edge roughness or a surface spot.

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DUAL FILLER
The Card: Mac Jones & Rhamondre Stevenson 2021 Panini National Treasures NFL Gear Combo Materials Holo Silver (/25)
The Reason Bought: What happens when a memorabilia card gets graded, checks in lower than probably hoped and then one of the names on it comes and goes? A $6 sale, despite it being a premium card from a pricey brand to rip.
The Grade: BGS 8.5

Reality Check: Jones will always have a spot in my Crimson Tide stash when the price is right, though that patch swatch is pretty dull in comparison to his teammate. I'll still take it.

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AN ENIGMATIC FINALE ...
The Card: Lost cast 2005 Inkworks Lost Season 1 Fan Club promo card
The Reason Graded: Remember all the mysteries involved with this hit TV series from years ago? Add to all that how this cast card got a four ...
The Grade: CGC 4

Reality Check: I spotted this super-cheap (but non-traditionally distributed) promo card on COMC and its corners and edges were far, far sharper than its counterparts there -- so I slabbed it and another card from this series without ever having it in-hand. Even with the slab in-hand, though, I don't see anything that could have knocked this one down to a four. That kind of grade is typically something tied to a surface dent, crease or wrinkle but I didn't even see anything obvious there, either, and I even got out the ol' loupe.

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