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 mix of new slabs and some recent pick-ups.

BIG RETAIL PULL NOW VS. THEN
The Card: Christian McCaffrey 2017 Crown Royale Platinum #88 (/49) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: With the NFL season (perhaps) finally coming, I'll let this guy kick things off since it's a rarer card and one that I figured would grade well but did have some fears about with one of the back corners showing some funk. I pulled this one from a mega box (or whatever it was called for this one) while sitting in a snowy Walmart parking lot back in the day only to be bummed that my autograph guaranteed in the box wasn't there ... it was Panini Rewards points. I was more hung up on that than appreciating this card back then, but he's been a playmaker in the league -- so much so I actually got rid of my Donruss and Optic RCs of him without getting them graded. Instead I decided to slab this one.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded better than I had expected -- I was thinking probably a 9 but optimistically a 9.5 -- and I consider this one a win. It's razor-sharp and clean except for that one corner and on the back it may not hurt as much. Either way, I'm good with this one. Only 12 total cards of McCaffrey from this release have been graded and this is the only for this parallel. There have been nine copies of his standard RC graded and only four cards overall equal this one with nothing higher.

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

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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 every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. 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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HALL OF FAME LUMBER
The Item: Carl Yastrzemski 2020 Topps Sterling Bat Knob Auto Relic (1/1)
The Price: $1,273 after 39 bids (six days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This year's return of Sterling includes a number of super-premium cards and I'd consider this to be one with a game-used bat knob from the other Yaz -- you know, the one in the Hall of Fame -- showcased here. While Mike Yastrzemski might be grabbing the attention of some fans, this guy is one who you don't see a boatload of cardboard for, let alone game-used stuff, in release after release. His lumber was marked with his uniform number here, eight, and a couple other markings and that's some of the magic with bat knob cards. (Check out the Darryl Strawberry card at the link below to see some of the other possibilities -- manufacturer and factory markings.) This one will be interesting to watch by the time it ends.
Similar Pieces: Other bat knob cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2020 Topps Sterling boxes

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

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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: 2017 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (aka Topps WWE Series 2) wrestling cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

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

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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: 2020 Topps Opening Day baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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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 Today: Nasty patches, big pulls, prospecting limits, a WWE thread worth a look and collectors react to the death of long-time Georgetown coach John Thompson.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: 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 Today: Big pulls from soccer, MLB and the NFL lead the way in today's edition.

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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 Today: Collectors remember Chadwick Boseman, showing off unopened NBA box stashes, collecting just jersey cards, new MLB pulls & more in this midnight-drop edition.

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What: 2020 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Football footballs
Arrives: Sept. 30
Box basics: One autographed football per box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line gets the rock with nothing but autographed pigskin in play in a release that will be limited to just 56 cases.

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What: 2020 Leaf Metal Draft baseball cards
Arrives: Nov. 27
Box basics: Six autos per hobby box (12 per case) or nine autos and one 1/1 slabbed auto per jumbo box (six per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Metal Draft takes the field this year with two box formats and one includes a guaranteed rarity with both potentially including some of the biggest baseball prospects in the game today.

Keep reading for 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: 2006 BenchWarmer Series 2 trading cards
Where to buy: None for this one on site but you can see all BenchWarmer boxes here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of everything in this box.

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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 Today: Looking back at past sales, debating the appeal of some parallels, what's the iconic wrestling card and more in today's edition.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: 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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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: 1992 Pro Line football cards (autograph box)
Where to buy: Will take some hunting ... get new football boxes here

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one along with a 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: 2020 Donruss Optic baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (other formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of images.

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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 Today: Big pulls, NBA chatter, Project 2020, a big NBA box and an interesting question for collectors.

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This is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's 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 reasons a sports card can be appealing ... beyond just value.

A STRONG PHOTO
We all know a lot of cards from any sports (or non-sports) set from the past that has a photo that's just so clean or different that it stands out from the rest of the pack every time we see it. It doesn't have to be a star, it doesn't have to be a bum ... it's just memorable. Sometimes cards like these can actually command more value than others around it (probably moreso in the years before hits and inserts) but that added appeal can't hurt. The card you see here? It's a simple portrait -- literally nothing but the image -- no design here -- and that's why I chose it. It shows the power of letting the photo have its moment. I own hundreds of Derek Jeter cards that I don't really want or need but the strong photo here makes me want and need it. It's rarer (/100) and from the 2019 Topps Transcendent VIP Party set, but this one would be a card I'd chase if it were from Opening Day. It's all about the photo.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: 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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Now that's a big pull ... Check it out over on eBay.

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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 Today: MLB Rookie Cards on the rise, the power of Patrick Mahomes RCs, a football question answered by soccer cards and some big pulls to round things out in today's edition.

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What: 2020 Leaf Ultimate Draft Baseball cards
Arrives: October
Box basics: Six autographs per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf turns its attention to baseball with this release that will include nothing but autographs and ink from new draft picks as well as some established MLB stars and retired greats all in one place.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

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YourDozen.com is back and you have until Sunday afternoon to ponder the possibilities and take your shot at winning some free cardboard.

What are we doing this time? We're once again looking for the consensus answers to a few questions -- majority rules = the correct answer -- and then again predicting what things will look like in Sunday MLB action on the tie-breaker.

This week's prize is a 2020 Panini Certified NFL hobby box.

>>> CLICK HERE TO ENTER <<< 

Did you get in on last week's action? Check the leaderboard and contact fish@blowoutcards.com to claim your prize if you're the winner.

How does it work? It's short and simple. Register and you'll get a dozen questions where your answers will be compiled and compared to others. Whomever gets the most correct gets the prize -- or at least a shot at it if there's a tie.

The goal with YourDozen.com? Have a little fun and get free stuff into some of your hands.

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

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

I'm 2-for-2 this season ... and my hit streak isn't over. There will be more.

What am I talking about? Picking off game-used baseball bats for the retired player I collect, Nick Swisher -- and in this case it's another 100-percent game-used and photo-matched piece ... but one without an MLB Authentication sticker. (Here's last time if you missed it.)

How was this possible? Some research and some luck -- but also knowing what things to look for with game-used bats. In this case, the bat model is somewhat common (used in his Yankees and then Indians years after Louisville Sluggers for most of his career before that) but the handle customizations were not the norm for most of his career. The grip was the first clue when trying to lock down a timeframe of when this bat was used and then a date written underneath the "33" sticker on the bat knob once in hand provided a starting point for still-image searches. Once I found those, then I went to video for additional ironclad matching.

This bat is another reminder that not every item that gets used gets a sticker -- and that's where you can find gems for any player.

You can keep reading to see the details this time.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Continue reading →

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 Today: Mike Trout's Superfractor sale still has them talking, changes for grading fans and breaks lead the way in today's edition.

Continue reading →

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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards (two hanger boxes)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Continue reading →