This one is a quick idea for 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 something to think about.

This time? Five players (and cards) I'd want to see in the next rendition of Topps Project 2020. (Would it be Project 2021?)

BAT DOWN, HANDS DOWN
Ronald Acuña Jr.'s bat-down SP variation in 2018 Topps Series 2 is perhaps the most-iconic of all of the Rookie Cards in basic Topps sets in recent years, and I think it would be a no-brainer as a card to bat lead-off on a second project like Topps Project 2020 -- an effort where artists re-create memorable cards from the past for 20 players. The list is one that skews old -- just five players are from 1990 and beyond and only two who debuted in the 2000s -- while the top sellers (so far) have skewed young and that makes me wonder what/who might be popular the next time around. They have to do this again, right? (For the purposes of this list, I'm ignoring the realities of licensing -- some players are potentially not available to Topps or licensing could impose other limitations. (That's what I don't know.) What I do know is a collection of 20 takes on this Acuña would probably get me every time as it's such a good starting point.

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

Continue reading →

First Bowman Chrome autos, Topps Heritage autos and Rookie Cards in general for key players seem to be powering sales of wax boxes most generally these days for Major League Baseball.

Those shouldn't be too surprising, but in a world of seemingly countless options with autographs, serial-numbering or memorabilia pieces one could argue that less is more --- that oldschool simplicity is back.

And one could argue that the basic Rookie Cards from a hobby staple such as Topps Update (or Topps Traded if you're oldschool) continue to be an emerging go-to -- and not just for players such as Mike Trout, whose 2011 Topps Update card is a ridiculous seller if in top condition and still pretty impressive if just in a lesser slab.

Perhaps it's just a gut feeling with the arrival of 2017 Topps Update previewing last week and its date now known on the release calendar -- but the old Topps Traded sets of the 1980s and even recent years of Topps Update also seem like fertile collecting ground, too, especially if you're into graded specimens.

Here's a year-by-year rundown of notable Rookie Cards from past Traded and Update sets ...

Continue reading →