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 ...

BAD IN BLACK!
The Card: Julio Rodriguez 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter X
The Reason Graded: I ripped a pair of these boxes and haven't even sniffed at the regular stuff -- a first for me in its run since 2006 when I used to clear everything I saw on every shelf -- but instead I opted to grade a couple of key pulls from this and other postseason releases with notable newcomers in play. Why this one? It just looked perfect even vs. others I pulled -- and since I only pulled one and have really no plans at this moment to even dabble with regular Ginter I put it into my bulk sub.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: CSG may have a flub in its system as this didn't even show in the pop report (perhaps it was tagged as a regular card) but I'll present it here* with what I know ... and that's that I know at least this one exists. He's the face of 2023 Topps, so he's on the minds of a few fans right now -- and that's why he's batting lead-off despite this pop report anomaly.

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

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What: 2021 Topps 1989 Bowman x Keith Shore baseball cards
Arrives: Wave 1 live now via Topps.com
Box basics: 10 cards per pack
Order: Click here when available

What's buzz-worthy: Artist Keith Shore takes on the 1989 Bowman set -- at least in the pose of the Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card -- with a four-wave set released online beginning today.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 2.

The packs: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1994 and 1995 Bowman packs
The cost: Will vary ... get newer Bowman stuff here

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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What: 2019 Bowman baseball cards
Arrives: April 17
Box basics: Three autographs per 12-pack jumbo box (eight boxes per case); One autograph per 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman is back with another modern-looking design, some of the biggest prospects in the pipeline and some new touches that should keep prospectors busy as they chase the rainbow of Refractors and more that will be found in this one that also celebrates the 30th anniversary of Bowman's 1989 revival.

Keep reading for more info as well as a full gallery of images.

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Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza are in Cooperstown, N.Y., this weekend to join baseball's immortals as the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

One is the first No. 1 overall draft pick to ever make it to the Hall. The other is the lowest draft pick to ever be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Griffey received 99.3 percent of the vote -- a record and three votes short of unanimous -- after his first time on the ballot. Meanwhile, Piazza appeared on 83 percent of the 440 ballots in his fourth vote.

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