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

SCENE FROM A CLASSIC
The Card: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson & Lisa Spoonauer (aka Dante Hicks, Randal Graves and Caitlin Bree) 2017 Skybox Clerks Triple Scene Autographs
The Reason Graded: Back when this one arrived, I picked off a lot of the autos over time -- at least while they were affordable -- with my sights set on some of the obscure names here and not the pricey Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) ink that any serious collector of the View Askew realm likely already had on something before this card set arrived. The character that I wanted to find was Caitlin Bree as that character's moments were hilariously twisted and this card's scene was the culminating moment in her story. Getting this on cardboard was hilarious to me. What's unfortunate here is real life -- Spoonauer died of a medication overdose at age 44 while fighting cancer just 10 days after this product arrived. Read director Kevin Smith's tribute to her here. Over time, I picked off all but one of her autographs -- one that had been pricey that's even moreso now still eludes me as it also includes Smith -- but I recently decided to slab a couple of the best ones form my stash when I revisited them and saw how clean they looked. 
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)

Reality Check: Perfect grade works for me. Her auto just barely touches the border of the card but that's about its only potential issue and it's really not incomplete, so it still got a top mark. (Though auto grades are pretty meaningless to me.) This is a strong start and I should really slab more -- and find that last one I need.

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

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If you hadn't noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now right here as Blowout Cards already is in the midst its Black November sales.

The first wave is here and many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases -- and here are five boxes/cases that caught this collector’s eye ... and there's far more that just might suit your tastes in the big sale.

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ALL ABOUT THE INK ...
2016 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball Hobby Box
Heritage High Number wasn't always quite as loaded as it is these days, but that's not to say that past boxes aren't worth a look -- it's just for different reasons (and players), especially when it's as cheap as this one is right now. The base set here is pretty small so that can limit some of the oomph, but you can find RCs for Willson Contreras, Edwin Diaz, Lance McCullers, Albert Almora, Kenta Maeda, Blake Snell and Trevor Story -- not the best crop but the next list is the one that matters. Among the autographs here? Bryce Harper, Buster Posey, Blake Snell, Carlos Correa, Carl Yastrzemski, David Ortiz, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron, Ichiro Suzuki, Johnny Bench, Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Trevor Story, Trea Turner and Mike Trout. They're obviously not in every box ... but they are possible. When boxes drop is the time to dig in to chase them (and so much more) in Heritage.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Michael Baumann, RHP, Orioles — Double-A Bowie Baysox
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Baumann came within one out of a no-hitter on April 30. He got another chance last week and, this time, completed the feat. Baumann threw a no-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts against Double-A Harrisburg in his first start last week, his most dominant start in a season full of them. The 2017 third-rounder is 3-5, 2.80 with 113 strikeouts and 33 walks in 86.2 innings this year between high Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, cementing himself as one of the Orioles’ most promising pitching prospects."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 60
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Chrome
One auto to consider: 2017 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: About half of his seriously low card volume is thankfully certified ink so that's good that he has them -- but it's also bad news in that it means there is less stuff for buyers to fight over when he has performances like this. The two products above are the only places to find his autos. In three MiLB season, he's 20-12 with a 2.74 ERA and 262 strikeouts with 259 innings pitched. Those are solid numbers overall mostly fueled by this season's strikeouts.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Trevor Larnach, OF, Twins — High-A Fort Myers Miracle
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Royce Lewis and Alex Kirilloff get all the headlines in the Twins’ system, but Larnach has spent the season putting up very impressive numbers in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. He’s continued to adjust his approach to make his big-time power play to all fields, thus helping unlock his potential as a classic big, hairy monster who profiles in a corner outfield spot."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 140
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2018 Bowman's Best
Buzz’s card take: About half of his cards are autographs, which is good, but it's still not a big number. His stats in two MiLB seasons are pretty strong with a .311 average and 11 homers and 70 RBI in 126 games since he was taken 20th overall in last year's draft. They aren't overwhelmingly amazing stats but he went 12-for-26 last week ... so that gets him here. I don't see any "big, hairy monster" stats beyond that so I'm not all that sold on his seasons so far.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Ty France, 2B-3B-1B, Padres — Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas
Baseball America’s highlight line: "In a loaded Padres system, it was France who led the organization in total bases, runs and RBIs last year and tied for the lead in home runs. That performance got him put on the 40-man roster in the offseason, and he’s now on the verge of mashing his way to his major league debut. France extended his hit streak to 14 games during his incredible week, capped by hitting back-to-back homers twice with Josh Naylor on Sunday."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Only MiLB team sets 
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: Still to come
Buzz’s card take: He's been in the minors since 2015 after he was a 34th-round pick, but hasn't appeared on anything more than minor-league team sets despite hitting 22 homers with 96 RBI in 137 games between Double-A San Antonio and Triple A El Paso last season. The 24-year-old is on pace for a career year with nine homers in 18 games this season and that should get him a cardboard look soon.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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If you hadn't noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now right here as BlowoutCards.com is in the midst its Black November sales just two days into the new month.

Wave 2 is here and many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases -- and here are five boxes/cases that caught this collector’s eye.

2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition baseball hobby box
Sure, this one's listed as a baseball set with that World Series-dominating guy, David Price, on the box from back when he was fresh off the Vanderbilt field, but this one has a lot of other surprises that makes it one to definitely consider as it celebrates the college game with a number of other inclusions that were helping shape a different card landscape back then that we see a little more familiarly today in a number of directions. Notable ink found here includes Price, Madison Bumgarner, Josh Donaldson, Corey Kluber, Jake Arrieta, Dellin Betances, Jerry Tarkanian, Don Haskins, Rick Majerus, Rollie Massimino, Ara Parseghian, Dale Brown, Dean Smith, Gene Keady, Jim Boeheim, Steve Spurrier, Tom Osborne, Vince Dooley, Jennie Finch, Rebecca Lobo, Brandi Chastain, Bill Walton, Dominique Wilkins, Summer Sanders and a number of other college stars and coaches in a few sports who don't have a lot of cardboard. You get four hits per box here and there are a number of other inserts that can also pack some punch if you land the right names. It's worth a look at its reduced price.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Kyle Tucker, OF, Astros — Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Season so far: Hitting .327 with 25 doubles, 23 homers, 86 RBI and 20 SBs in 93 MiLB games (Hit .154 in 20 games in Houston.)
Baseball America’s highlight line: "Tucker has not hit as a big leaguer yet ... but every time the Astros send him back down, he goes right back to hitting. Tucker hit six home runs in a four-game stretch this week. His last on Saturday was his most dramatic, as the three-run home run in the ninth capped off a five-run, ninth-inning comeback that clinched the Pacific Coast League’s Northern Division title. Tucker now has 23 home runs and 20 steals in the PCL, giving him a 20-20 season despite the fact that he spent nearly a month in the majors."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 700
First Chrome auto: 2015 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2012 Elite Extra Edition (and USA Baseball set)
Buzz’s card take: He's pushing 300 different certified autographs and his time in MLB this season might have softened the demand for the biggest ones a bit but he still figures to be a pricey player on those key cards. I'd look into his 2012 USA Baseball autos from when he was with the 15U team first (bargain hunting) before chasing the first Chromes.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Trevor Rogers, SP, Marlins — Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers
Season so far: 1-4 with 5.13 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 20 walks in 54.1 innings (12 starts)
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Rogers has worked six or more innings in his last three starts, culminating with Sunday’s gem, where he struck out a career-best 12 batters and carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2016 Leaf Metal Perfect Game
Buzz’s card take: His season numbers look a little LaLooshian but he was the 13th overall pick in last year's draft and he's on the Marlins so they'll take it -- and the potential. The recent games look relatively solid, so if you're sold on the potential of a Marlins pitcher then you might want to bite.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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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: Nothing but breaks -- new and old -- in today's edition.

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There's a new hard-hitting powerful rookie in MLB this season but you'll have to wait for his first Rookie Cards and battle if you have your sights on his few certified autographs.

His name is Rhys Hoskins and he's a member of the Philadelphia Phillies -- and he's got a record 11 home runs in his first 18 games. That's an MLB record for a hot start as well as a team rookie record for the month -- with a few games to go. He's also homered in his last five games, adding to the attention that comes with such a torrid pace.

Now, about that cardboard?

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You'll have to wait until 2018 for his official Rookie Cards, but, don't worry, he's got plenty you can collect for now.

His name is Rafael Devers and he's also got six home runs in his first 62 at-bats for the Boston Red Sox and, most importantly, three of those have come in his last two games against the New York Yankees.

The 20-year-old third baseman is hitting .339 with 12 RBI, 11 runs and a stolen base in his first 16 games -- and he's got to be among the league leaders in pre-RC cardboard, too.

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Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher Kyle Freeland ended the first half of the season with a no-hitter lost in the ninth inning -- but a one-hitter was good enough.

The lefty, who was the eighth-overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, racked up a career-high nine strikeouts in what was just his 18th big-league start. For the season, he sits at 9-7 with a 3.77 ERA after his gem at Coors Field.

The good news for collectors? Unlike those red-hot rookie sluggers, you can actually find Freeland's autographs somewhat easily and affordably -- perhaps because, you know, he pitches at Coors Field.

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He's not exactly a come-from-nowhere player, but the power is coming through for one Boston Red Sox minor-leaguer.

Michael Chavis hit his 14th home run of the season Sunday for High-A Salem -- and actually his 13th, too, since it was his third multi-homer game of the year. That's just two-shy of his career-high from two years ago in 109 games.

He's hitting .343 through 47 games (so that home run pace looks even stronger) and the good news here is that he's just 21 years old since he was just 18 back in 2014 when Boston took him with the 26th overall pick.

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