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

CLOSE TO PERFECT
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: Ohtani's historic 2024 season had me assessing all of my cards from my 2018 stash -- mostly lower-end stuff that's heavily graded -- but not graded by me. Why? I don't grade the heavily submitted stuff because a lesser mark wouldn't be as worthy of going through the process and, really, in most instances a card can always be found already graded if it's needed. But, with his 50-50 season being so big, I opted to slab a few basics and this is one that made the cut. The stock used in 2018 is almost as thin as it gets and all that dark ink definitely showcases flaws, but I picked a pair of cards I thought were perfect from my stash and sent them in.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: I don't know where I missed a perfect mark here but I'll still take a 10 ... less than half check in there and I think it's really harder than that -- people are examining their stuff harder before sending them in. The fact that these have checked in as low as a seven show how this one isn't easy sledding when it comes to slabbing. And as for my perfect aspirations? Well, it doesn't exist.

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

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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 ...

No. 1 GOES FIRST HERE, TOO ...
The Card: Bryce Young 2021 Onyx Vintage College Football Autographs
The Reason Graded: I collect Alabama guys but on the cheap so when a top talent arrives on NFL cardboard odds are I already found them ... if they had stuff. Generally, I try to have auto of all new big names and in the most-recent years thanks to NIL deals where active players can sign autograph deals that's been easier to do -- for both big names and guys who won't be top picks. In the case of this new Carolina Panthers QB, I pulled this one -- something I also did with Tua Tagovailoa -- so I don't have to chase new stuff after he was taken No. 1 in this year's NFL Draft. (But I will if I somehow find bargains.) This one is nice as it's on-card, has a clean retro design (I like that) and has a design/photo that doesn't showcase the fact that there are a couple small missing logos here that would come with full licensing. Atop that, his autograph on this card -- and the card itself -- is super clean and many of his autos are absolutely not clean in recent years. (In fact, I'd say that his auto is bad way more often than it's good ... and it's not that good visually to start with.) When I saw this one, I knew I needed to slab it for those reasons.
The Grade: CSG 9.5

Reality Check: I was a little worried about the surface here as the retro stock is definitely no-frills -- it doesn't even have a light gloss -- but it checked in with a grade I don't mind. I was happy with this and you'll probably see more of Young here in this series -- or at least Buzz Buys -- more once new NFL stuff starts popping up and the college colors fade away for some. Those colors won't fade away for me -- I like them a lot more than anything Carolina -- and he's always going to be the first Heisman-winning Alabama QB.

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

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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 big breaks and cool pulls in today's edition.

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If you found a 2019 Bowman Lucky Autograph Redemption or one of the three 2019 Topps Finest Mystery Redemptions, your wait will be worth it.

Topps has revealed the players for all four cards and they are all notable newcomers.

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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: Is a signed Rookie Card buyback still a Rookie Card? One Target, 48 Bowman Mega Boxes? Those questions and more in today's edition.

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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, 3B, Padres — Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas
Baseball America’s highlight line: “If the new Triple-A ball is going to lead to massively inflated offensive numbers, it’s fitting that there’s a player posting one of the best statistical seasons we’ve seen this century. France is now hitting .396/.473/.780 with 26 home runs. He could become the first full-season minor league hitter to top .400 since Erubiel Durazo hit .404 in 1999, and he may do it while hitting more than 30 home runs as well."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 25
First Chrome auto: None yet
One auto to consider: None yet
Buzz’s card take: He's putting up a year that has historic superlatives involved and he's got just one brand where you can find his baseball cards right now, 2019 Donruss Optic. He's got roughly 25 cards there but we're still left to wait on a certified autograph. He should get another MLB look soon, though the name-drop of Erubiel Durazo should tell you how much stock can be put into historic MiLB seasons in the long run when it comes to cardboard.

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

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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 ...

The Card: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Living Set #179 RC
The Reason Graded: While I own a few Topps Living Set cards the arrival of this second-generation MLB star in this weekly release sparked my first purchase from this popular brand that's clearly popular with flippers. I ponied up for 10 copies of the card --solely with potential grading in mind -- but didn't receive a single perfectly centered card in my batch, which was a bummer. After some grumbling, I picked out this one from the batch and sent it in.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded as well as I thought it could -- maybe better -- so I wasn't unhappy with the grade and it appears that I'm perhaps on the luckier side with just two 10s out there better than it via BGS ... for now. This is a card that will likely be graded more and more often so those won't last but but it appears that this one is arriving between 8.5 and 9.5 more often than not. I have a second one I'll submit to PSA at some point with my sights set on a 10 there. We'll see sometime later this year.

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The Blowout MegaMix will be a big highlight at The National this year.

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: The calm before the storm known as The National, cheap Michael Jordan cards, a big 2019 Bowman Mega Box pull, Jack of All Trades and plenty more in today's edition.

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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. Joey Wentz, LHP, Braves — Double-A Mississippi Braves
Baseball America’s highlight line: “While his Mississippi rotation-mates have soared, Wentz has found Double-A to be a little more difficult. But lately there have been some very positive signs. His velocity has ticked back up to the 91-94 mph range, which helps his changeup play as the above-average and even plus pitch it can be at its best. Wentz tied his career high in strikeouts with nine on July 1 and then set a new career high with 10 strikeouts on July 6."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 225
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman
One auto to consider: 2015 Leaf Perfect Game
Buzz’s card take: That BA blurb didn't seem all that sold on him but the reason he's here might be his overall stats -- 19 strikeouts in 12-plus innings with just two runs and five walks in his last two starts. A 1.42 ERA ain't shabby, either. He doesn't have a lot of cards in general -- and just under 100 autographs -- despite arriving back in 2015 Leaf Perfect Game releases. His first Chrome autos arrived just last year so check those boxes if you were busy chasing Shohei Ohtani this time last year. The Braves are going to be getting plenty of looks from collectors with all their young talent ... so he's worth a look, too.

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: NBA award-winners, busting a "Trading Cards" pack, big pulls and The National in today's edition.

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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. Deivi Garcia, RHP, Yankees — Double-A Trenton Thunder
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Garcia continued one of the best seasons by a pitching prospect by spinning a masterpiece against Richmond. He struck out the first eight batters and was in complete control the rest of the way. The performance boosted his strikeouts per nine innings to 15.1, the best in the minors among qualified starters. It also tied the Trenton franchise record for strikeouts in a game, which was set by Adam Warren in 2010."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): Just MiLB team set cardboard 
First Chrome auto: Still to come
One auto to consider: Still to come
Buzz’s card take: You may remember seeing this guy here about a year ago and nothing has ultimately changed on the cardboard front. He's just 20 and rising in the minors so that cardboard should be coming at some point. He's 3-4 with a 3.02 ERA and a ridiculous 100 strikeouts in 59-plus innings pitched this season so there should be some serious demand once that first ink hits. His few MiLB team sets should be watched right now, too. (There's next to nothing on eBay right now for him.)

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

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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 boxes: 2019 Bowman baseball cards (four Mega Boxes)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

What's inside these? Keep reading ...

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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 Bowman baseball cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6 (four standard, two Mega Box Chrome)
Cards per pack: 10 in standard, 5 in Chrome
Cards per box: 50

Set completion: 
20 of 100 (20 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
12 of 150 (8 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
8 of 150 (5 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base/prospect cards – Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, Anthony Rizzo, Nolan Arenado, Clayton Kershaw, Nolan Gorman, Jazz Chisholm, Kevin Smith, Ryan Costello, Keegan Thompson, Logan Webb

Rookie Cards (6) – Kyle Tucker, Rowdy Tellez, Chris Shaw, Steven Duggar, Jeff McNeil, Adolis Garcia

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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, The National, Bowman Mega Box breaks, a Topps Total busting marathon, eBay Bucks and more.

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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: Yordan Alvarez gets the call, a massive oldschool wax haul for $150, a huge Bowman blaster pull, The National and plenty more 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: Box-break madness -- Mega Boxes and more -- along with non-sports breaks, a cool find, The National 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 Bowman baseball cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6 (four standard, two Mega Box Chrome)
Cards per pack: 10 in standard, 5 in Chrome
Cards per box: 50

Set completion: 
20 of 100 (20 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
12 of 150 (8 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
8 of 150 (5 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base/prospect cards – Shohei Ohtani, Miguel Cabrera, Cody Bellinger, Eloy Jimenez, Brewer Hicklen, Blaze Alexander, Orelvis Martinez, Edward Cabrera

Rookie Cards (7) – Kyle Wright, Danny Jansen, Dakota Hudson, Brandon Lowe, Jake Cave, Luis Guillorme, Christin Stewart

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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: Good baseball discussions, Bowman Mega Boxes deliver big, The National and old "Refractors won't spoil."

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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. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays — Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
Baseball America’s highlight line: “In 108 minor league games, only one pitcher has managed to strike him out more than once. ... He has not struck out swinging since May 20, and has not struck out at all since May 24. ... Through June 2, Franco is hitting .326 in the Midwest League as an 18-year-old. Two years ago, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was in the Midwest League as an 18-year-old, he hit … .326."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2019 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2018 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: The bad news here? If you don't know his name, you're late to the party and that will cost you way more buying his autos. The good news here? First, he's being compared to Vladdy Jr., and second he's got plenty of ink -- about half of his cards come with autos -- and there are inevitably more on the way. Simple as that. Pulling his autos are the best way to go as buy-in prices for his first Chrome ink can be on the stupid side ... well, only if he doesn't deliver. (So far, he has.)

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: Bowman Mega Box bulk breaks, bargain bin heat, big Heritage pulls, The National and more 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: Topps Definitive pulls, grading Bowman Mega Box players, MLB breaks, The National and even more important chatter today.

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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 Bowman baseball cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6 (four standard, two Mega Box Chrome)
Cards per pack: 10 in standard, 5 in Chrome
Cards per box: 50

Set completion: 
20 of 100 (20 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
12 of 150 (8 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
8 of 150 (5 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base/prospect cards – Fernando Tatis Jr., Nick Senzel, Austin Riley, Dylan Cease, Roberto Ramos, Kris Bryant, Mookie Betts, Ozzie Albies, Francisco Lindor

Rookie Cards (9) – Ramon Laureano, Ryan Borucki, Bryse Wilson, Aramis Garcia, Enyel De Los Santos, Jonathan Loaisiga, Cedtic Mullins, Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams

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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: Definitive delivers, Luka Doncic's autograph evolution, Bowman Mega Boxes, alleged card-trimming, The National and more.

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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: Peter Alonso, Bowman Mega Box breaks in bulk, Game of Thrones, NBA, The National and more.

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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 highlights, including 50 -- yes, 50 -- Bowman Mega Boxes.

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