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 ...

SNIKT!
The Book: Wolverine No. 50 (newsstand edition)
The Reason Graded: Back in 1992, Little Buzz was probably nearing the end of his comic book days -- or maybe a little after this one arrived -- but with some connections to a local book store I was able to get comics before they hit those spinner racks that resulted in books getting broken spines like they were Batman up against Bane. (Or something.) And with that era being one of mass-produced stuff that was still very creative on both the art front as well as the printing/gimmick front, I and many others were buying ... in quantity. This issue is one exploring Wolverine's origins and it's got a cardboard cover with his claws the source of the big die-cut gashes here revealing the first page of what's in the file (issue). I bought maybe a half-dozen of them as it was cool -- a few at the local comics shop and a few more at the book store -- and that's the key here. These newsstand versions -- same except for the UPC in the corner and not a marvel direct logo (that started in 1981) filling the box -- figure to be much, much rarer in a high grade.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: This one was a win but I expected it as my copies here are razor sharp. How many of those graded might be newsstand copies? It's a mystery right now but asking prices on eBay as I prep this file are as high as $500 for a newsstand copy while a direct has a max asking of $299. Actual sales for 9.8s in recent weeks? About $320 for newsstand and $85 for direct. I'll take that ... I'm in for just $2.50 (though I may have gotten a discount) and my grading fees. Most "serious" collectors bought at comics shops in the boom years, seeing newsstand is inferior with those barcodes ... now those barcodes are gold as long as you're in an elite grade.

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

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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 206 Series 5 baseball cards
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for many series)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

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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 pack: 2020 Topps 206 Series 3 MiLB baseball cards
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

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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 206 Series 5 baseball cards
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five collecting options on my mind ... or at least five examples of stuff I look for.

BEFORE THE BIGS (COLLECT MINOR LEAGUES)
The Card: Wander Franco 2020 Topps 206 (Series 3)
The MiLB series of Topps 206 this year dropped recently and that one will get me to bite before it's gone from Topps' site -- unless I already missed it -- but in the case of last year's release I have gone back and forth about grabbing a pack retroactively for Series 3 to add some unique MiLB cards but ultimately only bit to grab this one for about $6. Yes, part of this buy was the name power -- though the grab was before his rookie hit streak was in play -- but that bling, that pose and the fact that he was playing for a team known as the Stone Crabs ... well that's just the perfect storm. MiLB stuff is always good for some rare or different cardboard -- even with names you know well attached -- and this one adds on the tobacco-card style to hit yet another base with my personal tastes.

This was a safe pick ... keep reading for four more making up the list this time -- some weird cards 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 206 Series 5 baseball cards
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

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: 2020 Topps 206 Series 5 baseball cards
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

Continue reading →

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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SUPPLY VS. DEMAND ... 
The Item: Conor McGregor 2014 Topps UFC Bloodlines Ruby parallel (/8)
The Price: Sold for $125
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I don't normally showcase old auctions but this one struck me as a tad surprising but also as a situation to offer up some thoughts, though it is admittedly a rare parallel card of a top name. What happens when wax boxes vanish because they get ripped and then rare stuff pops back up on the market years after a deluge? Well, sales like this and it's seemingly not alone as I have seen some Relic lots and other inclusions here command similar prices when they might not normally -- at least under conventional thinking that's not all that realistic about the markets. This brand is one with a hit in every box and 10 packs, too, making it a safe rip and a relatively fun one (I liked it and I'm not the biggest UFC fan) and in the box I opened I landed a parallel like this one -- mine was Ronda Rousey. The auto checklist has some solid names and every box also includes a cool engot card that can also command a few bucks and a lot more than you might think if it's a key name. I noticed a box of this one in stock over in the store and I'd totally grab it if I did higher-priced boxes more regularly ... but instead I'll let one of you do the honors and show me what I could have had.
Similar Pieces: Other 2014 UFC Bloodlines cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2014 Topps UFC Bloodlines

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

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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 206 Series 1 baseball cards (two boxes)
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

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What: 2020 Topps 206 baseball cards
Arrives: Wave 3 is live right now via Topps.com
Box basics: 10 cards per pack
Checklist: Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' take on T206 tobacco cards is here via an online-only release with five planned waves to come this year with some parallels you might expect and surprises this time, too.

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

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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 modern tobacco-inspired brands that always catch my attention. Why go here? Because we're getting a new take on Topps 206 (at right) coming from Topps later this week.

THE MAINSTAY FOR ME ...
Topps' Allen & Ginter baseball card set has been a go-to for me in various forms since its first set in 2006 with that debut carefully following the design of the 1887 Allen & Ginter World's Champions multi-sport set that included baseball players alongside other athletes on cards inserted into cigarette packs. (If you don't know, that's basically the origin of trading cards ... something printed on cardboard used to help stiffen cigarette packs -- i.e. tobacco cards.) Ginter includes one mini card in the same size as the originals -- 1 7/16 by 2 5/8 inches -- and also has framed autos and Relics that are those size, too. Those things have stayed the same as modern takes on a retro design of that feel have been the evolutionary feature since. Do you recognize the 2006 card up top? You might not as it was a mini promo card found inside a promo Rip Card sent to dealers to show one of the interesting features of the brand.

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

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