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 ...

STRONG SEASON ... WHAT'S NEXT?
The Card: Juan Soto 2018 Topps 582 Montgomery Club Set 1 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: A big season that came up short of the goal ... but now it's time for a historic payday while still in his mid-20s. Soto's Rookie Cards (2018) aren't all that rare, really, but there's a lot of demand -- but they still might be good buys depending on where he goes next. (Mets? Watch out.) All those thoughts were in mind when I popped this one into a submission earlier this year along with other key names from this small set for Club members. It's not a traditional RC since it's from a small set, but it's still a good Soto to me ... so I slabbed it.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: Top grade of a small volume works for me. I'm sure there will be more and I'm sure the pops are higher elsewhere, but the range of the grades here shows it might not be the easiest kind of card to grade thanks to that retro stock.

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

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What's Buzzing: NFL Week 4, Photogenic WWE, Ohtani vs. Judge, Brett Favre and more in this mid-week edition.

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What's Buzzing: Bowman Chrome, Sapphire tennis, NFL Week 2, new pulls and more in this Tuesday 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: The NBA Finals are coming, inside a case break, MLB stats, Montgomery Club reactions, Angel Hernandez and Ronald Acuña Jr. reactions.

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What: 2023 Topps Brooklyn Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 20 via Topps.com (582 Montgomery Club members previously)
Box basics: Two autographs per box
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Brooklyn Collection is back for another year with a new oldschool look, autographs in every box, and then some new and past stars showcased on cardboard once again.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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: Bobby Witt Jr., Ozzie Smith, the Club and more in this Sunday edition.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... 

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BIG AUTO, BIG PHOTO ... SMALLER PRICE
The Photo: Michael Harris II autographed 16-by-20 photo (Fanatics Authentic)
The Price: Under $65 ... Note: this large-size item isn't easy to photograph all that well without a lot of glare on its top-loader, so the image above is their Photoshopped sales mock.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I have this one batting lead-off as it's an item I wanted last year -- when he won the National League Rookie Of The Year award -- but I had my same-day order canceled by the company. Why? Perhaps it was my use of an extra sale code via a site that sells their stuff (it worked and the order was processed) but there was no reason given. I picked this up more recently -- with a rewards code atop a sale price -- from that same place, though, after he had a tough start to this season. No cancellation this time and no worries -- I just wanted his auto in my stash and I like the feel of a nice display piece (though I display nothing) with a large signature vs. a card that's likely going to cost more. In fact, the cheapest auto for him on a non-MLB card on one site where I buy singles is higher than what I paid for this. I'm probably a one-and-done on his autos unless they get cheaper over time, anyway, though. Why? His signature is a bit oversimplified as he's been in demand. It does look better than the mock but is still quite simple for my taste -- I'll start here and play the waiting game on any more.
Grab a box right here: Michael Harris RCs in 2023 releases

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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 ...

LEADING OFF WITH THE RECORD-BREAKER
The Card: Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Archives 1960 Rookie Stars
The Reason Graded: He has been an established slugger since his 52 homers as a rookie in 2017, but to a degree he'd fallen off card-wise (and power-wise) the last few years until smacking 39 in 2021 and his Yankees team record (and American League record) 62 homers this year.  I got rid of pretty much all of my RCs in 2017 -- no regrets -- to turn them into stuff I actively wanted (I'm still working rather glacially on some of those Clerks autograph runs) but some of my late-year Judge pulls and some inserts were saved along with my lone autograph. While I haven't yet slabbed my ink -- I probably will here at some point once I figure out what box I put it in -- this insert modeled after the memorable-but-overbearing 1960 Topps design was one that jumped out at me. Why? It was soooo clean.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: I was right and that pop shows me I'm not alone -- but it is surprising given how skinny the stock is here.

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: 582 Montgomery Club is coming back, NFL Week 13, new pulls and more.

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What: 2022 Topps Mini baseball cards
Arrives: Now ... via Topps.com 
Box basics: 35 cards per pack
Checklist: Click here
Order: Initially via Topps.com (here when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Minis return to the Topps lineup once again with an initial release on Monday only for 582 Montgomery Club members that is now live for everybody.

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

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What: 2022 Topps Finest Flashbacks baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 22 (582 Montgomery Club presale) via Topps.com
Box basics: One Refractor per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: This one arrives once again with a throwback look but today's players with ink and more to be found for a number of veterans and newcomers, too.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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: Logoman chatter, autographed books, NFL, a simple question, Star Wars Sapphire and The National.

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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: NBA Playoffs, pondering $100,000 cards still sitting in NBA packs, 2022 Bowman, grading chatter and more in this Sunday 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: Showing off Thor cards, new MLB breaks, soccer pulls, Project70 and 582 Montgomery Club has them talking.

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What: 2021 Bowman Chrome X baseball cards
Arrives: Today via pre-sale to 582 Montgomery Club members 
Box basics: One card per box
Order: Click here (available soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman Chrome X gets an online-first release this year with Montgomery Club members getting a first crack before the public can potentially land the remaining boxes.

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

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A new option for Chrome soccer fans is here ... and there's a new big name to chase within this one.

Topps released 2019-20 Topps Chrome UEFA Champions League Sapphire Edition boxes today on Topps.com for 582 Montgomery Club members initially at $80 apiece (limit two) and that's the starting point for a box that could spark global demand.

Why? It's a first for the company's popular Chrome soccer releases -- and the boxes include a Sapphire take on the card of FC Barcelona and Spain national team star Ansu Fati. His regular Chrome cards -- no autographs -- have been scorchers on eBay and now, there will be Sapphire cards and parallels for fans around the world to chase.

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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: MLB and grading chatter, a "sucker for parallels," break highlights and more in today's edition.

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This one is 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 perhaps something to ponder.

This time? MLB postseason players to watch on cardboard

Shane Bieber -- SP, Cleveland Indians
This year's most-dominating pitcher took home the Triple Crown when the season ended and he's got tonight's must-win game against the Yankees and their top arm, Gerrit Cole. Bieber's got just three Rookie Cards and that makes for some added volatility -- 2018 Topps Update and Topps Chrome Update and then Panini Spectra, which was found in boxes of 2018 Panini Chronicles. Those are also sets loaded with other hobby-favorite rookies -- so they are in demand and not cheap. His first autographed cards also arrived that year in Bowman Chrome, while his first prospect cards dropped in 2017 ... but without ink so there's not anything earlier to truly trump the 2018 stuff. His basic cardboard is pretty cheap big-picture, but his rarities and early autos are not -- and tonight's the night that is a key to them all. If they lose, the hype goes elsewhere. If they win and make a run? Watch out ... "Not Justin" will just get hotter.

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

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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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PICK UP YOUR JAW ... IT'S OVER THERE ??
The Item: Zion Williamson 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA lot of 23 cards ... all BGS 10s
The Price: $54,900 after 89 bids (one day remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one is an interesting lot ... first in the sheer volume and the quality. Then you wonder ... why might they be cashing out? (Or, is this just their "junky" copies, meaning they held all of their parallels and autos?) The timing here is interesting -- I'd think just as Williamson or the NBA returns might be a better time for this one, though there are a lot of different options for his Rookie Cards out there. This one will inevitably still be one of the most-iconic ones from this crazy year ... so this price should move before it ends and I'd suspect that the lot will get broken up over time. (Right?) Or, perhaps the buyer will just sit on it and flip it again later? Oh, and if you're wondering, just 517 copies of this card have checked in at a 10 and only 25 have topped them out of 9,199 graded by BGS so far this year.
Similar Pieces: See other Zion Williamson BGS cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA (all formats) 

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

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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, possible mis-packed boxes, Bowman Sapphire 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: One Topps Mini pack with not one, not two, not three but four 1/1 parallels, the future for prospects and other big pulls 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: Pondering 582 Montgomery Club membership, Patrick Mahomes puts on a show in a cheap break, eBay Bucks are back big, NFL breaks and more.

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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 Topps 582 Montgomery Club Set No. 5
Where to buy: Only part of membership

Base set completion: 
20 of 20 (100 percent)

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The inaugural run for 582 Montgomery Club is winding down and on Friday Topps sent out its ballot for members to select its design and the top 20 players for the final small set based on past unused vintage designs.

Three original mocks from decades ago were among the options ... and I'm curious which one you might select.

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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: 2018 Topps Home Run Challenge Silver #HRCAJ Aaron Judge (/59)
The Reason Graded: Aaron Judge recently returned from injury for the first time since April and that prompted me to lead things off with this rare card I recently got slabbed. I only have this card because I managed to predict one of his homers not long after he returned from injury last year after missing more than a month and a half. Injuries have mounted for his popular slugger the last two years, but I figured this card, given its scarcity, was one worth a slab.
The Grade: BGS 10

Reality Check: The pop report is a little iffy on this one -- there could be others not slabbed* -- since the checklist isn't complete on their site for this set this is merely a guess. (Pop report and checklists typically sync up.) I have gotten very few 10s in the last few years, but I thought this would be a contender and it was. Other Judge cards from this set -- there are at least three before this one -- are a lot rarer. Meanwhile, this appears to be the only Judge (of any color) from this set that's been slabbed.

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

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