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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GOING HIGH-END ... 
The Card: Bo Bichette 2020 Bowman Transcendent (/100) -- Rookie Card
The Price: Less than some retail mega boxes ...
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: While this comes from one of the most-expensive brands ever made and he's a past All-Star, a bad season apparently prompts easy sell-offs these days and in this case I was a buyer. While I'd like his RCs from these releases in slabs (the frames and Chome-like surfaces here can show smaller flaws easily) this one was too cheap to pass up in comparison to slabbed cards that weren't even in elite grades. This cost me half or even a third of common asking prices for the graded cards with no obvious, blatant flaw to make it feel like it would check in lower ... though it's not perfect. It's a perfect start for me here -- I'll likely add more if The Big Bo Slide of 2024 keeps going. Why? I collect Bichette.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one, but MLB boxes are here.

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 ...

A FIRST FOR ME ...
The Card: Bo Bichette 2022 Topps Chrome Logofractor Edition Blue Refractor (/150)
The Reason Graded: If you're a regular reader, then you know that Bichette is perhaps my leading active player who I collect (casually ... as he's expensive). That means I dabble merely with what I like, what's a bargain and so on. In some cases, I'll grab a striking color of parallel or an appropriate shade from a certain brand that stands out from the rest and this Blue parallel fits right there along with this being a Logofractor parallel. Why did I grab this and then slab it? Well, the price was right (under $10 during the season) and it was one of few centered copies I saw and it was one that avoided a possible pattern gap in the logos that seemed to land on his cards often. When I grabbed this, it also became my first COMC pick-up to go directly to CGC for grading while all in their hands rather than starting out in mine.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: It came back with an ideal mark, which is what I had hoped for, though you never know with surfaces of cards ... that's about the only big risk of buying/subbing stuff there at the moment other than corners, which should be a smidge more obvious on screen -- but not always. My total cost for card and grading here? Under $24 and it only took about a month to get it back. That's a move I've actually done a few times late last year as my goal of sending in some new stuff for slabbing didn't happen on the card side of things before 2023 had ended. There will be plenty more in 2024 -- cards, comics, coins magazines ... and more.

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: 2023 Bowman University Alabama Football cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview with checklist/odds: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was 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 Leaf Metal U.S. Army All-American Bowl football cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (both formats)

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

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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 things I'll be exploring in 2020 Score NFL.

ALTERNATE TEAMS
The Cards: Jalen Hurts in Alabama colors
This year's version of Score includes some players who played for more than one notable team in their college careers and that's something that you don't see all that often for college cardboard -- typically it's tied to their final team. No. 1 pick Joe Burrow can be found on both Ohio State and LSU cardboard, while No. 53 pick Jalen Hurts can be found with both Alabama and Oklahoma cards. These all have ink and parallels making the chase of something a little easier than some single-card SP variation but also more challenging if you want to do a comprehensive player rainbow. This one will be something I look for in my collecting experience with this new NFL release, which is out now for hobby boxes and should be arriving out at retail everywhere else any time now. (Hit that link up top for hobby boxes, which include a boatload of everything.)

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

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Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn't finish his college career the way he planned, but he's got his first new team as a pro and was out working that new development on Friday with media appearances in advance of Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

He's signed for Panini America.

Full details aren't yet available -- we suspect we'll have them here soon -- but the news was teased by the company today.

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Have you seen the latest cool cards from a new release? With so many options for collectors of all kinds arriving every week it's possible you haven't. That's where Buzz comes in -- well at least on one brand you'll see here from time to time in what we're calling Buzz's Pick Six. Simply put, here are six cards from a new arrival that seemed interesting to this collector and we think they might interest you, too.

This week's six-pack: Six autographs I'd grab now

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THE RETIRING CHAMP
The Card: Jimmie Johnson 2018 Panini Prizm Patented Penmanship auto
The Price: $69.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Boxes: Click here for all NASCAR stuff
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This 44-year-old announced today that the 2020 NASCAR season will be his final campaign as a full-time Cup driver and, in turn, his final shot at becoming the all-time season championship record-holder. He's presently tied with Richard Petty at seven career NASCAR Cup Series titles and has been that way since 2016 when he last took home the crown. In the three seasons since then, his best finish was 10th so it's debatable whether he might make a run in his final lap, but he will be one who is watched heavily. I met and interviewed him when he was a rookie which was fun back in the day but I'm actually not sure if I've ever pulled one of his autographs in my off-and-on time collecting NASCAR stuff. There's a decent amount of ink for him out there -- more than 800 different cards -- but his autograph has always been relatively minimalist, so that's why I never chased one otherwise. I might make sure to track one down now.

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

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there's a mix of pricey and cheaper buys.

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I WAS SEEING GHOSTS FOR A WHILE ... 
The Card: Sam Darnold 2018 Panini Spectra Neon Blue (/75)
The Price: $15.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I'm generally a fan of Spectra despite its funky looks at times and I spotted this one just after his return at a price that seemed lower than the norm so I grabbed it. I was a tad worried in games after that, thinking this was a bad pick-up, but it seems he's rebounded a bit so we'll see whether this was a decent pick-up in the longer term. I like the look of these sequin-looking cards with this particular parallel, so that's probably another reason I went this route.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Panini Spectra football cards

Keep reading for many more interesting items ...

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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: Collectors react to the Tua Tagovailoa injury news, a big NBA Hoops pull, Myles Garrett, David Robinson and some big breaks 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 just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around there's a little bit of everything.

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A BEGINNER BEAR ... 
The Slab: Paul "Bear" Bryant -- nickname autograph cut (BAS-certified)
The Price: $90
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I'll be the first to say that this is perhaps not my ideal autograph situation, but when it comes to Alabama football, Bryant is about as big as it gets -- still above Nick Saban for now -- and landing an authenticated signed photo or slabbed cut of the legend known as "Bear" will typically cost at least $275 and often more. Bryant was one of the autographs that had been on my want list for years but because of the price I'd never really considered it because the quality of autos that can be iffy even for $275. So, when this one presented itself earlier in the year, I opted for a beginner 'graph -- something in a slab and enough to say I have one. I grabbed it and held onto it for here until football season arrived so here we are. Bryant won six national championships in his legendary career and when Saban wins another that will set a new NCAA record. Even then, Saban will still be coaching in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Paul W. Bryant Drive down the road from the Paul W. Bryant Museum -- all named after the coach who died in 1983 less than a month after he notched his record 323rd career win. Bryant's autographs aren't super-tough finds -- they're just pricey. He's had a handful of cut autographs in football releases in recent years but I've never gotten in on the chase there -- also pricey.
Grab a box right here: No boxes on this one ... but college football boxes are here

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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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 Championship Collection football repack (MJ Holding)
Where to buy: Walmart  (Click here for our Bargain Breaks section)

Packs per box: 20 -- plus five bonus cards
Cards per pack: Varies by brand

Notables on base cards – See gallery for key pulls (one hit 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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A LITTLE EXTRA
The Item: Johnny Damon 2018 Topps Five Star patch auto (/25)
The Price: $179.95 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This brand is loaded with impressive cardboard and some crazy patches but this one comes with a little extra included -- as you can see that's a PSA/DNA authentication sticker for the jersey where this patch came from. That notes that this jersey was signed with a game-used 2011 inscription -- something you'll know from just this swatch but not any of the other 24 that exist. A simple and fun item. There are some nice cards coming out of these boxes -- check out the link below -- and get your box at the link below that.
Similar Pieces: Other 2018 Topps Five Star autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Topps Five Star boxes

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

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You ever have one of those items that you need for your collection that could be found somewhat easily but you're either too picky about its quality, too finicky about the price tag attached or have such narrow wants that it might not be too easy of a find after all?

I did, but I finally got over it a little bit while still getting what I wanted.

That item for me? An autograph from "The Voice of The Yankees" and former This Week in Baseball host Mel Allen. After years of casual looking from time to time, months of daily eBay searches with stuff that was either too pricey or not quite good enough for me (and my low price want), I finally found what I was looking for.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 1.

The box: 2017 Leaf Metal U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

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

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If you saw this coming, you need to be coaching The Big Game next year -- and every year after that.

Alabama freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa took over behind center for the Crimson Tide down 13-0 at halftime and delivered a game-winning 41-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith in overtime to seal a 26-23 victory.

And that makes his U.S. Army All-American Bowl cards from Leaf Trading Cards the hottest cardboard on the planet for the moment -- and there's a decent amount of options to go around, too.

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With a victory tonight, University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban would equal a giant not only in the history of college football but a giant in his school's history.

His Crimson Tide plays in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Paul W. Bryant Drive down the road from the Paul W. Bryant Museum and the Bryant Conference Center -- all reminders of Bear Bryant and his NCAA-record six national championships and 323 career victories. (Saban is at 285.)

Tonight's College Football Playoff National Championship is Saban's sixth title-game appearance in the last nine years and with a win he'll have his sixth season title for his career. Saban had his chance at tying Bryant last season when his undefeated team lost in the final seconds on the final play of the game against Clemson, which Alabama knocked off in a rematch this year to advance to tonight's game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Both of Alabama's postseason foes this year are coached by former Tide assistants, Dabo Swinney at Clemson and Kirby Smart at Georgia, but neither has autographs and football card appearances as easily found as the legend of today, Saban.

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The college football world got a pair of classic showdowns on Monday night and will get a third next week when the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs face off for the College Football Playoff National Championship.

There were some dominating performances for these two squads in the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl and the good news for collectors who might not know is that a number of those stars now set to chase gridiron history already appear on fully licensed football cards thanks to card companies' deals with prep spotlight games such as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Under Armour All-America Game.

In the case of the Bulldogs and their game-winning star Sony Michel -- as well as his fellow bruiser RB Nick Chubb and QB Jake Fromm -- they can all be found on Army cards from Leaf Trading Cards. Michel's first of more than 40 cards was made back in 2011 and nearly all of the are autographed. Chubb has around 30 cards from 2014 and beyond, while Fromm has more than both of them with nearly 50 signed. His are all from this year's set -- and this trio is likely not alone for Bulldog cameos as there have been plenty of cards made for the event in past years (some wax is still findable -- there's even a Vault release on the way).

The Crimson Tide guys? There's a lot more mystery there ...

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I've collected for decades -- both cardboard and beyond with plenty of autographs and game-used memorabilia in my stash -- but my biggest Black Friday find this year was one that I couldn't have topped if I had tried.

(Well, at least on my budget.)

It's my first full game-used NFL item and it comes with a pretty strong story but without my having to pay a premium price to go with it. How? It all came down to doing some research.

For a few months now I had been obsessing about finding a game-used NFL football for the heck of it -- a whim, really -- simply finding any ball on the cheap yet with some semblance of ironclad authentication. Better than that would be a ball with those attributes and also with some type of tie to what I collect, which really isn't any one particular NFL team or player but instead my school and many of its recent stars, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Thanks to Fanatics' business deal with its hometown Jacksonville Jaguars, the ball you see above is a reality in my collection and it came on the cheap for what it really is. That's thanks in part to the Getty Images app that anyone can download on their phone -- it's a free tool that any game-used memorabilia collector must have.

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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: Fanatics Authentic Alabama Crimson Tide football block (50 cards)
Price: $14.95 (via JCPenney.com)

What's inside one of these? Keep reading for a rundown and gallery.

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If you didn't know, Super Bowl LI is on Sunday with the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots facing off for top honors in the NFL -- something the Patriots have done four times and something the Falcons have come up short at grasping one previous time.

We all know the household names here and that list starts with the quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, but we also should all know that this is one of those games where an unknown and cardless player could become a postseason legend like Malcolm Butler two years ago.

So, who else should be on the radar of football collectors already?

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We're a week away from a rematch between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff -- and we're less than a week away from the newest college football cards from Panini America.

No, you haven't missed any First Buzz previews -- we're talking about promo cards for those attending the big game.

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Panini America's latest nod to college football comes via a high-end brand arriving on Wednesday with some of the biggest names in the NFL game today -- you know, guys like Ezekiel Elliott here -- and big names from the past, too.

It's 2016 Panini National Treasures Collegiate football and it will pack even more into every box than originally planned.

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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 boxes: 2015 Panini Alabama Crimson Tide football cards vs. 2015 Panini Ohio State Buckeyes football cards (blaster boxes)
Where to buy: Check Panini's webstore for NCAA cards from 2015-16.

ALABAMA
Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 80
Base set completion: 63 of 80 (79 percent)
Duplicates: 12

Notables on base cards – Big Al, DeMeco Ryans, Eddie Lacy, Latrell Sprewell, Joe Namath, John Hannah, Julio Jones, Mo Williams, Mark Ingram, Robert Horry, Ozzie Newsome, A.J. McCarron, Amari Cooper, Antonio McDyess

OHIO STATE
Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 80
Base set completion: 49 of 49 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 27

Notables on base cards – Brutus Buckeye, D'Angelo Russell, Cris Carter, Evan Turner, James Laurinaitis, Jim Jackson, Paul Warfield, Rutherford B. Hayes, Ted Ginn Jr., A.J. Hawk

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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: 2012 Upper Deck University of Alabama Crimson Tide football cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: Check online.

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
100 of 100 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 20

Notables on base cards – Nick Saban, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Lee Roy Jordan, Ken Stabler, John Hannah, Ozzie Newsome, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Thomas, Shaun Alexander

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After five years, he has signed.

Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones has signed his 2011 cards -- Rookie Cards that were all issued as redemption cards a half-decade ago.

"The folks inside the Panini America Acquisitions department never lost hope," read a statement on the company's blog. "And they never gave up. They kept working the phones, and remained in frequent contact with the NFLPA and Jones’ representatives in hopes of one day landing that elusive 'Yes' that would lead to Jones signing the thousands of key cards that had been safely in his possession since he received them during his rookie season."

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