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: 2017 Donruss Press Proofs Red #327 Patrick Mahomes II Rated Rookie
The Reason Graded: Oh what a difference a year makes. This time last year, this parallel Rookie Card was a pull from a retail box where it didn't do much for me -- in fact, I had it set aside to send away when I revisited a box out of curiosity and there he was ... and he wasn't alone. Now, he's an MVP lock and one of the hotter Rookie Cards in the hobby after a 50-touchdown season. These Reds are only found in retail boxes and I figured I'd take my shot at getting it in a slab since it looked pretty clean.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It was definitely that and what's surprising is that nobody else has pulled one and opted to slab it up. Yes, I know it's the rare autos from key brands that lead the way, but I think a slab for a card like this -- one where there may not be as many out there as other un-numbered parallels -- with a low pop could surprise you if you were a seller. (I'm not ... I stash my stuff 99.9 percent of the time.)

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

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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: 2018 Panini Chronicles baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 5 (four standard, one Revolution)
Cards per pack: 5 (three in revolution)
Cards in this box: 23
Base set completion: 
2 of 60 (3 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado

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What: 2019 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Platinum autographed baseballs
Arrives: Jan. 30
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's autographed baseball chase brand leads things off for a new year with stars and legends along with some specialty balls guaranteed per case that add to the chase.

The biggest chase of them all this year? Keep reading for that and a gallery of what's 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: 2018 Topps Gallery baseball cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 21 (20 standard, one jumbo box-topper)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 102
Base set completion: 
85 of 150 (57 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Nolan Ryan, Carlos Correa, Ichiro Suzuki, Don Mattingly, Will Clark, Cal Ripken Jr., Kris Bryant, Bo Jackson, Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, Anthony Rizzo, Trea Turner, Luis Severino

Rookie Cards (30) – Shohei Ohtani, Miguel Andujar, Rafael Devers, Tyler O'Neill, Victor Robles, Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres, A.J. Minter, Amed Rosario, Anthony Banda, Nick Kingham, Raudy Read, Mike Soroka, Scott Kingery, Freddy Peralta, Garrett Cooper, Miguel Gomez, Christian Arroyo, Tim Locastro, Kyle Farmer, Chris Stratton, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Hicks, Fernando Romero, Austin Meadows, Tyler Wade, Franmil Reyes, Victor Arano, Ryan McMahon, Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

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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: 2015 Panini Prizm baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 72
Base set completion: 
51 of 200 (26 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Yasiel Puig, Randy Johnson, Frank Thomas, Tony Gwynn, Anthony Rizzo, Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Yu Darvish, Pedro Martinez, Aroldis Chapman

Rookie Cards (6) – Matt Szczur, Dalton Pompey, Brandon Finnegan, Trevor May, Kendall Graveman, Edwin Escobar

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What: 2018 Topps Brooklyn Collection
Arrives: TBD
Box basics: Five on-card autographs "featured on recently discovered lost Topps designs."

What's buzz-worthy: Members of 582 Montgomery Club have received their invites to buy their super-premium box as part of their subscription -- and they have to decide by tomorrow at 5 p.m. Eastern, according to an email sent to members.

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

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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 packs: Eight 2018 Panini America Black Friday promo packs
Where to buy: Initially only as bonuses at participating shops (click here for past promo packs)

Packs per lot: 8
Cards per pack: 2
Cards in this run: 16
Base set completion: 
15 of 40 (38 percent)
Duplicates: 0

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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: 2018 Topps Chrome Update baseball cards (mega box)
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 28
Base set completion: 
24 of 100 (24 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Giancarlo Stanton, Andrew McCutchen, Marcell Ozuna, Todd Frazier, Jose Abreu, Gerrit Cole, Zack Cozart, Felipe Vazquez, Eric Hosmer

Rookie Cards (12) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Rafael Devers, Gleyber Torres, Dylan Cozens, Scott Kingery, Rhys Hoskins, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Austin Meadows, Freddy Peralta, Jordan Hicks, Dustin Fowler, Amed Rosario

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Update: It's here -- and here's your direct link.

Who wants to wait until Friday? Blowout Cards simply isn't as we're doing the ol' Black Friday thing all week long -- and Black Friday Week begins in less than 12 hours from now.

It all starts on Monday at 7 a.m. Eastern with the biggest deals in the business on tap beginning at that time and lasting as long as they can. But you shouldn't shop and run early as each day will have new deals -- and reloads -- all day long and Buzz will have Buzz Box giveaways -- boxes of free stuff -- each day, too. (Look for details on those tomorrow morning about an hour after the sale madness begins.)

While you've seen Doorbuster deals with each wave of Black November right here all month long, there's even more to come.

Like what? Keep reading for a sneak peek at some of the new deals on the way ...

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A holiday feel for holiday cardboard? That's exactly what Topps has coming to hobby shops this week.

Topps unveiled its plans for the 2018 Topps Holiday pack program -- a bonus for making a $10 purchase on the company's cardboard at participating hobby shops.

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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: Collecting extremes -- "The hit of my life" vs. "cardboard boredom" -- pondering 2019 MLB production, rare short-prints & breaks to start the week.

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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: 2018 Topps Update baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (several formats)
Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 360
Base set completion: 
315 of 300 (95 percent)
Duplicates: 4

Base cards of note – Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve, Max Muncy, Manny Machado, Alex Bregman, Ichiro Suzuki, Max Scherzer, Mookie Betts, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, J.D. Martinez, Justin Verlander, Giancarlo Stanton

Rookie Cards (75) – Notables include Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Gleyber Torres, David Bote, Tyler O'Neill, Shane Bieber, Scott Kingery, Dylan Cozens, Rhys Hoskins

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Fans at the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game will get their hands on some baseball cards created for the All-Star event.

Topps has created a 10-card set for the Saturday showcase that starts at 8 p.m. Eastern and will air live on MLB Network. It will be distributed in five-card packs to fans in attendance.

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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: 2018 Topps Archives baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
170 of 300 (57 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Bryce Harper, Harmon Killebrew, Tom Glavine, Mike Trout, Willie Stargell, Ralph Kiner, Randy Johnson, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente, Buster Posey, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Fergie Jenkins, Catfish Hunter, John Smoltz, Nolan Ryan, Gary Sanchez, Eddie Mathews, Barry Larkin, Rickey Henderson, Brooks Robinson, Whitey Ford, Mookie Betts, David Ortiz, Dave Winfield, Jimmie Foxx, Warren Spahn, Andrew Benintendi, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Mike Piazza, Jim Thome, Sandy Koufax, Eddie Murray, Albert Pujols, Carlton Fisk, Cal Ripken Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Duke Snider

Rookie Cards (10) – Notables include Ronald Acuña Jr., Victor Robles, Walker Buehler, Rafael Devers

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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: 2018 Topps Gold Label baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 33
Class 1 set completion: 
17 of 100 (17 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Mike Trout, Mariano Rivera, Jacob deGrom, Justin Upton, Joey Votto, Ted Williams, Gary Sanchez, Yu Darvish, Francisco Lindor, Adrian Beltre, Matt Olson, Miguel Sano, Jackie Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr., Aaron Judge

Rookie Cards (2) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Clint Frazier

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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: 2018 Panini Chronicles baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 5 (four standard, one Revolution)
Cards per pack: 5 (three in revolution)
Cards in this box: 23
Base set completion: 
2 of 60 (3 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Gleyber Torres, Starling Marte

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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 wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is our finale for today.

The box: 2013 Panini Pinnacle baseball cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here

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

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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 wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 1.

The box: 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

What's inside this one? 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: 2018 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard and one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 9
Cards in this box: 225
Base set completion: 
193 of 200 (97 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – All of them ... though there aren't many. (It's about RCs.)

Rookie Cards (47) – Notables include Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Gleyber Torres, Scott Kingery, Dylan Cozens, David Bote, Austin Meadows, Tyler O'Neill, Dereck Rodriguez

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Who's No. 1? Well, when it comes to 2019 Topps Series 1 baseball cards, we al have a say.

Topps launched a collector vote site on Monday that allows voting for the leadoff card this week.

There also will be prizes for some of those who choose to vote 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: 2018 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 9
Cards in this box: 71
Base set completion: 
62 of 200 (31 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – None

Rookie Cards (16) – Gleyber Torres, Ryan Yarbrough, P.J. Conlon, Braxton Lee, Austin Meadows, Mike Soroka, Shane Carle, Jaime Barria, Garrett Cooper, Andrew Suarez, Jacob Barnes, Niko Goodrum, Tomas Nido, Jacob Nottingham, Jaime Schultz, Tyler O'Neill

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Veteran artist Monty Sheldon's Artballs are coming to collectors in a new way soon.

Just 15 boxes of Piece of the Game Baseball Authenticated Masterpieces will now arrive in late March with each of them containing 10 blind-wrapped autographed game-used baseballs adorned with his colorful artwork inside.

They're all one-of-a-kind paintings on MLB Authenticated signed and game-used baseballs except for one which will be a ball signed by Babe Ruth on its sweet spot.

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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: 2018 Panini Chronicles baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 5 (four standard, one Revolution)
Cards per pack: 5 (three in revolution)
Cards in this box: 23
Base set completion: 
2 of 60 (3 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Corey Seager, Jose Abreu

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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: 2018 Topps Fire baseball cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: Initially only at Target (here when available)

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 119
Base set completion: 
98 of 200 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Ichiro Suzuki, Aaron Judge, Manny Machado, Justin Verlander, Gary Sanchez, Ernie Banks, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, Anthony Rizzo, Randy Johnson, Andrew Benintendi, Willie McCovey, Nolan Arenado, Cody Bellinger, Rickey Henderson, Clayton Kershaw, Eddie Mathews, Pedro Martinez, Jose Altuve, Chipper Jones

Rookie Cards (22) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Miguel Andújar, Rhys Hoskins, J.D. Davis, Willy Adames, Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, Clint Frazier, Anthony Banda, Dominic Smith, Max Fried, Sandy Alcantara, Lucas Sims, Dustin Fowler, Zack Granite, Jordan Hicks, Brandon Woodruff, Chance Sisco, Paul Blackburn, Garrett Cooper, Jack Flaherty

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The set called Topps X Bryce Harper is here in two formats -- one with hits, one without -- and is on sale directly from Topps' website for just the next 30 days or until it's sold out.

The theme? It's 220, or second to none, and the standard box includes 30 cards. The set includes 14 basic cards -- Harper's starting nine and pitchers -- along with 16 inserts in three sets. Those are five cards for Best Hair (of course), five for Bryce's Heroes and six in the Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good set.

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