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

AS GOOD AS IT GETS
The Card: Caitlin Clark 2024-25 Panini Instant WNBA (/26,980) -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I watched and waited for the most part with Caitlin Clark cards as Panini Instant stuff arrived regularly and her in-pack WNBA Rookie Cards arrived later in the year. But, when this award-winner card popped up with a clean and iconic studio photo? Well, I pretty much instantly (pun not intended as it's simply true) grabbed a 10-pack with an eye for a slab. It's in a past Buzz Buys (hit the archives) and this is the result a few months later.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)

Reality Check: This one is heavily made and should be heavily slabbed -- the number of Pristines has at least doubled just in the few weeks since I got these back from CGC -- but many won't be checking in at this top mark. I didn't slab to expect a perfect 10 but I thought this one had potential after going through my stack. Three of my 10 had solid centering and this one was first to make that cut ... with this mark I may not need to send in the other two. It's my lone Clark slab ... and it's strong enough it might stay that way just so I can say I went 1-for-1 grading here. We'll see.

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

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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 ... and this time around it's a big one to end the year.

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HIS TIME OF YEAR
The Card: Nick Frost as Santa Claus 2018 Topps Doctor Who Signature Series Autographs
The Price: About $20
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This set is a loaded one in terms of its depth for the long-running, multi-generational UK television series that has a number of stars in it where you may also know them from elsewhere. One of those names? Nick Frost, who you might know as Simon Pegg's right-hand man in hits such as Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and Paul. He's a veteran actor and star in the UK so he's got far more notable credits than those and then, of course, this smaller spot in the Who universe that got him this card. He's got about 20 total certified autos from three Doctor Who releases and this is the newest one. I grabbed it months ago -- they may have dried up since then -- to drop this right here this time of year.
Grab a box right here: None for this one ... see non-sports boxes here.

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