Two big names, one cool surprise.

My latest ball in this Collecting Game-used series is one that has two solid names attached to it -- Atlanta Braves 1B Matt Olson and former Braves SS Dansby Swanson from a game last season -- and it's got something else as part of its usage that I have not yet seen while tracking down and documenting a few dozen or so game-used balls.

The surprise? This one was used for an entire at-bat for one of them -- a full-count walk even -- after contact from the other giving it a life that's beyond many baseballs where they are used for a pitch or two and often for merely just one batter. Atop that, it's got some impressive discoloration from bat contact and even more impressive scuffing from ground contact that's just not as common as you might think with a lot of big-league baseballs that are prepped for play (so they're dirty enough to grip) but taken out if damage gets to be too much. (Sometimes you might get one ... but not often both.)

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? We turn back the clock to today in 2018 ...

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? An MLB match-up that was in the headlines in the last few days.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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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: 2021 Topps Big League Baseball cards (blaster box)
First Buzz Preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

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: 2021 Topps Chrome baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: 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: 2021 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview: 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: 2021 Topps Heritage baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: 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 pack: 2020 Topps Mini baseball cards
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: Here when available (initially offered via Topps.com)

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This month's Collecting Game-used item is really just a tip ... a reminder to watch out for postseason offers from teams that need to get rid of stuff that has piled up over the last year.

Fire-sale Season for MLB teams is all about stuff that's left over for them ... knowing that another season's worth of game-used items will be showing up before you know it -- and even they don't have unlimited amounts of space (or maybe patience) for used equipment to pile up.

The ball you see above? Yes, it's oddly pearl white -- clearly not prepped and rubbed-down for game use -- and it's got a shockingly neon green color on it, too. Meanwhile, green is something I didn't have to cough up to get this particular ball into my hands.

It was a freebie, a throw-in -- a batting practice home run ball -- with the purchase of a dozen game-used balls via Phillies Authentics. It's fully authenticated just like the baker's dozen of baseballs I grabbed for just $10 a ball. Shipped. And it wasn't even a mystery box situation, either -- I'm a sucker for those -- as I got to pick my dozen off a list.

The only mystery was whose name was attached to this one.

You can keep reading to see the details ...

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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 Stadium Club Chrome baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

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Group breaks have been a game-changer for the card industry for several years now and from time to time Buzz will jump into a BlowoutTV break of some type and break down the results of what he landed by picking up a team. There are near-daily breaks right here with Matt on Blowout TV during weekday working hours and even more from Houdini and others over on the forum in the evening.

Now, it's time for this post's break breakdown -- two spots in a pair 2020 Topps Allen & Ginter cases.

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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 Big League baseball cards (blaster box)
First Buzz Preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 8.

The box: 2018 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (hanger box tray)
The cost: Will vary -- click for hobby and other formats

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: 2019 Topps Finest baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12 (via two mini-boxes)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
45 of 101 (45 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Ronald Acuña Jr., Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Ozzie Albies, Clayton Kershaw, Buster Posey, Christian Yelich, Alex Bregman, Miguel Cabrera, Joey Votto, Max Scherzer, Francisco Lindor, Miguel Andujar, Trea Turner

Rookie Cards (13) – Pete Alonso, Ramon Laureano, D.J. Stewart, Cedric Mullins, Rowdy Tellez, Steven Duggar, Touki Toussaint, Ryan O'Hearn, Chance Adams, Luis Urias, Danny Jansen, Kolby Allard, Kyle Wright

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 4.

The box: 2018 Topps Heritage High Number hanger pack tray (eight packs)
The cost: Click here for a few formats

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 Bowman's Best baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
23 of 70 (33 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Prospects set completion: 
8 of 29 (28 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable base cards – Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado, Andrew Benintendi

Rookie Cards (8) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Gleyber Torres, Ozzie Albies, J.P. Crawford, Francisco Mejia, Brian Anderson, Fernando Romero, Willy Adames

Prospect cards (8) – Jerred Kelenic, Austin Riley, Jo Adell, Casey Mize, Jordan Groshans, Mitch Keller, Jordyn Adams, Fernando Tatis 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: 2017 Topps Holiday Box baseball cards
Where to buy: Click here

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 98
Base set completion: 
92 of 200 (46 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander, Ichiro Suzuki, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Paul Goldschmidt, Yu Dervish, Joe Mauer, Clayton Kershaw, Giancarlo Stanton, Trea Turner

Rookie Cards (24) – Aaron Judge, Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Andrew Benintendi, Yoan Moncada, Ian Happ, Derek Fisher, Trey Mancini, Jake Thompson, Jordan Montgomery, Jose DeLeon, Yulieski Gurriel, Luke Weaver, Alex Reyes, Carson Fulmer, Tyler Glasnow, Bradley Zimmer, German Marquez, Josh Bell, Amir Garrett, Antonio Senzatela, Tyler Austin, Guillermo Heredia, Dinelson Lamet

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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: Initially only at Target (click here for past mega boxes)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 28
Base set completion: 
25 of 100 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Aaron Judge, Javier Baez, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hader, Mitch Haniger, Jose Altuve, Charlie Blackmon, Jose Bautista, J.D. Martinez, Chris Sale, Christian Yelich, Willson Contreras, Corey Kluber

Rookie Cards (12) – Walker Buehler, Gleyber Torres, Victor Robles, Chris Stratton, Michael Soroka (two different), Nick Kingham, Clint Frazier, Daniel Mengden, Willy Adames, Fernando Romero, Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

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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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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 Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 25 (24 plus box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
127 of 300 (42 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Johnny Bench, Dave Winfield, bullpen car, Sloane Stephens, Manny Machado, Jose Altuve, Gary Sanchez, Theo Epstein, Lou Gehrig, Jim Thome, Anthony Rizzo, Genie Bouchard, Tommy Wiseau, Cal Ripken Jr., Corey Seager, Sandy Koufax, Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper, Bo Jackson, Ted Williams, Roger Maris, Barry Larkin, Ernie Banks, Albert Pujols, Lindsey Vonn, Cody Bellinger, Wade Boggs, Alex Bregman, John Smoltz, Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Brooks Robinson, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson

Rookie Cards (21) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Rafael Devers, Miguel Andujar, Dustin Fowler (SP), Sandy Alcantara (SP), Jen-Ho Tseng (SP), Victor Robles, Andrew Stevenson, Jackson Stephens, Anthony Banda, Austin Hays, Tyler Mahle, Parker Bridwell, Jack Flaherty, Chance Sisco, Luiz Gohara, Scott Kingery, Alex Verdugo, Dominic Smith, Francisco Mejia

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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 Big League baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6 (five standard, one Blue bonus parallel pack)
Cards per pack: 10 in standard four in bonus
Cards in this box: 54 (plus one more on the box)
Base set completion: 
41 of 400 (10 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Honus Wagner, Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, Addison Russell, Anthony Rendon, Matt Olson, Didi Gregorius, Frank Thomas statue, B&O Warehouse, Chase Field swimming pool, NL wins leaders, AL walks leaders, NL WHIP leaders, NL doubles leaders, NL runs leaders, NL strikeout leaders

Rookie Cards (5) – Clint Frazier, Felix Jorge, Brandon Woodruff, Jordan Hicks, Harrison Bader

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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 baseball pulls, baseball debates and a pair of impressive non-sports finds.

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The time is now.

The 2018 Topps Now Road to Opening Day team sets have arrived on Topps.com and that means we'll see checklists fill out in real time as the highlights arrive during spring training.

The first set to show a card so far? The Los Angeles Angels and the first spring card for Shohei Ohtani -- and there is an autographed team set option once again this season, too.

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New York Yankees fans have plenty to ? about this season -- and Steiner Sports is on it.

The New Rochelle, N.Y.-based company revealed on Wednesday that it's offering three "Thumbs Down" autographed baseballs to go with the team's sarcastic trend that has it pushing toward a possible World Series appearance.

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The Green Bay Packers' quarterback has a new home -- at least for autographs.

Steiner Sports revealed on Tuesday that it has signed Super Bowl champion and two-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers to an exclusive deal for autographed memorabilia.

He joins a roster of new signees that includes the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and a football roster that previously included Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Lou Holtz and Archie Manning among others.

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