Game-used hockey pucks aren't all that flashy of an item compared to baseballs which are prepped for game use and then collect dirt and damage through their life of play -- it's just one way hockey's just a little different than other sports.

Sure, damage can and is done but you won't necessarily see it on every puck. But when it comes to those glorious goal-loving (and smelly) rubber rocks, there is some oldschool charm in how they are taped and marked after use. It's something that's been done for years -- and that can make a gamer more interesting along with, of course, elusive action photos of them in use.

The example you see here? It's a top-notch photo but the puck just isn't in the original frame -- but you can tell where it is by the direction Los Angeles Kings defenseman Derek Forbort and goalie Jonathan Quick are looking. Spoiler: It's a top-shelf goal by Florida Panthers star Evgenii Dadonov.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the puck in action.

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Fanatics' continued growth in the sports memorabilia market has a new chapter.

The Jacksonville, Fla-based company has acquired the assets of Steiner Sports, according to a tweet via veteran sports business reporter Darren Rovell. 

Steiner's deals include game-used memorabilia for the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knocks, New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden.

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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: Luka Doncic signs auto-mem deal with Fanatics, pondering punter cards, not a bad redemption to find, Panini One pulls, NBA breaks ... and The Goodwill LeBron. (The Gold Refractor above? It was purchased for just $80.)

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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.

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NOT A FIRST ... BUT SHE'S FINALLY ARRIVED 
The Card: Lacey Evans 2018 Topps WWE NXT Autographs
The Price: $5
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This former U.S. Marine is a newcomer to the main roster in WWE after making her debut in the No. 1 spot in this week's Royal Rumble match, but she's appeared on NXT cards since 2017 and had her first autographs back in that year, too. (The First NXT Card logo used here? Simple mistake.) I picked this one up partly because of the price (this card has sold for up to $20 ... even more for parallels) but also because of her anticipated arrival. Debut WWE ink can sell well -- I clicked and bought thinking it was her first -- but ultimately I added this one for a simple reason ... I didn't yet have any of her autos. One bonus here besides the price? This release is the home of her first on-card autos -- the previous ones have been stickers.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Topps WWE NXT wrestling cards

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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Compare the schedules of the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns and it should be obvious that NFL collectors just don't have as many ways to land game-used memorabilia.

There's a big difference between 16 and 162 games -- just not as much stuff gets used in the NFL -- but there's also got to be a difference in how game-used memorabilia gets out and into fans' hands despite some similarities. Both leagues have auction sites and some teams sell their stuff to the public or memorabilia companies, of course, but it's clear that it's just not as easy to find game-used memorabilia from football teams.

That's what makes the pieces that you can find a big deal -- there's plenty of potential demand but not much supply at all. Fanatics is one company that has deals with a few NFL teams and it receives a small volume of items regularly during the season. Pieces arrive and sell rather quickly if you watch the company's site -- there are literally no Browns game-used footballs available as I type this (unless you count the plaques where the company cut one up). Meanwhile, not that long ago, there were a few options.

That's where this tale of a new gem in my collection comes from.

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California's devastating wildfires have changed lives forever this week and the San Francisco 49ers are hoping to help people via an auction of several jerseys worn on the field just last night.

Fanatics Auctions and the 49ers are currently auctioning six game-used jerseys from their 27-23 loss to the Giants on Monday Night Football with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the North Valley Community Foundation based in Chico, Calif.

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It's something we haven't (yet?) seen in a trading card, but post-game celebration confetti isn't just fodder for random eBay auctions any more. 

With a new NFL season here, Buzz was curious if any new memorabilia or other pieces had popped up yet via Fanatics, which helps bring new game-used, Rookie Premiere-used and autographs to the masses when they're not found in packs of cards.

And that's when I found this unique gem of sorts. It's a 10-inch tall display for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and its the home of a capsule of post-game confetti from Super Bowl LII. It's a $99.99 item ... and it's not alone. 

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Remember yesterday when I mentioned finding a little something something while waiting in the Topps redemption line at the National Sports Collectors Convention?

This is that.

The Steiner Auctions booth near Topps is one that was right alongside the redemption line as it wrapped around the booth on my day of working the lines at the show. Steiner had a simple mystery bag that delivered far more than I had expected it would on Thursday. The signage seems simple enough -- and it is -- a Hall of Famer autograph of some type in an envelope for $15.

But why did I say bag?

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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 Texas Rangers game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.95

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

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The biggest star on the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals has shed his playoff beard -- and you can own the pieces that helped make that happen.

No, seriously.

Alexander Ovechkin's Gilette razors -- two blades with unique images added to their handles -- are up for grabs on the NHL Auctions block as part of one-of-a-kind autographed photo displays.

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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 8.

The box: Fanatics Authentic Houston Astros game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.95

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

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You may have seen a few of these Fanatics mystery boxes pop up from time to time here on The Buzz. It's a new kick of mine to add a little variety to the Buzz Break lineup on the cheap but with a little more flash -- or at least some curiosity -- than the typical blaster box. (Don't worry, we'll still have plenty of those.)

As you can probably tell, this box looks a little different than the game-used MLB baseball mystery boxes that I've been busting here. This was a one-time deal to add a little something different to my personal stash -- also something even cheaper than the baseballs -- and something different to present here. And it highlighted not only differences between sports but also differences in how leagues can even handle authentication because of those simple differences.

If you didn't figure it out from the headline, it's a game-used hockey puck.

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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 Seattle Mariners game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $29.95 (via JCPenney.com)

What's inside this A+ box? 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: Fanatics Philadelphia Phillies game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.95 (via JCPenney.com)

What's inside this box? 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: Fanatics Authentic Oakland A's game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $29.95 (via JCPenney.com)

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

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On the outside, the MLB game-used baseball you see here looks much like any other ball -- whether it was a home run, a pitch in the dirt or a foul ball.

What makes this ball unique and any other like it? That little hologram and its code, which unlocks its uniqueness. If you're a veteran collector, this is nothing new -- the MLB Authentication program has been around since 2001 helping get collectors as close to game as possible with items pulled straight from the field of play (or the players' backs) to be stickered and authenticated forever.

But one recent development of the last season or two is some added information about baseballs in particular -- specific play sequences including players involved, pitch speeds, pitch types and anything else of note -- and that makes even these somewhat-typical-looking baseballs a little more interesting.

This ball? I got it from a grab bag of sorts ... keep reading for the details.

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Fanatics is stockpiling New York Yankees sluggers.

Giancarlo Stanton joined its team of exclusive autograph signers on Wednesday -- a group that includes his teammate Aaron Judge along with a number of other stars in the game today. It's a pact dubbed as "his first-ever exclusive memorabilia deal, allowing the company to become the sole distributor of his highly sought after collection of autographs and collectibles" via Fanatics Authentic, its memorabilia division.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to select the right memorabilia partner, and I’m excited to start this relationship with Fanatics as I get ready for my first season in New York,” Stanton said in a prepared statement. “The Yankees have the world’s best fans, and knowing that Pinstripes faithful located in New York and abroad can have access to the largest assortment of trusted, officially licensed products made me really feel comfortable with the Fanatics team.”

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We all know that Friday is a big day in the film world with the arrival of the next Star Wars film, The Last Jedi.

It's a behemoth we've seen teased on TV and online for months -- and even longer in the toy aisles -- and now that we're days away from its release there's even more to potentially be seen and heard about the latest chapter in the legendary franchise. But, like spoilers, I've tried my best to avoid most of it -- all of the merchandising and marketing that can include everything from food to car commercials and then all that stuff in the toy aisle.

So, maybe it's just my situation -- it's a black hole of sorts I don't want sucked into because there's just too much I'd potentially want but ultimately don't really need -- but when I saw that there was a massive amount of sports-related Star Wars items in one online location I didn't expect?

Well, that's why we're here ...

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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're a dedicated collector or even a casual one, you already own a piece of the action from this year's NFLPA Rookie Premiere found in a pack of cards.

But there's also another way to get memorabilia from a crop of notable new NFL rookies from the event as Fanatics is auctioning event-worn jerseys, cleats and gloves from a number of the players right now.

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Ok, it's not the weekend, but this was slated to be sent last night -- further proving that it was a busy one on The Buzz this past week. Here are 10 stories worth a look if you missed out. Check 'em out & hit the subscribe button at right if you want email updates.

This Week's Big Hit?
It seems that 2017 Donruss' arrival has collectors talking and there's fun to be found inside its packs. Click here to start with variations and find links to checklists & more. After that, check out a Buzz Break of a hobby box right here.

Keep reading for more ...

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A unique gamer from one of MLB's most-iconic sluggers is among several game-used pieces up for grabs in the latest Goldin Auctions sale.

It's not a bat used by Roger Maris, Babe Ruth, Tris Speaker, Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, Ichiro Suzuki or Alex Rodriguez, but all of those stars' clubs are up for grabs, too, as part of a series of auctions ending this week.

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The Chicago Cubs' World Series championship has prompted plenty of memorabilia and, of course, with that success comes high demand and higher costs for companies to get players to sign.

That's the price of doing business.

But for Fanatics there's plenty of business -- and plenty of autographed memorabilia -- for Cubs fans to chase including high-dollar ticket items like this 12-baseball shadowbox as part of an impressive  and deep array of World Series memorabilia that might not have been seen before for a championship squad.

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=CPtF-sDJUBg%3Flist%3DPL1Lhsp8U_jGpPaKtFHgAD5QXWlKNBpPxM

Sometimes a memorabilia show can be memorable for reasons besides the memorabilia.

The Fanatics show in Chicago this weekend was just that for Steve Millsap during a photo opp with Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

Check out the video above and hear more from Millsap here in the Blowout forum.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com.