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 ...

LEGENDARY INK
The Card: Undertaker 2022 Panini Revolution WWE Sunburst Autographs (/99)
The Reason Graded: This cost me less than what two boxes would have when I bought it raw -- and then I submitted it to grade after seeing that some typical problem spots for cards from this brand weren't really issues. (In my view, the back corners and edges can be funky for both years.) Why grab this? Undertaker was not a regular signer for a long time and even when has signed cards in recent years he's been more limited since his signing fees are always high -- seemingly far higher than others -- based on public signing prices. I have his ink on a few items sold direct from WWE in the past, but I hadn't rally bothered with anything for cards and figured this could make for a nice slab -- even with sticker ink -- as the photo is as iconic as it gets for a legendary character in WWE history. This would be a perfect kind of auto card if it had an on-card sig ... and it's still not far off as it is with that photo. It's also a perhaps-overlooked brand in the Panini WWE portfolio.
The Grade: CGC 9

Reality Check: A nine I'm fine with -- so no worries here -- but anything less than that I would have been kind of mad at myself for trying it. Why? Generally, I don't like pricey surprises with grading, so I don't slab as much ink as I should as I own plenty of them raw. I need to do more slabs like this, but a miss on cheaper, oddball cards that are interesting aren't as risky in my book.

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

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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: Vaughn Grissom, Aaron Judge, Field of Dreams, Bill Russell, the future of football cards and ... a repacked 1986-87 Fleer box break?

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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: The National is now, wrapper redemption chatter, big MegaMix pulls, live at the show and more.

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Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five affordable autographs you can get at The National this year.

WHAT?
Frank Whaley, actor ($39 any item; $10 inscription)
There's only one inscription I'd add with an autograph for this veteran actor who will be signing at the show and that would be on a Pulp Fiction photo something like this one. And that inscription is "What?" -- never has a four-letter addition ever been a better buy. While I suspect he and others signing -- or show promotors -- will have photo options you should be able to buy, I'd choose my own destiny and find something like this. Sports fans might consider a Moonlight Graham photo of him from Field of Dreams or maybe one could consider something from The Doors where he played legendary guitarist Robby Kreiger. It's all about a cool item that can make the ink here and there's good potential with a long list of credits. Heck, at this price I'd try something for all three movies -- or maybe Career Opportunities. Frank Whaley signs on Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. (Times all subject to change.)

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

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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: The Field of Dreams Game, big pulls, questioning MLB's GOAT and more.

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What: 2020 Topps Archives baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 19
Box basics: Two autograph cards per 24-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps Archives is back with looks back at the 1950s, 1970s and 2000s as part of the base set while also spotlighting favorites from the past and present with past card designs.

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

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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: MLB will head to Iowa in 2020, collectors react to Zion Williamson news, big pulls, post-National chatter and more in today's 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 are a dozen weird, cheap or interesting cards.

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BEFORE THE NBA CAREER ... 
The Card: LeBron James 2003 Sports Illustrated For Kids #264 (BGS 9)
The Price: $11
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: There was a time when this was a popular card in the hobby -- maybe not Tiger Woods SI For Kids big, but popular. What is it? It's a card pulled from a perforated sheet in an issue of the kids' magazine, something it has done since the 1980s, showcasing countless big-name athletes and many others who don't have much -- or any -- cardboard. Everybody knows how much hype there was for James back then -- and his first cardboard from SAGE was huge -- but this one was one of only a few options until his NBA cardboard arrival on Rookie Cards (and plenty more) on 2003-04 releases. Ultimately all those early cards don't command as much interest as NBA stuff, but I liked the look and price on this one for a slab -- especially when you consider higher-graded cards can push $50-100 and 10s can be quite big at auction even today ... at least for a card found in a magazine.
Grab a box right here: No boxes for this one ... click here for NBA boxes

Keep reading for five more interesting items ...

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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 9.

The box: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box) 
The cost: $14.99 (Click here for hobby)

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

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New information has come to light, man.

Fans of The Big Lebowski and other Hollywood creations from the big and small screens may have an extra reason to visit the toy aisle or thanks to GreenLight Collectibles and its Hollywood line that has been bringing vehicles from the reel world to us all.

Ok ... these specialty toys aren't exactly new -- they've been going since roughly 2011 -- but there have been as many as 15 series so far and Walter Sobchak's van was among them and that's enough that Buzz needed to take a look.

And we've found plenty more cool stuff.

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Now that 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter has arrived, we get our second of the Kevin Costner autographed movie cards released by Topps this year.

While his Allen & Ginter card is not branded as a Field of Dreams card on the front, it does list (Ray) Kinsella as his name on the front. His 2016 Topps Archives card is clearly a Bull Durham card for the memorable Crash Davis character.

Both are memorable movies, which leads to a question of pure curiosity here ... which one would you want? Tell Buzz here on the poll or via Twitter.

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

What: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
Arrives: July 20
Box basics: Three hits in every 24-pack hobby box

What's buzz-worthy: "If you rip it, he will come" is a possible line here as Kevin Costner's character in Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella, gets the movie-style nod on Costner's certified autographs. Other surprises in this one? Roman coin Relics ... otherwise the 2016 edition is much like the 10 past releases of this heavily collected retro-styled brand.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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If he signs it, they will come.

Leaf Trading Cards revealed on Friday that it has the first certified autographs of actor Kevin Costner found in packs of the upcoming 2015 Leaf Trinity baseball product.

Other than occasional cuts, he had never signed for a card company.

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