Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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ZION! ZION! ZION!
The Item: Kobe Bryant & Zion Williamson 2019-20 NBA Hoops Art Signatures dual-auto (BGS 9.5/10)
The Price: $99,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card is an interesting one in that, unless there was some other seriously advanced-planning signing sessions last year, it will absolutely never happen again making it an even more amazing (and somber) creation. This is one of the rarest inclusions in hobby boxes of 2019-20 NBA Hoops with on-card autographs of the future Hall of Famer gone too soon and the rookie who has dominated the league so far this year. Williamson just recently posted a career-high scoring night -- and more are likely on the way as he is putting up a more-than-respectable scoring streak. Any and all Zion ink will be in demand more than ever -- and this one might hold up as one of the the biggest autos of them all no matter what one-of-a-kind high-end stuff might be coming. This came out of a super-affordable flagship-style Hoops pack and it's a classic. I don't see it getting that BIN price, but I could see some big, big offers. Right now it's the highest of just two copies graded ... and we have no idea how many more might even have been signed.
Similar Pieces: Zion Williamson autographs on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019-20 NBA Hoops hobby boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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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 pulls, 2020 Topps Heritage, Nick Solak and more in today's edition.

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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: The Houston Astros' cheating chatter ain't slowing down, new NBA and NFL breaks, showing off 1990s NFL stuff, picking a team and favorite MLB memorabilia pieces in this Sunday edition.

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Sometimes, it's just dumb luck.

That's the lesson of this month's Collecting Game-used item. In short, this baseball had been sitting on my desk a while now -- I picked it up via a grab bag/mystery box via Fanatics for a cheap price (less than two blasters) -- and figured I'd finally do a photo check for the players noted on its MLB Authentication.

It had three names attached but none that made me really want to go look -- the downside of a mystery box -- but it turned out to be a jaw-dropper thanks to details mentioned in info from the photographer who's noted above. This swing from Wilmer Difo came in the eighth inning -- his only swing of the at-bat -- that made this one a match.

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

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Game-used collectors have been seriously spoiled since the arrival of the MLB Authentication program back in 2001 (I'm one of them), but there are still items that are fully authenticated that require more research for their full story to be known.

This is one of those pieces.

Sometimes, items can't be photo-matched to photos or videos because there are no obvious features or personalized touches that can make them stand out from others. However, for my final item of the year in this Collecting Game-used series, I present to you an item that I recently found that needed a little more research despite it having the coveted MLBA sticker -- but it has those obvious features. In fact, it's a piece that has so many unique features that I was able to track those touches and decipher its lifetime of use. (Well, at least as much as one can without official word from a player to know their uniform habits or info from an equipment manager, who would have been responsible for inventory and replacement of pieces when requested.)

In the case of this Cleveland Indians batting helmet, it was authenticated merely as a "team-issued" piece by MLBA in April 2014. However, the obvious use it shows is from continued play and a distinct lack of maintenance and cleaning (as likely requested by the player). It turns out to be from the entire previous season -- and that was a successful one for the team as it made it to the postseason for just the third time during the 2000s at that point. This helmet's grass, chips, impressive layers of pine tar and other marks can be documented in photos before it was taken out of storage and into collector hands.

Keep reading to see the details ... and the item in action.

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Collecting game-used memorabilia is dramatically different in the vintage years vs. today in many ways -- styles, materials, documentation, amount of use and, most importantly, availability.

For some sports, it's still definitely out there and available regularly -- you just have to flip through a modern auction catalog to see gamers from plenty of MLB legends, NFL stars, NHL notables and NBA greats. However, that volume dramatically changes from sport to sport and from era to era. Vintage NBA? It's just not as plentiful -- and I'm no expert here for this sport, just a casual collector who does homework -- and sometimes you have to bite the bullet and grab an item if it presents itself. Why? Because you never know if you'll ever see anything like it ever again ... even if you can't 110-percent know that it's legit. (You just have to do your homework and do it if you're confident in the piece.)

That happened to me recently with one vintage-era item from the player you see above, John Johnson. I added a piece with a few features that checked out and I believe my new addition very likely to be legit --- but I'll never know for sure.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and see this month's item.

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Not all game-used items are obviously documentable in this age of super-HD cameras, super-slo-mo replays and non-stop viral replay potential.

While that's tough for some to understand -- something just as perplexing as the idea that not every single little thing at a game can be authenticated and stickered -- it's also not that tough as some types of items are anonymous in their roles before our eyes. While this Collecting Game-used series has stuck with basics like caps, balls, bases and pucks in the past, this month's piece isn't one where I can definitively photo-match it to in-game action. However, it is authenticated as close as possible as it can be -- it's legit and it was a pick-up from the last days of Steiner Sports, which will be no more next month after that company was purchased by Fanatics.

What is the item? Keep reading to see the details ...

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What: 2019 Super Break Super Deluxe Edition
Arrives: Aug. 30
Box basics: At least eight premium items per case
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Super Break is back with a high-end option for card and memorabilia collectors as part of a limited release.

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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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David Robertson will soon take the mound for just his third big-league franchise as the closer on a Philadelphia Phillies team that includes one of MLB's biggest stars as well as a number of young players all looking for one thing.

A World Series ring.

Robertson got one of those a decade ago when he was in just his second year with the New York Yankees. Since then, he's racked up 137 saves (11th-best among active players once Craig Kimbrel re-signs) and despite that success he's not the easiest player to collect. Want a certified autograph card of him in any MLB uniform? It doesn't exist. That alone should be enough to have you reacting like this.

But that's where a little collecting game-used comes in ... at least for my collection.

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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DEREK JETER'S CLEATS
The Item: Derek Jeter 2018 Topps Diamond Icons game-used cleat card (1/1)
The Price: $210.50 after five bids (with five-plus days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a one-of-a-kind crazy card with the bottom of one of this future Hall of Famer's cleats embedded into the piece. These rare pulls came from a high-end brand that's loaded with nothing but hits and these are among the most-unique cards Topps has ever made. Simple as that. It will be a fun auction to watch, though for my personal tastes I might just chase a common player's cleat -- or a complete Jeter cleat. (I think it might get that kind of pricey with this auction.)
Similar Pieces: Check out Derek Jeter autographs on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Topps Diamond Icons

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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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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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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FINALE OR LAUNCHING PAD?
The Item: Patrick Mahomes II 2017 Panini Absolute Football Rookie Premiere Triple Materials (/149)
The Price: $450 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This weekend is either the finale to a huge season or a launching pad further into the stratosphere as Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots with the winner headed to the Super Bowl. It's the new big name against the guy who's basically the greatest of all time -- or at worst the greatest of his time -- and these are players commanding nothing but big bucks on cardboard. This card? It's on the lower side of the Buy-It-Now options out there -- see the link below for Crazy Town pricing on eBay
Similar Pieces: Patrick Mahomes autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2017 NFL boxes (he's in many of them)

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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Just 10 of the most-notable items in the sports world that were sold in 2018 totaled more than $8.4 million, ranging from a $2.8 million 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card to a baseball signed by the first class for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

And they all had one thing in common -- PSA or PSA/DNA authentication.

The Newport Beach, Calif.-based company recently took the time to examine the markets last year and touted its Top 10 for 2018. Keep reading to see everything on the list.

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What: 2018 Onyx Premiere Gear game-used memorabilia
Arrives: Oct. 31
Box basics: One game-used memorabilia piece per box
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This low-print-run MLBPA-approved product arrives with something for game-used collectors in every box with a mix of past and present MLB stars as well as prospects who could be in the majors soon.

Keep reading for more info, including a full checklist.

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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BIGGEST THING IN BASEBALL RIGHT NOW
The Item: Ronald Acuña 2017 Bowman's Best Green Refractor auto /99 (BGS 10-10)
The Price: $290 after 44 bids (active auction)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The early autograph cards for this young slugger typically get graded and put on eBay with new-car pricing but this card -- one that came just a .5 away from a perfect BGS Black slab -- is up as an active auction that will close in five days. His home run binge is something that we've already talked about here this week and it will be interesting to see where this one lands. Bowman's Best cards are typically overlooked vs. Chromes but they can command some good cash at times -- and it should do pretty well in a scenario like this where he's red-hot on the field.
Similar Pieces: More Ronald Acuña cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for MLB boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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A Babe Ruth game-used New York Yankees cap from the early 1930s is dominating on the auction block via SCP Auctions with its price approaching the quarter-million-dollar mark.

The auction's reserve is not yet met, but there are a couple days remaining before the final gavel. After 10 bids, it stands at $235,795 but is estimated to push as much as $800,000 before the auction is final.

It's not just any cap worn by "The Bambino," either, this is a piece of memorabilia with a little extra Yankees history attached to it.

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Wade LeBlanc's career numbers probably won't shock you, but the left-hander has been good enough long enough to stick around in Major League Baseball for a decade.

This journeyman has been a Padre, a Marlin, an Astro, an Angel, a Yankee, an Angel again, a Blue Jay, a Mariner, a Pirate, a Yankee again and a Mariner once again in 10 MLB seasons. In the right here right now, you'll see him leading the headlines on the Seattle Mariners section of MLB.com as he struck out a career-high 10 batters last night as he upped his career record to 36-36. He's 6-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 76 strikeouts this season and is on pace for a career year in wins (8-12 his best back in 2010) and strikeouts (110 that same year).

Along the way to this point, though, he's also played elsewhere. He's been a Buffalo Bison, a Seibu Lion (yes, Japan), a Salt Lake Bee, an Oklahoma City RedHawk, a New Orleans Zephyr, a Tucson Padre, a Portland Beaver, a San Antonio Mission, a Lake Elsinore Storm(er?), a Fort Wayne Wizard and a Eugene Emerald.

But why are you hearing all of this about a guy who's gone from starter to bullpen guy and back to starter but still ultimately a common in any baseball card parlance?

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

NOT A ROOKIE CARD ... BUT, WHOA, IS IT SELLING LIKE ONE
The Item: 2012 Topps Heritage #207 Mike Trout 
The Price: They're all pretty impressive -- both past and present
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Mike Trout doesn't have a Heritage Rookie Card but this one arrived a year later and it's selling like one both raw and graded. PSA 10 copies of this card have topped $300 while four-card raw lots have sold for as much as $250 recently. It's not short-printed but this collector never pulled one back then -- oddly -- when I pulled a few copies of pretty much everything else. You know what else is rare these days? Affordable 2012 Heritage hobby boxes and even retail boxes despite the rookie crop not being a strong one at all. (See the link below for a Hot Tip shot at some hobby packs to get in on this chase.) This card will be one to watch -- it's all over the place right now but selling way better than it should be -- as Heritage is the basic set for many of us retro-minded collectors to chase on an annual basis. The high-grade copies of this one aren't that easy -- centering and chipping can be an issue with this set -- so that's definitely driving some of the demand for this one but he's also a top player in MLB and this card does have a ton of natural appeal. Supply and demand has taken over here -- with a dash of crazy sauce, too -- but it tastes pretty good if you own a few of these. 
Similar Pieces: Other Mike Trout stuff on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2012 Topps Value boxes with two H packs in each one

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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There aren't any pinstripes, but it's the first.

It's the New York Yankees jersey that Miguel Andújar wore for his MLB debut and it's on the market via Steiner Auctions for the next four days where it could command some serious cash.

So far?

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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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Have you seen the latest crazy items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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SUPERFRACTOR MANIA ... CATCH IT!
The Item: Bryce Harper's 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects Superfractor autograph (BGS 9.5/10)
The Price: $499,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Superfractors are the top draw for prospectors and they're the cards that get dollars flowing with their golden swirls. This one is among Bryce Harper's rarities before his Rookie Cards arrived and it's got the museum-style price attached to it. Will it sell for that? Probably not, but that best offer button has probably been hit more than a few times in the past.
Similar Pieces: Check out all of the Superfractors on eBay right here
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for Bowman boxes from several years

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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Have you seen the latest crazy items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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THE NEW 2018 BOWMAN MEGA BOX MYSTERY
The Item: A redemption for a Shohei Ohtani 2018 Bowman Chrome auto from a 2018 Bowman Mega Box (What?)
The Price: $2,075 after 23 bids with six-plus days remaining
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: What is this? The only Shohei Ohtani card on the checklist for these Target-exclusive boxes is a ROY Favorites insert -- and he's not even listed as having an auto there. Could this just be that? It's not noted that way, meaning ... could it be one of his standard autos? Could it be a Kanji auto? Could it be (somehow?) the Superfractor hiding in the mix of cards set aside for these boxes? Maybe, maybe not ... (Update: Topps has announced that these are only for his standard Chrome autos and "a limited number are available.")
Similar Pieces: Check out these Shohei Ohtani Bowman autos
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Bowman boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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What would you pay for Giancarlo Stanton's final Miami Marlins jersey?

It could be yours right now ... for a price.

One of Buzz's newest super-casual hobbies is looking into specific pieces of game-used MLB memorabilia direct from teams with MLB Authentication. It's not a heavy focus just yet -- it's just a result of the ol' personal collection player being a retiree going cardless these days.

Some MLB teams have mailing lists you can join for updates about memorabilia available after games but most do not. Many sell items in team shops and via MLB Auctions (not always as auctions, though). The Miami Marlins are one team that does have a mailing list and there are some gems to be found there on the cheap.

But then there's the Stanton section. (And an Ichiro Suzuki section, too.)

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