This one is a quick idea for a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's something to think about.

This time? Five modern tobacco-inspired brands that always catch my attention. Why go here? Because we're getting a new take on Topps 206 (at right) coming from Topps later this week.

THE MAINSTAY FOR ME ...
Topps' Allen & Ginter baseball card set has been a go-to for me in various forms since its first set in 2006 with that debut carefully following the design of the 1887 Allen & Ginter World's Champions multi-sport set that included baseball players alongside other athletes on cards inserted into cigarette packs. (If you don't know, that's basically the origin of trading cards ... something printed on cardboard used to help stiffen cigarette packs -- i.e. tobacco cards.) Ginter includes one mini card in the same size as the originals -- 1 7/16 by 2 5/8 inches -- and also has framed autos and Relics that are those size, too. Those things have stayed the same as modern takes on a retro design of that feel have been the evolutionary feature since. Do you recognize the 2006 card up top? You might not as it was a mini promo card found inside a promo Rip Card sent to dealers to show one of the interesting features of the brand.

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

Continue reading →

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: An unbelievable 1880s vintage find -- in bulk -- and plenty of new stuff, too, in today's edition.

Continue reading →

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: Patrick Mahomes' boo-boo, chats about card-trimming, card-faking, auction-shilling and plenty more in today's edition.

Continue reading →

What: 2018 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards
Arrives: March 21
Box basics: Two autos and one Glassworks box-topper per 24-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view
Order: Click here for boxes & click here for cases

What's buzz-worthy: Gypsy Queen returns for another season with some more colorful inclusions such as Home Run Derby sock Relics and some new variations that build upon last year's mini-free release.

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

Continue reading →

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 Gypsy Queen baseball cards (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24 (plus one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
173 of 300 (58 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Addison Russell, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Albert Pujols, Max Scherzer, Kyle Hendricks, Trevor Story, Francisco Lindor, Manny Machado, Kenta Maeda, Josh Donaldson, Jake Arrieta, Giancarlo Stanton, Yu Darvish, David Ortiz, Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Correa

Rookie Cards (21) – Jharel Cotton, Alex Bregman, Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi, Orlando Arcia, Alex Reyes, Tyler Glasnow, Robert Gsellman, Tyler Austin, Matt Olson, Manny Margot, Trey Mancini, Teoscar Hernandez, JaCoby Jones, Carson Fulmer, Gavin Cecchini, David Dahl, Joe Musgrove, Hunter Renfroe, Ryon Healy, Bruce Maxwell

Continue reading →

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: A few collecting questions and some MLB & NFL breaks worth a look

Continue reading →

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 Gypsy Queen baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 48
Base set completion: 
44 of 300 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Bryce Harper, David Ortiz, Giancarlo Stanton, Jake Arrieta, Yoenis Cespedes, Addison Russell, Nolan Arenado, Aroldis Chapman, Craig Kimbrel

Rookie Cards (4) – Tyler Glasnow, Jharel Cotton, Seth Lugo, Raimel Tapia

Continue reading →

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: 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 48
Base set completion: 
34 of 300 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Noah Syndergaard, Alex Rodriguez, Anthony Rizzo, Jose Altuve

Rookie Cards (7) – Corey Seager, Gary Sanchez, Stephen Piscotty, Jerad Eickhoff, Zach Davies, Matt Duffy, Aaron Nola

Continue reading →

What: 2017 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards
Arrives: March 15
Box basics: Two autos and one Glassworks box-topper per box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What's buzz-worthy: One of Topps' vintage lines "has been revamped to represent a genuine throwback pack-opening experience" with a lower price than past years, according to the company.

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

Continue reading →

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: 2015 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 48
Base set completion: 
35 of 300 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Willie McCovey, David Price, Matt Harvey, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Ozzie Smith, Mark McGwire

Rookie Cards (3) – Joc Pederson, Rusney Castillo, Mike Foltynewicz

Continue reading →

Buzz was gone fishing  last week when 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen arrived, but the retro brand is clearly well-stocked with Trout and plenty of other stars from the past and present that make it a box worth considering.

Unlike other retro brands, here every box includes a mix of two autographs and two Relics with even more possible.

Continue reading →

Topps' next retro baseball card brand is Gypsy Queen and the newest version arrives on April 6 packing plenty of old styles with today's newest features.

You know, like the card seen above.

Continue reading →

What: 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards
Arrives: April 6
Hobby box basics: 24 packs, 10 cards -- two autographs, two Relics and one 10-card mini box box-topper

What's buzz-worthy: The sixth edition of Gypsy Queen follows much of the same formula from the past releases with the same number of hits and the same mini box box-topper we have seen from past years. What's new here this time are a few insert sets (MVP Minis, Power Alley), some parallels (MVP Minis autos, Mini Black autos) and a few other fun inclusions. Those will be Laces Around the League Relics -- cards with baseball stitch swatches limited to five copies -- as well as jumbo patch Relic and Ancient Era Remnants -- aka buybacks from the 1920s to 1950s.

See a gallery and more ... below.

Continue reading →