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 ... and it's one of my biggest groupings ever.

RARER THAN RARE ...
The Book: Batman No. 457 -- second-print newsstand edition
The Reason Graded: This one is why you grade. Why? Well this book is more than obscure ... it's obscure on top of obscure with a pop report that shows that in a couple ways. I had this sitting in a junk box of books -- comics bagged in bulk with others taped shut in between a couple boards -- since the late 1990s with it having absolutely no thought in my mind for that time. When I opened up the bag, though, I remembered its cool cover -- that's why I saved it -- and in the here and now it's an example of how the grading world has changed a lot of stuff. It wasn't popular back in the day and that makes it more valuable (potentially) now. What is it? It's a second printing of a newsstand copy for an issue that had the debut of a key character, Tim Drake as Robin. The regular edition of this book has been graded almost 1,400 times -- actually still a modest number for the era -- but a newsstand copy is something else. And a second-printed newsstand copy? Nobody wanted that. How many could have even been made and how many went unsold or were trashed? There's some mystery there as with a lot of things but the pop report talks.
The Grade: CGC 9.8 (Universal)

Reality Check: Just four copies of the 78 graded have checked in at my mark -- not bad considering I got this in some Sears catalog mystery box with like 25 comics for $10 back in the early 1990s. It wasn't a really impressive buy at all at that time -- a lot of stuff that just wasn't appealing or was later printings and I'm betting some of them were pitched or given away. Nobody wanted that then. But now? The numbers game and speculation has people on eBay sellers challenging the market. A 9.6 -- with twice as many copies as this one in existence -- has an eBay asking price of ... well just see it for yourself. It's not alone, either, as a 8.5 checks in with an asking of $3,800, an 8.0 checks in at $3,500 and a 6.5 is $1,499. Other versions (first print direct and newsstand) are cheaper along with direct second prints as they've all got far higher pop reports. People like the easier versions a lot -- eBay highs as much as $255 but not for this one -- and who knows where the other three 9.8s might even be? What might mine command? I'm not sure ... but I know this is pretty solid potential for something that was pocket change from years ago. Again, this is why you grade.

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

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What: 2022 Super Glow Football Edition
Arrives: Dec. 7
Box basics: One autographed card per five-card box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Super Glow turns to football for one of its final releases of 2022 with a mix of recently drafted stars as well as guys still in the college ranks all in one spot.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less 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.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's a mix of really recent pick-ups as well as stuff found over the last year.

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A NEW CLASSIC ... 
The Cards: Roger Maris 2022 Topps Living Set five-pack (/5,722)
The Price: Bundle price via Topps
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Maris' name was in the headlines quite a bit with Aaron Judge's run toward his American League record 61 home runs -- also the New York Yankees' franchise record -- and Topps responded with a new Living Set card for this legend. The Jared Kelley piece includes some Easter eggs with the obvious one being a "61" on his bat and when I saw it I knew it was an instant buy. I grabbed a five pack with an eye on grading at least one, maybe two copies. (One is on its way to CSG as I type this and depending on how that goes a second might go there, too.) I haven't bought too many Living Set cards this year with lighter stock and centering issues straight from Topps happening too often even in my limited experience, but I think my one I sent in here should do well.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ... but MLB boxes are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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 ... 

GOOD AS GOLD ...
The Card: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin 2022 Panini Select WWE Gold Flash (/10)
The Reason Graded: If you recognize this card, well, there's a reason. Just a few weeks ago, I pulled it from a blaster box and thanks to CSG's quick, budget-minded services I turned this around fast and, well, this rarity pays for itself. This retail-only card is rare -- only nine others like it exist -- and it came back with a top mark since even the horizontal centering was clean. (That's not the norm from what I have seen with this release.) This is a pricey card right now so that was my main reason for slabbing, and now it's that much better.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: It's the only one that has been slabbed so far. How many might still be sitting in packs? Generally speaking, Select is a strong release worth your look in any format -- and I have other stuff here I intend to get graded.

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: Waiting out World Series rainouts with random chatter, NFL Week 9, two 1/1s in one box, prospecting football, Bernie Brewer and ... is Jalen Hurts an MVP candidate?

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What: 2022 Super Glow Massive Marks sports cards
Arrives: Mid-November
Box basics: One jumbo autographed patch card per box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Super Glow releases ups the ante here -- size-wise -- with a set of autographed patch cards that are 5-by-7 jumbos with stars from throughout the sports world and beyond all in one spot.

Keep reading for more info and a selection 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: Jalen Hurts, MLB breaks, autographed books you can land, checking on Yankees fans, Project100 and reacting to some old news.

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What: 2022 Super Glow Patch Auto Edition sports cards
Arrives: November
Box basics: One autographed patch card per box (six boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Super Glow releases another one-card wonder -- as in one patch auto per box -- but it's all going to be encased patch autos or 1/1 patch autos every single time in this one with stars from a wide array of sports and some other surprise names, too.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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 Donruss Optic football cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for this and a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one along with a 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: Single-card spending, MLB chatter, a stolen card is found, Pro Bowl changes, show thoughts and WWE chatter.

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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: Jalen Hurts, NFL Week 3, an MLB prediction, new pulls and will anybody else hit 700 homers?

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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: 2022 Panini Prestige NFL cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one along with a gallery of images.

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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: 2022 Panini Prestige NFL cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one along with a gallery of images.

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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 Panini Chronicles NFL football cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for a 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: 2021 Panini Phoenix football cards (Fire Burst factory set with bonus pack)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for other formats)

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

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TRISTAR will have plenty going on at The National this year with all of the autograph signers, but that's not all -- the company also will have bonus bags for collectors who buy boxes from dealers at the show and bring them to its booth to open them.

Selected retailers will have your shot at getting a TRISTAR bonus bag at the show.

Three TRISTAR Hidden Treasures products are eligible for this one and bonus bags will include shots at autographed memorabilia pieces from Ken Griffey Jr., Ben Affleck, Mike Trout, Ted Williams and Shohei Ohtani for starters.

And that's not all.

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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 Panini Contenders football cards (jumbo pack)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for what was inside this one ..

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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: Mike Trout, Julio Rodriguez and Jasson Dominguez check-ups, Talking Tom Brady gets a job, riding the Prizm WWE waves and a stolen card alert.

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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 Donruss NFL cards (holiday blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from 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 Donruss NFL cards (hanger)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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What: 2021 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Football
Arrives: Nov. 3
Box basics: One autographed football per box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures blind-boxed football line returns  with nothing but autographed pigskin in play in a release that will be limited to 110 cases this year.

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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 NFL players who impressed Buzz in Week 1.

A STAR OFF THE RADAR?
Kyler Murray -- QB, Arizona Cardinals (Rookie Cards in 2019 boxes)
He's put up big numbers in the past -- 7,982 yards and 50 TDs in his career -- but the opener was a big one as the Cardinals knocked off the Tennessee Titans 38-13 with him throwing for 289 yards and four TDs. Was that expected? Maybe, maybe not. (I didn't.) He's still pricey but my gut feeling is that other QBs from recent years might be getting a little more attention than Murray. Sure, he's pricey -- most younger QBs are -- but I think if you find some cheaper options here there is potential with a successful season. I think he's easily the top dog on his team for cardboard.

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: Nothing but NFL pulls and QB card chatter as we start the season with some strong performances.

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What: 2021 Panini Origins football cards
Arrives: Sept. 8 for hobby/Sept. 17 for International blasters
Box basics: One rookie patch auto, another auto and one jumbo or patch mem card per seven-card box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Origins' sixth season on the gridiron arrives with some new touches within the familiar format that add some differing types of artistic flair in this one as well as players shown in their NFL uniforms for the first time -- no Photoshopped updates this time.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2021 Panini Black football cards
Arrives: Aug. 25
Box basics: One rookie patch auto, one auto and one memorabilia card per five-card box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Black returns for another season on the gridiron with its familiar look but also with "new and improved content" with "more rookies and more inserts than ever before" as well as some new chase elements.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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