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: 2020-21 NBA Hoops Winter Edition basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist (standard set): Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

Continue reading →

What: 2020-21 Panini Crown Royale basketball cards
Arrives: May 5
Box basics: One autograph and one memorabilia card per eight-card box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Crown Royale hits the hardwood once again with the same format as previous years but some new looks and, of course, plenty of rookies and royalty from the past and present.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

Continue reading →

What: 2020-21 Panini Contenders basketball cards
Arrives: May 19
Box basics: Two autographs per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Contenders hits the NBA court not long after last season's edition with a new crop of rookies, their autographs (mocks here using last year's players) and some new inclusions.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

Continue reading →

What: 2020-21 Panini Prizm basketball cards
Arrives: April 28
Box basics: Two autographs per 12-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: A new year of Prizm arrives with the same format as last year but with a new crop of rookies (just an early mock or two in gallery using last year's players) and some new nods to the rich history of the brand.

Keep reading for more info.

Continue reading →

What: 2020-21 Panini Revolution basketball cards
Arrives: March 3
Box basics: 40 cards per eight-pack box (16 boxes per case via two inners)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Panini's colorful pattern-filled brand hits the hardwood once again with a new crop of Rookie Cards (RCs here are mocks using last year's players), tough ink but plenty of parallels and more to chase.

Keep reading for more and 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: 2019-20 NBA Hoops Premium Stock (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for other formats)

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

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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

Continue reading →

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: 2020-21 Panini Contenders Draft Picks basketball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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: 2019-20 Panini Chronicles basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Continue reading →

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: 2019-20 Donruss Optic basketball cards (Walmart mega box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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: 2019-20 Panini Mosaic NBA cards
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

Continue reading →

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: 2019-20 Donruss NBA cards (four jumbo packs)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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 lot: 2019-20 Absolute Memorabilia NBA (seven Dollar Tree packs)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Dollar Tree for these; BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs in this lot: 7
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this lot: 35
Base set completion: 28 of 100 (28 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery ...

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: 2019-20 NBA Hoops basketball cards (Dollar Tree packs)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Dollar Tree for these packs; BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs in this lot: 18
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this lot: 90
Base set completion: 66 of 280 (24 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery ...

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: 2018-19 Panini Threads NBA cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 5
Cards per box: 35
Base set completion: 20 of 100 (20 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Wiggins, Jayson Tatum, Kyle Lowry, Eric Bledsoe, Kyle Kuzma

Continue reading →

Making The Grade is a monthly department here on The Buzz that ran all year long in 2019 -- its first complete season so far. Its a place where newly slabbed cards and a few pick-ups get the spotlight -- a little show-and-tell to get people talking and thinking about cards beyond "What's it worth?"

Sometimes I picked cards for fun, sometimes I chased 10s, but other times I slabbed with some longer-term "investment" thought -- and I don't even do that often. (My go-to is to simply slab stuff that I like.) The card you see up top? You can firmly place it in the red-hot fun file. The card at right? You can put it in the long-term keeper stack along with the guy below him, who had plenty of appearances in the series this year.

As one of a couple of 2019 retrospective posts I have planned -- they're at least on my to-do list at least until other work pops up -- here's a look at the series where I talked about 158 new slabs this past year. You can see them all at the links below.

January -- Making the Grade: Patrick Mahomes, The Mick, Tommy Chong, Whitney Houston, botched cardboard & more

February -- Making the Grade: Patrick Mahomes, Bo Knows, Wendy Peffercorn, Tom Brady, Super Bowl stars & more

March -- Making the Grade: Young MVPs, iconic Hall of Famers, Silent Bob, March Madness, a Future Superstar & more

April -- Making the Grade: Vince McMahon, Steve Austin and WrestleMania icons plus Ronald Acuña Jr. & more MLB stars

May -- Making the Grade: Baker Mayfield, JLo's Rookie Card, Joe Cool, Nuke LaLoosh, Hailie Deegan & more past gems

June -- Making the Grade: The Dream Team, Ronald Acuña Jr., Bart Starr, Mike Trout, Deadpool, Kelly Hu's rookie & more

July -- Making the Grade: Aaron Judge, Jayson Tatum, Ric Flair, Michael Jordan, Ronald Acuña Jr., Billy Ripken's bad bat knob, Chrissy Teigen's Rookie Card, The Big Lebowski's ink & more

August -- Making the Grade: New Vladdy, Acuña, Rally Squirrel, Undertaker, Juggernaut, Michael Jordan, Paige, Kurt Cobain, The Bad News Bears' ace ... and Keith Comstock's beanballs?

September -- Making the Grade: Joe Namath's ink, Dak & Jerry Rookie Cards, Saquon Barkley, Lonzo Ball, 1990s NFL classics, high-grade vintage, The Four Horsewomen of NXT & more

October -- Making the Grade: Ronald Acuña Jr. heaters, Clerks, Ernie Davis, hot ink, Supergirl, Catwoman & real Nuke LaLoosh

November -- Making the Grade: Dak Prescott, Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson & John Cena rookies, Robert Mueller, the first perfect Keith Comstock, Meghan Markle's MLB card & more

December -- Making the Grade: Rare Shohei Ohtani, Star Wars, Pete Alonso, Tim Duncan, vintage, several WWE stars & more

--

Need even more? See previous months' Making The Grade posts by clicking here (scroll down)

--

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

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

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: 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 24
Base set completion: 
9 of 200 (5 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram, DeMarre Carroll, Thon Maker, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Terrance Ferguson, Kelly Olynyk, Kevon Looney

Continue reading →

What: 2020 Super Break Basketball Super Packs
Arrives: Dec. 13
Box basics: One or two buybacks per box
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Super Break hits the court for a buybacks release that will include "Silvers, Holos and Refractors" in every other box.

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: 2018-19 NBA Hoops Holiday Edition (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (other formats)

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 72 of 280 (26 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, Lonzo Ball, Lauri Markkanen, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid

Rookie Cards (13) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lonnie Walker IV, Gary Trent Jr., Aaron Holiday, Moritz Wagner, Omari Spellman, Jevon Carter, Bruce Brown, Dzanan Musa, Robert Williams III, Elie Okobo, Josh Okogie, Zhaire Smith

Continue reading →

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 lot: 2019 Panini Contenders Draft Picks basketball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards per box: 42
Base set completion: 
18 of 100* (18 percent) (*two versions for 50 cards)
Duplicates: 0

Notable base cards – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Larry Bird, Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, John Wall, Shaquille O'Neal, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons

Continue reading →

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 lot: 2019 Panini Contenders Draft Picks basketball cards (two blaster boxes)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards per box: 42
Cards in this box: 84
Base set completion: 
36 of 100* (36 percent) (*two versions for 50 cards equally distributed)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Magic Johnson, Trae Young, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum, Jaren Jackson Jr., Blake Griffin, Kemba Walker, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton, Klay Thompson

Continue reading →

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 ...

The Card: 2018 Topps Home Run Challenge Silver #HRCAJ Aaron Judge (/59)
The Reason Graded: Aaron Judge recently returned from injury for the first time since April and that prompted me to lead things off with this rare card I recently got slabbed. I only have this card because I managed to predict one of his homers not long after he returned from injury last year after missing more than a month and a half. Injuries have mounted for his popular slugger the last two years, but I figured this card, given its scarcity, was one worth a slab.
The Grade: BGS 10

Reality Check: The pop report is a little iffy on this one -- there could be others not slabbed* -- since the checklist isn't complete on their site for this set this is merely a guess. (Pop report and checklists typically sync up.) I have gotten very few 10s in the last few years, but I thought this would be a contender and it was. Other Judge cards from this set -- there are at least three before this one -- are a lot rarer. Meanwhile, this appears to be the only Judge (of any color) from this set that's been slabbed.

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

Continue reading →

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: 2018-19 Donruss Optic basketball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 28
Base set completion: 17 of 150 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Victor Oladipo, Blake Griffin, Tony Parker, Chris Paul

Continue reading →

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 ...

The Card: 2018 Donruss Optic Red & Yellow #153 Baker Mayfield (RC parallel)
The Reason Graded: I found this one in a Mega Box and it was by far the best highlight of the bunch there so that's why you see it here. Mayfield has shown himself to be a spark plug among a good rookie crop since back when I pulled it, so that's another reason. A third? This brand is one that I like more than others. The color scheme of this card, a retail-exclusive, also looked good, so I figured I'd slab it up and see how it looked when it came back. These were very pricey when they first started arriving on eBay but I'm sure they have settled down by now -- still an impressive card to me either way and I'll be tucking this one away in my stash alongside my Bowman Chrome Tom Brady RC for the simple long-term appreciation. (Mine, not financial.)
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: At the point I submitted this one, there was at most one graded and I'm still surprised that there are so few slabbed. I also was surprised with the grade figuring I'd check in at a likely BGS 9 but I'll take it. I think high-grade copies of retail-only parallels found in certain formats could be tougher future finds than people might think.

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

Continue reading →