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: 2014 Topps Chrome Update #MB46 Mookie Betts RC
The Reason Graded: I didn't buy a ton of Mega Boxes when these arrived five years ago, but I did land this card, which is a Rookie Debut version for then Red Sox rookie and now-reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts. This card is an ironic classic in that he's captured taking the field at Yankee Stadium. That aspect of the photo isn't as easily seen in Chrome form, but I opted to get this pricier version of the card graded. I'll probably grade some more of my others in the future. For now, though, this one leads the way.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: I wasn't that confident in this one as I just have bad luck at times with Chrome cards, but this one turns out to be one of the highest-graded copies. I'll take it, especially considering what I've got up next.

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

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

Packs per box: 10 (eight standard, two Hyper Pink)
Cards per pack: 4 per standard, 5 per Hyper Pink
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 18 of 150 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: LeBron James, Tony Parker, Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Serge Ibaka, Paul Millsap, Jarrett Allen, Julius Randle, Will Barton, Otto Porter Jr., Malcolm Brogdon, Og Anunoby, Willie Cauley-Stein, Elfrid Payton, Kyle Korver, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris

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What:

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf goes high-end with its next multi-sport release with nothing but "premium hits" in this new line that features a mix of legends from around the sports world all in one place -- and sometimes all in one card.

Keep reading for more and a full 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: 2018-19 Panini Prizm NBA cards (mega box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard, one 10-card Pink Ice Prizms pack)
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 50
Base set completion: 
26 of 200 (13 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Bill Russell, Dwyane Wade, Lonzo Ball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin

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What: 2018-19 Panini Dominion basketball cards
Arrives: Dec. 19
Box basics: Three autographs and one memorabilia card per six-card box (six boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Dominion takes the court once again with

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of what's to come.

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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 wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 10.

The box: 2012 Panini Golden Age sports cards (hobby box)
The cost: Click here (when available)

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

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One of the biggest annual events in the hobby is coming soon -- and Blowout Cards is getting ready ... are you?

The plans for the Panini VIP Party coinciding with this year's National Sports Collectors Convention will be here soon, but we're already fielding questions and taking down info for those who are interested in getting in on the event.

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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 wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 8.

The box: 2014-15 Panini Threads NBA blaster
The cost: $15 (click here for premium box when available)

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

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When he arrived in the NBA back in 2003, he already was known as "The Chosen One" and just a couple years later people were pondering whether he was the best ever.

Then, he took his talents to South Beach, won a couple of NBA titles and then returned to where it all started for him and won a championship in Cleveland where there hadn't been successes like that since the 1960s for any sport. His cardboard? It's been among the royalty of the NBA since Day 1 -- this isn't about that.

But tonight in San Antonio LeBron James will likely make a different kind of NBA history but is just as significant (if not more so) from a historical perspective.

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The newest SCP Auctions event launched this week with some items that defy the imagination -- items that you probably wouldn't imagine them to still exist, let alone be up for grabs.

Some of them, such as this 2013 Fresno State Aaron Judge game-used jersey, open with more modest prices of $4,000, while college classics such as a Lew Alcindor game-used UCLA jersey is already at $44,288 after less than a day of active bidding.

But the leader in the clubhouse among the more than 900 lots? It's a baseball card.

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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: 2016-17 Panini Studio NBA cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 49 of 300 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James (two types), Julius Erving, Stephen Curry, John Havlicek (two types), Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Isiah Thomas, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez

Rookie Cards (14) – Ben Simmons, Kris Dunn,  Jamal Murray, Marquese Chriss (two types, Denzel Valentine, Buddy Hield, Dragan Bender, Brandon Ingram, Taurean Prince, Patrick McCaw, Isaiah Whitehead, Juan Hernangomez, Henry Ellenson, DeAndre' Bembry

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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: 2016-17 Panini Studio NBA cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 47 of 300 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 2

Notable players on base cards – Wilt Chamberlain (two types), Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Scottie Pippen, Tim Duncan, Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler, Dirk Nowitzki (two types), Blake Griffin, Clyde Drexler, Kawhi Leonard, Isaiah Thomas (two types), Draymond Green, Paul George, Kyrie Irving (two types), Derrick Rose

Rookie Cards (12) – Ben Simmons, Pascal Siakam, Malik Beasley (two types), DeJounte Murray (two types), Wade Baldwin IV (two types), Jakob Poeltl (two types), Kris Dunn,  Jamal Murray

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If you're a bargain hunter who's awaiting some new NBA cards to arrive but needs something right now and on the cheap, there's one option out on the retail front that's delivering pretty well for some collectors.

These Fast Break NBA repacks include three hobby packs for around $12 depending on the chain and they typically include one of each of the packs shown on the box -- all prime places to find some Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Cards and autographs. And it's been done, according to users over on the Blowout NBA breaks section of the forum. 

Here's one example that did OK on that front. Here's one that did much, much better.

And here's another. And another one. And a bulk buyer's results.

But this is the 12-box bust that first got my attention with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ink in the mix.

Out of sheer curiosity, this collector has bought two -- at two different times and two different chains -- and each has delivered an autograph. Keep reading to see the notable cards from the latest 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 Today: Pesky autographs, hunting Mookie Betts, big breaks, serious vintage NBA and "Thosebackpages is wearing off on me."

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Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James and Steph Curry.

Those are the players who have taken home the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in back-to-back seasons -- and none of them have done it in unanimous fashion except for Curry, who made history on Tuesday.

It's an elite club for sure.

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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.

For the first grading diary here on The Buzz, it will be a mix of cards graded for a few reasons.

The Card: 1993 Upper Deck #449 Derek Jeter
The Reason Graded: This was pulled straight from an underpriced factory set and looked very clean except for a tiny spot on the back -- Buzz figured it might push into the high grades even with the gloss issue. These cards are also not easy to pull from wax or sets cleanly because the high-gloss cards often stick together, peeling away specks of paper. Another reason? This is an iconic card that's worth grading if you own a clean one.
The Grade: BGS 9

Reality Check: The SP Jeter rookie is the one people chase, not this one. This one's $20 on eBay -- and perhaps undervalued considering how they grade on the pop report. BGS 9s and higher are really much rarer than people think.

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