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: 2024 Leaf Metal Signature Series Multi-sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here for other Leaf Metal boxes

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

Continue reading →

Ichiro Suzuki’s 2001 MLB arrival didn’t just change the game on the field — he helped feed growing international demand for baseball cards via plenty of new premium brands that helped pave the way for the ultra-deluxe stuff of today.

-

A legendary career and baseball journey on two continents makes its final stop this month in Cooperstown, N.Y., and the Hall of Fame and there’s a lot that can be said about that in several directions. 

Ichiro Suzuki changed the game with his arrival in MLB, eschewing the longball in favor of speed and hits — lots and lots of hits. But, “hits” are also the story of all those years when it comes to baseball cards with the prized rarities found in packs with autographs on them — or pieces of memorabilia in them — being an unstoppable force in those years. 

Of course, hits didn’t start with the Japanese star’s arrival, but many of his cards in sets alongside another now-legendary 2001 rookie, Albert Pujols, helped change the cardboard world even faster. Demand for their stuff prompted several new brands from several companies making MLB cards back then to try new things, capitalizing on their new stars who could move packs and boxes of cards -- just like they could move players around the bases and move butts into seats to watch games. One could argue that 2001 was in part a big piece in the evolution of what we see in today’s sports card landscape -- a focus on rarities with small print runs and with premium prices that weren’t like the wax paper-wrapped pocket-change treasures of not that many years before. 

Now, what’s to come here is absolutely not a definitive list of top cards — and it’s not one purely based on volatile values or one limited solely to Rookie Cards. Why? There’s a lot to choose from for Suzuki on all fronts — there could be several ways to take on this challenge. He has more than 50 different Rookie Cards between his 1993 Nippon Professional Baseball and 2001 Major League Baseball debuts (depending on how you want to argue about RC definitions) and he had roughly 500 cards in 2001 alone. Many of them are rarer cards where it is impossible to own them all thanks to small print runs and rare serial-numbered versions. 

In all, he appears on more than 19,000 different cards made over the years between NPB and MLB -- and even though his playing career ended in 2019 his cardboard career has not. He’s got a place in the game in seemingly every new baseball card set on the way and that figures to be the story for the rest of cardboard eternity. He’s not just a Hall of Famer … he’s an international icon.

Here’s a small sampling of 25 Ichiro Suzuki cards that are both fun and notable.

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 packs: 2024 Leaf Metal Women of Sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs (two)
Where to buy: Click here for regular boxes (when available)

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

Continue reading →

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

--

RETRO RECORD-HOLDER
The Card: Roger Maris 2014 Panini Classics Home Run Heroes Jerseys (/25)
The Price: $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I ponied up a little bit for this one vs. my typical range for Maris mem cards since it's a rarer card, has a material (jersey/pants) swatch vs. a bat and is from a brand that packed a lot of potential for big names back in the day. Yet, at the same time, that price was a bargain. Yes, its centering is just slightly off, but otherwise it's clean -- that errant spot on the right side is part of the printed design on all cards here. It was an easy addition for a player I collect and pick off stuff for a few times a year. Those top corners are really clean on this one, which might not always be the case with those bold colors.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but MLB cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf History Book Sports Edition Chapter 2 sports cards
Arrives: Sept. 29
Box basics: Two "premium" booklet cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf offers up a second chapter for one of its newest high-end multi-sport brands -- a mix of multi-player autograph and memorabilia groupings from around the sports world all in one spot -- and it's once again nothing but booklet cards.

Keep reading for more info 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 packs: 2024 Leaf Metal Signature Series Multi-sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs (two)
Where to buy: Click here for other Leaf Metal boxes

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

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf Metal baseball cards
Arrives: July 25
Box basics: Five autos per seven-card hobby box (12 per case) or 10 autos (one being a slabbed 1/1 proof) per 14-card jumbo box (eight per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Metal is back for another go once again with its two box formats -- and still having exclusives and encased proofs among possible finds.

Keep reading for more.

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 pack: 2024 Leaf Metal Signature Series Multi-sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here for other Leaf Metal boxes

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

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf Optichrome football cards
Arrives: Aug. 29
Box basics: Six autos and two base cards per hobby box (12 boxes per case) or 12 autos and three base per jumbo (eight per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf Optichrome "will deliver the most-comprehensive football checklist of the season, featuring a spectrum of football stars ranging from prep school phenoms to Hall of Fame legends," according to Leaf.

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 pack: 2024 Leaf Metal Women of Sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here for regular boxes (when available)

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

Continue reading →

Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... sometimes stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new fun cards and oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness. 

IT'S ANNIE SAVOY!
The Cards: Susan Sarandon 2024 Leaf Pop Century Now Showing Red, White & Blue Mojo Pre-Production Proofs (each a 1/1 card)
The Buzz On This: This long-running non-sports catch-all card franchise often shows celebs in headshots or on fashionable red-carpet moments, but when I spotted a few of these blank-backed cards sporting a photo from Bull Durham -- still likely the movie of all movies when it comes to Minor League Baseball -- I picked off each of these and another color (to be seen elsewhere later) among a bunch of these proofs with various colors and textures from this set. Why? They're affordable and fun -- something rare (each color/texture is the lone copy in proof form) -- and still can be collected without breaking the bank. I landed these for less than $10 a card shipped, though I wouldn't have bothered if these didn't have the Annie Savoy visual. (This is from the memorable batting cage scene and the set is made to lightly emulate a movie ticket.) I did a lot of cheap proofs here, so I'll show off others and my other shade of this one elsewhere at some point. These aren't my typical oddball cards here, but I figured since we're in-season I'd mix in some other stuff from the MiLB realm.

Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards you can find in MiLB.

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf National Lacrosse League cards
Arrives: Aug. 29
Box basics: Two autos per six-card box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf turns to the lacrosse ranks for a new brand and sport in its product lineup with ink in every box and a small array of colorful parallels to chase, too.

Keep reading for more.

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 pack: 2024 Leaf Metal Signature Series Multi-sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here for other Leaf Metal boxes

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

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Denzel Clarke, Jac Caglianone, NBA Finals, Frank Gore Jr.'s autograph, The National and an impressive Mets autograph booklet.

-

1 -- Denzel Clarke's catch has 'em talking

2 -- NBA Finals chatter ... and even more NBA

3 -- So, about Frank Gore Jr.'s Topps autos ...

4 -- Talking Jac Caglianone

5 -- Check out the Mets booklet here

6 -- The National section is open

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What: 2024 Leaf Trinity Baseball cards
Arrives: Sept. 26, 2025
Box basics: Six autographed cards per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Trinity showcases the stars of the diamond -- and sometimes beyond -- in a release that packs nothing but ink from past and present stars in there along with a number of potential newcomers, too, via college and even high school standouts on NIL deals.

Keep reading for more info and a full 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 pack: 2024 Leaf Metal Signature Series Multi-sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here for other Leaf Metal boxes

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

Continue reading →

--

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ... 

--

TIFFY TIMES TWO
The Cards: Tiffany Stratton 2024 Panini Three Count WWE Prime Memorabilia Autographs Purple parallel (/25) & standard version (/99)
The Price: About half of a Three Count box these days
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card was immediately on my radar back when it first was revealed among the mock-ups for this high-end WWE brand and, I've said it before, if this set hadn't used sticker autos it would be perfect. The end of the Panini WWE run combined with a logjam of releases and then the collector (and definitely flipper) focus perhaps shining more on Chrome actually made secondary market prices on a lot of stuff here a bit softer than I had expected, allowing me to pony up on two of these at prices I could handle. (I had initially figured I wouldn't land one of these, let alone one and a parallel.) I was picky with these and wanted to make sure I landed one with a clean auto -- full name, not the abbreviated and half-empty-sticker "Tiff" that shows up sometimes. Both of these hit the spot on both auto quality and price ... and if they ever dip more, I'll do more. Why? It's a Tiffy Time world and we're just collecting in it.
Grab a box right here: WWE cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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 pack: 2024 Leaf Metal Women of Sport 1/1 Pre-Production Proofs
Where to buy: Click here for regular boxes (when available)

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

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf Major League Table Tennis cards
Arrives: July 25
Box basics: Five autos per nine-card box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf takes to the table for the first time with a release that's packed with unique, first-time cards, plenty of autographs and some rarer finds overall in every box.

Keep reading for more.

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf Bronx Legacy baseball cards
Arrives: Sept. 2025
Box basics: Four "premium hits" per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf's brand documenting New York's premier baseball franchise arrives for a third time with the biggest legends in the history of the game and so much more to be found.

Keep reading for more info and a full montage of cards released so far.

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf Metal Football Blaster football cards
Arrives: May 2
Box basics: 10 base cards or parallels plus one autographed card per box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf Metal's simpler counterpart arrives with a mix of players on NIL deals, some past stars and even some current names all in one spot.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Shedeur Sanders falls to Cleveland in the fifth round, NFL Draft reactions, Pop Century arrives and more in this Sunday edition.

-

1 -- All your NFL Draft reactions are here

2 -- Pondering Shedeur Sanders card values after the fall

3 -- Inside a new Pop Century case ... and another one

4 -- Still talking Topps Heritage ... and Heritage High Number

5 -- NBA postseason talk

6 -- Inside some football boxes 

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: NFL Draft reactions, Shedeur Sanders, Tyler Shough, Topps Heritage and plenty more.

-

1 -- All your NFL Draft reactions are here

2 -- Pondering Shedeur Sanders card values now

3 -- "Old people prefer the term experienced"

4 -- Seasons In The Sun delivers

5 -- Talking Topps Heritage

6 -- NBA postseason chatter

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What: 2025 Leaf Lumber baseball cards
Arrives: August
Box basics: Four premium hits (at least one autograph) per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf's bats-focused brand arrives with some of the biggest and most-outrageous booklet cards in baseball card history with members of the 3,000 Hit Club, 500 Home Run Club and more inside some of them -- and not just their bat pieces, either.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Leaf Signature Series sports cards
Arrives: May 28
Box basics:  Four 1/1 autographed cards or three 1/1 autos and one inscription auto per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf Signature Series is back with a wide array of colorful rarities for top sports stars in all directions all in one spot -- and sometimes they meet on the same cards.

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

Continue reading →