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: World Baseball Classic chatter, MLB and NFL breaks, Jasson Dominguez, Anthony Volpe, UFC ... and "whose career will the Panthers ruin?"

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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 pack: 2022 Choice Delmarva Shorebirds MiLB team set
Where to buy: Via the team (while available) ... hit BlowoutCards.com for in-pack MiLB

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

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

GOING OFF THE RADAR ...
The Cards: Michael Harris 2021 Choice Rome Braves (five copies)
The Buzz On This One: This guy is likely to be on my collecting radar quite a bit this year after a near-cardless 2022 that saw him take home the National League Rookie of The Year honors with the Atlanta Braves. Before that, "Money Mike" had some prospect cards in packs and minor league cards count there, too, but his Rookie Cards were held to appear in the full 2023 lineup. With basic stuff like 2023 Topps figuring to the plentiful and prices all over the place right now, I opted to pick up a lot of these -- as team sets -- as he's in there and so are others (you'll see them in later months here) instead ... and I did it without breaking the bank. He has other MiLB cards -- but not a ton -- but this one looked good to me for the price. I'll probably grade some of these, too, as you can probably guess based on the cases they're in right here.

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

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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: NFL chatter, MLB pulls, a spring training name to watch, Michael Jordan and more in this one.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? A pair of spring baseball tickets that are odd and yet routine.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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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 packs: 2022 Choice Delmarva Shorebirds MiLB team sets (2)
Where to buy: Via the team (while available) ... hit BlowoutCards.com for in-pack MiLB

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

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 packs: 2022 Choice Delmarva Shorebirds MiLB team sets (2)
Where to buy: Via the team (while available) ... hit BlowoutCards.com for in-pack MiLB

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

Continue reading →

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

"WINNER OF A PIG PICKIN' CONTEST"
The Card: Parker 2011 Grandstand Richmond Flying Squirrels
The Buzz On This One: The back of this card pretty much says it all (click for a closer look) and I think that makes this Parker's "Rookie Card." Is it the only baseball card for a team pig? Believe it or not ... no. Parker had a pretty good run with this team and a few baseball cards after this one and there are others. Why a ballpark pig? Read the card ... and welcome to Minor League Baseball. This isn't a "deep" post per se ... just some prime oddity cardboard, which is what this series is all about.

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

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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 Topps Heritage Minor League baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery of highlights with 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: Chewing on 2023 Topps, the World Baseball Classic, slabbing some MiLB classics, NFL redemption packs, deactivated slabs and NBA chatter in today's edition.

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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 ... a mix of recent finds and some from throughout last year.

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LEADING OFF WITH A BARGAIN ... 
The Item: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. autographed 2019 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby 8-by-1o photo (Topps Authentics)
The Price: Around $80 (regularly $130)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This autograph is one I've never bothered with on cardboard mostly for how it typically looks (it's not the greatest sig) but also because the stock-pilers have stayed busy grabbing them up as he's one of MLB's better young hitters today and he's not cheap. I landed this with a sale combined with some discount certificates on one of the sites that Fanatics populates and went here since that price was strong and the image isn't bad -- it's from his dominating Derby showing where he didn't win but wowed many. This was cheaper than most if not all autos from where I typically buy most often ... and those were sticker autos. I'll probably go this route for ink of notables (or singles in some instances) vs. ripping to chase 'em with pack prices these days. Pro tip: Just because a box is old doesn't mean the autographs just vanish ... hunt him from 2016 prospect stuff forward and Rookie Cards/ink in 2019 forward.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one but MLB cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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: 2020 Topps 206 Series 3 MiLB baseball cards
First Buzz Preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading to see a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery.

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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 ...

LEADING OFF WITH THE RECORD-BREAKER
The Card: Aaron Judge 2017 Topps Archives 1960 Rookie Stars
The Reason Graded: He has been an established slugger since his 52 homers as a rookie in 2017, but to a degree he'd fallen off card-wise (and power-wise) the last few years until smacking 39 in 2021 and his Yankees team record (and American League record) 62 homers this year.  I got rid of pretty much all of my RCs in 2017 -- no regrets -- to turn them into stuff I actively wanted (I'm still working rather glacially on some of those Clerks autograph runs) but some of my late-year Judge pulls and some inserts were saved along with my lone autograph. While I haven't yet slabbed my ink -- I probably will here at some point once I figure out what box I put it in -- this insert modeled after the memorable-but-overbearing 1960 Topps design was one that jumped out at me. Why? It was soooo clean.
The Grade: CSG 10

Reality Check: I was right and that pop shows me I'm not alone -- but it is surprising given how skinny the stock is here.

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

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

TWO SURPRISES, ONE CARD
The Card: John Lannan & Katrina Mangieri 2021 Choice Trenton Thunder #5
The Buzz On This One: I'm always on the hunt for cards with unusual position players on them as part of this series and this time it's a double-whammy with a mental performance coach and a dietitian sharing a spot on the checklist. I'm 99.99 percent sure nothing like this has ever shown up in an MLB set and it's the weird stuff like this that can make MiLB team sets stand out from the rest. Why do they have cards? Well, they're part of the team. Why don't they have cards at the next level? Probably because those off-field teams are big as it is ... and a lot of players don't get cards or lesser names that do prompt "value" complaints from collectors. (I'm sure of that.) It's inevitably not valuable here -- pocket change -- but it's definitely oddball ... and it's not alone this time.

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

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

NEXT STOP, COOPERSTOWN?
The Card: Joey Votto 2006 Grandstand Southern League Top Prospects
The Buzz On This One: Votto's Rookie Card comes way back in 2002 Bowman Draft -- years before the RC logo cards and him having those, too -- but since he didn't rocket to The Show immediately he does have a few MiLB cards fans can track down that have him in familiar colors and unis but not those he has worn for his Hall of Fame-caliber MLB career. (Note: Why a lame photo? I had this in a semi-rigid for picture time since I contemplated grading it -- just for fun -- but a different one made the cut.) Why go here? These team set cards -- this is from a more-plentiful prospect All-Star set -- are overlooked and cheaper than a lot of stuff. There's also a lot less was likely made, too, vs. stuff in packs. Obscure, cheaper and more unique all make my cardboard collecting radar go off a little more 15-plus years later.

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

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What: 2022 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball cards
Arrives: Feb. 8, 2023
Box basics:  Five autographs per five-pack box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Prizm Draft is back with a new crop of prospects and their autographs -- one in every pack -- along with plenty of colorful parallels and rare inserts for collectors to chase.

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

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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 Topps Heritage Minor League baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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What: 2022 Elite Extra Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Jan. 25, 2023
Box basics: Eight autographs and two memorabilia cards per five-pack box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: EEE once again takes to the diamond with its mix of Optichrome cards, plenty of hits and a wide array of prospects from the baseball world all in one spot.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery 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 little bit of everything.

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ALREADY A STAR ... 
The Item: Jahmyr Gibbs autographed 16-by-20 photo (Fanatics Authentic)
The Price: Under $40
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy has a number of autographed cards already thanks to NIL deals, but to me they're often on the wrong team as he transferred to the Alabama Crimson Tide just this season after two years at Georgia Tech. Atop that, his autograph isn't the flashiest thing out there so that's one reason sticker autos might not appeal ... but when I saw this signed photo for the size and price? Well, I bit -- and it's a really good photo for college merch. He's rushed for 850 yards and seven TDs so far this year and added 42 catches for 378 yards and three more TDs on a team where, well, at times he's been the beast on the ground this year. His next stop? Likely the NFL -- he's popped up as a late first-round or early second-round guy in some quick searches -- though I'm not buying to scout. I just wanted his ink in my stash and this one will go alongside a few other larger-format college photos I've stacked up in the last few years. Depending on where he goes, autographed Rookie Cards should easily top this price. It also helped that I had some sales discount rewards in play, so I paid less than the $40 it had been going for. For me, this one was a win ... and, again, I really like this photo.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one ... but football boxes are here

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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

NOT EVEN THE COOLEST SAINTS CARD ... BUT CLOSE?
The Card: Space Ham 2021 Choice St. Paul Saints
The Buzz On This One: When comedy icon Bill Murray is among the team owners and has at least one baseball card out there, it's hard to have any one card for this long-running team grab any kind of added attention or carry cool-card status beyond that ... but this one probably does command some attention despite it not, I repeat not, being the only minor league card out there showcasing a pig. So, what's the deal here and is that a Space Jam jersey worn by Space Ham? Why, indeed it is ... and it's teased here and explained more in-depth on the card. (Click for a closer look.) Oh, and don't forget that Murray was in that movie alongside that failed member of the Birmingham Barons.

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

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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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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 Topps Pro Debut baseball cards (hobby)
First Buzz Preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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: Postseason baseball continues, talking cards waiting for NFL Sunday, new breaks and more in this weekend edition.

Continue reading →

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

YOU'RE NOT IMAGINING THIS PART I ...
The Card: Tooth Fairy 2016 Choice Reading Fightin' Phils Mascot Set
The Buzz On This One: Buzz did a double-take when spotting this card with a single word on my mind after seeing this ... why? Well it's a sponsorship spot for a mascot of sorts who cleans the bases and has a child from the crowd work with her to get the job done at games -- and she's also part of a mascot group while having a message to everybody, of course. The weird part? She's not alone ... keep reading.

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

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: NFL Week 4, pondering NFL legends, ripping Gold Standard, Tua talk, card show annoyances and ... three 1/1s (and a Superfractor) in a single case?

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