The story of this baseball is a whole lot of ... Bananas.

This extra item in my Collecting Game-used series this month is easily the most-unique baseball in my collection -- and part of this appealing story happened absolutely thanks to some dumb luck. (Again ... some of my best finds have happened that way.) What's the deal? One day when looking into baseball cards for the traveling road show and pop culture phenomenon that is the Savannah Bananas -- think baseball meets a circus with side helpings of Zubaz-era WWF and some Talladega Nights-style NASCAR bombast with game rules even quirkier than both -- I stumbled upon a new part of the official team store. The Bananas now sell game-used stuff with full databased authentication and some supreme stickered specificity just like MLB.

While I picked off my ball simply because it was among the cheapest options, it's actually one with a story and some unique documented game-use that's quite unique within this spectacle on the diamond. In fact, it's absolutely one to chew on ... and when you do that you won't even be the first.

Huh? Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

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What's Buzzing: The MLB Draft, All-Star Game festivities, still talking Tom Brady Rookie Cards, The National and more.

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1 -- MLB Draft reactions 

2 -- Not a bad Bowman find

3 -- All-Star chatter 

4 -- Talking Tom Brady Rookie Cards and more

5 -- Big Dumper is chasing history ... and here's more on Cal Raleigh

6 -- The National is on their minds

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

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What: 2024 Pulse Lumin Heat Seekers baseball cards
Arrives: June/July 2025
Box basics: One encased autographed card per box (24 boxes per case)
Checklist: See early players list (so far) in gallery
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This newer player in the prospect realm hits the diamond once again with a set packed with nothing but ink from some promising young stars -- and this time it's just a single signed card per box with some new names in the mix.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of images.

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What: 2024 Pulse Lumin baseball cards
Arrives: May/June 2025
Box basics: Six encased autographed cards per six-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: See early players list (so far) in gallery
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This newer player in the prospect realm hits the diamond once again with a set packed with nothing but ink from some promising young stars.

Keep reading for more info and 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: 2023 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all years of USA)

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

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What: 2024 Panini Prospect Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Feb. 28, 2025
Box basics: Six autographed cards per six-pack box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: A new line in the Panini America lineup echoes other releases with inclusions that should be familiar to veteran collectors as this one takes a look at baseball's newcomers.

Keep reading for a gallery and more info.

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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: 2024 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby/H2)

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

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What: 2024 Leaf Electrum Baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 30
Box basics: Four autographed cards per seven-card box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf brings its new line to the diamond with a mix of MLB newcomers, top amateurs on NIL deals, newly drafted players and past legends all together with ink the main -- but not only -- inclusion in this colorful release.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

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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: Paul Skenes and MLB All-Star chatter, showing off Topps MLB sketch cards, new pulls and more in this all-baseball edition.

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What: 2024 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards
Arrives: May 29
Box basics: Seven autographs or memorabilia cards per eight-card box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: USA Baseball's baseball cards drop for a new year with a simplified one-pack box that's nothing but hits say for one parallel or insert card.

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 ... 

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FROM 61* TO CARDBOARD ... 
The Card: Roger Maris & Barry Pepper 2021 Leaf Ultimate Sports The Ultimate Duo (/12)
The Price: $25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one flew under my radar for sure until I recently spotted it and had to grab it instantly. For those who don't know, actor Berry Pepper played Roger Maris in 61* -- trailer here -- a 2001 Billy Crystal movie made for HBO. It's easily among the best baseball movies out there for accuracy as Crystal is an obsessive Yankees fan who notes it all in behind-the-scenes segments you can see on the DVD. This one pairs a piece of what is likely a Maris bat with a piece of what looks like a leather jacket for Pepper -- not the most-ideal combo of items, but it is what it is. This is the only card pairing the two and it's the easiest version to find -- the rest of the parallels and printing plates have lower numbering here -- all /6 and below ... no wonder this one was off my radar for three years. I simply hadn't seen any of them.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this one but Leaf baseball boxes 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 box: 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for FOTL)

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

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What: 2024 Onyx Vintage baseball cards
Arrives: April 12
Box basics: Four autos per Base Series box (24 packs per box, six boxes per case); 10 autos per Mega Series box (10 packs per box, six boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Onyx's Vintage brand takes the field with a new format approach -- two box styles this year -- and an array of newly created old-style cards and inclusions as it celebrates baseball.

Keep reading for more info and 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: 2023 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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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. 

MANNY BEING MANNY ... ADMITTEDLY BEFORE MILB
The Card: Manny Ramirez 1991 Little Sun High School Prospects
The Buzz On This: OK, OK ... this isn't MiLB cardboard but it's thisclose to it as this card comes from a small set of players who were quickly on their way to pro ball when this one arrived from a small card company that released a number of small yet interesting sets. In this case, Ramirez was fresh out of George Washington High School in New York where he hit .650 with 41 hits, 40 runs 15 homers and 40 RBI in just 22 games as a senior. His career stats there? A mere 35 homers, 28 doubles, 17 triples, in 67 games where he hit .630. Oh and he stole 76 bases out of 78 attempts. Sure, you can look up his MLB stats -- that's easy -- but this card is all that numbers-wise and more. (Too bad I forgot to take a pic of it when I found this set in a bulk lot of MiLB sets months ago.) There are a few other MLB players in the set but none come close to Manny Being Manny.

Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards you can 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: 2021 Panini Prizm Draft Picks baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for FOTL)

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

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Panini America's baseball team has four new members.

The company revealed this week that it has signed deals with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's MLB Draft -- former LSU star Paul Skenes who went to the Pirates -- as well as the No. 6 pick Jacob Wilson (A's), No. 16 pick Bryce Elridge (Giants) and No. 17 pick Enrique Bradfield Jr. (Orioles).

"We are continuing to add tremendous talent to our athlete roster, and this group of elite baseball players are the latest great additions," said Jason Howarth, Senior VP of Marketing and Athlete Relations. "We are pleased that fans will have the opportunity to collect their initial products as professional athletes."

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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: MLB Draft chatter, new pulls, Elly De La Cruz, Shohei Ohtani, The National and more in this Monday edition.

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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RED-HOT RIGHT NOW 
The Item: Elly De La Cruz 2022 Bowman Heritage Chrome Red Refractor auto (/5)
The Price: $4,000 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The new arrival in MLB is just two games into his big-league career but his combination of speed and power -- and his worthiness to don Eric Davis' No. 44 (another speed and power guy there) in Cincinnati -- is getting the spotlight. He's already got a double, a triple and a homer along with three runs and two RBI while hitting .429 after two games. His Rookie Cards won't appear until 2024 releases -- he missed the deadline so his first Topps Now cards carry "call-up" labels -- but he's got plenty of cardboard. He's pushing 700 different card appearances in prospect releases with cards since 2021 and more than 200 of those are autographs, too. This one comes from the delayed Bowman Heritage but is arguably the right color for max appeal. I don't think that price will get met but it could ... he's a top talent that will be talked about until he comes back to reality. Well, if ... he hit .298 with 71 doubles, 22 triples, 49 homers, 190 RBI and 71 stolen bases in 263 MiLB games over four seasons. Baseball America had him ranked No. 8 in all of MiLB entering this season and he was also a top-10 guy via MLB and Baseball Prospectus rankings.
Similar Pieces: Other Elly De La Cruz autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for other Bowman Heritage boxes

Keep reading for a few more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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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: 2023 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards (mega)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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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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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 Pro Set Baseball cards
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and 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: 2022 Panini USA Baseball Stars & Stripes baseball cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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: New pulls, the MLB Draft, Spencer Strider, Juan Soto turns down a record deal, The National and safety tips while you're at the big show.

Continue reading →

Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here. We’ll spotlight some items that have a story or just wow us with how much interest it might have — and we’re not just talking baseball cards, either.

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A BIG-INK REMINDER
The Item: Natalie Portman & Hayden Christensen 2021 Topps Star Wars Masterwork Gold Dual Dutographs (1/1)
The Price: $24,999.99 Buy-It-Now
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a big card, but I'm not totally sure it's $25,000 big ... but it could be given the crazy prices paid for rare stuff these days. This one leads off here just as a reminder that some big names are very possible in this new arrival that was delayed. You get four hits per box and my Buzz Break box ripped yesterday included ink three times. The multi-person autos here include big names that can only be had on cardboard now via stickers but in the Star Wars world the big ink is big no matter what. Don't believe me? Check out the link below.
Similar Pieces: Star Wars Masterwork autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2021 Topps Star Wars Masterwork boxes

Keep reading for a few more interesting items ...

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