Detroit Tigers rookie relief pitcher Chase Lee after making his MLB debut last month. (@DETAuthentics photo)

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You probably don't know his name as he's a 26-year-old rookie in an MLB bullpen with more big-league innings in his five career games than he has big-league baseball cards. That count? Four-plus innings and zero big-league cards -- in other words, nothing Bowman at all before he got the call.

His name is Chase Lee and his nickname is "The Viper" -- that part's pretty big-league, actually -- and he made his MLB debut on April 22 with the Detroit Tigers. That day, he became the 23,429th player in league history, closing out a 2-0 loss to the Padres that was started by Jack Flaherty. Lee walked two and struck out one in just under two innings of work.

Three weeks to the day before that happened during a deep dive of game-used stuff from a major dealer in that realm, I added my latest item for this Collecting Game-used series and I added it for a few reasons -- but especially after I was intrigued by his story. Read this, I'll wait. Lee went from an average shortstop riding the bench on a club team with zero scholarship offers to being a failed walk-on who later figured out how to pitch -- he throws side-armed -- and came back to open tryouts the next year, 2019. That's when he made the Alabama Crimson Tide squad to start a three-year run that finished with a 9-0 college record and a 1.87 ERA and as a sixth-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2021.

That sounds pretty strong, right? Well, all that was still years ago. Lee's path to Detroit and his first strikeout ball he's holding up top had more than a few twists and turns with a 7-11 record in those last five MiLB seasons with no MLB-approved baseball prospect cards (what we care about most here) but with 249 strikeouts in 182 innings -- that part's pretty big-league, too.

So, what is there to collect? Well, I'm sure somewhere deep in my Crimson Tide stash is a small sample of something from of his few Panini Prizm or Elite Extra Edition cards from way back in 2021 -- he's got cards in those sets and nothing since save for potential MiLB team set cards and game-used memorabilia. So, when I spotted a gamer I opted to break one of my basic rules and dip down into the minors for a game-used piece of his story to join my collection, figuring I had some time to craft this item before his possible call from a new team. Meanwhile, to my surprise, that's already happened. (Here's a newer story about his path and this one is even better.)

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the item in action.

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What's Buzzing: Waiting on Jordan Lawlar, meeting Chris Jericho, 2025 Bowman is here and more in this midweek edition.

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1 -- Awaiting Jordan Lawlar's arrival ... 

2 -- Checking in on the Aaron Judge chatter

3 -- 2025 Bowman is here ... Reactions to Bowman Red

4 -- Opening Topps Chrome Black 

5 -- NBA chatter is here

6 -- Meeting Chris Jericho

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

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What's Buzzing: NBA chatter, pondering Cleveland Browns moves, Babe Ruth, Shohei Ohtani, Topps Midnight reactions and more.

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1 -- All your basketball takes are here

2 -- Pondering possibilities in Cleveland?

3 -- Checking in on the Shohei Ohtani chatter

4 -- I got you, Babe

5 -- Reactions to Topps Midnight football cards

6 -- Going oldschool ... 

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

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What's Buzzing: NBA Playoffs, a long-time project completed, a card to avoid, VeeFriends Chrome, 2025 Bowman and more.

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1 -- All your postseason NBA chatter is here

2 -- A project completed 

3 -- Talking Topps Now

4 -- One to avoid

5 -- Chewing on VeeFriends Chrome

6 -- Still talking 2025 Bowman

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

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What's Buzzing: Postseason NBA, WNBA pulls, WWE roster changes, 2025 Bowman, Pete Crow-Armstrong keeps homering and more.

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1 -- Postseason NBA chatter

2 -- WWE releases/non-renewals still have 'em talking

3 -- Awaiting Topps NBA 

4 -- Opening more WNBA packs

5 -- Still talking 2025 Bowman

6 -- Pete Crow-Armstrong is still delivering

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

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What's Buzzing: Pete Crow-Armstrong emerges, Luka Doncic's title-winning ability, 2025 Bowman, WWE releases, NFL favorites and more in this Saturday edition.

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1 -- Will Luka Doncic ever win the big one?

2 -- More 2025 Bowman thoughts

3 -- WWE releases have 'em talking

4 -- Talking past NFL favorites

5 -- Pete Crow-Armstrong is on their minds

6 -- MLB over-reactions are here

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

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

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IT'S ALWAYS TIFFY TIME
The Card: Tiffany Stratton 2023 Panini Immaculate Collection WWE Ruby Memorabilia Autographs (/25)
The Price: A meaty amount (for me)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Much like Rhea Ripley rookie autos in 2020, I've focused on trying to find one card from each of the lineups for Stratton's first year of ink in 2023 (RCs in 2022) with cleaner/full sigs on them and this brand was one of my targets for a while. I finally found one that looked good for a price I could pull off. Why chase? Stratton has delivered and figures to do so for some time with her latest big landmark moment being a bruiser of a win over Charlotte Flair at Wrestlemania. "Buff Barbie" is an informal nickname here so far -- they're avoiding trademark claims -- but they're also playing into that more and more with her Wrestlemania debut entrance having a Barbie Dreamhouse/packaging feel before a brawl that left her, in her own words, "looking like a broke down Barbie." That spectacle of an entrance and the match were both proof that the meteoric arrival and win over an all-time great at the biggest event of the year is just the start and the WWE is still fueling that rocket. I've been buying (this was a pre-Mania pick-up) and will keep looking for more somewhat selectively -- since stuff is at times pricey.
Grab a box: WWE cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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What's Buzzing: Aaron Judge, multi-player autos, NBA chatter, a really funky Heritage blaster, 2025 Bowman and more in today's edition.

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1 -- Judge.

2 -- Showing off multi-player NFL autos

3 -- NBA chatter as the postseason continues

4 -- Something really funky brewing?

5 -- All your MLB chatter is here

6 -- Bowman Red Rookie Redemption reactions

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

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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 Prizm baseball 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.

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What's Buzzing: MLB chatter, predicting rookie QB success, Luka Doncic, non-sports cards, Bowman Red and vintage baseball players.

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1 -- All your MLB chatter is here

2 -- Predicting 2025 rookie QB success

3 -- Talking Luka

4 -- Non-sports cards are on their minds

5 -- Focusing on vintage MLB players

6 -- Bowman Red Rookie Redemption reactions

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

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What: 2025 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Dugout Dreams autographed baseballs
Arrives: June 27
Box basics: One autographed baseball per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This newer brand in TRISTAR's autographed baseball chase lineup is back for another summer with a (green) monster of a Grand Treasure package to be found and then plenty of past and present superstars in these mystery boxes.

What's the biggest of them all this year? Keep reading for details on those and a gallery of what's in this one.

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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 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

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

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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: 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: 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.

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What's Buzzing: Reactions to Bowman Red Rookie Redemptions, 2025 Score NFL, Shedeur Sanders, a cautionary grading tale and more in this midweek edition.

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1 -- Bowman Red Rookie Redemption reactions

2 -- A grading tale ... (please learn some things here)

3 -- Still talking Shedeur Sanders

4 -- Reactions to 2025 Score NFL

5 -- Still talking Topps Heritage

6 -- Chewing on Topps nuggets

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

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A new twist on cardboard arrives in 2025 Bowman.

It's the Bowman Red Rookie Redemption program and it allows for card-holders of certain versions of Chrome Rookie Cards found in packs to be held for Fanatics FanCash in the short term or for the long haul.

Thirty rookies will be part of the program and if one wins Rookie of the Year then it's good for $100 in credit. Then there are escalators for MVP or Cy Young awards ... and if one wants to collect for the long haul then they're good for $1,000 credit if that player makes the Hall of Fame.

Keep reading for full info, a gallery of the cards and the player list.
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What's Buzzing: About Bo Jackson's football Rookie Card, offseason NFL chatter, Downtown cards, an interesting foil botch, Topps Dynasty and Topps Heritage.

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1 -- Bo Jackson's NFL Rookie Card: A lot of correct answers here

2 -- Offseason NFL chatter is here

3 -- Downtowns ... now or later?

4 -- An interesting foil botch

5 -- Awaiting Topps Dynasty

6 -- Still talking Topps Heritage

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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.

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: 2025 Topps Heritage baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview, odds & checklist: Click here

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

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Agustin Ramirez arrives with a bang, MLB chatter, NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders and more.

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1 -- Agustin Ramirez arrives with a big bang

2 -- Even more MLB chatter here

3 -- Nuggets from the Topps event?

4 -- The Purples vanished, too ...

5 -- All your NFL Draft reactions are here

6 -- Pondering Shedeur Sanders card values after the fall

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

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What: 2025 Historic Autographs All-time Sets baseball cards
Arrives: May 28
Box basics: A cut auto or handwriting sample cut in every other five-pack box (20 boxes per case)
Checklist/inclusions: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Historic Autographs re-imagines iconic stars and cards from the past with new retro-styled modern ways with a checklist that's "only the best of the best."

Keep reading for more information.

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What's Buzzing: NFL Draft first-round reactions, Aaron Judge, Jac Caglianone, Topps Black, NBA postseason and more in this Friday drop.

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1 -- All your NFL Draft reactions are here

2 -- Aaron Judge is on their minds

3 -- PuddleMonkey (who collects harder than you) has a question ... (see, harder)

4 -- Checking in on the Jac Caglianone thread

5 -- Talking Topps Black

6 -- NBA postseason chatter

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

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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 game from this week -- but back in the day -- in New York.

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 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: 2025 Topps Heritage baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview, odds & checklist: Click here

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

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: New Patrick Mahomes ink, an old Heritage case break that was huge, a fun botch and more.

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1 -- Collectors react to new Patrick Mahomes ink from Panini

2 -- Talking Nick Kurtz

3 -- Topps Heritage is here once again 

4 -- That's a fun botch

5 -- NBA postseason chatter is here

6 -- That'll work ... one from back in the day 

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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's Buzzing: New Topps Heritage, Bron Breakker, Nick Kurtz, Braves chaos and more in this Tuesday edition.

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1 -- Talking a new year of Topps Heritage 

2 -- Wrestlemania 41 fallout reactions continue

3 -- A redemption tale

4 -- Nick Kurtz gets the call

5 -- Braves chaos continues

6 -- Checking in on autographed books tips

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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.

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: 2025 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: 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 →