Barring some unforeseen need for shelving in the next few days, I made one last trek to a Toys R Us on Saturday afternoon -- Store No. 8919, according to my receipt -- in advance of its closing forever.

By this time next week, the long-running toy chain will be no more as bankruptcy will be the final chapter of this story that began back in the 1940s. It will end a run that clearly had its share of successes -- and mistakes -- but one that has left an indelible mark on pop culture and kids everywhere -- and probably their parents' pocketbooks, too.

I don't wanna grow up ...

Jogging my memory a bit, I've been to Toys R Us stores in probably five states -- that's not a lot as I didn't really grow up as a true Toys R Us Kid, meaning we had to drive a couple hours to find the closest one when I was younger and most in my toy prime. But this particular store? It just might be -- actually, I can pretty much guarantee this -- it is the first Toys R Us I ever visited. When? I'm not sure when the first time happened but those same doors I walked through today were the doors I walked through long ago looking for 1988 Donruss baseball cards and other "bargain packs" all those years ago. It's definitely where I first bought a Jose Canseco Baseball Card Kit and it's where I first discovered The Conlon Collection in baseball card form. (The price was right and the history there is still priceless today.) It's where I'm sure I bought a few NASCAR diecasts in the more recent past, too, as we would visit relatives on vacation and I'd hit all the different stores in town looking for cards and whatever other interesting toy or collectable piqued my interest at the time.

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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: St. Louis Cardinals Authentics game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.99 (via MLB.com)

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

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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: Nick Senzel is out for the year, breaking up a vintage collection, NSCC chatter, big pulls & more.

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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 Topps Series 2 (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 361
Base set completion: 
317 of 350 (91 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Jake Arrieta, Justin Verlander, Paul Goldschmidt, Max Scherzer, Andrew Benintendi, Yadier Molina, Cody Bellinger, Albert Pujols, Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton

Rookie Cards (24) – Notables include Scott Kingery, Christian Villanueva, Tim Locastro, Kyle Farmer, Jordan Luplow, Jen-Ho Tseng, Mitch Garver

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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 Topps Finest (hobby)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com 
Packs per box: 12 (via two mini-boxes)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
44 of 100 (44 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Gary Sanchez, Albert Pujols, Stephen Strasburg, Kris Bryant, Clayton Kershaw, Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Bregman, Buster Posey, Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Adrian Beltre

Rookie Cards (7) – Shohei Ohtani, Miguel Andujar, Rhys Hoskins, J.P. Crawford, Nicky Delmonico, Brandon Woodruff, Chance Sisco

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Have you seen the latest crazy items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. 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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... BUT WHAT IF IT WAS DEREK JETER?
The Item: 1993 Upper Deck SP Michael Tucker-Marc Newfield "Mona Lisa" error card
The Price: You have to see it to (not) believe it.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: One man's worthless printer's scrap is another's "Inverted Jenny" and that's a reference to a legitimately valuable error version of a postage stamp. In this case? Well, unless there's a huge Michael Tucker fan out there this is somebody wanting to (tongue in cheek) "test the market" or get some potential viral attention with a weird auction listing. (Mission accomplished.) Now, if it was a Derek Jeter card? Somebody would be buying ... no doubt about it.
Similar Pieces: Check out Derek Jeter 1993 SP cards here
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for MLB cards

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

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An autographed baseball by one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history will be sold tonight, commanding some serious cash when it's all said and done.

The pitcher? It's Christy Mathewson -- a 373-game winner who died at age 45 back in 1925 after a legendary career with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in its first class alongside Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner.

About nine hours remain in the Mile High Card Company auction ... and the interest is strong.

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What: 2018 Topps National Baseball Card Day baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 11
Pack basics: Six cards per promo pack (50 packs per box)

What's buzz-worthy: National Baseball Card Day returns for another season with rewards for purchases at participating card shops that day -- and a bonus card you can land later.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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It's not the flashiest autograph, but it could be one in much wider demand soon.

The ink from Kansas City Royals prospect Seuly Matias can only be found in a single product right now -- 2017 Elite Extra Edition -- and he's a 19-year-old putting up some impressive numbers in Class-A ball this season.

He's got 22 home runs in just 201 at-bats for the Lexington Legends this season -- and that's more ink than he has certified autograph cards.

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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: 1986 Topps Baseball Tattoos wax pack
Where to buy: Where/if you can find

What's inside this? Keep reading ...

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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: NSCC chatter and big pulls -- including this Derek Jeter 1/1 from a blaster box -- lead the way today.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Jo Adell, OF, Angels — High-A Inland Empire 66ers
Season so far: Hitting .318 with 14 doubles, 14 homers, 47 RBI and 11 SBs in 50 games
Baseball America’s highlight line: “At just 19 years old, Adell is quickly emerging as one of the top five-tool prospects in the minor leagues. He earned a promotion to the California League roughly a month ago and has taken the circuit by storm.”
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 400
First Chrome auto: 2017 Bowman Draft
One auto to consider: 2016 Leaf Metal
Buzz’s card take: He’s heavily hyped and was very pricey when his first Chrome ink arrived. A season like this won’t change that. Bargain-hunting could be tough here — but he’ll also likely keep appearing on prospect checklists.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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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: Fanatics Seattle Mariners game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $29.95 (via JCPenney.com)

What's inside this A+ box? Keep reading ...

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What: 2018 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Oct. 3
Box basics: One encased autograph per box (20 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps brings its buyback line to the collecting masses once again with a focus on MLB's retired stars all in one place.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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: Big pulls, 2018 Bowman Platinum is coming, NSCC chatter and more in today's edition.

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Question: When's the last time a New York Yankees rookie arrived with barely any baseball cards? (Has it ever happened? Can that really happen these days?)

Answer: This year -- and that rookie is Jonathan Loaisiga.

The 23-year-old made his MLB debut and got his first win on Friday night, going five innings and striking out six. He only walked four and allowed just three hits against Tampa Bay -- and he almost had as many strikeouts as he does baseball cards.

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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: NSCC chatter, estate sale wax, best NFL auto sets, big maildays, busting 2018 Topps Series 2 and ... is Mike Trout the most-boring great player ever?

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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: Nothing but breaks and NSCC discussions in this weekend edition.

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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 Topps Series 2 (Walmart blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Packs per box: 11 (10 plus patch pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion: 
74 of 350 (21 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Cubs team card, Andrew Benintendi, Aroldis Chapman,  Paul Goldschmidt, Justin Verlander, Yu Darvish, Joey Votto

Rookie Cards (6) – Shohei Ohtani, Kyle McGrath, Sandy Alcantara, A.J. Minter, Troy Scribner, Victor Arano

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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: Big pulls from around the collecting world, NSCC chatter and more as we head into the weekend.

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What: 2018 Topps High Tek baseball cards
Arrives: Oct. 10
Box basics: Two on-card autographs per 40-card box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps High Tek returns for another dazzling season with meaty packs that include a pair of autos, four numbered cards and a ton more every time.

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 pack: 1985 Topps 3-D Baseball Stars pack
Where to buy: Where/if you can find

What's inside this? Keep reading ...

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Have you seen the latest crazy items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here every week as we're launching a weekly version of our eBay Buzz pieces that pop up from time to time. 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.

--

AN OHTANI 1/1 ... ON THE CHEAP?
The Item: 2018 Bowman Shohei Ohtani Yellow 1/1 Printing Plate
The Price: $879 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The speculators in Shohei Ohtani cardboard might be less speculative now that he is facing injury issues that could sideline him for some time -- at least it's looking that way. But, if this one had been found a month ago, it would be much pricier than that asking price. No matter what he does in MLB from here on out -- on the mound or with his bat -- he'll always be an established star in Japan. That's what makes this one seem under-priced to me.
Similar Pieces: Shohei Ohtani autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 baseball boxes

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

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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: Juan Soto, 2018 Topps Series 2 breaks, NSCC chatter and several big pulls from around the collecting world.

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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: Fanatics Philadelphia Phillies game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.95 (via JCPenney.com)

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

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