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 and one simple collecting question to start the week.

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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 Bowman baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 10
Cards per lot: 80

Set completion: 
33 of 100 (33 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
24 of 150 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
15 of 150 (10 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base/prospect cards – Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Kris Bryant, Gary Sanchez, Buster Posey, Pete Alonso, Jo Adell, Eloy Jimenez, Adam Haseley, Jeren Kendall, Austin Beck, Alex Faedo, Ronald Acuna

Rookie Cards (15) – Shohei Ohtani, Raudy Read, Jackson Stephens, Nick Williams, Ryan McMahon, Zack Granite, Andrew Stephenson, Walker Buehler, Amed Rosario, Rafael Devers, Tyler Mahle, J.D. Davis, Victor Arano, Richard Urena, Parker Bridwell, Erick Fedde, Austin Hays

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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: A Flawless briefcase filled with nothing but 1/1s ... in a serial-number draft -- and plenty more in today's edition.

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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: The $400,000 Mike Trout Superfractor, busting new wax and two printing plates in one pack.

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Have you seen the latest interesting 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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THE MACHINE'S HARDWARE
The Item: Albert Pujols MLB Authenticated Los Angeles Angels batting helmet
The Price: $7,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one was worn on Sept. 25, 2015, when Pujols hit his 557th career home run -- an item that's more than just a gamer -- and it's fully authenticated by MLB (click the pic at right for closer look at that authentication number). Now that Pujols is a member of the 3,000-hit and 600-homer club -- something only four players have ever done -- there should be a little more appreciation for his memorabilia and key cards even though he's got two hobby heavyweights in the lineup with him.
Similar Pieces: Game-used helmets on eBay
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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Do you have a single card or item in your collection that stands out from the rest?

It's often not easy to pick one when looking at a collection that you spent plenty of time (and likely money) building. Is picking just one favorite a challenge that you could take on? Tweet @blowoutbuzz on Twitter (or send an email at the address below) for more info on how you can have your favorite card or item highlighted here on The Buzz. We want to see what makes you tick.

Here is our latest collector to take this challenge. Check it out ...

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Name: Rob Rich
Find him at: @robrich333 or natsfan1 on Blowout Forums
Location: Kentucky
Collects: I collect Rookie Cards of modern stars as well as autographs of Hall of Fame players.

The favorite: PSA/DNA authenticated Babe Ruth Perez-Steele custom cut autograph

Why this matters to me: Neither of my parents are sports fans, but they encouraged reading and first bought me a baseball history book when I first expressed interest in the sport. It was the perfect gift to learn about the game that would become my greatest passion in life. Babe Ruth was clearly a larger-than-life figure, and, even as a kid that was born 100 years after his birth, I felt this sense of awe when learning of his accomplishments. When I moved into collecting, I truly felt a genuine connection when owning an autograph of a player. It's like I have a personal slither of history and greatness. Unless you are an avid autograph collector, it is difficult to articulate just how connected you can feel to an individual that you have never met through something as simple as an autograph. The simplicity behind an autograph is what truly makes it beautiful. A brief moment in time occurred where an athlete writes his name on an item, but a historical event takes place in my eyes. For a fleeting moment, an individual who has reached the pinnacle of athletic achievement has held the item that is now yours, and permanently left a reminder of their greatness for years to come.

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Shohei Ohtani isn't cooling down -- on the mound, in the batter's box or even on cardboard.

The Los Angeles Angels rookie sensation hit his fifth homer of the season on Thursday night and that's just furthering the furor for finding his Holy Grail of baseball cards, his 2018 Bowman Superfractor autograph. It's a one-of-a-kind card that has yet to appear in the marketplace and can command serious cash.

How much? Well, BlowoutCards.com has upped its previous buying offer to $100,000 for this 1/1 card when it's hand-delivered to the Blowout offices and in BGS 9.5 condition. It's an offer that now stands until May 31.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 5.

The box: 2018 Topps Heritage baseball cards (blaster)
The cost: Click here

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

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 3.

The box: 2017 Leaf Metal Sports Heroes Proofs
The cost: Click here for the standard product (when available)

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

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 2.

The boxes: 2007 Mounted Memories Certified Authentics Second Edition
The cost: $4.99 apiece (will vary if you can find)

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

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 1.

The packs: 2018 Bowman baseball value packs (six)
The cost: $9.98 apiece 

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

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What: 2018 Bowman High Tek baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 22
Box basics: Four on-card autographs per 10-card box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps brings the Bowman brand to the Tek world for a sophomore season with new looks at familiar Bowman cards and new chances at landing the hobby's biggest rookie this year, Shohei Ohtani.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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What would you pay for Giancarlo Stanton's final Miami Marlins jersey?

It could be yours right now ... for a price.

One of Buzz's newest super-casual hobbies is looking into specific pieces of game-used MLB memorabilia direct from teams with MLB Authentication. It's not a heavy focus just yet -- it's just a result of the ol' personal collection player being a retiree going cardless these days.

Some MLB teams have mailing lists you can join for updates about memorabilia available after games but most do not. Many sell items in team shops and via MLB Auctions (not always as auctions, though). The Miami Marlins are one team that does have a mailing list and there are some gems to be found there on the cheap.

But then there's the Stanton section. (And an Ichiro Suzuki section, too.)

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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 Heritage baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 9
Cards in this box: 72
Base set completion: 
66 of 400 (17 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Jose Altuve, Cody Bellinger, Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado, Buster Posey, Corey Seager, Miguel Cabrera, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber, Francisco Lindor, Paul Goldschmidt

>>> For a checklist and variation galleries, click here

Rookie Cards (2 cards, 4 rookies) – Lucas Sims, Ozzie Albies, Raudy Read, Erick Fedde

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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: James Paxton's no-hitter, Matt Harvey's trade, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and some big pulls in today's edition.

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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 breaks from around the collecting world, preparing for The National and NFL investment sleepers?

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Do you have a single card or item in your collection that stands out from the rest?

It's often not easy to pick one when looking at a collection that you spent plenty of time (and likely money) building. Is picking just one favorite a challenge that you could take on? Tweet @blowoutbuzz on Twitter (or send an email at the address below) for more info on how you can have your favorite card or item highlighted here on The Buzz. We want to see what makes you tick.

Here is our latest collector to take this challenge. Check it out ...

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Name: Benjamin Wilson
Find him at: @ourtradingcards
Location: Galt, Calif.
Collects: Oakland A's

The favorite: 2013 Topps Five Star Silver Signatures 1/1 Yoenis Cespedes

Why this matters to me: I believe I have the largest collection of Oakland A's cards as well as Yoenis Cespedes (A's only). If I don't, I'd love to meet the individual that does. This card is the crown jewel of both my A's and Cespedes personal collection. I was collecting every Cespedes card I could get my hands on from 2012 to 2014. The Five Star Silver Signature Series was an amazing card (with parallels) and it was one of the first rainbows I attempted to complete. It's not my most expensive card, but it's definitely my favorite.

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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 Bowman baseball cards (five jumbo packs)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per lot: 5
Cards per pack: 22
Cards per lot: 110

Set completion: 
34 of 100 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 17
Prospect set completion: 
30 of 150 (20 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
20 of 150 (13 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base/prospect cards – Kris Bryant, Buster Posey, Aaron Judge, Miguel Cabrera, Manny Machado, Kyle Wright, Jake Burger, Luis Robert, Brendan Rodgers, Jo Adell

Rookie Cards (19) – Shohei Ohtani (2), Walker Buehler (2), Austin Hays (2), Erick Fedde (2), Parker Bridwell (2), Richard Urena (2), Alex Verdugo, Max Fried, Victor Robles, Lucas Sims, J.P. Crawford, Dominic Smith, Victor Arano

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If you pulled a mystery redemption from a pack of 2017 Topps Update, the mystery is over.

Topps revealed the 12 different redemptions for that product on Monday and they offer an update to the 2017 Topps Baseball Update Commemorative MLB MVP Autograph parallel set.

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What's the priciest piece of Los Angeles Dodgers memorabilia ever sold?

Well, according to Goldin Auctions, it's this 1963 road jersey used by Sandy Koufax, which sold for $429,625 on Saturday night in the latest event from the Runnemede, N.J.-based company.

"The rarity of Koufax game-worn memorabilia combined with its impeccable authenticity and the fact that it was from perhaps his greatest season when he captured the Cy Young, NL MVP Award and the World Series MVP makes it truly special," said Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions, in a prepared statement. "This event also proved a vibrant market for Michael Jordan, Mike Trout, LeBron James and Tom Brady memorabilia with lots from all of them surpassing expectations."

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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 Championship Collection Shohei Ohtani baseball repack (MJ Holding)
Where to buy: Walmart ($19.99)

Packs per box: 15 (five packs are bonus items) plus one Leaf Shohei Ohtani card
Cards per pack: Varies by brand
Cards in this box: 118
Base set completion: N/A

Notables on base cards – See gallery for key pulls

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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 Bowman baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 10
Cards per lot: 80

Set completion: 
33 of 100 (33 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Prospect set completion: 
24 of 150 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0
Chrome Prospect set completion: 
16 of 150 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base/prospect cards – Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Dansby Swanson, Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Olson, Giancarlo Stanton, Hunter Greene, Ronald Acuna, Alex Faedo, Brendan Rodgers, Pete Alonso, Jo Adell, Nick Senzel

Rookie Cards (12) – Raudy Read, Jackson Stephens, Nick Williams, Ryan McMahon, Clint Frazier, Jen-Ho Tseng, Garrett Cooper, Victor Robles, Max Fried, Alex Verdugo, Zack Granite, Andrew Stephenson

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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: The Dodgers' first combined no-hitter in team history, Albert Pujols gets his 3,000th hit and more MLB chatter in this early Saturday morning edition.

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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: Busting 2018 Bowman, Bowman at retail, The Bambino and more collecting questions and enigmas.

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An international baseball legend is calling it a career ... maybe.

After 27 seasons as a professional baseball player -- the last 18 in Major League Baseball -- Ichiro Suzuki is taking a front-office position with the Seattle Mariners. The 44-year-old had played in 15 games this season -- collecting nine hits -- in a return to the team he began his MLB career with back in 2001. Before that he was a star in Japan with the Orix Blue Wave for nine seasons beginning as an 18-year-old in 1992.

"With Ichiro's track record of success, his personality, his unique perspective and his work ethic, he is singularly positioned to impact both our younger players and the veterans in the clubhouse," Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto told ESPN. "We really don't want him to change anything that he's doing right now, with the exception that he will not be playing in games."

Meanwhile, Suzuki's agent says he's not retiring.

“He doesn’t plan on retiring,’’ John Boggs, his agent, told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s morphing into the role. He’ll still be traveling with the team, work out with the team every day, but he just isn’t going to be allowed to play.

“He in no way has decided to retire.’’

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