Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading, so here's this month's grading diary.

CLOSE TO PERFECT
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: Ohtani's historic 2024 season had me assessing all of my cards from my 2018 stash -- mostly lower-end stuff that's heavily graded -- but not graded by me. Why? I don't grade the heavily submitted stuff because a lesser mark wouldn't be as worthy of going through the process and, really, in most instances a card can always be found already graded if it's needed. But, with his 50-50 season being so big, I opted to slab a few basics and this is one that made the cut. The stock used in 2018 is almost as thin as it gets and all that dark ink definitely showcases flaws, but I picked a pair of cards I thought were perfect from my stash and sent them in.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: I don't know where I missed a perfect mark here but I'll still take a 10 ... less than half check in there and I think it's really harder than that -- people are examining their stuff harder before sending them in. The fact that these have checked in as low as a seven show how this one isn't easy sledding when it comes to slabbing. And as for my perfect aspirations? Well, it doesn't exist.

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

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Buzz buys a lot of stuff these days and for a few reasons, really. Sometimes it's just bargain-hunting, sometimes it's just something that strikes me. And other times it's a lot -- a group of things -- and that has happened enough lately I figured I'd try something different as a regularly appearing item. Sometimes my lots will be wins, sometimes they won't be ... but I'll let you decide. 

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DIGGING UP ONE GEM?
The Lot: A lot of nine 1975-76 Topps NBA stars
The Price: About $11

Keep reading for more on this one ...

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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 box: 2019-20 Donruss Optic basketball cards (Walmart mega box)
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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Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James and Steph Curry.

Those are the players who have taken home the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in back-to-back seasons -- and none of them have done it in unanimous fashion except for Curry, who made history on Tuesday.

It's an elite club for sure.

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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: 2014-15 Panini Prizm basketball cards (super value rack box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12 (each pack contains three standard Prizm packs and one three-card Red, White and Blue Prizm pack)
Cards per pack: 15
Cards in this box: 180
Base set completion: 
109 of 250 (44 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of notable players – LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Larry Bird, Grant Hill

Rookie Cards (short-prints) pulled (23) – Jabari Parker, Joel Embiid, Aaron Gordon, Noah Vonleh, Elfrid Payton, Zach Lavine, T.J. Warren, James Young, Tyler Ennis, Gary Harris, Rodney Hood, James Ennis, Kyle Anderson, Joe Harris, Jusuf Nurkic, Glenn Robinson III, Nick Johnson, Dwight Powell, Jordan Clarkson, Russ Smith, Devyn Marble, James Michael McAdoo, Nikola Mirotic

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