You never know what you might find in a box at the big show ... and this year it's all boxes and more in store.

What box is that? It's the 2025 Blowout MegaMix (click here) and you can pre-order one now to have delivered at home or grab now to pick up at the show of all shows, the National Sports Collectors Convention starting on July 30 in Chicago.

What's in it?

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

THEY'RE BACK ... SOMETIME SOON
The Item: Stranger Things Season 1 Target-exclusive Blu-ray set (2016)
The Reason Bought: How many Netflix series these days get a physical DVD release of any kind? How many get chain store-exclusive variant versions? Not that much of anything TV gets a physical release, really, not at least anywhere near the volumes of the past and that thought, along with the fact that the final season of this franchise is finally dropping sometime this year, got me looking here. I really liked the feel of this DVD set that's made to look like an old 1980s VHS sleeve that's had plenty of wear and tear and I also liked the idea of a graded item with that feel -- one where its actual flaws can blend in well and not stand out as glaring reasons why an item didn't grade higher.
The Grade: CGC 9.4 (A+ seal)

Reality Check: There are definitely other* copies of this one graded, but a pop report doesn't yet appear to be live for CGC Home Video (or it was down when I prepped this) and my number didn't come up on the verification search, either. That's OK for me as slabbed movies and games aren't as high on my radar in slabs as cards and magazines in terms of a "commodity" ... these are more the kind of shelf item with maybe some longer-term potential substance to them. To me they're more of a name-your-price novelty -- and, as an aside, I do like CGC's cases a lot more than others in this realm. This was a relatively cheap addition as well -- less than a lot of retail card boxes -- and over time affordable items can build a collection. One scary part? This is not far away from being 10 years old ... time flies.

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

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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: 1996 Pro Line National Edition NFL cards
Where to buy: Will take some hunting to find ... click here for newer NFL stuff

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

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Who's the best? It's a simple question with a number of potential possibilities -- and there's a contest launching today to get a definitive single answer.

America's Best Card Shop is a four-month long competition presented by Loupe, which has joined forces with industry leaders such as Topps, the Miami Marlins and Blowout Cards. The winner gets a grand-prize package worth more than $50,000 as well as an exclusive Loupe streaming deal.

"Our goal is simple, and it's all in the name: We want to find the best sports card store in the United States," read the program's announcement. "If you own a brick-and-mortar sports card store in the U.S. (or want to nominate one), we'd love to hear from you."

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You never know what you might find in a box at the big show ... and this year there's even more included as bonus items in the big box.

What box is that? It's the 2021 Blowout MegaMix and you can pre-order one now to have delivered at home or grab now to pick up at the show of all shows, the National Sports Collectors Convention starting on July 28 and running until Aug. 1 in Chicago.

What's in it?

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We're just 40 days away from the start of the 41st National Sports Collectors Convention and there are some new details to show that the event will be a little different when things kick off at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., on July 28.

The map for the corporate pavilion was revealed on Friday with some new additions to the row to know. Wild Card will be there as an exhibitor with new cardboard, for example, while Hybrid Grading Approach and Pro-Mold will add a new presence in the grading and supplies realms. Noticeably absent from the area? Upper Deck will not have a booth there -- a move that should impact the lineup of wrapper redemption programs for collectors to partake in while at the show.

Blowout Cards will be at the center of it all, though, nestled between Panini America, Leaf Trading Cards and Fanatics at the show -- Booth No. 854 as seen above -- with releases eligible for all wrapper redemptions available for the duration of the event.

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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: Julio Jones is a Tennessee Titan, inside 20 Bowman blasters, a strong WWE case, soccer pulls, The National and 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: 2014 BenchWarmer National trading cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com when available -- see all BenchWarmer boxes here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of everything in this box.

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The show will wait until next year.

This year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., is canceled.

It had been postponed to December due to the COVID-19 pandemic but finally was officially called off by show organizers on Thursday morning. They cited "concern for the safety of attendees and exhibitors and the uncertainty over COVID-19 federal and state guidelines as the major reasons for the cancellation" and noted that the 2021 show in Chicago is set for July 28-Aug. 1 is under way.

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Check out the prices of unopened boxes from just two years ago in the gallery -- it should surprise you.

Do know what today is?

It was supposed to be the opening day of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., but with the life-changing coronavirus pandemic still in play across the country the show of all shows has been tentatively rescheduled for December. (And, realistically, that's likely in doubt.)

What might you have found on the show floor? Well, you can find stuff you might not even know exists -- or can even imagine -- and in the case of this throwback gallery of views from just two years ago you might wish you had a time machine.

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Tomorrow would have marked the opening day of the National Sports Collectors Convention this year in Atlantic City, N.J., but that's not happening thanks to the coronavirus' life-changing grip on the country.

However, thanks to a group of podcasting collectors, there will be plenty of card chatter going on this weekend as HobbyPalooza! 2020 is here beginning on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

What is it? It will be a marathon of 35 hours full of card chatter from a number of different areas of the industry -- a virtual hangout.

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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: 2016 BenchWarmer Eclectic Collection Series 2
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of everything in this box.

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The No. 2 pick in the NHL Draft has a new team.

Panini America revealed on Thursday that it has signed Finnish hockey star Kaapo Kakko to an exclusive autograph card deal. That means the new New York Rangers star will only have autographed Rookie Cards via Panini, which no longer holds an NHL card license after its deal there ended following the 2013-14 season.

“Kaapo Kakko is nothing less than an international hockey phenomenon and his arrival in the U.S. – and New York, no less — is one of the most exciting developments the sport has seen in years,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop in a prepared release. “He’s expected by many to drive the hockey trading card market this season and is poised to become the next great athlete in the sport of hockey, and we’re thrilled to have him as an exclusive member of the Panini America team. We’re looking forward to working closely with him to create exciting and creative trading cards for fans and collectors and having him be a part of a number of new initiatives in the trading card category.” Continue reading →

Leaf Trading Cards will have three promotional sets up for grabs at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago as well as a promo card set for VIP attendees.

First up will be a 1992 Leaf Metal set that will be in packs. To receive a pack at the company's booth, one must open a box of 2019 Leaf In The Game-used Sports or 2019 Leaf Pop Century. These cards will be paralleled with a few colors and include the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Kyler Murray, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mike Tyson, Barry Sanders, Hulk Hogan, Stephen Curry, Ichiro Suzuki, Lionel Messi, Daisy Ridley, Harrison Ford, Larry Bird, Conor McGregor and plenty more.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ...

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DAK & THE DETAILS
The Card: Dak Prescott 2018 Panini National Convention Sparkle Relics (/15)
The Price: $4.95
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card has a few things going for it and it was found in a show promo pack instead of some super-pricey box, which is a plus for me and my bargain-minded buys. (I like good pulls from cheaper places. They just seem more interesting ... or at least more of a challenge.) I picked this one off primarily because it's got a "prime" type swatch from a game-used football on this parallel and these inexpensive cards are gimmes for me since there simply aren't as many game-used football cards out there vs. other pieces of equipment. I did a double-take when I saw the serial-number, though -- his jersey number -- and that made it a done deal.  To me that adds to the appeal of this card and I'm still a big fan of memorabilia cards. Is this a money card? Probably not, but I'm a collector not a flipper and it just seemed like a no-brainer for the price and scarcity.
Grab a pack/lot: Check out the promo packs section

Keep reading for six more interesting items ...

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ... it's some of all of those.

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Redemption cards aren't fun for anyone -- card-makers, dealers or collectors -- but one of Panini America's key stops at its booth at the National Sports Collectors Convention each year is the one for its redemption trade-in program.

Some collectors will stop by with a stack of redemptions, others just a handful. If they take the time to get in line, they'll all leave with something from a selection of key cards, wax boxes, Black Boxes or in some cases Panini Rewards points if they want them, allowing them to select their own assortment of new stuff.

How does it work? For the last seven years, it's been a tiered system depending on the value of what they have.

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The calm before the storm is here.

On-floor preparation for this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is nearing its finale as the booths fill up inside the IX Center in Cleveland. Booth No. 743, the home of BlowoutCards.com should be one of your first stops the show, which begins this evening and runs through Sunday.

But that’s not the only early scene seen so far …

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"Sir Charles" has his own Panini America promo card set at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention -- and it can only be found in one place.

That's at the Panini booth in Cleveland during the show that tips off tomorrow and runs through Sunday at the IX Center is the only place to find the newest Charles Barkley basketball cards.

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NASCAR fans at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention have a reason to dig into new boxes of 2018 Panini Certified racing cards at the show.

Panini America revealed on Sunday that it has readied a special National racing promo pack that they'll get for each box of Certified they open at the company's booth during the show that's set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland.

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Topps has its promo cards for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention ready to go.

The show, set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland, will begin with its VIP Party presented by Topps with autograph guests including Calvin Murphy, Mike Hargrove and Luis Tiant. The VIP ticket-holder gift bags will include a previously revealed 1983 Topps promo set. 

And now we have a teaser for the wrapper redemption plans for the show.

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Those who pick up a VIP ticket package for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland will have a five-card Prominent Cuts set from Upper Deck in their bag and that's just the start of what the company has planned for the five-day show that begins on Aug. 1.

The stars leading the way in that set? Ben Simmons, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Serena Williams. 

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Panini America is gearing up for this year's National Sports Collectors Convention set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland, Ohio, and the first sign of that is the company's promo card set going to VIP ticket-holders that was formally unveiled by the show today.

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This year's National Sports Collectors Convention is set for Aug. 1-5 in Cleveland with a meaty roster of autograph guests signing for those who opt to get a ticket and get in line for an "inkredible" moment.

Some of those signers are actually free if you're at the VIP reception on Wednesday or buy a VIP ticket package -- a bonus for taking the time to hit the entire show or buy the full package for all of the other bonuses -- but other signers will take some planning to land the ones you want.

It's tough to see everything at the show -- it's that big -- and the time it takes to work through autograph lines is valuable in that it impedes your shot at seeing it all. With that said, here are my picks -- one per day -- to grab off the autograph list. (Keep reading for the full signers list in a gallery at the end.)

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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, NSCC chatter, debating what to do with Robinson Cano cards & more.

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