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

TOUGH ONE?
The Card: Bo Bichette 2022 Topps Heritage image variation (found in Heritage High Number packs)
The Reason Graded: Some of you might wonder why this card is in the lead slot this month since it's a simple image variation -- but a great one -- from a brand that's not quite as pricey as it used to be. (At least for singles ... you can find this for about $2 or less.) But, finding one of these that will get a high (real) grade? Not so much. The centering can always be a bear here but that's not the constant problem spot. It's the backs of these that use full-bleed black ink where cards that may look flawless on the fronts are often demolished when it comes to those those back edges.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: This one? It still has a some minor spotting -- that's why it's not a perfect 10 -- but it's way better than every other one I've seen and that's why I subbed this after I found it raw. Why? That front is pretty much a perfectly crafted design and I definitely don't mind retro-styled sets like this one -- I call it the old-guy flagship set as it is for me vs. basic Topps. The stuff feels more sturdy with its stock and printing -- I'm not sure I trust foilboard to age that well, either -- but the trade-off is that Heritage is harder to grade and land those higher marks. In all ways, this one is a win for me, a Bichette collector, and that's why he's batting lead-off. (It also doesn't hurt he's starting to warm up on the field this season.)

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

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What's Buzzing: NBA Finals chatter, cornering the market, new pulls, PSA ponderances and more in this Saturday edition.

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1 -- NBA Finals chatter

2 -- "If you corner the market will it raise value?"

3 -- Building a team's Hall of Famer checklist 

4 -- New baseball pulls are here

5 -- Sigh ...

6 -- Reactions to possible new options from PSA + Wondering where the 10s went?

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What's Buzzing: Reactions to PSA considering new services, NBA Finals, James Wood and more in this Friday edition.

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1 -- Reactions to possible new options from PSA ... Wondering where the 10s went?

2 -- NBA postseason chatter

3 -- Check out baseball breaks here 

4 -- More grading chatter

5 -- James Wood is on their minds

6 -- Check out all of the new pulls here

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What's Buzzing: Oklahoma City roars into the NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, new pulls and more.

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1 -- "Is it time to start talking about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?"

2 -- About Anthony Edwards ... 

3 -- NBA postseason chatter

4 -- All your baseball threads are here

5 -- New pulls are here

6 -- Talking a unique Topps Now card ... 

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What's Buzzing: Pondering the best in 2000s MLB, NBA postseason, MMA chatter, new pulls and more in this midweek edition.

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1 -- Wondering about 2025 Topps Update 

2 -- Still pondering the best MLB players of the 2000s

3 -- An upside down patch (and it happens often)

4 -- New football pulls

5 -- Some MMA topics to see

6 -- NBA postseason chatter

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What's Buzzing: NBA playoff chatter, Shohei Ohtani on the mound, new pulls, awaiting Jac Caglianone and more.

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1 -- One Prizm NFL hanger yields ... 

2 -- Diamond Kings delivers

3 -- Talking Shohei Ohtani 

4 -- NBA postseason thoughts

5 -- Awaiting Jac Caglianone ...

6 -- New MLB pulls include 2025 Bowman and more

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What's Buzzing: Awaiting Jac Caglianone, NBA postseason, a hanger is a banger and more in this holiday edition.

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1 -- Awaiting Jac Caglianone ... 

2 -- All your MLB chatter is here

3 -- NBA postseason and more

4 -- Hanger is a banger ... or is it bad collation?

5 -- WWE chatter during a busy weekend

6 -- New MLB pulls include 2025 Bowman and more

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What: 2024-25 Panini Prizm Deca basketball cards
Arrives: May 22
Box basics: Two autographs per 10-pack hobby box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (when live)

What's buzz-worthy: Panini America's 10 years of Prizm anniversary release gets a sophomore season with a deep rainbow of parallels and new subsets to inject some extra star power into the set -- Legends, All-Star, All-NBA and MVP cards.

Keep reading for more info.

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What's Buzzing: Caitlin Clark, James Wood, NBA and WNBA chatter, new pulls and more in this Sunday edition.

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1 -- Talking 1/1 cards ...

2 -- New Bowman pulls and more here

3 -- Talking James Wood

4 -- New NFL breaks yield some star power

5 -- Checking in on the Caitlin Clark thread

6 -- WNBA begins & NBA postseason chatter here

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What's Buzzing: NBA postseason action, WNBA tips off, Brock Purdy got paid, Pete Crow-Armstrong, 2025 Bowman and more.

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1 -- WNBA begins & NBA postseason chatter here

2 -- Brock Purdy got paid

3 -- Talking vintage

4 -- All about PCA

5 -- Remember me?

6 -- New Bowman pulls and more 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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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: 2022 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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What's Buzzing: Shohei Ohtani, Jayson Tatum, 2025 Topps Series 2, NBA playoffs and more in this Friday edition.

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1 -- Checking in on the Jayson Tatum thread

2 -- NBA playoff game reactions

3 -- 2025 Topps Series 2 chatter

4 -- WWE discussions are wide open

5 -- Shohei Ohtani remains a freak of MLB nature

6 -- Still talking MLB's Ineligible List

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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: 2020-21 Panini Chronicles NBA basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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What's Buzzing: Riley Greene, Roki Sasaki, NBA playoffs, 2025 Topps Series 2, MLB's Ineligible List and "cards that have never surfaced."

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1 -- "Cards that have never surfaced"

2 -- Talking Riley Greene

3 -- So, about Roki Sasaki ... 

4 -- Still talking Ineligible List

5 -- Talking 2025 Topps Series 2

6 -- NBA playoffs 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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What: 2024-25 Panini Select basketball cards
Arrives: June 18 for hobby, June 27 for H2
Box basics: Three autos or memorabilia cards per 12-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case); four packs her H2 box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Select once again hits the court with the same formula -- a tiered base set with plenty of parallels -- but a new rookie class, some new looks and a pair of box formats, too.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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What's Buzzing: New 2025 Bowman breaks, NBA chatter, reactions to upcoming MLB sets and more.

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1 -- New Bowman breaks are here

2 -- Talking MLB swings

3 -- 2025 Bowman collation issues?

4 -- NBA reactions

5 -- Still talking modern-day MLB overproduction ... talking NBA

6 -- Collectors react to Topps Dynasty MLB ... Topps Sterling ... Topps Inception 

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What's Buzzing: Collectors react to upcoming MLB releases, inside a 1985 Topps box, NBA Postseason, Jasson Dominguez and more in this Sunday edition.

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1 -- Collectors react to Topps Dynasty MLB ... Topps Sterling ... Topps Inception 

2 -- Positive results from a 1985 Topps MLB cello box

3 -- Jasson Dominguez had a weekend

4 -- NBA Postseason reactions

5 -- All your MLB chatter is here

6 -- Still talking modern-day MLB overproduction ... talking NBA

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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: MLB and NBA chatter, Cooper Flagg, new MLB pulls, inside NFL packs and more.

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1 -- NBA Postseason reactions

2 -- All your MLB chatter is here

3 -- Cooper Flagg thoughts in advance of the NBA Draft 

4 -- New MLB pulls are here

5 -- Opening NFL packs -- new and old

6 -- Still talking modern-day MLB overproduction ... talking NBA

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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: Babe Ruth memorabilia cards, modern-day overproduction, NBA action, Topps Heritage and 2025 Bowman in this Friday edition.

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1 -- Talking Babe Ruth memorabilia cards

2 -- Thoughts on modern-day overproduction

3 -- NBA action is on their minds

4 -- Heritage delivers pretty well here

5 -- 2025 Bowman arrives ... Thoughts on Bowman Red

6 -- Check out Bowman breaks

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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 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: 2021-22 Panini Prizm Draft Picks basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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What's Buzzing: 2025 Bowman arrives, talking VeeFriends, new pulls, NBA postseason and more in this Thursday edition.

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1 -- Check out the Bowman breaks

2 -- 2025 Bowman is here ... Reactions to Bowman Red

3 -- Talking VeeFriends

4 -- Some new basketball breaks in there

5 -- Just don't.

6 -- All your NBA postseason chatter and more

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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: 2024-25 Bowman University Best basketball cards
Arrives: May 29
Box basics: Four autos per four-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: The third year of Bowman U Best will arrive with top college stars from the women's and men's ranks with an array of inclusions that once again are colorful and varied in their scarcity.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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.

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: 2021-22 Panini Contenders basketball cards (Fanatics blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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