Collecting game-used memorabilia is dramatically different in the vintage years vs. today in many ways -- styles, materials, documentation, amount of use and, most importantly, availability.

For some sports, it's still definitely out there and available regularly -- you just have to flip through a modern auction catalog to see gamers from plenty of MLB legends, NFL stars, NHL notables and NBA greats. However, that volume dramatically changes from sport to sport and from era to era. Vintage NBA? It's just not as plentiful -- and I'm no expert here for this sport, just a casual collector who does homework -- and sometimes you have to bite the bullet and grab an item if it presents itself. Why? Because you never know if you'll ever see anything like it ever again ... even if you can't 110-percent know that it's legit. (You just have to do your homework and do it if you're confident in the piece.)

That happened to me recently with one vintage-era item from the player you see above, John Johnson. I added a piece with a few features that checked out and I believe my new addition very likely to be legit --- but I'll never know for sure.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and see this month's item.

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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 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 ... and this time around there's a surprise or two.

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BIG CHANGE, BIG GAME
The Card: Kenyan Drake 2016 Panini Encased Rookie Notable Signatures (/75)
The Price: $3.25
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This guy had a change of scenery and a big game in his first time suiting up for the Arizona Cardinals ... so that's why he leads off here. (This week's game? Not so big ... I'll admit.) That one big game -- 15 carries for 110 yards and a TD -- shows how short-term showings could help move cardboard in quick-flip scenarios if you're organized enough or use buy-sell on sites that can let you flip stuff fast. I'd think that this card could have doubled that price had I been selling, but I picked this off well before that game because he's one of the names I grab on the cheap when they present themselves. (This price suits that with an on-card auto and it being a high-end brand.) Had he done much this week, there would probably be more interest in him ... but now we just have to wait to see what happens the rest of the season.
Grab a box right here: 2016 Panini Encased

Keep reading for a few more more interesting pick-ups ...

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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: NBA chatter, MLB breaks, Tanking for Tua, an eBay oddity, Acuña Holiday heat and ... is Lamar Jackson still a sleeper?

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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, players with potential, new uniforms, photo editing and 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: Nothing but break highlights in today's edition -- a little bit of everything.

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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: 2019-20 NBA Hoops basketball cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 71 of 280 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery ...

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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: Showing off 1980s NFL and 2000s NBA cards, shredding NBA Hoops for Zion Williamson, a legendary NFL game-used project just one card short and some big pulls.

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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: NBA Hoops arrives, big pulls, an autograph ID test and 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: MLB free agents, new breaks results, Black November chatter and 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: Nothing but break pulls and show-offs from wax and one simple collecting question.

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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 lot: 2019-20 Panini Prizm Draft Picks basketball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 4
Cards per box: 42
Base set completion: 
35 of 100 (35 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Jarrett Culver, De'Andre Hunter, Cameron Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Brandon Clarke, Carsen Edwards, Daniel Gafford, Admiral Schofield, Tremont Waters, Jalen McDaniels, Justin Wright-Foreman, Dewan Hernandez, Darius Garland, Ty Jerome, Jordan Poole, Nic Claxton, Rui Hachimura (Crusade), Tyler Herro (Crusade), Chuma Okeke (Crusade), R.J. Barrett (Crusade)

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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, Topps Holiday boxes arrive, Zion Williamson and iconic inserts in today's 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: 2018-19 NBA Hoops Holiday Edition (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (other formats)

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 72 of 280 (26 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, Lonzo Ball, Lauri Markkanen, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid

Rookie Cards (13) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lonnie Walker IV, Gary Trent Jr., Aaron Holiday, Moritz Wagner, Omari Spellman, Jevon Carter, Bruce Brown, Dzanan Musa, Robert Williams III, Elie Okobo, Josh Okogie, Zhaire Smith

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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: World Series, second-year MLB cards, a huge Topps 3D pack, NB breaks and more in today's edition.

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What: 2019-20 Panini Impeccable basketball cards
Arrives: Feb. 19
Box basics: Five autographs per nine-card box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Impeccable hits the court with its familiar inclusions -- as well as some new players like Zion Williamson -- with precious metals and more among them.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Have you seen the latest cool or 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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ONE FOR CHARITY 
The Item: Zion Williamson & R.J. Barrett 2019-20 Panini Prizm Draft Picks College Ties Black Mosaic (1/1) (BGS 9.5/10)
The Price: $15,401 after 63 bids (eight days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This card has taken on a life of its own on social media as it was pulled in a video and then taken to Texas for grading -- but then the story took another turn when its owner decided there needed to be a different finish to this card's story ... an auction where 100 percent of the money raised goes to charity. Listen to him make his decision public right here. The Zion prices have been crazy but this one could get even more dramatic before it ends -- it was at five-figures within the first day of its listing, despite Williamson being out (for now) with an injury.
Similar Pieces: Zion Williamson autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019-20 NBA 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: World Series chatter, big Mike Trout pulls, "investment projections" and big breaks in a few sports as well as a run of Star Trek boxes.

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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: World Series chatter, top rookies in Topps Update, debating young MLB duos, big breaks and the last box for the win.

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What: 2019-20 Donruss Optic basketball cards
Arrives: Jan. 29
Box basics: One autograph per 20-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Optic arrives with a rainbow of colorful parallels, on-card Rated Rookie autographs and plenty more with the new rookie crop powering the way through the paint this time.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery of what's to come for this as well as the Fast Break option.

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There's a new player in the sports card landscape that you might already know pretty well depending on your taste in shoes.

StockX, a Detroit-based company founded in 2015, has perhaps been best known for helping collectors of in-demand basketball shoes like the Air Jordan 6 Travis Scott model you see here by being a platform for users to make and take offers in a few select categories.

But beginning this month there's a new addition to the company's lineup -- graded sports cards.

"Staying true to our mantra as the world’s first 'Stock Market of Things,' we are excited to announce trading cards as a brand new category for StockX," read a company statement. "We have been researching the trading-card space for a long time, and believe that our stock-market model will provide collectors and enthusiasts alike a superior e-commerce experience."

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What: 2019-20 Panini NBA Sticker & Card Collection
Arrives: Live now
Box basics: 50 cards and 250 stickers per 50-pack box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Panini's annual sticker collection adds a twist for a new season with a certain headline-grabbing rookie in the mix -- there's a basketball card in every pack with super-rare parallels also potentially to be found this time around.

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

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What: 2019-20 Panini Crown Royale basketball cards
Arrives: Jan. 22
Box basics: One autograph and one memorabilia card per eight-card box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Crown Royale hits the hardwood with a new crop of rookies, new looks at legendary names and some Kaboom! in the mix, too.

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

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Have you seen the latest cool or 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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HE LOVES L.A. AFTER GAME ONE
The Item: Kawhi Leonard 2012-13 Panini Immaculate Collection rookie patch auto (/100)
The Price: $2,999 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: What do you collect when a star has bounced around and arrives in a new home, scoring 30 points in his new team debut against their rival? Well, I don't know as I'm firmly priced out on the big cards in basketball these (but I do have a clean NBA Hoops RC headed into a slab soon and I'll dig that) but my gut says that his hottest cards soon will be his first Clippers cards more than his Raptors or Spurs stuff. But, with that not here yet, the best bets would be to bargain hunt among the rookie patch autos from his rookie season like this one. There could be cheaper ones for sure, but there are also a ton of pricier ones with National Treasures cards in slabs going into five-figures. There's no doubt that Leonard is a talent and here's hoping the past weirdness settles down and he's a Clipper for some time with success ... that would justify the big-money prices for his cards and justify even more gains for sure. He's already got championships with two teams and there are expectations for more. Game 1 against LeBron and his Lakers seemed to start off on a big note, which might fuel expectations and interest here even more if his team continues playing as it did last night.
Similar Pieces: Kawhi Leonard autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2012-13 NBA 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: Waiting on the World Series, sketch cards, Sam Darnold on Monday Night, NFL sleepers, big pulls & more.

Continue reading →

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 case breaks and big pulls in today's edition.

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