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: Super Bowl LV, new PSA standouts, the grading divide, NBA chatter, Fully Loaded and some new soccer break highlights.

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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: Plenty of NFL chatter leads the way as we work toward Super Bowl weekend.

Reminder: Make sure to hit YourDozen for a shot at winning a 2017 Donruss NFL factory set with a Patrick Mahomes RC (and more) inside.

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This one is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five autographs I'd grab now

STARTING OFF DELUXE
Any 2017 Patrick Mahomes autograph
We'll start off with the super-pricey option here but it's not about the money with this choice ... it's about what may not be coming back ... at least for the time being. Patrick Mahomes' second Super Bowl could further launch demand for his autographs in general but if I were to chase one (with any size of pockets) it would be something from his rookie season for cardboard, 2017. Why? His handwriting and his autograph has changed a lot since then -- you can make out a "Patrk Mah" above, but that's light years above what it's now ... more of a P-line-curl-line-curl (at right from a 2020 card). Part of that change is just demand for his time -- a faster sig is inevitable and needed -- and some of this pick of mine comes from the fact that the more he wins and the higher his profile gets, the lower-volume his autos will get while the fees to sign (for his time, also in high demand) also rise. It doesn't happen often, but there's a chance this sig could intentionally revert back ... but I doubt it. Maybe in 20 years, he'll sign more and have a full sig ... maybe ... if he does signings at all. (It would be more choice than for the cash with his record contract, that's for sure.) I'd look at 2017 Elite Draft Picks autos perhaps first here even if they are college uni and stickers -- there are some fuller sigs to be found. Of course, right now everything is pricey ... eBay asking prices for premium 2017 autos are in six-figures ... but this pick is about the ink, not the card. I'd stick to cards ... and avoid all of the illegal (fake) reprints, too.

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

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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: 2020 Panini Playbook football cards (hanger box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of everything that was in this one.

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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: Stashed "investment wax boxes," big pulls, BGS vs. PSA, that one guy and a fake Mike Schmidt Rookie Card.

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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: NFL chatter, making and collecting autographed non-sport custom cards, big pulls, WWE Fully Loaded breaks and more in this Monday edition.

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As you may have seen Saturday night, it was a weekend of record-setting sales over at Goldin Auctions -- and it wasn't just Michael Jordan scorching the auction block, either.

The Runnemede, N.J.-based company had sales topping $33 million in the two-day event, which it claimed to be "the largest online sports collectibles auction of all time."

"I’ve been collecting cards and memorabilia for my whole life and I’ve never seen as much interest in the hobby. Long-time collectors have seen the value of their items soar and new collectors have rushed in because they view the hobby as not only fun but also a valuable investment," said company founder Ken Goldin in a prepared release. "It’s gratifying to see the hard work of our team on behalf of our consignors lead to these record setting results."

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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 a mix of some new, some old and some football since that season is winding down fast.

NOW'S THE TIME TO BUY ...
The Card: Gleyber Torres 2018 Topps Heritage High Number #603 -- Rookie Card
The Reason Bought: I grabbed this one some time ago because it was on the cheaper side of things and a key Rookie Card in a key release. I own a bunch of these raw but landed this for literally less than it likely would have cost me to grade one (at least if I wanted to get it back in hand this year). The cost? Just $10. So, why do I have this one batting lead-off? A reminder that now is the time to be buying up younger baseball guys ... not when there's hype from spring training (even if that might be delayed).
The Grade: BGS 9

Reality Check: I'm fine with nines and I didn't check the pop report when grabbing this one, which checks in under the most-commonly landed grade. No biggie ... I'm sure the 9.5s that don't always look obviously better cost a lot more than what I paid. There are no sub-grades here, but it seems pretty obvious that the centering is slightly off on this copy but everything else looks pretty good.

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

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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: WWE Fully Loaded breaks are dominating, while other big pulls and breaks are worth a look for this Royal Rumble Sunday ... oh, and Matt Stafford is headed to the Rams.

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Update: The two Michael Jordan Rookie Cards sold for $738,000 ... each.

--

The action is picking up and the clock is winding down over at Goldin Auctions with some sales records set to be broken tonight and other auction-block scorchers ending tomorrow.

This one is a bit of déjà vu and a broken record about broken records, but this PSA 10 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card you see here is going to set a new mark for the card as it's presently at $300,000 after 15 bids and then will go even higher with the buyer's premium. It's a card that has surged to new highs seemingly weekly as it's an iconic chase item for deep-pocketed new and returning collectors. It set a record (that was then topped) via Goldin in just December when one sold for $215,000. The crazy part? There is a second PSA 10 copy of the same card also up for grabs and doing the same thing ... in this same auction with both ending tonight.  (And there are a number of lesser-grade ones, too.)

These cards aren't even the biggest Jordan item up for grabs right now as the Runnemede, N.J.-based auction house has a number of other big-ticket memorabilia pieces and interesting items in its current auction. Don't believe Buzz? Hit that link and look at the first page of huge items ... Jordan leads off with a biggie. If that's not enough, sort 'em by price ... now pick up your jaw.

Keep reading for a deeper look at a few more items presently up for grabs.

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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: Talking Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, a hair-raising WWE box, new breaks and an eyeroll in this Friday 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: 2020 Panini Playbook football cards (mega box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading to see a full breakdown and gallery of everything that was in this one.

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It's a TV show opening scene that seems simple enough, but it spawned a lot of Internet and TV chatter with millions (and millions) amused.

(Click for a closer view.)

Hot takes arrived left and right on entertainment sites and political pundits had their thoughts, too. (Left and right, I'm sure.) It was something simple and something planned that generated some buzz and even some high-profile tweets that went out to some 20 million people. (Meanwhile, the episode itself had just 588,000 people watching per Nielsen. Go figure.)

What is it? It's the opening-credits scene for the fifth season of Ballers and it had player-turned-agent-turned-businessman Spencer Strasmore (aka Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) reading a copy of Elizabeth Warren's 2017 book This Fight is Our Fight as he sat on the beach in the first episode. It all takes place quickly and Strasmore's down-time is interrupted first by his girlfriend (Arielle Kebbel) asking him why he never goes into the ocean -- then that's interrupted by a phone call from Bossman (aka the Ballers-world owner of the Dallas Cowboys) before he walks off down the shoreline to chat. The scene isn't about a paperback with tattered edges at all, really -- it's about the mystery of the water, what Strasmore might be hiding -- but that's how the book's brief on-screen life comes to an end.

Meanwhile, that actual copy of the book? Well, it's still alive and well.

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In its first 10 months, The Modern Wax Fund reflected some crazy times in the sports card world.

How crazy? The Fund's valuation report of the underlying asset holdings during its rookie season shows an overall increase of 195.1 percent, fueled by an explosion of interest for the recent-year NBA assets. Basketball boxes alone jumped 301 percent in a year, while NFL also had a 164-percent jump and "other sports" (in lower total volume) jumped 194 percent.

This first-of-its-kind private-equity fund focused on trading cards is a creation of Attic Investments and Blowout Cards. It started with more than $3 million in unopened product -- some of the rarest and most-desired baseball, basketball, football and other cards from the modern era -- last February with a $25,000 minimum buy-in from investors.

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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: The Super Bowl is set, examining Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes cards, ripping UFC and more breaks in this Monday 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: Matt Stafford will be leaving the Lions, pondering another Super Bowl for Patrick Mahomes, big pulls, Stranger Things and more.

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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: Remembering Hank Aaron, chasing Tom Brady Rookie Cards, big pulls and more.

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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: Collectors react to the Hank Aaron news, show off his cards 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: Big pulls, big breaks, one post worth a look and some Facebook breaker drama?

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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: 2020 Panini Prizm football cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
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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What: 2020 Panini Honors football cards
Arrives: Jan. 20 (initially via Panini's site)
Box basics: Two autographs and two base/parallel cards per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Honors drops on Wednesday as an online-first release with some big cards from the past -- this time with ink -- mixed in with new creations giving collectors another way to collect the past and present.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

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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: 2020 Panini Prizm football cards (mega box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

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

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: NFL chatter and big breaks, Barry Bonds, pondering graded-card briefcases and allegedly fake 1991 Topps Desert Shield cards among today's talkers.

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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: 2020 Panini Contenders football cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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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: Big pulls, a massive Star Wars find, grading chatter, the good ol' pinhole special and more.

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