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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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: About that "found some vintage" thread, about the RC definition and collecting tips, big pulls and more.

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What: 2018-19 Panini Spectra basketball cards
Arrives: May 8
Box basics: Four autographs and one memorabilia card per eight-card box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Spectra takes to the court one more time with a new rookie class but the same colorful hits-driven array that collectors have come to expect from this brand.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Basketball collectors now have another reason to hit the hobby shop daily.

The annual Panini NBA Player of the Day promo is back and it gives basketball collectors a little extra to check in on when they rip into packs of Panini America cards at participating shops through April 14.

Among the prizes? The chance to spend the say with an NBA player as well as autographed cards and other bonuses.

“The Player of the Day promotion helps hobby shops sell more trading cards while rewarding collectors who purchase Panini America products,” said Jason Howarth, Panini VP of Marketing. “We are thrilled to support hobby shops selling our NBA trading cards by expanding this proven promotion to even more hobby shops. We look forward to creating more memorable experiences for collectors this year.”

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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: Plenty of MLB chatter, NBA breaks and King Kong Bundy among today's links.

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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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CONTENDERS OPTIC ARRIVES
The Item: Josh Allen 2018 Panini Contenders Optic Gold Vinyl autograph (1/1)
The Price: $2,147 after 29 bids (six days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This brand takes one of the most historically popular brands for football collectors, Contenders, and gives it an Optichrome rainbow with a lot of ink to chase. You get two autos per box but the key cards of the key rookies -- not easy pulls in this format -- are the driving force and command big cash when you find them. With a box price and format that puts the focus on the hits and the chase more than an overall collecting experience with many packs, this one is a brand that adds to the big-hit oomph when you find one. This card shows you that as it's already in big interest. It should be interesting to see how this auction goes. I'm not that big of a fan of how the text is wiped out in this design, but it's clear that the bidders don't care -- it's a big card.
Similar Pieces: Other Contenders Optic autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Contenders Optic boxes

Keep reading for four more interesting items in this week's roundup ...

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Baseball, football ... it doesn't matter -- Kyler Murray has a new team.

The Heisman Trophy-winning former Oklahoma Sooners star has signed an autograph deal with Panini America with the news formally announced on Monday. His first autos will arrive this month in 2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks and 2019 Score will be the home of his first NFL cardboard.

“Kyler is one of the most dynamic playmakers to enter the NFL Draft and he has raised the level of excitement for this entire draft class since declaring,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop in a prepared statement. “We’re thrilled to be able to partner with him to deliver to fans and collectors his only officially licensed trading cards and autograph cards for the 2019 season.”

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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: NFL cards that never were, big new pulls from the NFL, WWE 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: Trae Young, Contenders Optic Michael Jordan, Topps Heritage and more in today's edition.

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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: 2018-19 Donruss Optic basketball cards (Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)

Packs per box: 10 (eight standard, two Hyper Pink)
Cards per pack: 4 per standard, 5 per Hyper Pink
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 20 of 150 (13 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: Ben Simmons, Anthony Davis, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rajon Rondo, Lauri Markkanen, Goran Dragic, Evan Turner, J.R. Smith, Denzel Valentine, Dion Waiters, Jrue Holiday, Zach Collins, DeWayne Dedmon, Patrick Beverley, Clint Capela, George Hill, Wesley Matthews, Mario Hezonja, Kyle Korver

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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 ...

The Card: 2014 Topps Chrome Update #MB46 Mookie Betts RC
The Reason Graded: I didn't buy a ton of Mega Boxes when these arrived five years ago, but I did land this card, which is a Rookie Debut version for then Red Sox rookie and now-reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts. This card is an ironic classic in that he's captured taking the field at Yankee Stadium. That aspect of the photo isn't as easily seen in Chrome form, but I opted to get this pricier version of the card graded. I'll probably grade some more of my others in the future. For now, though, this one leads the way.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: I wasn't that confident in this one as I just have bad luck at times with Chrome cards, but this one turns out to be one of the highest-graded copies. I'll take it, especially considering what I've got up next.

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

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If you weren't sure that Tom Brady is the greatest player in the NFL today, don't worry -- his Rookie Card will tell you.

The 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket autograph you see here is limited to just 100 copies -- this being card No. 41 of that fun -- and it sold for six-figures on eBay last night.

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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: 2019 Topps Heritage chatter, big pulls, hobby-funding strategies and more 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: 2019 Donruss NASCAR cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7 (six standard, one Optic Red Wave pack)
Cards per pack: 8 per standard, three per Red Wave
Cards in this box: 51
Set completion: 31 of 160 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Chase Elliott, Bill Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Busch, Terry Labonte, Ned Jarrett, Tony Stewart

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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 from past and present products lead the way 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: Inside the Mike Trout Topps Transcendent party, "last-box mojo" in the NFL, one over-delivering WWE box and plenty 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: Showing off Topps Heritage stashes, big pulls and plenty more in this Saturday edition.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 6.

The box: 2018-19 Donruss Optic basketball cards (blaster box)
The cost: Click here (all formats)

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 3.

The pack: 2017 Panini Prestige football cards (hobby pack)
The cost: Click here (for boxes)

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 2.

The pack: 2000 Donruss football cards (hobby jumbo pack)
The cost: $20 -- will vary when you can find (click here for new NFL)

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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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: This Michael Jordan card sold for $350,000, Zion Williamson's bad night 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 Today: Old "found" cards are back from PSA, remembering Don Newcombe, big Fantastic Store pulls, best MLB pulls and a ton of new NBA and NFL box breaks to check out.

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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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SAN DIEGO'S NEW STAR?
The Item: Manny Machado 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Gold Refractor Auto (/50, PSA 10-10)
The Price: $5,655 after 42 bids (seven hours remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Manny Machado has a agreed to a fat contract -- 10 years, $3o0 million -- with the San Diego Padres and now there might be some new fans for his key cards like this one. Will it make him more or less popular? I'm not sure, but the action on this card is strong right now. It should be interesting to see how it finishes up tonight. Boxes of this one won't be found easily or affordably, either, so it's the singles route here -- and your best bet is to go graded for sure. He's got a good volume of autos -- far cheaper options than this -- so you can find his ink if you need it. Will he be signing more autos with such a big deal? The size of the contract suggests he won't need to unless he wants to.
Similar Pieces: Other Manny Machado autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for MLB 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: Chasing complete print runs, revisiting the card shop, big pulls and 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: Big pulls, pondering cards that never existed and Ted Williams' missing years, a 1/1 auto from an NBA blaster and plenty more.

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