What: 2016 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards
Arrives: March 30
Box basics: Two autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-pack box (24 boxes per case; 12 per inner case)

What's buzz-worthy: Diamond Kings returns for another season with a heavy amount of inserts in every box and some of the biggest names in the past and present of the game.

Keep reading for more.

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What: 2016 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards
Arrives: March 30
Box basics: Two autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-pack box (24 boxes per case; 12 per inner case)

What's buzz-worthy: Diamond Kings returns for another season with a heavy amount of inserts in every box and some of the biggest names in the past and present of the game.

Keep reading for more.

Continue reading →

Panini America has been busy in California preparing for Super Bowl 50 as part of the NFL Experience with collectors at home, in cyberspace and in San Francisco all having options.

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It's February and that means that we're set for the Super Bowl and some mass-marketing from SI.com over the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

And in reality the hype for both already has begun.

The last time we saw Ronda Rousey, she was suffering the first loss of her UFC career. Up next she'll be in the annual issue for the second year in a row. More publicity won't hurt her already-in-high-demand cardboard. She's one of a long list of athletes to appear in the issue and part of an even longer list of models who appear on cards and have certified autographs and even memorabilia cards for collectors to chase.

For the traditional models, there actually were SI Swimsuit card sets released each year from 2003 to 2009 from Stellar Collectibles and then a later retrospective set. In those sets, we got autographs, memorabilia cards and even paint cards from photoshoots. Meanwhile, for many of the athletes who have appeared in the issue since, there are autograph appearances in sets like Topps' Allen & Ginter (and many other sets) where collectors can also sometimes find the models. Kate Upton and Chrissy Teigen have been found there for example, and they sell very well.

Here's a rundown of a few sports stars who we've seen in the issue.

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What happens when a guy isn't an All-Star but becomes an All-Star but isn't an All-Star even when he's an All-Star but then is allowed to be All-Star after all?

He scores two goals and wins the All-Star Game MVP, and that's precisely what happened with John Scott on Sunday night.

The tale of a journeyman's route to the NHL All-Star Game is one that had a lot of ups and downs and seemingly a lot of politics. (It's a story that SBNation initially was all over here.) The basics? A fan vote led to a guy who's played for six teams in eight seasons with 11 career points making the team. Then, when he was traded and demoted, he was thought to be no longer eligible for the game. Then the NHL said he could play.

And that's what he did, clearly capturing the fans in Nashville as he received the loudest ovation pre-game and had a few chants for him during the action besides his goal-scoring moments. (Oh, and his helmet from the event is headed to the Hall of Fame.)

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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: 2015-16 NBA Hoops basketball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 11
Cards in this box: 110
Base set completion: 
100 of 300 (33 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards: Andrew Wiggins, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, Damian Lillard

Rookie Cards pulled: Jahlil Okafor, Jerian Grant, Anthony Brown, Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson R.J. Hunter, Trey Lyles, Nemanja Bjelica and Kobe's floor-riding buddy Larry Nance Jr.

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Buzz is a collector with varying tastes -- one where there's definitely not one focus but many.

It's a blessing and a curse.

When one favorite player isn't playing well or is off the mental radar, the collection doesn't suffer -- the focus turns elsewhere. And then, sometimes, there are just cards that pop up because they are interesting.

Panini America's recently released Immaculate Collection College set and the upcoming National Treasures College edition are packed with singles on Buzz's radar because they show something we haven't seen before -- or at least not a lot of -- in the hobby. One example? A Rafael Palmeiro Mississippi State autograph like the one above that's coming in National Treasures. It's not that Buzz cares one bit about the Bulldogs or even Palmeiro, but the 1985 season where MSU had Will Clark and Palmeiro, aka "Thunder and Lightning," is one that's pretty significant in college baseball lore. And since college baseball is something we haven't historically seen a lot of on cardboard (other than new prospects awaiting their pro colors) that makes a card like this interesting.

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It's a simple idea, but Buzz thought it should come to life.

With all of the game-used touchdown balls from the Carolina Panthers heading into the stands to young fans this season, wouldn't there also be a football fan or two out there interested in a game-used ball card like this one? (I mean, look at the kid in the Auburn hat. You know he'd want one right about now.)

Buzz grabbed an old (admittedly low-res) Prestige card image of the likely NFL MVP Cam Newton from eBay and meshed it with a new photo to create this what-if card and simply present the following question.

[polldaddy poll=9290315]

--

It's a simple idea -- and really something that's already pretty commonly done just without the power of a timely and topical photograph. Something tells Buzz that a card like this would be popular right now -- maybe even moreso in a couple of weeks if (or is it when?) the Panthers win Super Bowl 50. Or, perhaps there could be a set even more specifically branded to footballs for Panthers fans with a photo of Newton handing the ball toward the camera lens? Maybe a card in a commemorative Super Bowl championship set -- or the key item in a kid-focused release.

Just an idea. This kid knows he'd want one.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to shop for football boxes on BlowoutCards.com.

Your Relics may have just gotten a little more interesting.

On Thursday, MLB revealed the new looks for all 30 teams in spring training this year and there are new touches to be found on jerseys and caps beyond the obvious new colors and logos.

For starters, all names and numbers now have a spring-themed sublimated texture as part of the material which will allow collectors to, in some cases, see when the material in their cards was used. The year, along with other spring designators, is part of the design.

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Do you own a card of one of the NFL's smartest players? The answer is probably not.

This week, Baltimore Ravens center John Urschel revealed that he's pursuing a doctorate in math at MIT with a focus on Spectral Graph Theory, Numerical Linear Algebra and Machine Learning.

You clearly know what those things are ... right? But what you might not know is how few football cards he appears on.

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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 five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Manny Machado's ink, the 1/1 debate, Blake Griffin's Punch-Out, Boogie Cousins, Superfractors & more.

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Call this week the calm before the storm.

There are just three brands on the schedule for release this week -- one football, one baseball, one gaming -- in advance of 11 coming next week.

For football fans, Panini America presents 2015 Donruss Signature Series, which includes four autographs per box. The base set consists of 400 signed cards and every box includes an autographed rookie jersey -- or a multi-auto booklet, which is found one per case.

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If you ripped into boxes of 2015 Panini Contenders football cards and landed autographs, then today is the day you've been waiting for.

It's the day that Panini America revealed the short-prints among the signed cards.

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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 five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Cracked Ice & Snow Camo seem perfect with the weather, 1997 Upper Deck Legends, some big box breaks pulls and much more.

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Note: This week's contest is now closed. Find the new one by searching for #BuzzWorthyPulls at right or hitting the contests section.

Our weekly Blowout #BuzzWorthyPulls Contest is back. Every single Saturday we'll launch a new post where all you have to do is show off your biggest, newest card via a photo posted on Twitter and here on BlowoutBuzz.com.

Your prize if you're the winner? A $25 BlowoutCards.com gift certificate.

This week's contest & instructions (read closely): Show your best Panini pull. 

Step 1 -- Take your photo. This must either be a selfie with the card or an image of the card with paper that has #buzzworthypulls hand-written on it. Be sure to show the card clearly. No exceptions.

Step 2 -- Tweet us and tag it. Tweet your pic to @blowoutbuzz and @blowoutcards and you must include the #BuzzWorthyPulls tag. You don't have to say anything else but if you need to add a detail ("Card is a 1/5.") you can.

Step 3 -- Copy-and-paste that tweet into a comment posted on this thread. (This helps us keep track of things.) We'll only consider one entry per person per week -- so make it count. If you don't copy your tweet here, you can't win. Simple as that.

What's next? Be Patient and wait for the following Saturday ... we'll announce a winner either in the early morning or in the evening (depends on Buzz's schedule). The winner will be notified on Twitter and noted in the comments for that week. The comments will then be closed. At the same time, we'll post the next contest and you can enter there.

Are you ready to win? You know what to do ... show us your #BuzzWorthyPulls.

Do you have a collecting story worth seeing here? Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send BlowoutBuzz a direct message on the Blowout forum.

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com.

John Heckert
Website: None
Email: None
Location: Ohio
Work away from cards: None
Collecting since: 2008

Main focuses: I collect mainly baseball and football cards, but I collect a bit of basketball and hockey. Also autographs.

Favorite players/teams: My favorite player is Grady Sizemore and my favorite baseball team is the Cleveland Indians. Although he's a free agent, I decided to start a collection of him a few months ago. For football, my favorite player is Golden Tate and my favorite team is the Detroit Lions. I also like the Browns.

Current collecting projects: I am collecting Grady Sizemore cards and I have decided to try to get the complete 1967 Philadelphia football set because I like the look of the design. My goal is to add 10 cards a year and make it a project that won't cost a ton but take a while.

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You probably don't know the name Ron Blomberg, but he was the first-overall pick in the 1967 MLB Draft and a big-leaguer for parts of eight seasons with the Yankees and White Sox.

But if you do know his name it's probably because of one thing -- he was the first designated hitter in MLB history.

Could there be more hitting history made soon? Perhaps with the MLB owners' meetings this week in Florida where the owners are considering adopting the DH in the National League as soon as next season. Such a change wouldn't be possible without the approval of the MLBPA but it still could happen.

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Some collectors who have ripped into boxes of 2015 Panini Immaculate Collection College have found a pretty unusual type of memorabilia card -- chin snaps.

Literally almost all parts of the football helmet have made their way into cardboard now -- except maybe the mouthguard, inner padding and optional visor.

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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 five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Some 2015 Panini National Treasures, a Ruthian Pull, Derek Jeter's documents, redemption replacements and some big card company rumors ...

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Countless collectors call themselves prospectors, and that particular focus is one that can lead to a lot of pack-ripping or a lot of secondary market purchases with future flips in mind.

One brand that's got many of those coveted newcomer names year after year is Elite Extra Edition, which is Panini America's foilboard-focused prospecting brand that typically packs one of the deepest checklists and, with Hot Boxes, some of the highest autograph totals in the hobby.

While the dust isn't yet settling on the recently released newest edition of the brand, Buzz decided to take a look back at nine names who you should know from the previous two editions (2013 and 2014) and see how they did last season. Why? There are inevitably some bargains to be had if you consider this brand and these guys (along with countless other players that may not yet be on the radars of too many prospectors) given box prices these days. After all, old wax can still be good wax if the price is right.

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What: 2015-16 Panini Luxe basketball cards
Arrives: March 23
Box basics: Four autographs or memorabilia cards per box (eight boxes per case)

What's buzz-worthy: Luxe is back with a new look but packing nothing but hits and at least two autographs per box with every card limited to no more than 99 copies.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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: 2012 Panini Cooperstown baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 120
Base set completion: 
86 of 150 (57 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards: Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Christy Mathewson (all base cards are Hall of Famers)

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When is a guy not an All-Star but an All-Star -- yet not an All-Star even when he's an All-Star?

When his name is John Scott.

The tale of a journeyman's route to the NHL All-Star Game -- but not -- is one that has a lot of details and seemingly a lot of politics. (It's a story that SBNation is all over here.) The basics? A fan vote led to a guy who's played for six teams in eight seasons with 11 career points making the team. Then, when he was traded and demoted, he's no longer eligible for the game.

And all this, naturally, had Buzz wanting a hockey card ... and it turns out they're selling pretty well for a 33-year-old journeyman All-Star.

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Four NFL rookies are set to sign autographs for fans at the 2016 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl FanFest on Saturday as part of the college all-star bowl's festivities.

Fans who are in Carlson, Calif., for the event will have the chance to meet Stefon Diggs of the Minnesota Vikings, Ameer Abdullah of the Detroit Lions, Dorial Green-Beckham of the Tennessee Titans and Nelson Agholor of the Philadelphia Eagles during a three-hour window during the six-hour event, which is sponsored by Panini America. Players will not sign other items -- just Panini photos produced for the event.

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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: 2015 Panini Contenders football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 5
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 
37 of 100 (37 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable names pulled on base cards: Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Matthew Stafford, Rob Gronkowski, J.J. Watt.

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