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 ...

THEY'RE BACK ... SOMETIME SOON
The Item: Stranger Things Season 1 Target-exclusive Blu-ray set (2016)
The Reason Bought: How many Netflix series these days get a physical DVD release of any kind? How many get chain store-exclusive variant versions? Not that much of anything TV gets a physical release, really, not at least anywhere near the volumes of the past and that thought, along with the fact that the final season of this franchise is finally dropping sometime this year, got me looking here. I really liked the feel of this DVD set that's made to look like an old 1980s VHS sleeve that's had plenty of wear and tear and I also liked the idea of a graded item with that feel -- one where its actual flaws can blend in well and not stand out as glaring reasons why an item didn't grade higher.
The Grade: CGC 9.4 (A+ seal)

Reality Check: There are definitely other* copies of this one graded, but a pop report doesn't yet appear to be live for CGC Home Video (or it was down when I prepped this) and my number didn't come up on the verification search, either. That's OK for me as slabbed movies and games aren't as high on my radar in slabs as cards and magazines in terms of a "commodity" ... these are more the kind of shelf item with maybe some longer-term potential substance to them. To me they're more of a name-your-price novelty -- and, as an aside, I do like CGC's cases a lot more than others in this realm. This was a relatively cheap addition as well -- less than a lot of retail card boxes -- and over time affordable items can build a collection. One scary part? This is not far away from being 10 years old ... time flies.

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: New pulls, new non-sports, crickets on USFL 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: Showing off USA Soccer stars, Trevor Lawrence, 2021 Bowman Chrome, NFL breaks and more.

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What: 2020 Panini Rookies & Stars football cards
Arrives: Nov. 18
Box basics: Two autos and two memorabilia cards per six-pack box (14 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Rookies & Stars returns for another season with a new crop of rookies and, yep, plenty of stars in a release that will include plenty to collect.

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: 2019 Panini Contenders football cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 5
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 
34 of 100 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Patrick Mahomes II, Pat Tillman, Baker Mayfield, Tom Brady, Amari Cooper, Julio Jones, Derrick Henry, Eli Manning, Cam Newton, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, Sam Darnold, Drew Brees

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What: 2018 Panini Flawless football cards
Arrives: March 27
Box basics: Two gems, six autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-card box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Flawless is back for another ultra-high-end NFL season with new gem cards and plenty of new booklets in the mix.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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It's a simple autograph signed years ago with a ballpoint pen on what was likely an index card, but it's a piece of hobby history.

It's Pat Tillman's first certified autograph and it's going to be pulled by someone soon from a pack of 2017 Donruss Certified Cuts.

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What: 2017 Donruss Certified Cuts football cards
Arrives: Oct. 4
Box basics: Four autographs or memorabilia cards per 12-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What's buzz-worthy: Panini takes a look back at football history while also celebrating the present and adding legendary names from American history.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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