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? Brands that always get my collecting attention ... with a touch of collect 'em where they ain't.

TOPPS HERITAGE MLB/MiLB (AND OTHER SPORTS, TOO)
See all boxes in stock right here
This brand has been a go-to for me since its MLB arrival back in 2001 with today's players on a new take of 1952 Topps. Since then, we've marched through the 1950s, 1960s and are into the admittedly lacking early 1970s now, but there have been twists since those early years that still make this one a go-to, though I don't see myself buying this one anywhere near as heavily in the next few years compared to the last 10 generally speaking. (I'll probably pick off more key singles -- just don't dig a lot of the 1970s designs.) In earlier years, MLB legends' autographs were a big draw in the brand but in more recent years the solo-rookie action variations and their autographed cards have become very big deals financially. (And at the same time the older big-name autos also have appreciated heavily in a lot of instances. They are safe long-term holds, too, in my mind.) One more thing to take notice of here? The years of boxed high-number sets that include ink and the MiLB releases that have to have some of the lowest print runs of all baseball releases out there in the last decade. Go look up Mookie Betts' high-number, auto and MiLB cards from Heritage as just one example. Mike Trout's 2012 Heritage is another example and there's cash sometimes waiting to be found with all of those tough variations from the past.

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

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What: 2020 Panini Origins football cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: One on-card rookie auto, one jumbo rookie patch auto and one jumbo or patch mem card per seven-card box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Origins' fifth season on the gridiron arrives with the same formula as the past but with a new crop of rookies and some new inclusions on the short-printed side.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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, old sets finally completed, ripping Mosaic and Patrick Mahomes got paid ... what will his card prices do?

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What: 2020 Leaf Autographed Football Helmets
Arrives: Oct. 2
Box basics: One autographed helmet per box (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf brings a new batch of autographed helmets to collectors with legends of the past and present as well as some multi-signed pieces to chase in this one.

Keep reading for more.

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What: 2020 Donruss football cards
Arrives: Sept. 2
Box basics: One autograph and one memorabilia card per 18-pack hobby box (18 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Donruss' familiar formula hits the gridiron once again with plenty of Rookie Cards, inserts and more in every box.

Keep reading for a gallery and more info.

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THE BIG KAHUNA
The Item: LeBron James 2003-04 Exquisite Collection rookie patch autograph /23 (BGS 9.5/10)
The Price: $800,000 after 21 bids (three weeks remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The current Goldin Auctions sale includes a number of legendary pieces for Michael Jordan up for grabs, but right now it's a different No. 23 who might be re-writing the record books for some NBA cardboard soon and could become a million-dollar sports card. Early bidding action makes that something in the realm of possibility so far on this LeBron James piece. There were only 23 RPAs made and signed in this landmark release.

Keep reading for a deeper look at four more of items up for grabs in their current auction.

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What: 2020 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets Platinum Edition
Arrives: July 29
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Hidden Treasures hits the gridiron once again with this release that includes a number of varying helmet types and a number of shots at full-size helmets, too, with everything signed.

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What: 2020 Panini Immaculate Collection college football cards
Arrives: Aug. 26
Box basics: Five autographs or memorabilia cards per six-card box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: College football fans get a new crop of Immaculate cardboard with stars from the recent past as well as College Football Hall of Famers all found in this brand that's once again loaded with hits like previous editions.

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

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

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What: 2020 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Game Day Greats Football Jersey Edition Series 2
Arrives: July 3
Box basics: One autographed football jersey per box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line puts on jerseys for a second time this year with some new names, legendary inclusions and some other surprises.

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

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

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What: 2020 Break King Multi-sport Premium Edition
Arrives: July 31
Box basics: Two graded buyback cards and one encased card per box (three boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Fans of the big-dollar chase have a place here as this buyback release includes nothing but Rookie Cards and prospect cards ... unless you land a Michael Jordan autograph.

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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 Draft Picks football (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby & FOTL)

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

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What: 2019 Panini NFL Five trading card game
Arrives: Aug. 21
Box basics: 24 10-card packs per box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Panini brings TCGs to the gridiron for a sophomore season with this one packing new NFL rookies, plenty of stars and being fully compatible with its debut edition.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2020 Panini Elements football cards
Arrives: Aug. 14
Box basics: Two autographs and one memorabilia card per four-card box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: The third season of Elements includes some new inclusions, some short-printed parallels to chase and "more on-card autographs," according to Panini.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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 ...

A BIG WIN
The Card: Patrick Mahomes 2017 Donruss Optic #177 Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: I came real close to letting this one go raw, but late in the season I pulled it out of my "to-go box" and put it in the "slab-it stack" figuring I might get a little more out of it if I did let it go ... then they won it all. Needless to say now, that would definitely be the case for this key RC of the Super Bowl champ and new hobby go-to for many.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: I didn't expect a 9.5 and that's a mark that's getting this card up close to $500 on eBay right now -- a surprise to me as I just don't watch NFL card values as much as I probably should. I only have this one but I ripped plenty back then since 2017 NFL stuff was so plentiful (back then) I'd buy and rip some boxes heavily almost by default. Those boxes are scorchers now thanks to all of the possibilities for this guy and other key rookies that year. Most copies of this card check in at this mark ... but that's clearly not scaring people off here.

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

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What: 2020 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Photo Football Edition
Arrives: June 12
Box basics: One autographed photo per pack (15 packs per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures line takes to the gridiron with nothing but autographed 8-by-10 photos as the starting point in every pack -- but some other chase inclusions that go even bigger also possible.

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What: 2019 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets Series 2
Arrives: May 27
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures is back with a new batch of mini-helmets next week -- a mix of past and present stars with some chase elements, too.

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What: 2020 Panini Elite football cards
Arrives: July 29
Box basics: Two autographs and one memorabilia card per 20-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Elite hits the field once again with the familiar format and feel, a Pen Pals autograph in every box and plenty more to look for, too.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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 and Project 2020 to get the week going.

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What: 2020 Panini Luminance football cards
Arrives: July 15
Box basics: Three autographs and one memorabilia card per four-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Luminance hits the field for a third year with its familiar look but some simple new inclusions, too, such as Jersey Swap inserts that show post-game moments between rivals and "a deeper on-card rookie autograph checklist than ever before."

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2020 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Autographed Mini Helmets
Arrives: June 24
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: TRISTAR's Hidden Treasures is back on the gridiron once again with new NFL names, some 2020 draft picks and other surprises inside.

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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 Draft Picks football (blaster box)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby & FOTL)

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 Today: Big pulls, pondering sports cards when action returns, NFL investments, Autographics and more.

Continue reading →

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 Draft Picks football (two multi-packs)
First Buzz preview: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby & FOTL)

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

Continue reading →