Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five collecting options on my mind ... or at least five examples of stuff I look for.

BEFORE THE BIGS (COLLECT MINOR LEAGUES)
The Card: Wander Franco 2020 Topps 206 (Series 3)
The MiLB series of Topps 206 this year dropped recently and that one will get me to bite before it's gone from Topps' site -- unless I already missed it -- but in the case of last year's release I have gone back and forth about grabbing a pack retroactively for Series 3 to add some unique MiLB cards but ultimately only bit to grab this one for about $6. Yes, part of this buy was the name power -- though the grab was before his rookie hit streak was in play -- but that bling, that pose and the fact that he was playing for a team known as the Stone Crabs ... well that's just the perfect storm. MiLB stuff is always good for some rare or different cardboard -- even with names you know well attached -- and this one adds on the tobacco-card style to hit yet another base with my personal tastes.

This was a safe pick ... keep reading for four more making up the list this time -- some weird cards in this one.

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: 2021 Topps Chrome baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here

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

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: 2021 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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: 2021 Donruss baseball cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for this one.

Continue reading →

Have you seen the latest cool or interesting items on eBay? If not, you just might see some of those here. 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.

--

CHECK HIS STATS ...
The Item: Akil Baddoo 2018 Bowman Chrome Blue Prospect Autograph (/150)
The Price: $149.95 Buy-It-Now 
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I didn't do a price check here to see how they have been selling or whether others out there right now are higher or lower ... but I did look at Baddoo's stat line this spring for the Detroit Tigers -- he's hitting .357 (10-for-28) with four homers and nine RBI in 15 games along with 11 runs and eight walks. Throw in two stolen bases and only nine strikeouts and that's one of the more-interesting spring showings right now ... from a guy who's likely nowhere near the radar of many or perhaps even sitting in some of your old ripped boxes. This 22-year-old former second-round pick has hit only .249 in four past MiLB seasons with one of his better years (2018) being one that had 11 homers ... but 124 strikeouts in 113 games. (Yikes.) It seems like there's some big improvement here, though he's not played above advanced-A ball. He could be a from-out-of-nowhere kind of player if he sticks with the Tigers and that appears to be a possibility. I wouldn't over-pay for his cards but he's worth watching ... remember Randy Arozarena last year? Basically half of Baddoo's cards are certified autos since his cardboard arrival in 2017 and he's found with ink in this one as well as 2018 Elite Extra Edition and Panini Contenders and then 2019 Bowman Sterling. That's it.
Similar Pieces: Akil Baddoo autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Bowman Chrome

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

Continue reading →

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 our finale for today.

The box: 2013 Panini Cooperstown baseball cards (hobby box)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com (when available) -- see other baseball boxes here

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

Continue reading →

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 5.

The box: 2002 Topps American Pie Spirit of America Baseball Edition cards
The cost: About original price ... see newer MLB boxes here

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

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 Topps Stadium Club Chrome baseball cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

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 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

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 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

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: 2019 Topps Heritage baseball cards (mega box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown of this one and a gallery of highlights.

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: 2018 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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: 2019 Topps Archives baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
163 of 300 (54 percent)
Duplicates: 4

Notables on base cards – Ty Cobb, Shohei Ohtani, Richie Ashburn, Hideki Matsui, Andrew Benintendi, Al Kaline, Deion Sanders, Willie Stargell, Christy Mathewson, George Kell, Jeff Bagwell, Nolan Arenado, Tony Gwynn, Ichiro Suzuki, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Catfish Hunter, Ivan Rodriguez, Bob Feller, Josh Donaldson, Thurman Munson, Todd Helton, Ronald Acuña Jr., Hank Aaron, Alex Rodríguez, Bob Gibson, Anthony Rizzo, Orlando Cepeda, Reggie Jackson, Don Larsen, Gary Carter, Goose Gossage, Eddie Murray, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Rod Carew, Carlton Fisk, Jim Thome, Roberto Alomar, Bob Lemon, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Bench, Warren Spahn, Tris Speaker, Don Mattingly, Rickey Henderson, Manny Machado, Corey Seager, George Brett, Tim Raines, John Smoltz, Eddie Mathews, Roger Clemens, Harmon Killebrew, Roberto Clemente, David Ortiz, Joe Morgan, Rogers Hornsby, Gary Sanchez, Willie McCovey, Joey Votto, Babe Ruth, Ralph Kiner, Dizzy Dean, Miguel Cabrera, Sammy Sosa

Rookie Cards (27) – Cavan Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Michael Chavis, Ramon Laureano, Yusei Kikuchi, Kyle Wright, Ryan Borucki, Jake Cave, Cole Tucker, Jake Bauers, Kolby Allard, Ryan O'Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Cal Quantrill, Dakota Hudson, Bryse Wilson, Justus Sheffield, Nick Senzel, Carter Kieboom, Josh James, Brad Keller, Michael Kopech, DJ Stewart, Steven Duggar, Chris Shaw, Enel De Los Santos

Continue reading →

Have you seen the latest cool cards from a new release? With so many options for collectors of all kinds arriving every week it's possible you haven't. That's where Buzz comes in -- well at least on one brand you'll see here from time to time in what we're calling Buzz's Pick Six. Simply put, here are six cards from a new arrival that seemed interesting to this collector and we think they might interest you, too.

This week's release: 2019 Topps Heritage High Number
Checklist: Click here
First Buzz Preview: Click here

--

LOADED WITH ROOKIES 
The Cards: Eloy Jimenez, Keston Hiura, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso & Fernando Tatis Jr. Rookie Cards (and more)
The Prices: Will vary by player
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This year's revisiting of 1970 Topps was admittedly dry on the RC front but this series more than makes up for it and it takes that A+ grade I gave last year's edition with its rookies and gives it a nudge. This one is just as loaded and just as strong. There are more than 40 RCs on the standard checklist of just 200 cards for this one and then there are a few more (not the big names) among the 25 short-prints. The key names will be found often here and that's a recipe for strong breaks and plenty of heat if you're ripping at the case level. Heritage RCs and their autos have been some of the biggest movers (especially when slabbed) the last few years and this one will be just as strong. Now consider you'll also get parallels and variations (noted on checklist) ... oh, boy.

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

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: 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard plus box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
129 of 300 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, Mookie Betts, Jose Canseco, Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve, Trea Turner, Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Christian Yelich, Alex Bregman, Giancarlo Stanton, Clayton Kershaw, Jeff Bagwell, Post Malone, Mayumi Seto, Instagram Egg, Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, Dan Rather, Brian Fallon, Vincent Stio, Emily Jaenson, Mike Piazza, Dale Murphy, David Ortiz,  Nolan Ryan, Don Mattingly, Rod Carew, Frank Thomas, Ryne Sandberg, Jackie Robinson, Chipper Jones, Carlton Fisk, Tony Gwynn, Ivan Rodriguez, Eddie Murray, Whitey Ford, Carl Yastrzemski, Roger Maris, Gary Carter, Steve Carlton, Rickey Henderson, Ernie Banks

Rookie Cards (11) – Eloy Jimenez (SP), Pete Alonso, Ramon Laureano, Touki Toussaint, Cedric Mullins, Chance Adams, Sean Reid-Foley, Corbin Burnes, Danny Jansen, Kolby Allard, Kevin Newman

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: 2019 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 
32 of 300 (11 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mookie Betts, Jose Altuve, Dansby Swanson, Miguel Cabrera, Francisco Lindor, Felix Hernandez, Carl Yastrzemski, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff

Rookie Cards (5) – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (SP), Luis Urias, Kyle Tucker, Patrick Wisdom, Steven Duggar

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: 2019 Panini Leather & Lumber baseball cards (two blaster boxes)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 2
Cards per pack: 5
Cards per box: 10

BOTH BOXES
Base (Bats and Gloves) set completion: 
6 of 100 (6 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Madison Bumgarner, Justin Verlander, Rafael Devers, Trey Mancini

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: 2019 Topps Series 1 baseball cards 
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 24 (plus one 1984 Chrome pack)
Cards per pack: 14 (four in Chrome)
Cards in this box: 336
Base set completion: 
305 of 350 (87 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Mookie Betts, Brandon Nimmo, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Kris Bryant, Clayton Kershaw, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, Harrison Bader, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Dereck Rodriguez, Shane Bieber, Jack Flaherty, Christian Yelich, Jose Ramirez, Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Joey Votto, Miguel Cabrera, Buster Posey, Josh Donaldson, Corey Seager, J.D. Martinez, Carlos Correa, Kyle Schwarber

Rookie Cards (30) – Daniel Poncedeleon, Kyle Tucker, Kolby Allard, Kohl Stewart, Danny Jansen, Michael Kopech, Justus Sheffield, Adolis Garcia, Pablo Lopez, Francisco Arcia, Enel De Los Santos, Nick Burdi, Garrett Hampson, Heath Fillmyer, Ryan Borucki, Jonathan Loaisiga, Cedric Mullins, Ryan O'Hearn, Dennis Santana, Brad Keller, Ranger Suarez, Luis Urias, Corbin Burnes, Ray Black, Jacob Nix, Jake Bauers, Duane Underwood Jr., Ramon Laureano, Jeff McNeil, Chance Adams

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: 2018 Topps Archives baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
170 of 300 (57 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Bryce Harper, Harmon Killebrew, Tom Glavine, Mike Trout, Willie Stargell, Ralph Kiner, Randy Johnson, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente, Buster Posey, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Fergie Jenkins, Catfish Hunter, John Smoltz, Nolan Ryan, Gary Sanchez, Eddie Mathews, Barry Larkin, Rickey Henderson, Brooks Robinson, Whitey Ford, Mookie Betts, David Ortiz, Dave Winfield, Jimmie Foxx, Warren Spahn, Andrew Benintendi, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Mike Piazza, Jim Thome, Sandy Koufax, Eddie Murray, Albert Pujols, Carlton Fisk, Cal Ripken Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Duke Snider

Rookie Cards (10) – Notables include Ronald Acuña Jr., Victor Robles, Walker Buehler, Rafael Devers

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: 2018 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard packs, one coin pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 58 (56 cards and two coins)
Base set completion: 
50 of 300 (17 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Johnny Bench, Derek Jeter, Sandy Koufax, Warren Spahn, Andrew Benintendi, Yasiel Puig, Manny Machado, Miguel Cabrera, Nolan Arenado, Jim Bunning, Richie Ashburn, David Ortiz, Randy Johnson, Tom Glavine, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Stargell, Rod Carew

Rookie Cards (3) – Alex Verdugo, Jesse Biddle, Tomas Nido

Continue reading →

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 2.

The box: 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

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

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: 2018 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard packs, one coin pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 58 (56 cards and two coins)
Base set completion: 
50 of 300 (17 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Gary Carter, Roberto Clemente, Wade Boggs, Buster Posey, Rod Carew, Kyle Schwarber, David Ortiz, Ozzie Smith, Greg Maddux, Will Clark, Justin Verlander, Ryne Sandberg, Aaron Judge

Rookie Cards (10) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, Chance Sisco, Luis Gohara, Tyler Mahle, Francisco Mejia, Brian Anderson, Jordan Hicks, Harrison Bader, Austin Meadows

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: 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 25 (24 plus box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
130 of 300 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Claire Smith, Aaron Judge, Ichiro Suzuki, Bill James, Phil Coyne, Bryce Harper, Roberto Clemente, Kelsey Plum, Albert Pujols, Christopher McDonald, Biz Markie, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, Mark McGwire, Jackie Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr., Honus Wagner, Sean Evans, Trea Turner, Mike Piazza, Austin Rogers, Tyronn Lue, Barry Larkin, Roger Clemens, Dansby Swanson, Manny Machado, Michael Rapaport, Mariano Rivera, Ryne Sandberg, Andrew Benintendi

Rookie Cards (17) – Shohei Ohtani, Brandon Woodruff (SP), Zack Granite, Willie Calhoun, Brian Anderson, Walker Buehler, Amed Rosario, Clint Frazier, Paul Blackburn, J.P. Crawford, Garrett Cooper, Nicky Delmonico, Jackson Stephens, Lucas Sims, Ryan McMahon, Alex Verdugo, Andrew Stevenson

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: 2018 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 47
Base set completion: 
26 of 300 (9 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Hank Aaron, Kris Bryant, Jose Altuve, Sandy Koufax, Gary Sanchez, Cal Ripken Jr., Cody Bellinger, Wade Boggs, Byron Buxton, Sloane Stephens

Rookie Cards (5) – Christian Villanueva (SP), Scott Kingery, Anthony Banda, Tyler Mahle, Luiz Gohara

Continue reading →

The box: 2018 Donruss baseball cards (hanger box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 60
Set completion: 
43 of 270 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ken Griffey Jr., Francisco Lindor, Tony Gwynn, Andrew Benintendi, Corey Seager, Kris Bryant, Barry Larkin, Rod Carew, Aaron Judge, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Corey Seager, Jose Altuve, Nolan Ryan

Continue reading →