With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? A ticket to an MLB game ... that never happened.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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If you're one of those baseball collectors who's been all about the anime, this one's for you.

Buzz was busy today adding a bunch of cardboard to the preview gallery for the forthcoming 2025 Bowman release (click here to see all of those and order your boxes), but this one -- all 30 cards in the 2025 Bowman Anime insert set -- gets its own standalone.

Why? These baseball cards are unique and they're a popular style of artistic card inclusions from a few companies in a few sports in recent years. This time there are 30 standard cards for stars of the past, present and future -- and then four Japanese icons will have Kanji Variations to find as well.

You can learn more and see the 30 standard cards after the jump.

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With these Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud stories I'm turning just a tiny bit of that energy just a few degrees away from cards (we'll still have plenty of them here) for a different kind of cardboard. What am I doing? Simple ... this is an occasional dip into some random ticket lots -- a show and tell showing something small with a story.

This time? A pair of Hall of Famers on tickets for a past MLB game that had a classic finish.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and tell me if you think it's a Ticket Stud or a Ticket Dud.

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If you found the MVPs in packs of 2022 Topps Chrome, you have a buyer.

That's because Topps is buying back copies of Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt cards from the set as part of the Topps MVP Buyback Promotion that begins on Saturday.

The program lets you can cash in for store credit at your local card shop or via Blowout Cards if you don't have one and it's good for cards from standard Chrome release as well as the Logofractor Edition and the 2022 Topps Chrome Sonic set coming in February 2023.

It will run until March 31, 2023, when a new baseball season begins. It's part of a Small Business Saturday effort from the company -- a move to help out all of the card shops around the country as well as spark even more interest from collectors.

Keep reading for the full details.

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This ball isn't that ball ... but imagine if it was.

That was my first thought when I dug out this one from my reserves for this Collecting Game-used series last night as St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas was two outs away from a career game -- a no-hitter that came up one strike short of reality -- Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

My second thought was, man, how much has the game-used world changed in just a few years with a couple new touches from MLB and MLB Authentication? The MLB Film Room didn't exist back when this baseball was used -- details below -- and the notation on the authentication is pretty basic ... real basic. That's been improved since then, too. This is a game-used ball with some nice use to it (came from a grab-bag style box) and with a couple of MLB All-Stars attached from a game a little earlier in their careers. Since there was no Film Room then I can't instantly call up a clip of the play and see it in action ... though there's a chance the game is online somewhere. I've been spoiled being able to photo-match or at least see videos for almost every ball I've had here recently ... I'll let the basics tell the story on this one this time.

Keep reading to see the details.

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Here's the sequel to my recent Cardinals game-used baseball grab from the bargain bin -- it's not quite as flashy as last month, but this one's used by star for the home team and a win for the price of a blaster box if you ask me.

As I noted last time, this was a blind-bag buy ... all you can control is picking the date of your ball. I scouted the schedule and found Game 1 of a doubleheader from last September that had a pair of notable starters and a whole lot of runs scored ... meaning more chances at a notable ball or play.

Thanks to the relatively new MLB Film Room you can easily find clips of plays -- even the mundane ones -- and literally all three pitches where this ball was authenticated as used can be found there.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

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Earlier this week -- Tuesday, actually -- I got lured into grabbing a couple of game-used balls from the bargain bin of the St. Louis Cardinals via MLB.com after the team's Authentics division sent out an email revealing a slasher sale on 2020 game-used baseballs.

After all, a new year is here and there are already plenty more fresh gamers coming their way.

What I didn't expect from a blind-bag kind of buy was a strong pairing far more impressive than the $22.99 price tag might lead you to believe -- and my strategies for potentially landing a stronger ball paid off, too. What do I mean? Well, they let you pick the date of your ball -- at least if the date is available -- and I quickly scouted the schedule to land upon Game 1 of a doubleheader from an interleague match-up last September that had a pair of notable starters and a whole lot of runs scored ... meaning more chances at a key ball between the throwers or the hitters. (It's also worth noting again that the MLB Film Room also adds value to the basic balls out there en masse, too, as you can easily find clips of plays ... even the mundane ones.)

I did two baseballs to get free shipping and to help my odds ... and it worked. Twice.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and one ball in action.

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals — Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Carlson, who won’t turn 21 until the middle of October, has made a mark in the Cardinals’ upper levels. He blitzed the Texas League after opening as its fourth-youngest player, putting forth an OPS of .882 before moving to Triple-A Memphis. That mark still stands as the TL’s second-highest figure. He’s quickly adjusted to the Pacific Coast League, where he’s notched at least one hit in all 10 of his games."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 160
First Chrome auto: 2016 Bowman Draft 
One auto to consider: 2016 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: Almost half of his cards are autos, so that's a good thing when seeing such a low overall number but that's also something that will help keep the competition on the auction block on the fierce side if people keep up with him. The Cardinals often have heavily watched prospects, so he's one who will get attention with a strong season.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays — Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
Baseball America’s highlight line: “In 108 minor league games, only one pitcher has managed to strike him out more than once. ... He has not struck out swinging since May 20, and has not struck out at all since May 24. ... Through June 2, Franco is hitting .326 in the Midwest League as an 18-year-old. Two years ago, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was in the Midwest League as an 18-year-old, he hit … .326."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 300
First Chrome auto: 2019 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2018 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: The bad news here? If you don't know his name, you're late to the party and that will cost you way more buying his autos. The good news here? First, he's being compared to Vladdy Jr., and second he's got plenty of ink -- about half of his cards come with autos -- and there are inevitably more on the way. Simple as that. Pulling his autos are the best way to go as buy-in prices for his first Chrome ink can be on the stupid side ... well, only if he doesn't deliver. (So far, he has.)

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle Mariners — High-A Modesto Nuts
Baseball America’s highlight line: “His professional debut this year was worth the wait. Gilbert overwhelmed low Class A hitters in four starts to begin the year and has been similarly dominant since his promotion to high Class A. His delivered 12 scoreless innings over two starts this week, capped by Sunday’s seven-inning, two-hit, 11-strikeout performance at Rancho Cucamonga. Overall Gilbert is 3-0, 1.75 with 53 strikeouts and nine walks in 36 innings, with opponents batting just .157 against him."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 200
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Draft 
One auto to consider: 2018 Panini Contenders Draft Picks
Buzz’s card take: He seems to be an affordable Chromw auto -- for now -- so that's a good sign. What's also a good sign is that more than half of his cards are of the certified auto variety. He doesn't have a ton of cardboard for a guy who was the 14th pick in last year's MLB Draft. These all feel like winning variables right now given those stats. You can land him in his college colors with an on-card auto on the cheap in Contenders.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Here's a look at the top five players on this week's Baseball America Top MLB Prospects Hot Sheet and their seasons so far. It's a little something to help those who might want to dabble with prospecting -- some basics on their baseball cards alongside a highlight line from those more scouting-minded. We may not do this every week, but we'll check in on BA's top crop from time to time for the remainder of the season.

1. Luis Robert, OF, White Sox — High-A Winston Salem Dash
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Robert is one of the most tooled-up athletes not only in his organization, but in all of the minor leagues. He wowed evaluators in the Arizona Fall League, and now is doing the same again in his return to high Class A."
CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 500
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman 
One auto to consider: 2017 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: You should know his name after his Bowman arrival last year as he's a top-100 prospect by most accounts and a top-50 on some lists. He fared pretty well in limited spring training time this year, hitting .385 with a homer and eight RBI in six games as a 21-year-old. The Cuban prospect has five homers and 13 RBI while hitting .475 this season.

Keep reading for the rest of the top five ...

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Roughly a year ago, St. Louis Cardinals prospect Daniel Poncedeleon was hit in the head by a line drive and collapsed on the pitcher's mound during a game in Des Moines, Iowa, never losing consciousness but wondering if his playing career (or life as he knew it) was over.

On Monday night in Cincinnati, he made his MLB debut for the Cardinals and was pulled from a game in the seventh inning despite having a no-hitter going and a 1-0 lead. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the 26-year-old is just the fifth pitcher have a no-hit bid through seven innings in his MLB debut since 1961. (The Cardinals bullpen blew it in the ninth so it went down as a no-decision.)

"I think that played a huge part into this, because without that, I'm pretty weak," Poncedeleon told MLB.com. "With God, I have a lot of faith and confidence. ... The journey was not drawn up by me. Obviously, there is something greater drawing up this plan or this story. ... I just wanted to win, to be honest."

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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: St. Louis Cardinals Authentics game-used baseball mystery box
The cost: $39.99 (via MLB.com)

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

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Have you seen the latest crazy 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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SUPERFRACTOR MANIA ... CATCH IT!
The Item: Bryce Harper's 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospects Superfractor autograph (BGS 9.5/10)
The Price: $499,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Superfractors are the top draw for prospectors and they're the cards that get dollars flowing with their golden swirls. This one is among Bryce Harper's rarities before his Rookie Cards arrived and it's got the museum-style price attached to it. Will it sell for that? Probably not, but that best offer button has probably been hit more than a few times in the past.
Similar Pieces: Check out all of the Superfractors on eBay right here
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for Bowman boxes from several years

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

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One of baseball's biggest sluggers is set to sign at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention this August in Cleveland, Ohio.

TRISTAR announced on Tuesday that Los Angeles Angels designated hitter and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols will be among the autograph guests for this year's show.

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The 40-year history of the Potomac Nationals includes some of the biggest names in the history of baseball -- and the team has the baseball cards coming to prove it as part of a stadium giveaway.

Bryce Harper, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte are just some of the players who have suited up for the franchise that is now the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. All of those stars and more will be found in the 2017 Potomac Nationals’ 40th Anniversary Team card set honoring them all to be given away at a game later this month.

And it's only at BlowoutCards-The Fantastic Store where that set can be completed.

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 3.

The pack: 1970 Fleer MLB Iron-ons
The cost now: $4
The cost then: 5 cents

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

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A new baseball season is nearly here with the first spring training games set to air later this month and that's when we'll see the newest players on their new teams.

And many of them will be wearing new uniforms -- well, at least new caps.

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If you know a Chicago Cubs fan and haven't finished your holiday shopping, this is your post.

If you're a fan of Major League Baseball and collecting its legends, this is your post.

A nice piece of mail -- something Buzz found online and ordered this weekend -- arrived on Wednesday with a surprise inside. What you see here is an oversized pair of plastic glasses -- an apparent jovial bonus this holiday season with any purchase of $49 or more from 33 West Kinzie Street in Chicago.

Not familiar with the location? That's the home of Harry Caray's Restaurant. And, while it's funny, this simple gift to me can't touch what I bought.

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What is believed to be one of the earliest St. Louis Cardinals jerseys worn by future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols is on the auction block via Goldin Auctions.

Issued with a letter from the St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals Care Community Fund, this No. 68 jersey was used in his spring training with the team in 2001, though it's tagged as a 2000 jersey. It's signed on the back with that autograph further authenticated by JSA.

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It seems dirt is everywhere you look if you're a baseball collector shopping the game-used sections of websites and MLB Auctions.

You can buy game-used baseballs that were a pitch in the dirt. You can buy dirt holiday ornaments and dirt keychains. You can buy simple vials of dirt with labels noting the stadium. You can buy dirt coasters. You can buy framed game-used displays that include a dirt capsule along with other pieces. You can buy simpler (and cheaper) no-frills items that showcase dirt. The best pieces, of course, are dirt-covered game-used uniforms.

But that's not all -- at least if you're a fan of two teams. It's time for something really different there.

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He's one of this season's biggest surprises and on cardboard he's one of the best-kept secrets.

He's Jeremy Hazelbaker, an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, and he's a secret because he's not had many baseball cards of note -- not a single certified autograph -- in years.

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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 the fourth grading diary here on The Buzz ...

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It's a dirty job, but MLB's got to do it.

Fans of World Series teams and All-Star Game hosts in recent years can remember their big events with game-used dirt jars that can be found via buy-it-now listings MLB Auctions.

Sure, they are novelty items -- but for casual collectors these small items will stand out as something both unique and affordable.

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