Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

TOP-GRADE VARIATION
The Card: C.J. Stroud 2021-22 Bowman University Chrome Prospects -- image variation
The Reason Graded: If you poke around in the archives for the Buzz Breaks of this release, you'll likely find a break where I missed this one and just simply called it a Refractor despite it being an image variation (all are Refractors on these). It should have been obvious based on the practice photo vs. game action, but I only spotted it well after the fact -- months, if not years, later -- when going through my old boxes. When I stopped to look, this card looked absolutely flawless and since it's somewhat rarer than the others it's also still a bit pricier for a standard card. (It's no monster but it's definitely better than a few types of Refractors.) Since it was so clean and the NFL season is upon us, I put this one into a bulk submission.
The Grade: CGC 10 (Pristine)

Reality Check: This card checked in at exactly where I thought it would. Fun find and a win -- and it wasn't even tucked away in a box penny sleeved. The divide between mine and the other copies graded is also an interesting one -- perhaps there's a common flaw on copies due to position on the sheet or from machinery? No idea ...

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

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What's Buzzing: NFL chatter, a big Target shipping issue, Allen & Ginter X, rumors for sketch card fans and more.

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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: 2024 Panini Caitlin Clark Collection basketball cards
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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What: 2024 Topps Heritage baseball cards
Arrives: April 10
Box basics: One autograph or Relic per 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Odds: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: It's time to turn back the clock a few years with Topps Heritage taking on 1975 ... and it's penciled in to arrive next month.

Keep reading for more as well as 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: Ripping new golf, Albert Pujols to the Dodgers, Target sales, WWE chatter, alleged falling NBA prices and ... a loaded 2021 Bowman format?

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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: So, yeah, Target is temporarily halting card sales ... plus Project70, NBA bubble fatigue, MLB breaks and one guy says "James Harden will be the GOAT before he's done."

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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: News from the retail aisle, MLB chatter, missing the boat on LeBron James, the National and more.

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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: Joel Embiid drops 50, a Target hobby box for the win, looking back, 2021 Topps and more.

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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: 2019-20 Panini Prizm NBA cards (Target Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
29 of 200 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Luka Doncic, Wilt Chamberlain, Paul George, Vince Carter, Kristaps Porzingis, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, Josh Jackson, C.J. McCollum, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Mike Conley

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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: 2018 Donruss Optic NFL cards (Target Mega Box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby and FOTL)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 40
Base set completion: 21 of 100 (21 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards: Derek Carr, Christian McCaffrey, Adam Thielen, Amari Cooper, A.J. Green, Kenyan Drake

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If you've missed out on 2019 Bowman boxes in your neighborhood, you'll have another shot at them soon.

That's because the 2019 Bowman Mega Box will be arriving at Target stores beginning this week.

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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: 2018 Topps Fire baseball cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: Initially only at Target (here when available)

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 119
Base set completion: 
98 of 200 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Ichiro Suzuki, Aaron Judge, Manny Machado, Justin Verlander, Gary Sanchez, Ernie Banks, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, Anthony Rizzo, Randy Johnson, Andrew Benintendi, Willie McCovey, Nolan Arenado, Cody Bellinger, Rickey Henderson, Clayton Kershaw, Eddie Mathews, Pedro Martinez, Jose Altuve, Chipper Jones

Rookie Cards (22) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Miguel Andújar, Rhys Hoskins, J.D. Davis, Willy Adames, Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, Clint Frazier, Anthony Banda, Dominic Smith, Max Fried, Sandy Alcantara, Lucas Sims, Dustin Fowler, Zack Granite, Jordan Hicks, Brandon Woodruff, Chance Sisco, Paul Blackburn, Garrett Cooper, Jack Flaherty

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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: How about highlights from 249 -- yep, 249 -- 2018 Bowman Mega Box breaks on this Saturday morning?

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Remember last year? Well, they're back ...

They're the 2018 Bowman Mega Box and they'll be among the hunted treasures at Target stores beginning next Wednesday. Topps revealed the details on Tuesday and there will be plenty to look for with some of the biggest young names in the game to be found inside. (Click here for the checklist.)

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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: Fairfield Baseball 10-pack retail repack
Where to buy: Target ($11.99)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: Varies by brand
Cards in this box: 81
Base set completion: N/A

Notables on base cards – See gallery for key pulls

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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: 2017 Topps Fire baseball cards (collector's box)
Where to buy: Initially only at Target ($69.99)

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 120
Base set completion: 
98 of 200 (49 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Bryce Harper, Chipper Jones, Anthony Rizzo, Corey Seager, Ken Griffey Jr., Fergie Jenkins, Derek Jeter, Greg Maddux, Dave Winfield, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, Ted Williams, Manny Machado, Carl Yastrzemski, Nolan Ryan, Mike Piazza, Kris Bryant, Andre Dawson, Jose Canseco, Pedro Martinez, Cal Ripken Jr.

Rookie Cards (25) – Cody Bellinger, Andrew Benintendi, Matt Olson, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, Ryon Healy, Lewis Brinson, Rob Zastryzny, Joe Musgrove, Hunter Dozier, Luke Weaver, Yulieski Gurriel, Orlando Arcia, Jake Thompson, Carson Fulmer, Braden Shipley, Jose DeLeon, Raimel Tapia, Seth Lugo, Jorge Alfaro, Gavin Cecchini, Renato Nunez, Hunter Renfroe, Tyler Glasnow

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What: 2017 Topps Fire baseball cards
Arrives: This week only initially via Target stores
Box basics: Two hits per 20-pack collector's box; blaster boxes and jumbo packs
Checklist: Click here to view

What's buzz-worthy: Fire returns as a limited retail-only release with three pack formats all featuring different options for collectors.

Keep reading for more as well as 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: Showing off hockey, NHL card rumors, big baseball pulls and ... clearing out a store for hot new wax.

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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: Nothing but MLB posts with the weekend underway.

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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: You always volunteer for the Target run, doing it right, busting Topps Archives, The National & more.

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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: Topps The Walking Dead Season 6 trading cards (Walmart-version blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard packs plus hit pack)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 61
Base set completion: 
34 of 100 (34 percent)
Duplicates: 0

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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: Nothing but NFL and MLB breaks. Check 'em out ...

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The upcoming Disney animated movie Moana gets a heavy toy push from Funko and there's one name in the sports world who's going to help it come to life.

The lead is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who voices Maui as part of a tale set to arrive in theaters on Nov. 23.

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When 2016 Topps Update arrives in October, it will include the finale for the hobby's flagship design with the newest names in the game and some highlights still to come.

While the First Look preview came back in May (click here for that), Topps disclosed today that there will be three retail-only inserts to come in Update.

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What: 2015-16 Panini Threads basketball cards
Arrives: Late March (Target stores only)
Box basics: Two autographs and two memorabilia cards per six-card hobby premium box; One memorabilia card per one-pack blaster box; also gravity boxes.

What's buzz-worthy: The retail-exclusive Threads arrives in Target stores once again with an array of pack options that all include features not found in other versions of the packs. Atop that, there are new Voices of the Game and other inserts bound to entice.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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