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, Project 2020, Wander Franco vs. Jasson Dominguez, grading in the hobby and "bought to flip ... opened it all."

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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 mix of new slabs and some recent pick-ups.

BIG RETAIL PULL NOW VS. THEN
The Card: Christian McCaffrey 2017 Crown Royale Platinum #88 (/49) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: With the NFL season (perhaps) finally coming, I'll let this guy kick things off since it's a rarer card and one that I figured would grade well but did have some fears about with one of the back corners showing some funk. I pulled this one from a mega box (or whatever it was called for this one) while sitting in a snowy Walmart parking lot back in the day only to be bummed that my autograph guaranteed in the box wasn't there ... it was Panini Rewards points. I was more hung up on that than appreciating this card back then, but he's been a playmaker in the league -- so much so I actually got rid of my Donruss and Optic RCs of him without getting them graded. Instead I decided to slab this one.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded better than I had expected -- I was thinking probably a 9 but optimistically a 9.5 -- and I consider this one a win. It's razor-sharp and clean except for that one corner and on the back it may not hurt as much. Either way, I'm good with this one. Only 12 total cards of McCaffrey from this release have been graded and this is the only for this parallel. There have been nine copies of his standard RC graded and only four cards overall equal this one with nothing higher.

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

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting 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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HALL OF FAME LUMBER
The Item: Carl Yastrzemski 2020 Topps Sterling Bat Knob Auto Relic (1/1)
The Price: $1,273 after 39 bids (six days remaining)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This year's return of Sterling includes a number of super-premium cards and I'd consider this to be one with a game-used bat knob from the other Yaz -- you know, the one in the Hall of Fame -- showcased here. While Mike Yastrzemski might be grabbing the attention of some fans, this guy is one who you don't see a boatload of cardboard for, let alone game-used stuff, in release after release. His lumber was marked with his uniform number here, eight, and a couple other markings and that's some of the magic with bat knob cards. (Check out the Darryl Strawberry card at the link below to see some of the other possibilities -- manufacturer and factory markings.) This one will be interesting to watch by the time it ends.
Similar Pieces: Other bat knob cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2020 Topps Sterling boxes

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

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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 Topps Opening Day baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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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: Nasty patches, big pulls, prospecting limits, a WWE thread worth a look and collectors react to the death of long-time Georgetown coach John Thompson.

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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 from soccer, MLB and the NFL lead the way 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 Today: Looking back at past sales, debating the appeal of some parallels, what's the iconic wrestling card 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 Today: Big pulls, NBA chatter, Project 2020, a big NBA box and an interesting question for collectors.

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This 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? Five reasons a sports card can be appealing ... beyond just value.

A STRONG PHOTO
We all know a lot of cards from any sports (or non-sports) set from the past that has a photo that's just so clean or different that it stands out from the rest of the pack every time we see it. It doesn't have to be a star, it doesn't have to be a bum ... it's just memorable. Sometimes cards like these can actually command more value than others around it (probably moreso in the years before hits and inserts) but that added appeal can't hurt. The card you see here? It's a simple portrait -- literally nothing but the image -- no design here -- and that's why I chose it. It shows the power of letting the photo have its moment. I own hundreds of Derek Jeter cards that I don't really want or need but the strong photo here makes me want and need it. It's rarer (/100) and from the 2019 Topps Transcendent VIP Party set, but this one would be a card I'd chase if it were from Opening Day. It's all about the photo.

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Now that's a big pull ... Check it out over on eBay.

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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: MLB Rookie Cards on the rise, the power of Patrick Mahomes RCs, a football question answered by soccer cards and some big pulls to round things out 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 Today: Mike Trout's Superfractor sale still has them talking, changes for grading fans and breaks lead the way in today's edition.

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Have you seen the latest cool or interesting 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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THE RIGHT PARALLEL COLOR
The Item: Patrick Mahomes 2017 Donruss Red Press Proof -- Rookie Card parallel
The Price: $600 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Everything for Mahomes in 2017 is kind of a big deal and given how the last two seasons have gone there's no reason to stop looking -- either as singles or in wax form. I picked this one because I managed to pull one and it graded a BGS 9.5 -- not an easy task for paper stock -- and I think it's the best more-basic version color-wise (perfect for the Chiefs) and then also in its obscurity as its a retail-only parallel. Oh, and have you seen some of the prices paid for slabbed versions of this card? (A PSA 10 recently sold for $2,300 and raw copies have topped $500.) The photo here is a good one with his helmet off so you can see his face much like many oldschool RCs of legends from the past. He's already a legend of today. I'm not saying this card is under-priced -- raw, it probably isn't -- but if it ends up grading well? That's a solid long-term piece.
Similar Pieces: 2017 Donruss Mahomes cards on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2017 Donruss NFL mega boxes (that also include two hobby packs) and other options are also in stock

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

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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, postal delays and a discussion about autograph pens in today's edition.

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Move over, Honus Wagner, there's a new cardboard icon in the world.

Mike Trout's 2009 Bowman Draft Superfractor set a new all-time sales record for any and all sports cards on Saturday night with the final gavel dropping at $3,936,000 via Runnemde, N.J.-based Goldin Auctions.

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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, inside a Goodwin case and some hits from a throwback TV break.

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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: Some chatter, some snark, some new breaks, reactions to new cardboard and more in today's edition.

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What: 2021 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Food Fight
Arrives: Jan. 20
Box basics: One hit per 24-pack hobby collector tin (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This one's for the Foodies out there with everything about food and beverages -- and this one even includes stuff you can put on the fridge ... a pair of magnets in every collector tin, which is shaped like a fridge, too.

Keep reading for more as well as 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 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.

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What: 2020 Topps Major League Soccer cards
Arrives: Nov. 13
Hobby box basics: Two jumbo Relics and one auto or additional Relic per 24-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: MLS cardboard takes the pitch once again with three hits per box and plenty more to collect with a meaty set that includes another batch of young players as well as established stars.

Keep reading to learn more and see 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, MLB chatter, grading chatter and so many Zions in today's edition.

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What: 2020 Topps Chrome Formula 1 racing cards
Arrives: April 23
Box basics: Eighteen four-card packs per box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Formula 1 comes to Chrome cardboard for the first time with top stars, their autographs (in every other box) and, of course, plenty of Refractors in the mix, too.

Keep reading for more.

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What: 2021 Topps Series 1 baseball cards
Arrives: Feb. 10
Box basics: One auto and two Relics per 10-pack jumbo box (six boxes per case); One auto or Relic per 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' 70th anniversary edition will arrive in February with a new look, new players and plenty of retro inclusions in this release.

Keep reading for more info 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: Criminally undervalued cards, Project 2020, big pulls and the Fernando Tatis debate.

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Pull a "Phil's Pulls" card and get free cards.

It's as simple as that in 2020 Topps Archives where former MLB pitcher Phil Hughes is offering free stuff, including a case, to anyone who pulls one of four specific inscribed autographs he signed for the release. The new boxes arrive on Wednesday and will be found right here.

It's a tie-in to his Phil's Pulls channel of YouTube videos where he breaks and shows off finds from his many boxes of cards he rips and does group breaks.

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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, reactions to a "hot take" that may be warmer, Asuka cardboard and more in today's edition.

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