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: T.J. Warren dominates, a huge Zion Williamson pull, 1990 Topps error cards, big breaks and more in this midnight-drop edition.

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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 ... and this time it's still a few more past pick-ups than usual as my pre-COVID grading submissions are delayed and still in graders' hands.

GOOD AS GOLD?
The Card: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Update Gold #US1 (/2,019) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: This one looked razor-sharp when I pulled it -- and that wasn't always the easiest thing with the corners for cards in this release. While I might want to slab a few key RCs in this one, I wouldn't unless I think that the corners could be decent enough to get a 9.5 or better. Why? Because a lot of people are grading stuff here so you can let them take the chance at stuff coming back surprisingly low. Meanwhile, because of those corner issues (tight wrappers or chippy stock) a high-grade card is seemingly just not easy in this one -- and Gold parallels can be problematic at times, too,  though they were cleaner here than other past years.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: This card checked in where I had hoped but I'm definitely not alone as nearly all of the cards graded checked in as 9.5s. While the grade is a win, the pop report is a bit of a bummer. Long-term that might not matter as the demand will be there if he lives up to the expectations.

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

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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: Shane Bieber, Luis Robert, NFL pulls, Project 2020 previews and more in today's edition.

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He's not a rookie on the field (hit 2017 boxes for his RCs) and he's certainly not a rookie collector, but San Diego Padres pitcher Matt Strahm is a bit of a newcomer to break videos ... but his are a little different than others out there.

His breaks? Well, they're done at the ballpark -- and part of a YouTube series called Strahm's Stadium Pulls that launched on Thursday.

The break of 2020 Bowman Sapphire was up first and was teased on his Twitter account before we caught up with him for some basics about his background in collecting and more in this Hobby Q&A.

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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? Five MLB rookies worth watching on cardboard

KYLE LEWIS -- OF, Seattle Mariners
If you look at the rookie leaders so far this year, it's this guy who's leading the way with 11 hits in six games two homers and five RBIs. He's also got 10 strikeouts -- a little scary there -- but he's still hitting .458. He's pushing 1,000 different baseball cards with more than 300 of those being certified autos starting with 2016 Bowman Draft. Some good news? About half of his autos are in 2020 releases so he's a big reason to rip into what was you do find and you'd be surprised how much some of his Rookie Card parallels -- no ink -- have been going for.

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

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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, new Prestige NFL, players who need to sign again and "this base-card revolution is starting to get out of hand."

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What: 2021 Topps Heritage baseball cards
Arrives: March 26
Box basics: One autograph or Relic per 24-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Are you ready for a new year of baseball cards? If so, it's time to preview a turn-back-the-clock edition that takes us all back to 1972.

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: An early look at Project 2020 stuff upcoming, new breaks from MLB and the NFL and more in today's edition.

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Group breaks have been a game-changer for the card industry for several years now and from time to time Buzz will jump into a BlowoutTV break of some type and break down the results of what he landed by picking up a team. There are near-daily breaks right here with Matt on Blowout TV during weekday working hours and even more from Houdini and others over on the forum in the evening.

Now, it's time for this post's break breakdown -- a spot in an MLB mixer that included everything you see above.

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Check out the prices of unopened boxes from just two years ago in the gallery -- it should surprise you.

Do know what today is?

It was supposed to be the opening day of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., but with the life-changing coronavirus pandemic still in play across the country the show of all shows has been tentatively rescheduled for December. (And, realistically, that's likely in doubt.)

What might you have found on the show floor? Well, you can find stuff you might not even know exists -- or can even imagine -- and in the case of this throwback gallery of views from just two years ago you might wish you had a time machine.

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Tomorrow would have marked the opening day of the National Sports Collectors Convention this year in Atlantic City, N.J., but that's not happening thanks to the coronavirus' life-changing grip on the country.

However, thanks to a group of podcasting collectors, there will be plenty of card chatter going on this weekend as HobbyPalooza! 2020 is here beginning on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

What is it? It will be a marathon of 35 hours full of card chatter from a number of different areas of the industry -- a virtual hangout.

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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? Five cool cards simply because of their classic photos.

ALL THAT CASH THERE
The Card: Babe Ruth 2020 Topps Series 2 #562 SSP variation
Why does this Fast Five topic pop into my head on a slow Tuesday afternoon? Well, the record-setting Anthony Fauci Topps Now card over the weekend had one element of the things that can add to demand and value of a card -- a unique photo. (Fauci's card is perhaps more the moment than the actual photo frame, but here we go.) This Ruth card is one of many photo variants in basic Topps sets in recent years -- that's where you can find a lot of cool and unique images -- but this card is a fascinating one. Why? Think about all of the cash paid for all those signed baseballs today ... it should be a reminder that The Sultan of Swat's auto isn't necessarily rare -- there's just immense demand.
Check out MLB boxes here

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

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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: Pondering the NFL season, about that Folty thread, big breaks, Project 2020 and how many cards do you own?

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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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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: Bo Bichette, Bol Bol, wrestling Mount Rushmores, new breaks, inside an NBA stash and is the MLB season already in jeopardy?

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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 WWE Road to WrestleMania cards
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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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: Anthony Fauci baseball card sets all-time Topps Now sales record, big pulls, an old tip that paid off and inside an old Immaculate Collection NBA case.

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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: New MLB season, new MLB players, new WWE release chatter, new breaks and more in today's edition.

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Update: This card set a new Topps Now record with 51,512 copies sold -- more than doubling the previous high.

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It wasn't a strike, but you wouldn't know it from his baseball card.

Dr. Anthony Fauci's ceremonial first pitch before the Washington Nationals-New York Yankees game on Thursday night now appears on a baseball card that will only initially be available for 24 hours on Topps.com.

It's part of the Topps Now series of baseball cards, which are real-time cards made to order once their one-day sales window closes. It's a set will cover the entire season and postseason in real time for the fifth year in a row.

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What: 2020 Topps WWE Fully Loaded trading cards
Arrives: Jan. 27, 2021
Box basics: One encased autograph or autographed Relic per box (20 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The WWE goes hits-only with this release with never-before-done Relic cards that include microphone boxes and other pieces never done by Topps in its years of making wrestling cards.

Keep reading for more info on this one.

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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 Heritage baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for a few formats)
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: Click here

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

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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: That Jasson Dominguez video, big pulls, NFL chatter, Bol Bol and more in today's edition.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's all baseball with some new oddball pick-ups as well as some oldschool stuff.

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A BIGGER DEAL (AGAIN)
The Card: Jasson Dominguez 2020 Bowman Bowman Scouts Top 100 wall art (/99)
The Price: $17.50 (after promotional discount)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is not déjà vu all over again as Yogi Berra once said, but this oddly Yankees heavy edition (since I don't really collect them) has perhaps the most-hyped young prospect in the game today batting lead-off just like last time when I presented his standard card here. As I said then, this guy's iconic card this year has eluded me beyond a couple of standard Bowman cards I pulled in blasters -- all I really wanted was a clean grading-worthy Chrome, but no -- so I opted for a limited version of a card that's a big deal this year but in bigger form as Topps wall art. This is an 11-by-13 version of the card that Topps sells on its site for $24.99 (only the base card is sold out, not the three inserts) with a 30 percent discount if you buy three posters of any kind. Will Dominguez pay off for the many chasing him? We'll find out eventually but this one fits into my stash pretty well no matter what as I try to pick off Rookie Cards as wall art.
Grab a box right here: No boxes of these ... but 2020 Bowman can be yours in a few forms here

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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Other versions of this card were record-breakers at auction ... could this one retake the throne?

It's the Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks 1/1 Superfractor autograph and it will open the next Goldin Auctions event as auction No. 1 with an opening bid of $1 million, the auction house teased on Thursday.

How soon? Very soon -- the card will appear in an auction set to open next week on July 28.

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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 Topps Gallery baseball cards (blaster box)
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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

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