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. Michael Baumann, RHP, Orioles — Double-A Bowie Baysox
Baseball America’s highlight line: “Baumann came within one out of a no-hitter on April 30. He got another chance last week and, this time, completed the feat. Baumann threw a no-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts against Double-A Harrisburg in his first start last week, his most dominant start in a season full of them. The 2017 third-rounder is 3-5, 2.80 with 113 strikeouts and 33 walks in 86.2 innings this year between high Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, cementing himself as one of the Orioles’ most promising pitching prospects."

CARDBOARD BASICS
Approximate card total (so far): 60
First Chrome auto: 2018 Bowman Chrome
One auto to consider: 2017 Elite Extra Edition
Buzz’s card take: About half of his seriously low card volume is thankfully certified ink so that's good that he has them -- but it's also bad news in that it means there is less stuff for buyers to fight over when he has performances like this. The two products above are the only places to find his autos. In three MiLB season, he's 20-12 with a 2.74 ERA and 262 strikeouts with 259 innings pitched. Those are solid numbers overall mostly fueled by this season's strikeouts.

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

Continue reading →

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: Baseball discussions, NBA 1/1 cards, MLB trade deadline chatter, opening a store, NBA breaks and The National.

Continue reading →

What if Mike Trout had been found on a 2011 Bowman Chrome Rookie Card autograph and it had a Superfractor parallel?

That didn't happen, but that dream cardboard scenario could have been close to reality if a new item in an upcoming Goldin Auctions event is any indicator.

It's a PSA/DNA certified Trout autograph -- that part's for sure -- on a card that looks like it could be a genuine Super from that year's release. It's a card that could have been printed by Topps but then never released when a signing couldn't be lined up in time.

Continue reading →

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 Rip Card risk pays off, players you love to hate, The National, an industry lawsuit, a big Braves pull and breaking down a 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter case.

Continue reading →

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: Baseball chatter on Hall of Fame weekend, Topps Now cards when you were there, big blaster pulls and The National.

Continue reading →

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 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter, ranking players, The National, the FBI and card-trimming and collectors react to a motivational speech in MLB.

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 (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

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

Notables on base cards – Juan Soto, Frank Robinson, George Brett, Juan Marichal, Travis Pastrana, Miguel Andujar, Trevor Hoffman, Vladimir Guerrero, Tyler Kepner

Rookie Cards (3) – Jeff McNeil, Justus Sheffield, Dawel Lugo

Continue reading →

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.

--

JUNIOR IN GINTER
The Item: Ken Griffey Jr. 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter framed mini autograph
The Price: $499.95 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is one of a number of noteworthy autos in this year's Allen & Ginter release and in my mind the safest baseball card buys these days for the long term aren't the new-car priced slabbed Bowman Chrome debut prospect cards but rather the rarer obviously short-printed Hall of Fame caliber names in brands like this one and Topps Heritage. Once these dry up, those prices will inevitably get higher. You can't say that for the guys who haven't gotten their MLB careers going yet. Ginter is one of those releases with a big checklist and a definite volume difference between the standard autos and the rares yet nothing is numbered. That helps add to the mystery over time. Plus, that auto just looks good here.
Similar Pieces: Other 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter boxes and cases

Keep reading for four 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: 2017 Topps The Walking Dead Evolution (Walmart blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 standard, one hit pack)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 61
Base set completion: 
35 of 100 (35 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Continue reading →

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: The Washington Post has a story on the FBI investigating card-trimming, The National, big pulls and more in today's edition.

Continue reading →

Yes, the Instagram Egg has a baseball card.

It's card No. 213 in the 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball card set that arrived today from Topps, a nod to the weird inclusions that were commonly found in the past on tobacco cards.

If you don't know, the brand is a modern-day take on the cardboard of the 1880s, though Instagram wasn't quite around back then, and it includes more than a few oddities that are kind of a big deal today, like a cryptocurrency card in last year's set.

Continue reading →

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: The arrival of 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter, inside 50 Artist's Choice packs, The National and more.

Continue reading →

It's not quite a Honus Wagner, but if you see this face tomorrow on an autographed card you pulled from a BlowoutTV break, you'll get a few bucks.

How much? Where at again? 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: 2017 Topps The Walking Dead Season 6 trading cards (Walmart blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

Continue reading →

With The National just weeks away in Chicago, Topps has its promo cards and other plans for the show ready.

There will be a VIP set using the 1984 Topps design and a wrapper redemption program with a National-branded 2019 Bowman set.

Continue reading →

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: Check out big breaks, a big baseball debate, Allen & Ginter chatter and The National.

Continue reading →

What: 2019 Bowman's Best baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 18
Box basics: Four autographs (two per mini-box) per 12-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman's Best is back for another go with the same format as past years but with a new crop of rookies and prospects as well as some new nods to past releases.

Keep reading for more details and a gallery.

Continue reading →

Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals just might be to rip fewer blasters this year 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. Would they capture yours? I'd be interested to know -- sometimes they might, sometimes they won't and that's fine. It's a buyer's market out there with plenty of options and bargains as well as high-end gems to chase.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's a baker's dozen (that doesn't include Mayfield ... this time).

--

A MARIS WITH A TWIST?
The Card: Roger Maris 2018 Panini National Treasures Game Gear Duals (/49)
The Price: $30
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I sprung for this card at a slightly higher price than I might normally do for a Maris memorabilia card because of the small sliver of a red patch that caught my eye but remained a mystery. The New York Yankees weren't known for a lot of patches on their uniforms, let alone any red ones, but perhaps this one came from a sleeve? After buying and then doing some homework, I think the pinstripes led me astray. After receiving the card, I remembered an errant comment I heard years ago -- a rumor about Panini looking at a Cleveland Indians jersey at auction -- and I simply Googled "Roger Maris game-used jersey auction" and found a visual that perhaps answered my pinstripe mystery. Then a couple of cross-searches led me here.The Indians wore pinstripes for a time and it was a time when Maris was there. The colors match and the fabric consistency looks to be right, too. Could this be a sliver of a sleeve patch? We don't get a good view there, but it could be. It could also be something from the Kansas City A's though I couldn't find any info on them wearing pinstripes while Maris was there. It's not definitive -- and it still could be a sleeve patch from a Yankees jersey -- but I think I'm comfortable with my newest Maris patch (barely) card.
Grab a box right here: National Treasures boxes (all sports)

Keep reading for a few more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

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: 2019 Topps WWE SummerSlam wrestling cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11 (10 packs plus Relic-Women's Revolution bonus pack)
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 75
Base set completion: 
41 of 100 (41 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Braun Strowman, Elias, Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks, Ruby Riott, Seth Rollins, Ali, Kofi Kingston, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, Natalya, Carmella, Cesaro, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bray Wyatt, Zelina Vega, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley

Continue reading →

Via @FansAuthentic ... J-Rod in the house @nsccshow @AROD x @JLo #NSCC17

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: Cards you wish you never sold, chatter for The National, big pulls, pondering an autograph and ... one blaster, two autos?

Continue reading →

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: Collectors react to the Russell Westbrook trade, Baker Mayfield autos on the way, The National and some big pulls from high-end boxes and cases.

Continue reading →

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.

--

CARDBOARD THAT KICKS
The Item: Mike Piazza 2019 Topps Diamond Icons Preeminent Pieces cleat Relic (/10)
The Price: $449.95 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is a game-used cleat card that has nine other cards similar to it in Topps' new high-end MLB brand that's all about the hits. They're not all like these but these are cards that have a distinct feel and look that's a lot different than the jersey or bat Relics that we've seen for years. That makes them always worth a look -- and this one seems a little under-priced even at that BIN. The fact that offers are being considered also indicates that the seller will take less -- both situations that work for me if I was a Piazza fan. This is also nowhere near the biggest finds in this release -- check out the autos link below.
Similar Pieces: 2019 Topps Diamond Icons autos 
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2019 Topps Diamond Icons boxes and cases

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

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 Allen & Ginter baseball cards
Checklist & First Buzz preview: Click here 

--

A FIRST-PITCH PHENOM 
The Card: Hailey Dawson 2019 Topps Allen & Ginter #154
The Price: Affordable for base -- autographs and Relics should be in demand.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: She's a 9-year-old who has thrown out the first pitch at all 30 MLB ballparks, and, while that's impressive on its own, she's actually done that with a 3-D printed robotic hand -- she was born without three fingers and has two under-developed fingers since she has what's known as Poland syndrome. She completed the 30-park feat last September and it didn't take too long for her to get a baseball card. You can learn more about her adventures by following this Twitter account.

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: 2018 Topps Series 2 (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)
Packs per box: 11 (10 plus patch pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion: 
77 of 350 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Freddie Freeman, Max Scherzer, Xander Bogaerts, Paul DeJong, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa

Rookie Cards (5) – Kyle McGrath, Taylor Williams, Victor Caratini, Tim Locastro, Ryan Sherriff

Continue reading →

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: Collectors react to Jim Bouton's death, a thread for Michael Jordan fans, new breaks, new scanner tips, The National and more.

Continue reading →