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 ...

The Card: 2017 Donruss Press Proofs Red #327 Patrick Mahomes II Rated Rookie
The Reason Graded: Oh what a difference a year makes. This time last year, this parallel Rookie Card was a pull from a retail box where it didn't do much for me -- in fact, I had it set aside to send away when I revisited a box out of curiosity and there he was ... and he wasn't alone. Now, he's an MVP lock and one of the hotter Rookie Cards in the hobby after a 50-touchdown season. These Reds are only found in retail boxes and I figured I'd take my shot at getting it in a slab since it looked pretty clean.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It was definitely that and what's surprising is that nobody else has pulled one and opted to slab it up. Yes, I know it's the rare autos from key brands that lead the way, but I think a slab for a card like this -- one where there may not be as many out there as other un-numbered parallels -- with a low pop could surprise you if you were a seller. (I'm not ... I stash my stuff 99.9 percent of the time.)

Keep reading for the rest of this month's new grades and additions.

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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: 2018-19 Topps Chrome Premier League (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 18
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 72
Base set completion: 
54 of 100 (54 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 a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: A big Superfractor sale, a big birthday gift, 2019 MLB predictions, Stranger Things and breaks in this 2018 finale.

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Between everyday Buzz Breaks and the near-monthly Buzz 12 in 12 marathons, Buzz busted a lot of packs in 2018.

How many? Well, Buzz is almost afraid to count -- though it was seemingly news to me that the 12 in 12 marathons actually started early last year. (That's even more proof there's been a lot of wax to get these hands ... it's all a blur.)

It was a year of memorable pulls for me at times with some icons' autographs found in my packs. It also was fun one ripping into really old packs, too, with some cheap thrills there.

Breaks are among the most-popular items seen here nearly every day and Buzz knows that. So look for plenty of breaks in 2019 -- but, before that time comes, keep reading for links to not one, not 18, but 25 memorable breaks from 2018.

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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 big pulls in this Sunday edition.

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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 582 Montgomery Club -- Set 1
Where to buy: N/A (Only available with 582 Montgomery Club membership.)

Cards per set: 26 (25 standard cards, one auto -- see all in gallery)
Base set completion: 25 of 25 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 0

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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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LUKA'S SKYWALKING CARDBOARD
The Item: Luka Doncic 2018-19 Panini Contenders The Finals Ticket auto (/25)
The Price: $3,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The arrival of this brand marks the arrival of the newest rare cardboard for this rookie who has been scorching when it comes to cardboard and not that shabby on the court for the Dallas Mavericks with 19 points 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. It's interesting that this one hasn't been slabbed up -- so it could have more price potential -- though the Optic versions of his cards in this one might be the top target for a few buyers. His cards are pricey across the board, so they are worth a look any time more arrive.
Similar Pieces: Other Luca Doncic autos on eBay
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018-19 NBA boxes

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

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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 Topps WWE Legends
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12 (via two mini-boxes)
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 60
Base set completion: 
28 of 70 (40 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards – Shawn Michaels, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Bam Bam Bigelow, Ted DiBiase, Bobby Heenan, Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Goldust, Edge, Kane, Tatanka, Bob Orton, Papa Shango, Junkyard Dog, Harley Race, Dallas Page, Pat Patterson, Kevin Nash, Jim Ross, Big John Studd, Daniel Bryan, Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle, Jim Neidhart, Jake Roberts, Jay Strongbow, Ultimate Warrior

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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, fake cards, taking "The Luka Doncic Experiment," 582 Montgomery Club ... and a Rookie Card five decades later?

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but a new year's resolution 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 they're all under $10.

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NOTHING BUT NET
The Card: Brendan McKay 2018 Topps Pro Debut Fragments of the Farm Relics
The Price: $3.85
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I've probably mentioned it before, but I'm a sucker for oddball memorabilia cards and this specimen was one i had to grab when I saw it. It's simple, a bit part of the ballpark experience and a safety feature that should have been seen a lot more often in cards if you ask me simply because they make for interesting cards. Inside this card is a piece of backstop netting from Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., which is the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades. It didn't hurt that the card shows Brendan McKay, the fourth pick in last year's MLB Draft, but he's not the reason I grabbed this one at all. The Fragments of the Farm sets in Pro Debut the last few years are the home of some interesting cards that have items selected by the teams -- and they typically are found in every box.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Topps Pro Debut

Keep reading for five more interesting cards ...

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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: Holiday hauls, baseball cards in the future, a major 1/1 buy 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 Today: Nothing but big pulls and show-off threads 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: Nothing but big collecting questions and big pulls in this holiday 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: Grading maildays, showing off signed NFL helmets, big pulls 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 Today: Nothing but big pulls and other break highlights in this Sunday edition.

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Houdini's got a big break planned for Christmas Day over on BlowoutTV and he wants you to have a shot at a free spot.

It's a $100,000 break of 2018 Topps Transcendent Collection boxes -- a mix of the standard-edition as well as the Japanese edition. It's a break that's still filling here but should be ready in time for Tuesday afternoon (approximately  4 p.m. Eastern).

How can you get in on the action for free? Keep reading ...

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What: 2019 Topps Major League Soccer cards
Arrives: April 10
Hobby box basics: Two jumbo Relics and one dual Relic per 24-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Back for its seventh season, the flagship for Topps' American soccer presence will arrive with another nod to the 1980s and a different twist -- more Relics and no autographs.

Keep reading to learn more and see a full gallery of images.

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What: 2019 Topps Big League baseball cards
Arrives: May 8
Box basics: Twenty-four 10-card packs per box (20 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Big League is back for a second season with a parallel card in every pack and "a consumer-friendly price point" that includes plenty of bells and whistles for collectors.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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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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ONE REASON TO RIP BOWMAN DRAFT ... 
The Item: Jarred Kelenic 2018 Bowman Draft Chrome Draft Picks Red Wave Autograph (/5)
The Price: $7,999.99 Buy-It-Now (or best offer)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: The big prospect on a big card is a big draw for Bowman Draft every year and prospectors are shredding their boxes looking for Superfractors and more right now. One biggie already on eBay is this Jarred Kelenic Red Wave auto that has a hefty price tag attached. Is it too high? You never know, but a Kelenic Red (no Waving) allegedly already sold for $3,950 on eBay since this brand dropped.
Similar Pieces: Other 2018 Bowman Draft autos
The BlowoutCards.com Hunt: Click here for 2018 Bowman Draft boxes

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: Eight 1/1s in just 30 packs, big pulls from 2018 Bowman Draft and other new releases, debating "Patrick Mahomes is the next ____."

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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 big cards, pondering a 100-percent Hall of Famer, big pulls and high-end case breaks in today's edition.

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Consider this the famous yellow-lettered Star Wars opening crawl ... but with cardboard.

Topps revealed the Topps Star Wars Galactic Moments set on Thursday, announcing that it will be a year-long card march to Star Wars: Episode IX arriving on Dec. 20, 2019. (The film doesn't even have a formal title yet -- and a teaser trailer is coming any time now ... right?)

Each week, there will be three new cards showcasing key moments in the history of the franchise and they'll be found on Topps.com. They'll be printed to order and will only be available for seven days.

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Millions of people probably knew her as "Laverne" from her years on a hit sitcom, but Penny Marshall was a ground-breaking director who hit movie-making plateaus for the first time with Big and then gave baseball fans one of their all-time great films in A League Of Their Own, which helped tell the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

But people might not know that she was also a serious collector of sports memorabilia -- one of the people profiled in a book with lofty standards, Smithsonian Baseball. (Click here to watch a past ESPN video about her stash that's worth a look.) In that piece, she notes that the Baseball Hall of Fame will be getting some of her collection in the future and talks about her fandom, which went beyond just baseball.

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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 wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 10.

The box: 2018 Topps WWE Then Now Forever (blaster box) 
The cost: Click here (for hobby boxes)

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

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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 7.

The boxes: 2016 Topps WWE NXT trading cards (two boxes)
The cost: Click here

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

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