What: 2023 Topps Pristine baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 23
Box basics: Two autographs and one Auto Relic per six-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The surprise return of last year -- it came back after more than a decade on the bench -- gets another run in the Topps MLB lineup using its colorful combo approach of encased hits and more in every box.

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: New MLB pulls, 2023 Topps Chrome, pressure of a big pull, Matt Olson, The National and more.

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What: 2022-23 Topps Chrome UEFA Women's Champions League soccer cards
Arrives: Aug. 11
Hobby box basics: One autograph per 20-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: The UEFA Women's Champions League gets its second Chrome card set with a relatively simple lineup that's packed with color parallel power and plenty of potential.

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: MLB trade deadline headlines, following up on The National again, young NBA stars, MLB pulls, NFL chatter and a good question.

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What: 2023 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Aug. 16
Box basics: One encased and numbered buyback autograph per box (20 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' buyback line brings more autographs from retired MLB stars to the masses with this one, which will be a "limited production" run, according to the company, with one added touch to indicate legendary greatness among the cards this time.

Keep reading for more 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: MLB trade deadline deals, following up on The National and favorite finds at the show, new pulls, Arch Manning and more.

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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 ...

SHINE LIKE MINI-DIAMONDS ...
The Card: Ronald Acuña Jr. 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary Edition Rose Gold Mini-Diamond Refractors (/75)
The Reason Graded: Generally, I only do Chrome stuff in any kind of volume when it gets cheap -- and in this case they were as I found a run of mega boxes of this one priced less than blasters and that got me to bite. (They're all Buzz Breaks so go check the archives.) One of my better finds in those boxes was this card, which is a super-sparkly take on the 1952 Topps design that, in my mind, does work while a lot of the basic Chrome takes found in this set just don't. (There were a lot of quality control issues with this release.) In this case, since it's a top name, a rare card and a crisp and cleanly centered copy I put it into a bulk sub. Why? I like it and the player ... and I felt like it had some good potential.
The Grade: CSG 9.5

Reality Check: It's the lowest of two copies graded by CSG (now CGC) with the other one checking in where I had hoped to be. No biggie ... I like this card no matter what and all of his stuff -- Rookie Cards, hits and rarities -- should be getting looks as he could become baseball's newest 40-40 Club member -- and might even push higher if he gets really hot with the bat in the second half. With him you never know.

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

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What: 2022-23 Topps Finest Bundesliga soccer cards
Arrives: Aug. TBD
Box basics: Two autos per 12-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Bundesliga's Finest run is back for a third campaign with the familiar mini-box format that includes an autograph each time and plenty of colorful parallels and other highlights.

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

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What: 2022-23 Topps Merlin Chrome soccer cards
Arrives: Aug. 16
Box basics: One autograph per 18-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Merlin gets another run on the pitch with a third edition in this popular line that has nods to the past cards and stickers under the mystical name while showcasing stars from UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

Keep reading for more as well as a 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: MLB trade deadline deals, missing hits, Topps Chrome, Elly De La Cruz, a thread worth a look and following up on The National.

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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: 2022 Topps Heritage High Number baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found 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: The National, next year's Hall of Fame ballot, Mickey Moniak, new-release thoughts, NFL chatter and ... TacoFractors!

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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: The National, MLB Breaks, Chrome thoughts, NFL and women's soccer chatter and ... "If Shohei Ohtani is traded to the NL, does he win the AL MVP?"

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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: Lionel Messi, The National, MLB chatter and pulls, new finds 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: A big Flawless surprise, The National, bad quality control, Elly De La Cruz, Garbage Pail Kids and ... TacoFractors! 

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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 lot: 1990 Bowman baseball cards (two packs)
Where to buy: Check junk bins ... hit BlowoutCards.com for newer MLB cards

Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery for 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: The National nears, Topps Now, Shohei Ohtani, new pulls and more in today's edition.

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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: 2015 Topps WWE wrestling cards (retail gravity box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available) or for newer WWE

Keep reading for a full breakdown of what was in this one as well as a gallery of highlights.

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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: 2008 Topps Heroes trading cards (hobby)
Where to buy: Click here (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: Shohei Ohtani, The National, NFL RBs, bargain-bin wins and more in today's edition.

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What: 2023 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
Arrives: July 28
Box basics: Three hits in every 24-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Allen & Ginter drops once again with all the eccentricities, plenty of baseball players and a new retro design based on some of the 1880s tobacco card designs that helped bring some of the first baseball cards to the masses.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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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 ... 

--

BIG AUTO, BIG PHOTO ... SMALLER PRICE
The Photo: Michael Harris II autographed 16-by-20 photo (Fanatics Authentic)
The Price: Under $65 ... Note: this large-size item isn't easy to photograph all that well without a lot of glare on its top-loader, so the image above is their Photoshopped sales mock.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: I have this one batting lead-off as it's an item I wanted last year -- when he won the National League Rookie Of The Year award -- but I had my same-day order canceled by the company. Why? Perhaps it was my use of an extra sale code via a site that sells their stuff (it worked and the order was processed) but there was no reason given. I picked this up more recently -- with a rewards code atop a sale price -- from that same place, though, after he had a tough start to this season. No cancellation this time and no worries -- I just wanted his auto in my stash and I like the feel of a nice display piece (though I display nothing) with a large signature vs. a card that's likely going to cost more. In fact, the cheapest auto for him on a non-MLB card on one site where I buy singles is higher than what I paid for this. I'm probably a one-and-done on his autos unless they get cheaper over time, anyway, though. Why? His signature is a bit oversimplified as he's been in demand. It does look better than the mock but is still quite simple for my taste -- I'll start here and play the waiting game on any more.
Grab a box right here: Michael Harris RCs in 2023 releases

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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: First Bowman vs. Topps Rookie Card, The National, MLB chatter, new Star Wars pulls 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: 2023 Topps Heritage baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was found in this one.

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: Tribute delivers, The National nears, MLB's second half begins, collectors' thoughts and more in today's edition.

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