What: 2021 Topps Brooklyn Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Now via Topps.com
Checklist: Click here
Box basics: Two autographs per seven-card box

What's buzz-worthy: Topps' high-end retro-styled release drops for another year with two autographed cards and plenty more in every box of this one.

Keep reading for more info and 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: 2021 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: 2021 Panini Contenders baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 17
Box basics: Six autographs per six-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Contenders drops for another run around the bases with an autograph in every pack and plenty of young stars and new draft picks all in play here.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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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 CAREER YEAR
The Card: Dansby Swanson 2017 Topps Heritage #76B action variation SP -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Bought: I'm a sucker for Heritage RCs and multi-player cards from the past, but I've never really chased the SPs that have been immensely popular since around this year where a few key names went solo from their card counterparts and have cards of their own -- both signed and unsigned. I had Swanson stashed on my fantasy league all season (mostly on the bench behind a favorite of mine you see here often) and saw the career year as it was happening. I had been eyeing this card for years now -- I own plenty of the regular ones as well as a couple of the Chrome types (I might slab those) -- and grabbed this awhile back. With the Braves' World Series showing, I figured I'd have him batting lead-off here ... and he won't be alone from the ATL here this month.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: I wasn't really worried about the pop report but I also didn't realize there were so few cards above this one. I will stash this one away with my Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. slabs I've picked up or slabbed on my own the last couple years like I suspect many have and will be doing. I probably need to slab some of their pitchers and you might see a Freddie Freeman Heritage card or two here in the future. (I lean toward the new guys more but have had some good Heritage pulls.)

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

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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.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL ICONS
The Card: Paul "Bear" Bryant & Knute Rockne 2010 Panini Century Collection Souvenir Stamps Sports Combos (two stamps dual material) (/100)
The Price: More than I'll admit ... but it's a keeper.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This is just the second time I've grabbed one of these key memorabilia cards with a piece of a fedora worn by Bryant and a jacket from Rockne -- two of the greatest coaches in the history of college football. Rockne has a number of memorabilia cards out there (more than 50) but Bryant only has a literal handful of cards -- and almost all of them were in this release. Why? Hats aren't all that big. As far as I know, all but a 1/1 card or two is in this release ... meanwhile, the prices for the few Bryant fedoras that may exist -- if they ever hit the market again -- won't be card-conducive in the future since they are pricey. The last two Bryant houndstooth fedoras auctioned? Together, they topped $100,000 on the auction block. These are limited to only 100 copies and I hadn't picked up one of these in a long time. Why this time? You never know when more might pop up.
Grab a box right here: 2010 Panini Century Collection (when available)

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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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 52-Card Baseball Series 2 baseball gaming cards
First Buzz preview (Series 1): Click here
Where to buy: Initially via Topps.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery for what was in 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 pack: 2020 Topps MLB Sticker Collection box
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... some past sticker releases here

Keep reading for a breakdown and gallery for what was in 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: 2021 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in 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 pack: 2019 Topps MLB Sticker Collection box
Where to buy: Will take some looking ... some past sticker releases here

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

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It's time to cast your vote for 2022.

No, it's not just some election -- it's the vote for who will appear on card No. 1 in the 2022 Topps baseball card set.

The lead-off batter for the flagship baseball card set for the industry has been based on a fan vote for a few years now and Topps offered up the ballot on Thursday with a number of familiar faces and MVP candidates in the mix.

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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: 2021 Topps Fire baseball cards (hobby box)
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Initially only at Target (here when available)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in 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: 2021 Topps Chrome baseball cards (blaster box)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here (a few formats)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in 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: 2021 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
First Buzz preview & Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

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

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What: 2021 Panini Chronicles baseball cards
Arrives: Sept. 22
Box basics:  Three autographs and one memorabilia card per six-pack box (16 boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Panini's all-in-one brand arrives once again with some familiar sets as well as some new ones all under one lid -- 20 different options in one release.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

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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 players/groups that are looking pretty good as we start the second half of the MLB season.

WATCHING THE JUNIORS ...
The big rookies of the last few years are seemingly all paying off right now in different ways ... and that is a good thing for collectors, whether they just do the raw stuff or chase slabs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may have ended the All-Star festivities with an MVP award and that big home run, but let's not forget that just before Shohei Ohtani took over as the primary headliner heading into the break Vladdy was putting on a big show ... the kind that will move cardboard. He's still a Triple Crown contender right now with a .332 average, 28 homers (second to Ohtani) and an MLB-leading 73 RBI. Meanwhile in the NL, Fernando Tatis Jr. has overcome those injury scares from earlier in the year and has a league-leading 28 homers, league-leading 20 SBs and is hitting .286. Could a spot in the exclusive 40-40 Club happen by year's end? Even Ronald Acuña Jr. cardboard should have some appeal right now -- he was having another strong year before it ended due to injury. This is the time to be buying hard if you are a believer and people are in sell mode, especially on rarer stuff. They all have Rookie Cards in either 2018 or 2019 releases with big stuff to chase across the board. Acuña is my favorite of the three, but there will be dips (like I said, time to buy) but I think Vladdy is the top one of the bunch -- and that's regardless of the All-Star showing. Tatis has been a top seller for some time now but I'm not sure if we have seen a Vladdy peak in terms of on-field and then cardboard.

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: MLB breaks, changing the game, Project70, The National, Vladdy Jr. and is A-Rod's group buying Panini?

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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: 2021 Topps Stadium Club baseball cards (hobby)
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of highlights from this box.

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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 ...

VG THE MVP (SO FAR)
The Card: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2019 Topps Stadium Club #301 -- Rookie Card 
The Reason Graded: In my first bulk sub to CSG, which I recently got back -- 80 working days, by the way -- I worked in a few recent-year Rookie Cards just to see how some different kinds of stock are handled by the veteran grading company that has just turned its attention to sports cards starting this year. I sent this in before the season started, of course, but it looks like a smart slab now as Vladdy is demolishing things in MLB and is on pace for a monster season if he keeps at it.
The Grade: CSG 9

Reality Check: There's no pop report yet -- they say it's coming* -- but this one comes in at my anticipated mark, though I would have been happy to get a higher one. (You'll see those in the coming months.) This one has some high gloss and somewhat softer stock -- not the easiest grading combo -- but I think it's the backs here that are the key. This one not getting a higher grade made me wonder what might be holding it down -- a deal where I'd want to see subgrades, but not for $10 more. I do think, based on my results, that CSG is grading to a stricter standard (like BGS) vs. others (at least historically until recently) so I'm also OK with cards not checking in at 9.5s or 10s in bulk. My second bulk sub -- hopefully back soon, too -- included more stuff like this.

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

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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: 2021 Topps Heritage baseball cards (standard blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: Click here

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

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What: 2021 Topps Dynasty baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 22
Box basics: One encased autographed card per box (five boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This high-end line returns with a little more color in its design than last year but plenty of the hard-hitting, high-end inclusions that are all limited in volume.

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: The National, Jose Altuve, a big Vladdy pull, strong Impeccable box and more in today's 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: 2020 Topps Holiday baseball cards
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: Click here

Keep reading for a full 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: Vladdy is dominating, seller's remorse, buyer's remorse, new pulls, The National and holding the Mayo with 2021 Bowman.

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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: 2021 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (Walmart blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview: Click here

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was 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: Big pulls, NBA flipper worries, Johnny Manziel's NCAA-dodging ink, The National and more.

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