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 STRATUSFYING TEST?
The Tape: Trish Stratus 100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed (WWE, 2003)
The Reason Graded: There's a lot of talk about "alternative assets" in recent years and to a part of that audience trading cards are included. For those of us who work, live and breathe in the cardboard realm and have for a long time, it's perhaps more common sense and cards aren't necessarily an "alternative" or even an "asset." (It's a hobby for me.) But, grading of other items -- everyday stuff like magazines, video games, movies and toys -- that were used and in some ways shouldn't exist in their original form now might feel more that way. (They do to me.) I write about what I like, but this is a scenario where I dipped into a different realm of grading -- basically just to go through the process and see if I like it and then say that I did it once -- and I chose something that ties back into my collection as a whole. (That's wrestling.) Sealed VHS, video games and the like clearly have their audiences and demand is there for some things. There are some interesting sale prices out there for VHS -- everything from blockbusters from the late-1970s and early 1980s up to the oddball/culty stuff of the early 2000s before DVDs won the battle and stuff that you'd think wasn't even on VHS. Why is it a thing? Well, most stuff got used ... not saved, sealed and left untouched. (Sounds like baseball cards way back in the day, right?) With some steep discounts around the holidays here for grading fees, I grabbed this tape unopened and submitted it. VHS grading isn't cheap so doing them in serious bulk like cards ain't happening, which limits the volume available (for now) and the markets some, but this tape is one I felt comfortable with as a test. Why?The front cover is well-designed with a WWE icon and Hall of Famer front and center and having that visual appeal to start is one of the keys to demand if the grade doesn't work out.
The Grade: Beckett VHS 8.0 (Seal: A)

Reality Check: There's no posted pop report -- so this is a guess* -- and there's also not a posted grading scale yet, either, but I'll say this result bummed me out a bit. There were no substantial damage here other than a couple very minor things on one back edge of the box (where the ink was dark) so I had visions of a higher grade. But, it is what it is. My sub-grades came back 8.0 on corners, 7.5 on edges, 8.5 on flaps and 8.5 on gloss ... so the obvious flaw I knew about hurt the most. But, if we're talking about a 10-point scale, well, this piece, to me, doesn't feel closer to average or lesser. (I've seen some mangled VHS and DVD covers that were thrown around bargain bins where corners demolished surfaces ... those are lesser.) But, like I said, there's no posted scale to know what kinds of defects affect things here or there and no real cautions of what to look for. So, I did this as a test ... no regrets. Will I do it again? Probably not at present costs (I was in and out in a month, though) or without a scale to educate myself ... but, if I were to find a sealed clean and impressive copy of a couple of favorites from the past then maybe. Also, I'd be more inclined to do a different but related direction -- I think sealed DVDs and Blu-ray could actually be more popular as slabbed entities as it's way easier to find them sealed and they can have the same kind of appeal with modern packaging/designs. Plus they are smaller and lighter, too, making them easier to store and display. All in all, I like this piece and came up a bit short of what I thought it would grade at ... but it was still moderately Stratusfying.

Keep reading for more of this month's 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: Collectors chew on the Fanatics MLB Debut patch, the Jarren Duran question and more in this everything-MLB edition for Opening Day.

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What: 2022 Topps Transcendent Collection baseball cards
Arrives: March 31, 2023
Box basics: 55 autographs and more per box
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Transcendent returns with the familiar lineup of high-end inclusions that will set the stage for deluxe cardboard with a VIP event and more within its 99 boxes ... and this time there's even a new four-card Chrome pack only found here with Reds (above) and a Superfractor every time.

Keep reading for more as well as 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: 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

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

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What: 2023 Topps World Baseball Classic Global Stars baseball cards
Arrives: Live now via Topps
Pack basics: 20 cards per pack (autographs every third box)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Via Topps.com; Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: The World Baseball Classic gets a standalone in-pack release that showcases stars from around the world, includes plenty of parallels and offers up ink as well -- though not in every pack.

Keep reading for more info and a gallery for 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: 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview & checklist: Click here

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

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What: 2022 Bowman's Best baseball cards
Arrives: March 8, 2023
Box basics: Four autographs (two per mini-box) per 12-pack box (eight boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Bowman's Best arrives for another year with its familiar format and plenty of colorful cardboard for fans of rookies and prospects.

Keep reading for more details and a gallery.

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What: 2022 Topps Chrome Ben Baller Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Feb. 1, 2023 via Topps.com
Box basics: 24 four-card packs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Topps Chrome once again turns to Ben Baller for a parallel version -- the third year for this one -- with some new looks for past favorites and ink of notable newcomers among the mix here.

Keep reading for more 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: 2020 Topps Update baseball cards (hanger)
First Buzz preview with checklist/SPs/more: 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: 2022 Topps Chrome Update Sapphire Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Today via Topps.com
Box basics: Two parallels per 32-card box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Sapphire gets another run here with eight-pack boxes that offer up new chances at notable rookies and stars from this year's Topps Chrome Update set ... but with added color.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2022 Topps Garbage Pail Kids X MLB Series 2
Arrives: Now via Topps.com
Box basics: One chase card per six-card pack ... or the same format in an eight-pack box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: For a second time, the Garbage Pail Kids have been taken over by the stars of Major League Baseball with artist Alex Pardee creating the madness this time around.

Keep reading for more as well as 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: 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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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 Archives baseball cards (blaster)
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: 2022 Bowman Transcendent Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 30
Box basics: 34 autographs and more per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Transcendent arrives for the prospecting crowd for a third year with the familiar formula of inclusions with 1990 Bowman getting the Superfactor nod and cut autographs that go beyond the diamond.

Keep reading for more as well as 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: 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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: 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

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

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What: 2022 Topps Japan Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Now via Topps' Japanese site
Box basics: 24 10-card packs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: The now-annual release of Topps MLB cards for the Japanese market has arrived with a number of new inclusions to go with what's essentially a parallel product with a smaller set and stars from all three flagship series in one spot.

Keep reading for more info on what is in this one.

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What: 2022 Topps UK Edition baseball cards
Arrives: Now via Topps' UK site
Box basics: 24 10-card packs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: The now-annual release of Topps MLB cards for across the pond has arrived with a number of new inclusions to go with what's essentially a parallel product with a smaller set and stars from all three flagship series in one spot.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2022 Topps Brooklyn Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Today via Topps.com
Box basics: Two autographs per box
Checklist: Click here
Order: Click here (when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Brooklyn Collection returns for another year with a new retro look, ink in every box, and then some new and past stars showcased on cardboard once again.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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What: 2022 Panini Flawless baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 30
Box basics: Seven autos, two memorabilia and one gem card per 10-card box (two boxes per case)
Order: Click here (live soon)

What's buzz-worthy: Flawless is back for another year of high-end finds with the superstars of the past and present all in one spot and with some new touches and inclusions that add to the hits-driven approach here.

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

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What: 2022 Topps Mini baseball cards
Arrives: Now ... via Topps.com 
Box basics: 35 cards per pack
Checklist: Click here
Order: Initially via Topps.com (here when available)

What's buzz-worthy: Minis return to the Topps lineup once again with an initial release on Monday only for 582 Montgomery Club members that is now live for everybody.

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

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What: 2022 Panini National Treasures baseball cards
Arrives: Jan. 6, 2023
Box basics: Eight autographs or memorabilia cards per box (four boxes per case) ... FOTL boxes will include one exclusive auto, one exclusive memorabilia card and six other auto or mem cards (four boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: National Treasures baseball cards will arrive for the ninth time with new rookies, all-time greats and plenty of the inclusions expected from the brand.

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 Rookie Card definition continues to bemuse and befuddle, World Series chatter, good interactions with MLB players and more in this all-baseball 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: 2022 Topps Gallery baseball cards (monster)
Checklist: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)

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

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What: 2022 Donruss Optic baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 2
Box basics: Two autographs per 20-pack hobby box (12 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Optic hits the diamond as a postseason release but with plenty of inserts and color to go with a loaded lineup of stars young and old on Optichrome.

Keep reading for a gallery and more info.

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