What's Buzzing: Minecraft cards, best pens for autographs on glossy cards, Ichiro Suzuki, sketch cards, WWE and more.

-

1 -- New pulls are here

2 -- Talking WWE as Wrestlemania nears

3 -- Talking Minecraft cards ... get yours here

4 -- Sketch cards

5 -- Ichiro Suzuki card chatter

6 -- Talking autograph pens for glossy cards

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

WWE star Shotzi Blackheart revisits her old NXT stomping grounds on Oct. 18, 2022. (WWE photo)

-

It's one step closer to match-used, but still not there -- yet it's still an iconic piece of a moment for a colorful WWE star.

That's how I'd describe the item in this third installment of a series with a tweaked name -- a tank-driven tangent in my Collecting Game-used series to be more specific -- and it's one that didn't take a whole lot of research time at all before I added this to my collection of memorabilia.

As should be obvious, it's once again from Shotzi Blackheart, who I collect rather seriously in the traditional realms involving Panini America and Topps cardboard, and this item, which came directly from her, also is one that's forever captured in TV history and beyond.

Keep reading to see all the details.

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Alexander Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky, showing off all Ginter non-MLB ink and more.

-

1 -- Alexander Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky's goals record

2 -- All your MLB chatter is here

3 -- Showing off all Ginter ink -- but not baseball -- since 2006

4 -- Still talking football

5 -- Reactions to new WWE drama

6 -- Check out this vintage NFL piece

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

--

'TIS THE SEASON
The Card: Rhea Ripley 2020 Topps Chrome WWE Refractor autographed Rookie Card parallel (BGS 9, 10 auto -- BAS & Fanatics Witnessed)
The Price: Less than a 2025 Topps Chrome WWE retail mega box these days
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: She's one of WWE's top stars and this was a key card at a somewhat-modest price considering it's a RC parallel with ink attached -- and it's fully graded, too. Sure, that's not the "Mami" mode/look of Ripley in the here and now -- her hair and look changed a lot while in NXT and early on -- but that different does reinforce "rookie" in a visual way along with that gear. I'm sure I have a copy of this card in my stash unsigned somewhere -- and I know I have a couple colors of her certified auto here -- but this was still an easy addition and an easy choice to lead things off this month. Why? Since it's Wrestlemania season (the big one is on April 19-20). Oh, and there might be (intentionally) a little more wrestling this time vs. my norm, too. Ripley has a lot of cardboard but is among the safest bets there is to grab bargains and stash them away. Why? She's only 28 and has been in the game more than a decade and there figures to be plenty more to come for her in WWE. Interestingly, this one is also graded and in the BGS pop report, so it could have led off Making The Grade this month. It's a pop-three card with one lower and one higher, a 9.5, with five total copies graded.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but WWE cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading ... so here's this month's grading diary.

STARTING ON A SERIOUS NOTE ...
The Card: Will Ferrell 2015 Topps Archives Will Ferrell Inserts
The Reason Graded: Back in 2015 this comedy legend took to the field for 10 MLB teams and played 10 positions in a single day of real spring training action -- you can see his stats here -- as part of a project with a charity component called Ferrell Takes The Field. Collectors ended up chasing his autographs on 10 different cards in Archives that year -- roughly one per hobby case if I remember correctly -- but, alas, I went 0-for-1 there before those boxes got too pricy and/or vanished ... but I did hit the blasters. There, the regular Ferrell inserts were found one per box -- at least until all of those boxes disappeared, too. It's been a decade since this publicity stunt took place (March 12, 2015), so I figured we could start this new MLB season here on a serious note. These aren't his only cards -- he popped up a few times that year -- but this was the first set and this was the first card -- and one for my team.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: There's a small volume of stuff slabbed for this card -- roughly all cards here have no more than 10 slabbed copies across the entire set -- and this is among the top marks. This card has full-bleed back edges in bright blue just like in 1965 Topps and when I saw how clean this card was, well, it was a no-brainer. I previously slabbed one elsewhere years ago and this copy will go well with that and a slab of the same photo used on a magazine cover that ended up on a show promo card. A lot of those who likely weren't collecting back then seem to be interested here as asking prices can be steep -- raw or graded -- for Ferrell stuff.

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

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: The New York Yankees' torpedo bats, MLB pulls and chatter, WWE, LeBron vs. Stephen A. Smith and more.

-

1 -- Talking Yankees torpedo bats

2 -- More MLB chatter here

3 -- WWE chatter as Mania nears

4 -- Make it stop?

5 -- New pulls in the baseball section ...

6 -- Still talking Heritage High Number

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

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: 2021 Topps WWE Slam Attax (Topps India Smart Pack)
Where to buy: Will take some looking -- get standard WWE boxes here

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

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: JuJu Watkins and March Madness chatter, Heritage High Number, MLB's best card guys and more.

-

1 -- All your basketball chatter is here

2 -- The March Madness thread

3 -- Still a no

4 -- They've got the fans talking ... 

5  -- Still talking Heritage High Number ...

6 -- Assessing MLB's best baseball card guys

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: The Dodgers win again (in Japan), Shohei Ohtani, NFL chatter, sketch cards and more in this mid-week edition.

-

1 -- All your MLB chatter as the season is here

2 -- Shohei Ohtani is still on their minds ... Roki Sasaki is, too

3 -- One for Steelers fans

4 -- Showing off sketch cards

5  -- Stranger Things reactions

6 -- Wrestling cards are the focus here

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

This unusual item in my collection comes from a high-profile dealmaker in the reel world and since it was captured on film that makes this piece game-used ... used in The Hollywood Game that is.

My latest in the Collecting Game-used series is something I grabbed last year but it got lost in the shuffle with some delays on photo-matching end and, well, it's still not yet definitively matched to the frame above -- but I think it's likely. It's something straight from the production of Ballers and the fuzzy visual above was found, with some dumb luck, in a semi-pirated, fan-tweaked clip somewhere out there on YouTube months ago. Rather than spend more time and a few bucks to revisit HBO Max and find it, I'm just going to let it roll here today.

What is this super-cheap but unusual addition to my collection of weird sports stuff? Keep reading.

Continue reading →

Photo-matching a piece of used memorabilia is easier in some sports, especially in today's era of often-authenticated, slap-a-sticker-on-it premium items that can make up a meaty revenue stream for a lot of sports leagues. But, no matter what it is -- or where a piece is from -- it always comes down to one thing.

Details.

Grimey and beaten-down baseball bats? They can have plenty of details between player customizations, models, manufacturers and damage from use. Mangled used football jerseys? Stains and tears of course -- you know, details. Baseball or basketball uniforms? Tougher but still do-able ... thanks to the details of tagging, stitching and other minute things that change over time.

But in the wrestling realm? Well, details still apply ... but things might be a little different to verify depending on a star's habits, styles and budgets for in-ring gear or their tastes for their fashion outside of the ring. Sometimes, those are the same. Sometimes they have to be different ... that's this time.

This second installment with a tweaked name in my Collecting Game-used series is one for a pick-up that wasn't a definitive match when I recently found it. It was a guessing game to a degree until I could get the item in hand for a closer look at ... the details. The star once again is Shotzi Blackheart, who I collect rather seriously in the traditional realms involving Panini America and Topps cardboard, and this item, which came directly from her, was one where those it was those cards that helped solve the mystery.

Keep reading to see all the ... details.

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Jac Caglianone, new MLB pulls, a Sapphire WWE surprise, NBA cards, errors and more.

-

1 -- Checking in on the Jac Caglianone chatter

2 -- 2025 Topps pulls and more

3 -- Sapphire WWE box delivers a surprise

4 -- NBA cards are on their minds

5  -- Look for the one odd card mentioned here

6 -- Sell the Rays? (What about the Marlins?)

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: New pulls, volume ripping, WWE chatter, buy the card not the grade, Cheers cards and more.

-

1 -- Some volume ripping of Leaf Metal autos

2 -- What's next in WWE?

3 -- Some new basketball pulls

4 -- All your off-season football chatter

5  -- Buy the card, not the grade

6 -- Still talking Cheers cards ... Get your box here!

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: Hall of Fame voting change, error cards, Gold Prizms, Cheers cards and more have them talking.

-

1 -- Error cards and misprints are on their minds

2 -- Hall of Fame voting change might eliminate debate 

3 -- Gooooooooollllllllldd NBA Prizms and Refractors

4 -- Heritage High Number has 'em talking

5  -- Topps Now WWE chatter has some gems

6 -- Talking Cheers cards ... Get your box here!

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Here's this month's roundup of items that have recently caught my eye as a buyer ...

--

LEGENDARY INK
The Card: Ichiro Suzuki autographed 2001 Topps Rookie Card (BAS 10 auto)
The Price: Not as much as you might think ... but also not that cheap.
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Clean copies of this iconic Topps flagship Rookie Card are not easy finds in general with the boxes and sets likely bricked now if they remain unopened -- that means the gloss will be snowy if you're lucky to peel the cards apart at all -- and then the dark green border and high-gloss on soft stock here is always going to be problematic. When I spotted this card among many where Suzuki has signed for literally years (Mill Creek Sports) without a premium price, I bit on this just before his Hall of Fame results hit. (We all knew he was going in ... but I didn't know if his prices were going to rise.) This copy is super clean vs. many cards out there with some very light roughness on maybe one edge and a light touch on the bottom-left corner ... but some of what's seen in my photo is just how the light is reflecting. I generally don't do a ton of bigger buys for my collection, but this one's cost wasn't that much more than some of the hot and plentiful new release hobby boxes. I went with a safe and iconic bet for my (for me) premium spend and went with the sure thing on an iconic card for a living legend. I pulled his ink once from an unlicensed release -- and it was in one of my earliest Making The Grade posts here -- but a signed RC means I'll likely never need to sweat his stuff again. (Might window shop, though, or bite if price is right for a nice certified.) One more fun part of my card? If that label had a simple added line of Beckett/Fanatics witnessed instead of signed for Mill Creek and then slabbed, the price likely would be double what I paid. I wouldn't pay that -- and this one is a win in my book.
Grab a box right here: Nothing for this ... but MLB cards are here.

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: Roki Sasaki arrives throwing heat, NFL Draft chatter, fake cardboard alert, predicting future NBA "bigs," Cheers cards and more.

-

1 -- NFL Draft thoughts ...

2 -- Talking Spring Training ...

3 -- Fake cardboard: A thread to know

4 -- Predicting future NBA "bigs"

5  -- Chrome WWE chatter

6 -- Talking Cheers cards ...

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: WWE has 'em talking heading to Wrestlemania, Starting Lineup, basketball chatter, Cheers cards and more in this Tuesday edition.

-

1 -- MLB: The Hall of Very Good

2 -- Some international non-sports ...

3 -- Talking Cheers cards ...

4 -- All your basketball chatter is here

5  -- I'm not

6 -- WWE still has 'em talking ... about a few things

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: New football breaks, a new thing to watch out for, Shedeur Sanders, John Cena, Pete Rose and more in this Monday edition.

-

1 -- Must-read: A new kind of scheming

2 -- Did you know?

3 -- Collectors have their thoughts

4 -- Nope

5  -- New football breaks are piling up

6 -- Nope, it wasn't Cody Rhodes ... John Cena sold his soul

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: John Cena sells his soul, new pulls, NFL & MLB chatter, Joel Embiid and more in this Sunday edition.

-

1 -- Nope, it wasn't Cody Rhodes ... John Cena sold his soul

2 -- Plenty of MLB chatter is here

3 -- Still talking Luka and the Lakers

4 -- Reactions to Joel Embiid

5  -- Check out all of the new pulls here

6 -- Postseason NFL chatter is here

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading, so here's this month's grading diary.

CLOSE TO PERFECT
The Card: Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps -- Rookie Card
The Reason Graded: Ohtani's historic 2024 season had me assessing all of my cards from my 2018 stash -- mostly lower-end stuff that's heavily graded -- but not graded by me. Why? I don't grade the heavily submitted stuff because a lesser mark wouldn't be as worthy of going through the process and, really, in most instances a card can always be found already graded if it's needed. But, with his 50-50 season being so big, I opted to slab a few basics and this is one that made the cut. The stock used in 2018 is almost as thin as it gets and all that dark ink definitely showcases flaws, but I picked a pair of cards I thought were perfect from my stash and sent them in.
The Grade: CGC 10

Reality Check: I don't know where I missed a perfect mark here but I'll still take a 10 ... less than half check in there and I think it's really harder than that -- people are examining their stuff harder before sending them in. The fact that these have checked in as low as a seven show how this one isn't easy sledding when it comes to slabbing. And as for my perfect aspirations? Well, it doesn't exist.

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

Continue reading →

A piece of the exact moment ... that's what it's all about.

There's a reason there's a tweaked name above for this item in the Collecting Game-used series this month as this isn't just some baseball, football or other typical piece from a name from a traditional game. This one is from a realm just as athletic but also one way more theatric -- the WWE -- which is a world full of colorful characters and names that have more on their resume than just what's on the stat sheet. This time there's no game and there's no uniform, but it's a small piece from a memorable moment that helped lay out the basics for a star who was then still somewhat new to the NXT landscape after a few years as an independent wrestler making her way in the world.

Her name, if you don't know it already from seeing the colorful hair and the horn-adorned Army helmet, is Shotzi Blackheart and she's a star I collect rather seriously in the traditional realms involving Panini America and Topps cardboard, so you'll know her name from reading many other items here. This is the first of a few entries in this series that will step away from the field and get in the world that includes a ring. If her look doesn't grab your attention, her unusual entrances at times might ... she originally rode to the ring in an intentionally absurd childrens' toy tank bought at a Walmart that just works with the vibes and the unusual energy of a Blackheart. (Yes, that name an homage to Joan Jett's punk band.) Meanwhile, in more recent days, her ride is more of a WWE-style tank with and her gear a more glamorized leather aesthetic in the ring and beyond with an energy that's evolved since her late-2019 arrival.

But this time for this item in this series? Well ... keep reading to see all the details.

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: 2025 Topps chatter, Wembanyama, WWE chatter heading toward Wrestlemania, hot takes and ... the Yankees beard rule?

-

1 -- Inside a 2025 Topps case

2 -- Yankees beard rule reactions

3 -- Hot takes on the health of the hobby and more 

4 -- The Rock wants Cody Rhodes' soul ... Chrome WWE chatter

5  -- Victor Wembanyama reactions

6 -- Still talking 2025 Topps

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

What's Buzzing: The Rock returns to WWE, Chrome WWE chatter, more Victor Wembanyama reactions, 2025 Topps and more in this Saturday edition.

-

1 -- The Rock wants Cody Rhodes' soul ... Chrome WWE chatter

2 -- Some juicy NFL headlines here

3 -- Still talking Luka and the Lakers

4 -- All your Victor Wembanyama reactions are here

5  -- New MLB pulls

6 -- Still talking 2025 Topps

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

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: 2025 Topps Chrome WWE wrestling cards (blaster)
First Buzz preview & checklist/odds: Click here
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)

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

Continue reading →

What's Buzzing: 2025 Topps pulls and chatter, talking Topps Chrome WWE, on-card vs. sticker autos, a good question and more in this mid-week edition.

-

1 -- Still talking 2025 Topps

2 -- On-card vs. sticker ...

3 -- Even more MLB chatter

4 -- Good question 

5  -- Topps Chrome WWE is still on their minds

6 -- New MLB pulls are popping here

--

Have you spotted a hot thread? Tell us about it in a comment or on Twitter.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.