New Buzz: Products arriving this week (Nov. 1-7)

There are 10 new products on tap for this coming week with the newest Upper Deck Young Guns on the ice, the first college-focused baseball release from Panini America and a new gridiron rainbow from Panini Prizm going up against Topps’ latest version of Finest.

Phenom Connor McDavid paces the pack of Young Guns and he’ll be the first rookie on the checklist of 50 NHL newcomers found in the product. Joining him will be Artemi Panarin, Dylan Larkin and Max Domi to name a few, while No. 2 pick Jack Eichel will appear in Series 2 but be found in Series 1 boxes on a UD Canvas card.

eBay Buzz: High-grade 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle draws attention

A PSA 8 copy of the most-iconic Topps baseball card has hit the auction block via PWCC on eBay and there have been more than 30 bids raising the price to more than a quarter-million dollars.

That’s so far.

The auction for the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle has more than nine days to go before it closes. How much is it presently up to? Click here for the latest view.

A PSA 8 copy of the card sold via Goldin Auctions earlier this year for just over $400,000. Only 32 copies of more than 1,100 graded have gotten a PSA 8 mark. Only nine cards have graded higher — three  of those being PSA 10s.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

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More eBay Buzz posts …

These Kobe Bryant autos are how much?

You won’t believe the price on this perfect Bobby Orr Rookie Card

Board Buzz: Five must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Oct. 30)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

Ronda Rousey & Paige VanZant battle for autograph supremacy in 2015 Topps UFC Champions

It’s no secret that Ronda Rousey is the face of the women’s division of UFC — if not the entire promotion — but in packs of 2015 Topps UFC Champions we’re seeing a new showdown when it comes to autographs.

It’s Paige VanZant vs. Rousey for all the marbles — or at least collectors’ dollars — so far in the first few days of the product’s release.

MLB Auctions & Topps already offering 2015 World Series items (updated)

Update (Nov. 8): Alcides Escobar’s home run ball sold for $19,200.

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If you’re a collector of the Kansas City Royals or New York Mets, there are already a number of options for collecting the 2015 World Series just two games into the showdown.

That’s thanks to Topps and MLB Auctions.

From Topps there are already commemorative prints showcasing plays from the first two games as part of its ongoing Postseason Moments wall art line. From MLB Auctions, there are game-used items already on the auction block.

eBay Buzz: These early Kobe Bryant autographs are how much?

With what might be Kobe Bryant‘s final season in the NBA — a record 20th campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers that started last night — it’s inevitable that some collectors will be looking to land an autograph of the guy who’s already among the league’s greats.

But what about a perfect BGS 10 copy of Bryant’s first autographs — cards signed all the way back in 1996 for Score Board when he was just a traded draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets on his way to Los Angeles in exchange for the esteemed Vlade Divac?

Well, based on this eBay auction for a pair of perfect BGS 10 copies, you might need a Vlade-esque kind of salary to land them.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Building Buzz: Could C.J. McCollum’s career night spark interest in his cards?

Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum scorched the New Orleans Pelicans for a career-high 37 points Wednesday night in Portland’s home-opener.

The third-year player out of Lehigh University was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, but he has averaged just 6.6 points a game in limited time during the past two seasons. In five playoff games last season, though, he averaged 17 points a game.

>> Click here to buy 2013-14 NBA wax boxes

His start Wednesday was just the fifth of his career — including the postseason — but it shows there’s big potential for the guy who bears a resemblance to the famed Steve Urkel.

There’s especially big potential for his cardboard.

Dansby Swanson & Brendan Rodgers are 2015 Topps Heritage Minor League Mystery Redemptions

They’re new players and you may already have their new baseball cards but not even know it.

Topps announced on Thursday that top draft picks Dansby Swanson and Brendan Rodgers are the mystery redemptions found in packs of 2015 Topps Heritage Minor League, the set that takes today’s players down on the farm back to 1966.

Topps updates Fire wall art to include stars & notable rookies

The season’s not yet over, but Topps has already updated one release that captured the attention of some collectors this year.

A second wave of prints for the 2015 Topps Fire print line, which features art by Tyson Beck, is in the works and already for sale on Topps.com with standard prints starting at $29.99 and rarer Gold prints starting at $99.99.

Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor already leads the league in rookie hype — and it just might be right

This in from the Philadelphia Daily News after the NBA debut of Jahlil Okafor Wednesday night in Boston …

It is impossible to overstate the significance of Jahlil Okafor . . . though the Philadelphia region seemed mystifyingly indifferent. Think about it: The Sixers finally added a complete player.  This is Eric Lindros, Jim Thome, Donovan McNabb and Allen Iverson.

With apologies to Sir Charles, Okafor is the best real big man to hit town since Moses [Malone], rest his soul, except Moses wasn’t a savior. Jahlil Okafor brings salvation in short pants.

Okafor scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a pair of shots in his debut. Said his coach later in the story about his ability to work on the court: “That’s a hint of Tim Duncan.”

We’ll have to wait a while to see if he’s the next Timmahhh, but we can start by looking at Okafor’s early cardboard.

Buzz Gallery: 2015 Topps Heritage ’51 Collection autographs

Arriving in hobby shops today is a new brand in the Topps Heritage line — a release where the company commemorates the 65th anniversary of its first baseball card set.

It’s 2015 Topps Heritage ’51 Collection, which is a boxed set of 104 cards created in the style of the company’s simple 1951 release with every set including 21 parallel cards and a certified autograph.

Board Buzz: Five must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Oct. 28)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

Rittenhouse readies new Star Trek: The Next Generation set

Rittenhouse Archives released the checklist for its next Star Trek: The Next Generation set today in advance of its release next month.

The set is 2015 Star Trek: The Next Generation Portfolio Prints Series 1 and it will pack three autographed cards per box and one color sketch card per case when it arrives. on Nov. 11. The basic set will consist of 89 cards — one card per episode for two series, 177 in all when it’s done — with never-before published pieces by artist Juan Ortiz.

Each base card will have a Gold parallel found one per box along with an artist autograph parallel, too. However, the main draw here will be cast autographs.

Early Buzz: Panini Black Friday packs will focus on rookies

The early buzz surrounding this year’s Panini America Black Friday packs includes a first for the  hobby for a season that just began last night.

The packs will include the first memorabilia cards of players from this year’s class of NBA rookies. They’ll also include, as always, autographs and memorabilia cards from Panini’s sports.

There also will be rookie cards for newcomers in all sports each numbered to 599. That group will include Marcus Mariota and other NFL rookies, Kris Bryant and other top baseball prospects as well as top picks from the NBA.

TNT’s Craig Sager returns to action tonight after cancer battle

The NBA returns tonight with a new crop of rookies battling for cardboard superiority — more on that to come after they play some real games — but there’s one other season debut that might create a little buzz tonight.

When the New Orleans Pelicans take on the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the late game tonight on TNT, veteran reporter Craig Sager will be there. It marks his return — make that a second return — from an extensive cancer battle that’s  documented here.

While the new rookies have plenty of cardboard to come, Sager appears on just a single autographed card limited to 499 serial-numbered copies. He can be found in the 2014-15 Panini Threads Voices of the Game set — a 20-card release focusing on the broadcasters who help bring the game to those of us watching at home.

Follow BlowoutBuzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz.

Buzz List: Players to watch in this year’s World Series

With the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets squaring off in Game 1 of the World Series tonight, there’s plenty of collecting potential for both squads

Why? While there are some young stars and veterans who were once much higher on the radar of collectors in the past, there isn’t one unquestioned hobby power player in the group. You know, one guy whose cardboard will be on the minds of everyone with a championship in hand.

Instead, there are a few players with big potential here … so it’s time for a Buzz List.

Are you buying the return of the Rally Squirrel in 2015 Topps Update?

The Rally Squirrel returns as a Philadelphia Phillies squad member on this photo variation card found in packs of 2015 Topps Update, which arrived last week.

While this year’s appearance comes as one of the 25 photo variations in the product, it’s clearly not as hot as the original Rally Squirrel who led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011 (after an appearance in Philly) and before a Topps card in 2012. This year’s card properly identifies the rowdy rodent — its name is on the front, not a player — and it’s sold for as much as $40 in eBay auctions.

Board Buzz: Five must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Oct. 26)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

Upper Deck Dinosaurs arrives this week packing prehistoric potential

Upper Deck‘s latest non-sports product arrives on Wednesday with 2015 Upper Deck Dinosaurs, which is a modern-day take on the prehistoric.

How? By including fossil shadowbox cards (oversized cards via redemption) along with artist autographs and at least one multimedia surprise.

Wacky Packages coming in March with a new MLB theme & focus

What: 2016 Topps MLB Wacky Packages
Arrives: March 9
Hobby box basics: Hobby Collector boxes include 14 six-card packs with one auto sketch or Relic, while Hobby boxes will include 24 10-card packs. 

What’s buzz-worthy: What happens when you take the twisted takes of Wacky Packages and add Major League Baseball? Well, we’ll soon find out with this one with parody cards of products (the traditional for the long-running card brand) along with twists on baseball’s teams (major and minor), food and events. What makes this one a draw for baseball fans? Autographed cards of players and team mascots — though no checklists for those were revealed by the company.

See a small gallery and more … below.

First Buzz: 2015 National Treasures baseball cards

What: 2015 Panini National Treasures baseball cards
Arrives: January 2016
Hobby box basics: Eight autograph or memorabilia cards with one being a booklet.

What’s buzz-worthy: National Treasures’ third edition for baseball will up the ante on game-used memorabilia cards with oversized jumbo swatches for pieces not normally found in cards. Among them? Stirrup socks. Sock cards will be limited to five copies or less and showcase players such as Lou Gehrig, Bob Feller, Elson Howard, Gabby Hartnett, Herb Pennock, Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose. Also to be found? Fielding gloves, batting gloves and sweatband cards. This will include current and past stars such as Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton, Kyle Schwarber, Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Tony Gwynn, Mike Schmidt and Willie Stargell, according to the company.

See a gallery and more … below.

Topps readies 2015 World Series baseball card sets for champions

Update: Topps canceled this set following the Royals’ victory.

The 2015 World Series lineup isn’t set yet, but the details of the world champions’ commemorative baseball card set from Topps are here.

Whether it’s the New York Mets against the Kansas City Royals or the Toronto Blue Jays, the champs set will include 40 World Series-branded baseball cards with 15 highlights from the team’s postseason run. Atop that, there will be cards for 25 key players on the team as well as cards for the Championship Series and World Series MVPs from the team.

Each case of these will include 16 sets.

>>> Click here to pre-order sets on BlowoutCards.com once a link is available

First Buzz: 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards

What: 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen baseball cards
Arrives: April 6
Hobby box basics: 24 packs, 10 cards — two autographs, two Relics and one 10-card mini box box-topper

What’s buzz-worthy: The sixth edition of Gypsy Queen follows much of the same formula from the past releases with the same number of hits and the same mini box box-topper we have seen from past years. What’s new here this time are a few insert sets (MVP Minis, Power Alley), some parallels (MVP Minis autos, Mini Black autos) and a few other fun inclusions. Those will be Laces Around the League Relics — cards with baseball stitch swatches limited to five copies — as well as jumbo patch Relic and Ancient Era Remnants — aka buybacks from the 1920s to 1950s.

See a gallery and more … below.

New Buzz: Products arriving this week (Oct. 26)

There are seven new products on tap for this week with a new addition to the Topps Heritage baseball line and the debut of Panini Contenders Draft on the hardcourt notables along with the latest football releases for Panini Playbook and Topps Finest.

Topps celebrates the 65th anniversary of its first baseball card set with 2015 Topps Heritage ’51 Collection, which is a boxed set of 104 cards created in the style of the company’s simple 1951 release with every set including 21 parallel cards and a certified autograph.

Board Buzz: Five must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Oct. 22)

The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

New Topps Finest football set includes 1995 throwback cards alongside today’s top rookies

Among next week’s football card arrivals is 2015 Topps Finest, which is the latest edition of a brand known for its Chrome look and feel but with a hit in every mini box along with a different volume of color and intensity in design.

This year’s edition includes one rookie auto patch and one signed jumbo Relic per master box (one of those per mini box) with four Atomic Refractor rookies and two 1995 Finest rookies also inside.

WWE 2K16 video game gives collectors a Topps Heritage preview

Collectors aiming to collect a master set of 2015 Topps Heritage WWE will get a head start on the release with the arrival of the newest WWE video game on Tuesday.

Every copy of WWE 2K16 for the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will include a Heritage card of WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, according to the @WWEGames Twitter account. There will be two versions of the card — one with a white border and one with a blue border for the set that uses the memorable 1985 Topps baseball design.

Buzz Debut: Upper Deck reveals Connor McDavid’s Young Guns RC

After a recent interactive vote from collectors that helped decide its image, Upper Deck revealed the Young Guns Rookie Card for No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid on Thursday.

Here’s how the card will look when it arrives in packs of 2015-16 Upper Deck Series 1 when it arrives in stores on Nov. 5.

>> Click here to pre-order Upper Deck hockey cards

Daniel Murphy’s postseason heroics spark interest in his baseball cards

Quick, can you name the baseball card sets that New York Mets slugger and NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy first appears in?

If you can’t, you’re not alone, but that number is dwindling as it seems more and more collectors are picking off cards featuring the latest player to have The Big Apple buzzing.

Playbook arrives next week with even more game-changing booklets

Among next week’s arrivals is the newest edition of Panini America‘s Playbook, which is a product loaded, as the name suggests, with booklet cards that have pushed the envelope pretty well in the last couple of years.

This year will be no different with a new assortment of Armory and logo-centric patch books that one could easily argue are helping change the game when it comes to memorabilia cards.

Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby redemptions heat up Tim Hortons hockey card packs in Canada

If you’re in Canada, you know all about Tim Hortons’ coffee and donuts, but there’s one bit of information these days that might make a visit to the shop even more appealing.

There are packs of Upper Deck hockey cards that include redemptions for Sidney Crosby autographs and one of the earliest cards of No. 1 draft pick Connor McDavid — and they can only be bought at the chain’s stores. Because of that, demand for these rarer redemptions has been high.

Is Jameis Winston the NFL’s top rookie so far this season?

Jameis Winston‘s stats through six weeks of the NFL season might not overwhelm you — 1,174 yards passing seven touchdowns and a 77.6 rating — but one statistic might surprise you.

He’s the only rookie (so far) to win the NFL Rookie of the Week award more than once.

Past big-leaguers who persevered get insert set in 2015 Topps Update

Pete Gray is one of Major League Baseball’s more unusual finds in the record books and now he can be found in packs of 2015 Topps Update as a player in its Pride & Perseverance insert set.

It’s a 12-card set showcasing past and present players who have had obstacles in life that didn’t stop them from appearing in a big-league game.

Topps creates bonus cards for First Pitch 5×7 baseball card sets

When Topps’ First Pitch insert cards arrived in 2015 Topps Series 1 earlier this year, they got collectors buzzing with the first MLB-approved cardboard of a few big-name celebrities.

The same happened for Series 2, but when the company released it’s 5×7 version of the entire set late this summer — a set only initially sold on Topps.com — it snuck in five more celebs, making the total jumbo release 30 cards.

You’ll need a time machine to find Back to The Future autographs

With the Chicago Cubs trying to make a World Series run, the memorable scene from Back to the Future Part II where the team wins the World Series has been on some sports fans’ minds.

Naturally, with today — Oct. 21, 2015 — being the day that Marty McFly arrives in the future there’s even more mainstream media attention with segments and clips about then and now and, of course, the Cubs.

But, if you’re a collector of the stars of the film and want autographs of the film’s top names? You’ll need a DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor.