Decision 2016 political trading card odds & short-prints revealed

If you tore into boxes of Decision 2016 trading cards, you may have a reason or two to look back at those cards for some rarer variations that may carry more value than you thought.

Why? The makers of the landmark political product have revealed the short-prints in the product and relative scarcity of the parallels for many of the cards. In addition, per-box odds for retail and hobby have now been disclosed, giving collectors a better idea of what’s rarer in the product or what they should expect in a box or case of Decision 2016 trading cards via either hobby or retail.

Interestingly, for example, the most-plentiful cut auto in the product is that of Donald Trump, while cuts with a red-foil frame are much rarer parallels for any subject, whether short-printed or not. (That means this Trump buyer probably got a bit of a deal.)

Also interesting? The shredded currency cards, which are now confirmed to be found one per case, have two versions with one much rarer than the other. Meanwhile, many of the inserts have rarer parallels — with their relative scarcity now confirmed. One example? The Trump Under Fire cards with red foil like this one are the rarest finds.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the odds and new short-print info.

Game-used dirt watches? Why not …

It seems dirt is everywhere you look if you’re a baseball collector shopping the game-used sections of websites and MLB Auctions.

You can buy game-used baseballs that were a pitch in the dirt. You can buy dirt holiday ornaments and dirt keychains. You can buy simple vials of dirt with labels noting the stadium. You can buy dirt coasters. You can buy framed game-used displays that include a dirt capsule along with other pieces. You can buy simpler (and cheaper) no-frills items that showcase dirt. The best pieces, of course, are dirt-covered game-used uniforms.

But that’s not all — at least if you’re a fan of two teams. It’s time for something really different there.

ThinkGeek’s new Star Trek: TNG Trekini Swimwear far from the only clothing options for Trekkers

Star Trek will be in the news again soon with a new film coming soon, but thanks to ThinkGeek, Star Trek: The Next Generation had things buzzing online Tuesday.

That’s thanks to its line of Trekini Swimwear unveiled today.

The new additions to the Trek lineup from the geek-inspired Fairfax, Va.-based company are far from the only wearables available to the masses. In fact, everything from baby onesies to oven mitts (right) and pajamas can be found along with t-shirts, sweatshirts and a bit of everything else.

Buzz-worthy Gallery: 2016 Topps Archives Bull Durham baseball cards

It’s been nearly 30 years since the arrival of Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh and on Wednesday he gets his first baseball card in a fully licensed MLB release.

The set, of course, is 2016 Topps Archives and the star brought to life by Tim Robbins is just one of the Bull Durham cards to be found inside packs. In all, there will be nine certified autographs to chase and seven unsigned cards along with any parallels.

Funko launches Specialty Series for exclusive toys every month

A pair of new and exclusive Funko toys will only be found every month via the Specialty Series.

The Lynnwood, Wash.-based company revealed its new program while also noting its first two releases in a program that is basically a “hobby shop” vs. “widespread retail” approach that we’re all familiar with in the trading card world.

“You’ll only be able to find these Specialty Series exclusives in boutique retail, specialty stores, local comic book shops and from qualified online retailers,” the company said in a release. “This is your chance to help support local businesses and smaller retailers, and you’ll pick up an amazing exclusive item in the process.”

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 31)

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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Allen & Ginter Rip Card finds, strong blasters, more retro NBA breaks, Ghostbusters and the best buy in MLB.

Buzz Break: 2011 Topps football cards (blaster box)

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: 2011 Topps football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby) 

Packs per box: 10 (plus one manufactured Relic pack)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 81
Base set completion: 
67 of 440 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players found on base cards: Peyton Manning, Dez Bryant, Patrick Willis

Rookie Cards (16) – Notables include A.J. Green, Blaine Gabbert, Randall Cobb, Patrick Peterson

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Showing off barrels, big pulls, best & worst designs and NSCC tips.

Julio Urias’ first Rookie Card comes via non-traditional release

Is it a Rookie Card? Is it not a a Rookie Card?

It’s got the logo and that’s the only card that can say that so far for Julio Urias.

The highly touted Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect made his major league debut on Friday night in New York and things didn’t go as planned as he gave up three runs on five hits and walked four in just 2 2/3 innings, a no-decision against against the defending NL champion Mets.

Despite this rough start, Urias was tabbed for a Topps Now card as part of the company’s daily real-time baseball card program and, for now, it’s also his rarest Rookie Card (it’s got that logo and he’s a rookie) with just 2,992 copies made. The quantity was revealed by Topps today.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 29)

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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Big wrestling pulls, more 1990s NBA box breaks, favorite Panini NBA releases and … what if the Golden State Warriors lose?

Gallery: 2016 Leaf Sports Heroes trading cards + checklist

Leaf Trading Cards‘ latest sports card release arrived in hobby shops on Friday and it includes one of the widest arrays of possible finds — everything from competitive eaters to Super Bowl kings and even stars from sports movies.

Each box of 2016 Leaf Sports Heroes includes three certified autographs with some of the possible surprises inside also being a 27-autograph card of the 1972 Miami Dolphins and a parallel rainbow that includes five types and printing plates for all cards.

Competitive eating champ Matt Stonie finally has a “Rookie Card”

You may have seen competitive eating champ Matt Stonie in the headlines this week after another of his videos went viral — this one being a 7,700-calorie feast of Cinnamon Toast Crunch — but there’s another way that he’ll be getting some attention now.

(And he doesn’t have to eat a thing — though you can bet he would.)

How? He’s got a “Rookie Card.”

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Collecting MiLB gamers, big box breaks, X-Men: Apocalypse and WWE.

NSCC signers: Whose autograph would you pick first?

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is a couple of months away and thanks to its non-traditional location — Atlantic City, N.J. — there are perhaps a few more guests on tap that we’ve not expected to see at the annual show.

It’s been a long time since the show was last in New Jersey — it’s largely been located in the Midwest for most of the last decade — so regional autograph guests such as Hideki Matsui and countless others who wore pinstripes and starred for other teams in that area make sense. They’ll also help draw in locals who might not normally hit the show … just to get that ink.

Autograph ticket pricing for the show will come soon, but Buzz has picked seven top names that may not break the bank — one per sport — at the show.

Gallery: DC Comics Justice League sketch cards

We’re less than a month away from the arrival of Cryptozoic‘s DC Comics Justice League cards and the company has been busy teasing the sketch cards to be found in the product.

There will be two types of sketches to be found — standard and diecut cards cut to look like the Hall of Justice.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 27)

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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Big pulls, Draymond Green’s greatness and new (old) football.

Hobby’s only PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee Rookie Card to hit auction block during NSCC

Update: The card sold for $465,000.

—

The greatest copy of The Great One’s greatest card will be sold later this summer.

It’s the only PSA 10 copy of Wayne Gretzky‘s 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Rookie Card, and it will be on the block for the first time in five years as part of the Goldin Auctions sale during the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., on Aug. 4.

“The fact that just one card has achieved this perfect grading is remarkable,” said Ken Goldin, the founder of the auction house. “With the recent surge in interest among serious collectors for high-grade examples of Rookie Cards, we expect this Gretzky card to establish a new benchmark. The average sales for a PSA 9 Gretzky’s has increased 600 percent in the past five years. If this card were to see a similar increase, it might become hockey’s first $500,000 trading card.”

Funko readies Pop! toys for upcoming Star Trek Beyond movie

Funko will be getting in on the Star Trek Beyond action with a series of toys for the upcoming movie to arrive in July.

A line of nine toys will spotlight the main crew of the Enterprise for the film along with two new alien characters to be part of the new tale.

Trevor Story is the 2016 Bowman Lucky Redemption

If you pulled this one, you got lucky because there’s quite a story behind this rookie’s MLB career so far.

Topps revealed on Thursday that Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story is the Lucky Redemption from 2016 Bowman.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Big baseball breaks, estate planning and Upper Deck Ice.

Julio Urias to make MLB debut for Dodgers Friday night vs. Mets

It’s go time for Julio Urias.

The highly touted Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect will make his major league debut on Friday night in New York against the defending National League champion Mets. He’ll be the youngest starter in MLB since Felix Hernandez back in 2005.

The 19-year-old from Mexico was 4-1 with an 1.10 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 41 innings this season for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Baseball America ranked him fourth overall on its 2016 Top 100 list — the best pitcher of the bunch. He’s actually in his fourth season as a pro after signing with the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2013.

First Buzz: 2015-16 Metal Hockey Pre-Production cards

What: 2015-16 Metal Hockey Pre-Production cards
Arrives: May
Box basics: Three 1/1 encapsulated cards per box (20 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf releases its proof cards from a popular brand in a traditional way with each card found in a BGS slab as part of a very limited-production release.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Rittenhouse Archives reveals full Game of Thrones Season 5 autograph lineup (gallery)

Rittenhouse Archives‘ latest Game of Thrones set arrives on June 8 with nearly 50 autographed cards in the brand and more than 20 of those are first-time signers for the popular HBO series’ trading cards.

While the lineup for the Game of Thrones Season 5 set has been known since its announcement (see our First Buzz preview here), the company revealed images of all of the signed cards as it released the final checklist.

Gallery: 2016 Panini Classics football cards

Take a simple array of variation types to enhance a 1980s-inspired design for a checklist loaded with past, present and future greats and then add in some autographs, buybacks and other surprises for a bargain price and you get 2016 Panini Classics.

The retro-inspired modern release arrived today with an autograph in every 14-pack box and a memorabilia in every other box.

David Wright signs exclusive autograph deal with Steiner Sports

Captain America has a new home when it comes to autographs.

New York Mets third baseman David Wright has signed an exclusive ink deal with Steiner Sports, which the company announced this week.

“David Wright has been the cornerstone of the New York Mets franchise for over a decade and has led the team’s talented young core into a new era of success,” said CEO Brandon Steiner. “Steiner Sports is proud to welcome David to our team and we are looking forward to opportunities to bring fans unique pieces of his signed memorabilia to cherish.”

Gallery: 2016 Topps Pro Debut baseball cards

They may not be big-leaguers just yet, but the look and feel of the cards found in 2016 Topps Pro Debut, which made it debut today, are MLB-caliber while also including things you definitely won’t see in the traditional baseball releases.

And that’s a good thing for collectors.

The Fragments of the Farm Relics once again bring unusual pieces to cardboard. Need evidence? See the card above.

Bull Durham autographs aren’t only highlights on 2016 Topps Archives baseball card checklist

Annie Savoy, Bobby, Crash Davis, Jimmy, Larry Hockett, Millie, Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, Tony and Bull Durham creator Ron Shelton.

Those are the Durham autographs set to arrive in 2016 Topps Archives when it arrives on June 1, which is one week from today.

For those not familiar with the characters of the memorable baseball film, that’s all of the main stars — Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, Robert Wuhl, Jenny Robertson and a few others who helped bring the film to life.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 25)

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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Two big Heritage blasters (again), The National, struggling pitchers and two Panini America breaks.

Upper Deck will take collectors Through the Looking Glass in Goodwin Champions

Tim Burton is bringing Through the Looking Glass to the big screen this week with a new surreal installment of the Alice in Wonderland tale and Upper Deck will revisit the story as well in an upcoming trading card set.

Goodwin Champions has been known for its unusual inclusions in its run with Upper Deck, which began back in 2009. This year’s edition will include hand-painted booklets that revisit the Alice story chapter by chapter when it arrives in July.

So, yes, the card seen above is a hand-painted creation.

Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Finest baseball cards (mini box) + contest

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: 2016 Topps Finest baseball cards (mini box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 30
Base set completion: 
22 of 100 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Carlos Correa, David Ortiz, Joc Pederson, Josh Donaldson, Yu Darvish, Bryce Harper

Rookie Cards (3) – Kyle Schwarber, Corey Seager, Peter O’Brien

Ichiro Suzuki’s 3,000-hit conquest may hit its finale sooner than later

He’s been a legendary hitter in MLB since arriving in a Seattle Mariners uniform back in 2001, and he’s now 42 years old and on a tear with 10 hits in his last three games for the Miami Marlins.

He’s Ichiro Suzuki and he’s just 40 hits away from the 3,000 Hit Club as a major-leaguer. (Throw on 1,434 hits in Japan and, well, that’s a career mark even Pete Rose should appreciate.)

Even if you’re a deep-pocketed collector, chasing Ichiro cardboard isn’t easy. He’s been in high demand since his legendary Rookie of the Year/MVP season and there’s plenty of cardboard from that year alone. There’s also been plenty since. And there are also plenty of collectors from around the world who are watching his cardboard just as intently as they are watching the box scores right now.

Stephen Strasburg’s cardboard won’t reach 2010 heights, but there should be more interest to come

The last time Stephen Strasburg took to the mound for the Washington Nationals and his team did not win was late last season. The last time Strasburg lost? That’s last season, too.

And the last time collectors seemed to truly care about his cardboard? … Arguably that might have been about six years ago.

Don’t look now, but the guy who owned the hobby in the summer of 2010 and owned the Washington Nationals’ hobby dollars (at least for a while) until some guy named Bryce Harper showed up just might be on the rebound and a compelling buy as a successful 2016 season builds.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 24)

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.

What’s Buzzing Today: Nomar Mazara’s potential, a trip to the Museum, Ghostbusters breaks, another legendary blaster and retro NBA breaks.

Nikita Kucherov autographs remain tough, hot with Tampa Bay Lightning on verge of Stanley Cup Final

If you’re a long-time reader of The Buzz, then you already know what makes Nikita Kucherov a bit of a hobby anomaly these days, but now that his Tampa Bay Lightning are a win away from a Stanley Cup Final appearance his trivia is even more important.

He’s one of those players who didn’t have a signed Rookie Card — or at least something — signed and available shortly after he hit the ice. Collectors had to wait for packs of 2015-16 Upper Deck Buybacks to find his rookie ink, though he’s appeared in a handful of releases since that one. In all, he appears on just 16 different autographed cards right now.

Upper Deck readies National Sports Collectors Convention card sets

This year’s National Sports Collectors Convention is set for Aug. 3-7 in Atlantic City, N.J., but that hasn’t stopped Upper Deck from revealing the first promotional cards that will only initially be found at the event.

The company will produce a five-card VIP set along with a wrapper redemption program.