Topps signs Mickey Moniak to exclusive autograph & card deal

The No. 1 pick has a new — and exclusive — home.

Topps revealed on Wednesday that it has signed Philadelphia Phillies prospect Mickey Moniak to an exclusive deal for his cards and memorabilia. This also means his autographs will only be found in upcoming Topps products and Bowman lines such as 2016 Bowman Draft. He’ll also appear in 2016 Bowman’s Best.

“As the top overall pick of this year’s MLB Draft, we’re ecstatic to have Mickey headlining our 2016 Bowman Draft release,” said Bowman brand manager Zvee Geffen. “The Bowman brands are home to the game’s future stars and, as Mickey certainly fits that billing, he epitomizes the best of our brand.”

Gallery: Memorabilia takes center stage in Absolute football (updated)

It’s a brand that’s been around for decades before being benched last season but it’s rested and back for another memorabilia-based ride.

It’s 2016 Panini Absolute football and it arrives next week.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Aug. 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: College cards, big breaks and “the multi-player Rookie Card problem.”

First Buzz: 2016 Super Break Football Deluxe

What: 2016 Super Break Football Deluxe
Arrives: Sept. 20
Box basics: Five items per box. 

What’s buzz-worthy: Super Break’s latest football offering includes cards and memorabilia all in one box.

Gallery: 2016 Topps Archives Signature Series baseball cards

It’s a simple idea — one autographed buyback per box — with a showcase of nostalgia and on-card ink with plenty of variety.

It’s 2016 Topps Archives Signature Series, and it arrived today.

First Buzz: 2016-17 Panini Noir soccer cards

What: 2016-17 Panini Noir soccer cards
Arrives: Oct. 19
Box basics: At least three autographs and two memorabilia cards per 10-card box (three boxes per case).

What’s buzz-worthy: Panini brings Noir to the pitch with a mix of club and country cards in this high-end release that includes eight autographed insert sets and two memorabilia sets.

Keep reading for more info and a full gallery.

Leaf launches real-time trading card program with Gene Wilder + poll (and ongoing Leaf Live gallery)

Leaf is getting into the real-time trading-cards-on-demand trend with the launch of Leaf Live after the death of actor Gene Wilder.

Announced late Tuesday night, Leaf Live will focus on events that collectors want a piece of on cardboard.

“Whether the print run is 10 copies or 500, Leaf pledges to let the marketplace determine the print run of its special offerings,” read the company announcement for the card.

Panini America catches up with NBA MVP Stephen Curry for a big-time autograph-signing session

Panini America recently caught up with NBA MVP Stephen Curry to get all of his outstanding redemptions signed and catch up on other signing that needed to be done.

There’s not much to say here — but plenty to show.

Keep reading to see it all …

UFC 202 battle between Nate Diaz & Conor McGregor is this week’s Topps Crossover pack

The second fight between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor continues to have a life of its own.

It’s this week’s 2016 Topps Crossover pack.

First Buzz: 2017 Topps Star Wars Galactic Files Reborn trading cards

What: 2017 Topps Star Wars Galactic Files Reborn trading cards
Arrives: July 19
Box basics: Two hits (one autograph guaranteed) per 24-pack box (12 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: A look back at all past Star Wars movies arrives with new touches and card types from all seven films and two animated series all in one place.

Keep reading for more as well as a gallery.

Sometimes collecting doesn’t make sense — and that’s just fine

The recent Ken Stabler Career Collection sale via Pristine Auction was one on my collecting radar from the second it was teased and on my mind until the final gavel came down earlier this month.

Simply put, I had to have something.

Why? Stabler wasn’t the first NFL player I ever met — he was probably the second — and I had his autograph a dozen times from various appearances where I played autograph hound in the past, but I knew I had met someone unique every time I ran into him. I knew that the MVP awards and the game-used items would be out of my reach. I knew that the game balls would be scooped up by serious collectors just like many of the odd mementos in the auction that included everything from wedding photos to belt buckles, cowboy hats and mix tapes.

But I knew I had to have something.

First Buzz: 2016 Leaf Lumber Kings hockey cards

What: 2016 Leaf Lumber Kings hockey cards
Arrives: October
Box basics: Four stick cards per box (10 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf takes another look back to the past with nothing but hockey sticks the sources of memorabilia cards in this release, which “features the most-comprehensive checklist of any stick-focused product ever.”

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2016 Topps Rocky 40th Anniversary trading cards

What: 2016 Topps Rocky 40th Anniversary trading cards
Arrives: Wednesday (Aug. 31) via Topps.com.
Set basics: 330 cards per set.

The Basics: Topps has teased a Wednesday arrival for a set examining all of the Rocky films that will apparently have inserted autographs from Sylvester Stallone. The standard cards appear to use the design from the Rocky II set previously made by Topps in 1979. Update: The set will consist of 330 cards covering six films with a price of $59.99. Autographed cards will be limited to just 10 copies apiece with four different signed cards found one in every 125 sets.

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Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

Comedy icon Gene Wilder dies at 83

He was Willie Wonka, he was Dr. Frankenstein. He was that and so much more.

Gene Wilder‘s roles were both eclectic and memorable and they helped entertain in comedies for all ages in TV and movie roles that spanned more than five decades. He died on Sunday in Connecticut after suffering complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 83.

Garbage Pail Kids take on musical icons in new Best of the Fest set

The Garbage Pail Kids are taking on the rockers.

For seven days only, Topps is offering the 20-card 2016 Garbage Pail Kids Best of the Fest set that mocks some icons of the music world.

Kansas City Royals’ Rally Mantis finally gets a baseball card

It’s been bugging many of us for a while this season, but it’s given the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals something to rally behind.

It’s the Rally Mantis and today, for 24 hours only, it gets a baseball card.

Panini Instant program turns attention to USA Basketball

Panini America is getting into the Olympic action with USA Basketball‘s stars coming to the real-time card platform beginning today.

The cards will showcase memorable moment’s from this year’s events and will only be available for 24 hours.

Trevor Siemian is Denver Broncos’ starter — with just two Rookie Cards

It’s not been pretty on the quarterback front for the Denver Broncos in 2016 with the exit of a legend, Peyton Manning, the exit of his long-term understudy, Brock Osweiler, and the preseason messes of Mark Sanchez.

But there is a highlight with the arrival of Trevor Siemian in the starting spot in Denver.

No, really.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Aug. 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: Retro rips, too many cards, people “jacking up prices,” looking forward to looking back.

First Buzz: 2016 Leaf Metal Draft baseball cards

What: 2016 Leaf Metal Draft baseball cards
Arrives: November/December
Box basics: Six autographs per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf Trading Cards brings back Metal with the lowest print run in the history of the product — fewer than 200 cases will be made.

Keep reading for more.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Aug. 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: Jason Crosby’s Garbage Pail Kids sketches, Dak Prescott and Panini Origins, Diamond Kings, Colin Kaepernick and Mike Trout vs. Ted Williams.

Buzz Break: 2016 Donruss 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: 2016 Donruss football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 
73 of 300 (24 percent)
Duplicates: 1

Notables on base cards – Todd Gurley, Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, J.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Cam Newton, Terry Bradshaw, Eddie George

Buzz Break: 2016 Bowman Platinum baseball 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: 2016 Bowman Platinum baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Initially only available via Walmart.

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard packs plus one Ice parallel pack)
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 32
Base set completion: 
16 of 100 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Mookie Betts, Jose Abreu, Josh Donaldson, Noah Syndergaard, Giancarlo Stanton

Rookie Cards (5) – Rob Refsnyder, Seung-hwan Oh, Aaron Nola, Hector Olivera, Kyle Schwarber

Buzz-worthy Bargain Break: 2015 Topps Chrome football cards

Football season is almost here and one of the trio of cases in this weekend’s Blowout flash sale is one that should capture the attention of collectors.

It’s 2015 Topps Chrome football and a reminder of some of the possibilities is above.

Keep reading for all the necessary details.

Buzz Break: 2016 Cryptozoic The Walking Dead Season 4 Part 2

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 Cryptozoic The Walking Dead Season 4 Part 2
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com 

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 114
Base set completion: 
71 of 72 (99 percent)
Duplicates: 10

Gary Sanchez just latest to chase in 2010 Bowman Chrome — and he’s not the only Blowout Flash Sale star

The Class of 2010 when it comes to Bowman baseball cards continues to be a deep one as new stars emerge atop the top arrivals of the past.

Back then it was Stephen Strasburg all day long — well, at least until his injury — and since then names like Aroldis Chapman, Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Shelby Miller and now Gary Sanchez have emerged.

All of those autos and more can be found inside cases of 2010 Bowman Chrome baseball cards and it’s one of a few cases that can be found as part of a weekend flash sale over on the mothership.

How much? Keep reading.

Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Star Wars: The Force Awakens Chrome

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 Star Wars: The Force Awakens Chrome trading cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 144
Base set completion: 
95 of 100 (95 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Aug. 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: New products, Bowman Draft Super Jumbo news, big cases & more.

Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Chrome baseball cards (hobby 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: 2016 Topps Chrome baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 96
Base set completion: 
70 of 200 (35 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Francisco Lindor, Jose Fernandez, David Wright, Buster Posey, Jose Altuve, Josh Donaldson, Manny Machado

Rookie Cards (24) – Trevor Story, Tyler White, Blake Snell, Ross Stipling, Aaron Blair, Jose Berrios, Jorge Lopez, Kyle Schwarber, Seung-Hwan Oh, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Brian Johnson, Rob Refsnyder, Gary Sanchez, Zach Lee

First Buzz: 2016 Leaf Perfect Game All-American Classic baseball cards

What: 2016 Leaf Perfect Game All-American Classic baseball cards
Arrives: December 2016
Box basics: Eight autographs per box (15 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf takes the Perfect Game All-Americans and creates their own brand with patch autos and Metal autos in boxes that have nothing but the hits inside.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2016 Leaf Perfect Game National Showcase baseball cards

What: 2016 Leaf Perfect Game National Showcase baseball cards
Arrives: October 2016
Box basics: 25 autographs per box (15 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf makes the Perfect Game a big box with nothing but hits and one of the most-limited ones, too, with just 99 cases made.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Topps Now goes big with David Ortiz autos & Gary Sanchez Relics

It might be the biggest (Papi) day in Topps Now history.

For the first time, Today’s Topps Now lineup includes autographs that can be purchased outright — David Ortiz — and Relics for the hard-hitting New York Yankees rookie Gary Sanchez on the same day as part of a 14-card offering.

Ortiz autos start at $199.99 for his card limited to 99 copies all the way up to a $999.99 1/1 card that is already sold out.

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Black Gold Collegiate basketball cards

What: 2016 Panini Black Gold Collegiate basketball cards
Arrives: Oct. 19
Box basics: Two or three autographs and two memorabilia cards per two-pack box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: The revamping of Black Gold Collegiate from a multi-sport brand to single sports continues here with the stars of the hardwood getting their due in this basketball-only release.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Gallery & checklist: 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards

Retro is the name of the game in the forthcoming 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee hockey release from Upper Deck, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of modern-day hits that can more than pay for a box of the brand.

And Upper Deck has teased some of those cards that prove that.

Panini brings football cards to the airwaves with new commercial

If you’re near a TV and on certain channels, there’s a good chance you’ll see some football cards.

How?

Via Panini America‘s new NFL commercial that features a number of top rookies while also advertising the 2016 Donruss set. You can check it out … after the jump.