Ever wonder how a half-case of blaster boxes breaks down? Let’s look at 2011 Panini Americana …

Blaster boxes are the taste-testing location — the sample platter you might say — of many products for many people who may not have a hobby shop or want to try something new without spending too much.

After a few years, some of those boxes get dirt cheap as collectors’ attentions are focused elsewhere and it’s fun to dig in with those boxes become available at a fraction of their original cost.

One such product for this collector is 2011 Panini Americana, a non-sports release that’s somewhat higher-end and hit-driven at hobby — one hit per pack, just four packs per box — while the blasters typically include a hit of some type and typically more base cards than a hobby box inside.

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

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 Today: With the NFL Draft tonight, here’s a day of nothing but football.

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Buzz Break: 2011 Panini Americana trading cards (blaster box)

2011-panini-americanaFrom 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.

s-l500The box: 2011 Panini Americana trading cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: 
Shop around online.

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 41
Base set completion: 
38 of 100 (38 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – David Carradine, Linda Hamilton, Corey Haim, Ralph Macchio, Ric Flair, Christina Applegate, Jeffrey Tambor, Leslie Nielsen, Burt Reynolds, Michael Madsen, Michelle Beadle, Pamela Anderson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Selma Blair

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Former NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp is latest Panini VIP Party guest

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There is reign in the forecast for Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J.

Panini America will guarantee that with the addition of former Seattle Sonics star Shawn Kemp as the latest guest at the company’s much-watched VIP Party.

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First Lois Lane, Noel Neill, dies at 95

Noel-NeillWhen Superman first came to the big screen in 1948, Lois Lane was played by Noel Neill, a Minnesota-born actress whose father was a newspaper editor.

It tuned out to be a role that helped define a career.

Neill went on to appear in 78 episodes of the Adventures of Superman television series that lasted six seasons and then have cameos in other Superman films as part of a career that spanned seven decades. She died on Monday at age 95 after a long illness.

“Brave, smart, and witty. She embodied the very best qualities of Lois Lane. RIP Noel Neill,” read a message on the DC Comics Twitter account.

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Michelle Beadle is staying at ESPN — who else there needs an auto?

Michelle-Beadle-Auto1ESPN announced today that it has signed Michelle Beadle to a new multi-year deal to keep her on the airwaves with SportsNation and a new national radio show.

Beadle is one of a small number of ESPN personalities who are non-athetes to appear on certified autographs as she’s appeared on cards from Panini America and Topps in recent years.

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