JFK files may prompt plenty of new chatter, but no matter what there’s a ton of Kennedy cardboard to collect

Today’s highly anticipated release of the JFK files — the previously classified documents regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 — are sure to be a holiday of sorts for conspiracy theorists and are sure to pique the curiosity of history buffs and presidential-minded people.

But the life of the 35th president has prompted plenty of cardboard appearances over the years, too, far beyond just the tragedy of that November day in Dallas, Texas.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Oct. 14)

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: Nothing but big pulls from collectors in this Saturday edition.

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Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter 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: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy:
 BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 25 (24 standard packs plus box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 194
Base set completion: 
128 of 300 (43 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Ichiro Suzuki, Buster Posey, Johnny Bench, Nolan Ryan, Hank Aaron, Ken Rosenthal, Krazy George, Ken Griffey Jr., Babe Ruth, Frank Thomas, Dave Winfield, Derek Jeter, Roger Maris, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Mike Piazza, Don Mattingly, Laurie Hernandez, Cal Ripken Jr., Ernie Banks, Jose Canseco, Nick Jonas, William Shatner

Rookie Cards (18) – Teoscar Hernandez, JaCoby Jones, Jesse Winker, Robert Gsellman, Matt Olson, Ryon Healy, Antonio Senzatela, Chad Pinder, Alex Reyes, Yulieski Gurriel, Hunter Renfroe, Jharel Cotton, Tyler Glasnow, Luke Weaver, Gavin Cecchini, Carson Fulmer, Seth Lugo (SP), Dan Vogelbach (SP)

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First Buzz: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards

What: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter X baseball cards
Arrives: Now via Topps.com
Box basics: One framed mini autograph per box (12 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Allen & Ginter once again goes black for an online-only release.

Keep reading for more.

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Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter 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: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy:
 BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 49
Base set completion: 
28 of 300 (9 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Sandy Koufax, Ichiro Suzuki, Miguel Cabrera, Buster Posey, Carlos Correa

Rookie Cards (4) – Teoscar Hernandez, JaCoby Jones, Mitch Haniger, Trey Mancini (SP)

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Slipknot’s Chris Fehn gets his own Allen & Ginter baseball card

He’s traveled the world a few times over, been on the cover of Rolling Stone, won a grammy and helped sell millions of albums in the last 20 years, but there’s just something different about appearing on a Topps baseball card.

And that’s something that Slipknot‘s Chris Fehn, aka No. 3, can add to his accomplishments beginning Wednesday with the arrival of 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter.

“It’s crazy,” Fehn said. “It’s one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me. Being a collector since I was a kid and then now to have something from that company of my own … it’s amazing.”

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 15)

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: Nothing but big pulls from around the collecting world as we start a new week.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 12)

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: Big breaks, the 2015 Ginter Code is solved & more.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (April 6)

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: A few collecting questions and some MLB & NFL breaks worth a look

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It’s National Puppy Day? There’s plenty of canine cardboard for that …

Today is National Puppy Day and for card collectors there are countless options if they want their collections to go to the dogs.

From one brand alone there are Pawtographs, Relics and plenty of inserts — and that’s just one of them as all kinds of things have made their way into packs in the last 20 years (and unusual non-sports sets were the norm in tobacco packs of the 1800s and later years).

That brand? It’s ToppsAllen & Ginter, which has included canine cardboard since its debut in 2006 when it included cards and paw-print Pawtographs from Ch. Felicity’s Diamond Jim, an English Springer Spaniel who won Best in Show honors at the 2007 Westminster Dog Show. In 2010 the brand included cards and Relics for Rory, who was “America’s Most-talented Dog” — a three-time disc dog world champion who dazzled with his skills. (The memorabilia is a piece of a used frisbee.)

But a simpler option for collectors? That came in 2012.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Feb. 14)

2017-topps-allen-ginter-dansby

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: Huge Houston Astros & New York Yankees pulls, 2017 Allen & Ginter, tracking Optic rarities & more.

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Golf world loses one of its biggest legends as Arnold Palmer dies at 87

arnold-palmer-pro-set-upper-deck

“Arnie’s Army” is in mourning this evening.

Golf icon Arnold Palmer has died at age 87, leaving behind a legendary career and countless fans along with decades of memorabilia and memories. He’s heavily credited with helping the s-l1600sport grow on television, for his personable demeanor, his countless businesses and, of course, his performances against rivals.

“We loved him with a mythic American joy,” his biographer, James Dodson, told GolfWeek. “He represented everything that is great about golf. The friendship, the fellowship, the laughter, the impossibility of golf, the sudden rapture moment that brings you back, a moment that you never forget, that’s Arnold Palmer in spades. He’s the defining figure in golf.”

He won seven majors and 62 tournaments in his career and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 — and even that can be found among his trading cards.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Sept. 15)

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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: Who’s the NFL’s best WR? Also … big breaks and ripping Rickey.

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Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)

2016-topps-allen-ginter-hobby-boxFrom 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 Allen & Ginter baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy:
 BlowoutCards.com

2016-topps-allen-ginter-julio-UriasPacks per box: 24 (plus one box-topper)
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 193
Base set completion: 
125 of 300 (42 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kris Bryant, Miguel Cabrera, Buster Posey, Josh Donaldson, Joe Morgan, Alex Rodriguez, Andrew McCutchen, Albert Pujols, Roger Clemens

Notable non-baseball base cards – Steve Spurrier, Steve Kerr, Hannah Storm, Monica Abbott, Missy Franklin, Marlins Man

Rookie Cards (24) – Julio Urias (SP), Peter O’Brien (SP), Trevor Brown (SP), Kenta Maeda, Trevor Story, Trea Turner, Michael Conforto, Jose Berrios, Alex Dickerson, Trayce Thompson, Matt Reynolds, Byung Ho Park, Rob Refsnyder, Guido Knudson, Dustin Garneau, Zach Lee, Gary Sanchez, Max Kepler, Carl Edwards Jr. Kaleb Cowart, Jose Peraza, Luke Maile, Tyler White, Kyle Waldrop

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Gallery: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards (updated)

2016-ginter-auto-gallery-16

We’re just a couple of days away from the official arrival of 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards, meaning the newest batch of surprise inclusions, World’s Champions and downright unusual cardboard will be here to captivate some collectors once again.

The wall art version of the set arrived today, giving us all a glimpse at the base cards and a couple of insert sets.

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ESPN’s Jessica Mendoza gets a 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball card

MendozaShe’s a former Stanford softball All-American and a member of the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Athens. She’s a former fastpitch softball pro and a pioneer for women in the broadcast booth for ESPN as its first female analyst for MLB games.

She’s Jessica Mendoza and she’s going to be found in packs of 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter.

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Matt Stonie isn’t only Nathan’s hot dog champ found on trading cards

It’s nearly July 4, so it’s time for a few hot dogs to be eaten — and depending on where you are that could mean about 70 in 10 minutes.

Well, at least that’s the goal tomorrow in Coney Island, N.Y.

At noon on ESPN3 will be the men’s version of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Nathans-Famous-International-Hot-Dog-Eating-Contest-ESPN-scheduleDog Eating Contest where current champ Matt Stonie will try to fend off past winners. Earlier in the morning at 10:50 is when the women compete. (Click the schedule at right to see when it re-airs.)

While competitive eating is a world of its own — and something that doesn’t often hit ESPN airwaves the other 364 days a year — at least a half-dozen eating champs have appeared on trading cards that are available nationally. In fact, Stonie is an odds on favorite to appear as a “World’s Champion” in Toppspopular 2016 Allen & Ginter baseball card set when it arrives later this month, which is fitting because that brand is where the trend first surfaced when it comes to eaters on cardboard.

Here’s a rundown of the super six competitive eaters on cards so far …

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (June 12)

mtxw03The 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 Cards, big pulls, NFL photos, The NSCC & more.

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Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (May 3)

dmHmyCtThe 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: 2016 Bowman breaks, Leaf Q, Space Jam 2, bad certified autos and Kate Upton.

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NFL coaching pioneer signs for Topps’ Allen & Ginter baseball set

Jen-Welter-2016-Topps-Allen-GinterShe’s an NFL pioneer as the league’s first female coach, and she’ll have her first certified autographs in an upcoming Topps baseball card set.

She’s Dr. Jennifer Welter and her autographs will be found in 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter when it arrives on July 20.

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UFC star Ronda Rousey leads long list of athletes in SI Swimsuit Issue — and many can be found on cards

SI-Ronda-RouseyIt’s February and that means that we’re set for the Super Bowl and some mass-marketing from SI.com over the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

And in reality the hype for both already has begun.

SI-Kate-UptonThe last time we saw Ronda Rousey, she was suffering the first loss of her UFC career. Up next she’ll be in the annual issue for the second year in a row. More publicity won’t hurt her already-in-high-demand cardboard. She’s one of a long list of athletes to appear in the issue and part of an even longer list of models who appear on cards and have certified autographs and even memorabilia cards for collectors to chase.

For the traditional models, there actually were SI Swimsuit card sets released each year from 2003 to 2009 from Stellar Collectibles and then a later retrospective set. In those sets, we got autographs, memorabilia cards and even paint cards from photoshoots. Meanwhile, for many of the athletes who have appeared in the issue since, there are autograph appearances in sets like Topps’ Allen & Ginter (and many other sets) where collectors can also sometimes find the models. Kate Upton and Chrissy Teigen have been found there for example, and they sell very well.

Here’s a rundown of a few sports stars who we’ve seen in the issue.

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Did you know … about Martin Luther King Jr. cut autographs

Martin-Luther-KingMartin Luther King Jr.‘s place in history is quite substantial and he appears on a decent amount of cardboard for a historical figure, but a cut autograph of the civil rights icon is not so easy to find.

He appears on fewer than 10 cut autos with the first coming from Upper Deck back in 2004.  That 1/1 card was in the 2004 SP Game Used Patch Cut Signatures set.

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Board Buzz: Five must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Jan. 17)

RatBoneThe 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: Rat-bone Relic reactions, 1990s insert cards, 2015 Panini National Treasures baseball cards. 2015 Leaf Ultimate tennis cards and 2015 Panini Select soccer cards.

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First Buzz: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards

16_Topps Allen Ginter Baseball-harper-baseWhat: 2016 Topps Allen & Ginter baseball cards
Arrives: July 20
Box basics: Three hits in every 24-pack hobby box16AGBB_SS_0000_KINSELLA

What’s buzz-worthy: “If you rip it, he will come” is a possible line here as Kevin Costner‘s character in Field of Dreams, Ray Kinsella, gets the movie-style nod on Costner’s certified autographs. Other surprises in this one? Roman coin Relics … otherwise the 2016 edition is much like the 10 past releases of this heavily collected retro-styled brand.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

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Globetrotters great Meadowlark Lemon leaves entertaining legacy even seen on cardboard

meadowlark-lemonBasketball Hall of Famer and legendary Harlem Globetrotters showman Meadowlark Lemon has died, the team announced on Monday. He was 83.

Known as “The Clown Prince of Basketball,” Lemon was a fixture for the traveling exhibition team beginning in 1954. He’s one of just five players to have his number retired by the team and he played more than 7,500 games in the red, white and blue before retiring in the late-1970s. He joined the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

“Meadowlark was the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I’ve ever seen,” former Globetrotter Wilt Chamberlain told The New York Times in 1999. “People would say it would be Dr. J or even Jordan. For me, it would be Meadowlark Lemon.”

Off the court, he was one of the core players often seen on the Globetrotters’ cartoon series, some memorable episodes of Scooby-Doo and, of course, seen on plenty of cardboard.

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