Buzz Break: 2017 Playoff football cards (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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 Playoff NFL cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 8
Cards per box: 96
Base set completion: 58 of 200 (29 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Matt Ryan, Bo Jackson, Odell Beckham Jr., Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders, Steve Young, Adrian Peterson, Morten Andersen, Dak Prescott, Marshall Faulk, Warren Moon, Jim Brown, Dan Marino, Gale Sayers, Fran Tarkenton, Deion Sanders, Tony Romo, Randall Cunningham, Andrew Luck

Buzz Break: 2017 Playoff football cards (retail premium box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and break down 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 Playoff NFL cards (retail premium box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 8
Cards per box: 80
Base set completion: 48 of 200 (21 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Julio Jones, Ezekiel Elliott, Jared Goff, David Johnson, Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston, Randall Cunningham, Jim Kelly, Dan Fouts, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Marino, Bo Jackson, Calvin Johnson, Gale Sayers, Len Dawson, Eddie George, Peyton Manning, Jim Brown, Ray Lewis

First Buzz: 2017 Topps Gallery baseball cards

What: 2017 Topps Gallery baseball cards
Arrives: This week … only initially at Walmart
Box basics: Two autographs in every 20-pack collector’s box
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: For the first time since 2005, Topps Gallery returns to the diamond with a new crop of artistic takes on MLB’s stars with autographs that add to the chase.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

First Buzz: 2017 Topps Transcendent Collection baseball cards (gallery updated Dec. 15 & beyond)

What: 2017 Topps Transcendent Collection baseball cards
Arrives: Dec. 13
Box basics: 53 autographs — and plenty more — per hand-crafted wooden box
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: Topps’ high-end baseball brand — what it calls “the pinnacle of high-end collecting” — returns for another season with a tribute of sorts to 1987, a spotlighting of the newly crowned American League Rookie of the Year and a party invite that includes one of the biggest sluggers in baseball history.

So, what comes in a box? Keep reading for more info and a full gallery of images released so far.

Buzz Break: 2011 TRISTAR Obak football 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: 2011 TRISTAR Obak football cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24 (plus one jumbo T4 box-topper)
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 144
Base set completion: 
101 of 110 (94 percent)
Duplicates: 9

Notables on base cards – Sammy Baugh, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Tim Mara, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Johnny Unitas, Paul Hornung, Terry Bradshaw, Earl Campbell, Morten Andersen, Roger Staubach, Gale Sayers, Jim Otto, Jim Parker, Norm Van Brocklin, Vince Lombardi, John Heisman, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Doak Walker, Darrell Royal, Bo Jackson, John David Crow, Hopalong Cassady, Johnny Lattner, Charlie Ward, Tom Dempsey, Lem Barney, Dennis Byrd, Edgar Allen Poe, Bob Lilly, “Crazy Legs” Hirsch, Emlen Tunnell, Walter Camp, Fritz Pollard, Thomas Riddell, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Eddie LeBaron

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Contenders Draft Picks football (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 Panini Contenders Draft Picks football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby) 

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 
26 of 100 (26 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players found on base cards – Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman, John Elway, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Jerry Rice, Terry Bradshaw, Andrew Luck, LaDainian Tomlinson, Dan Marino, Rob Gronkowski, Fran Tarkenton, Russell Wilson, J.J. Watt, Julio Jones, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers

First Buzz: 2017 Leaf Q sports cards

What: 2017 Leaf Q sports cards
Arrives: Late October/early November
Box basics: Five autograph or memorabilia cards per box (four boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf Q returns with what it says “may be the single greatest effort in the history of multi-sport trading card releases” in the form of “the industry’s most-comprehensive high-end multi-sport product.”

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter hobby box (Hour 3)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 3.

The box: 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter (hobby)
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz Break: 2017 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: 2017 Donruss football cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 11
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 88
Base set completion: 
72 of 300 (24 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Deion Sanders, Jameis Winston, Boomer Esiason, Jerry Rice, Mark Brunell, Khalil Mack, Matt Ryan, Todd Gurley, David Johnson, Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Tony Romo

First Buzz: 2017 Panini National Treasures Collegiate football cards

What: 2017 Panini National Treasures Collegiate football cards
Arrives: Sept. 13
Box basics: Six autographs or memorabilia cards per seven-card box (four boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: National Treasures returns to the college gridiron for a third year with notable college stars from the past showcased with plenty of ink and memorabilia.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Funko Pop! NFL Legends toys arriving for first time ever this fall

Some of the biggest names in NFL history are coming to the toy aisle this fall.

The first line of Funko Pop! NFL Legends will include 13 top players and coaches and a total of 15 toys, including two exclusive variants only found at Toys ‘R’ Us stores.

Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Stadium Club 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 Stadium Club baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 16
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 128
Base set completion: 
106 of 300 (35 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Don Mattingly, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Nolan Arenado, Josh Donaldson, Carl Yastrzemski, Jeff Bagwell, Francisco Lindor, Yu Darvish, Mark McGwire, Bryce Harper, Willie McCovey, Duke Snider, Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, Willie Stargell, Bo Jackson, Randy Johnson

Rookie Cards (12) – Josh Bell, Yulieski Gurriel, Chad Pinder, Hunter Dozier, Hunter Renfroe, JaCoby Jones, Luke Weaver, Alex Reyes, Gavin Cecchini, Jorge Alfaro, Ryon Healy, Kyle Zimmer (no logo)

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Classics football 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 Panini Classics NFL cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 14
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 140
Base set completion: 
111 of 300 (37 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards: Mike Singletary, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Bo Jackson, Von Miller, Jameis Winston, Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, David Johnson, Derek Carr

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2015 Donruss NFL retail preferred box (Hour 10)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 10.

The box: 2015 Donruss NFL (retail preferred)
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Series 2 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 Series 2 baseball cards 
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)
Packs per box: 11 (10 standard plus one Independence Day MLB logo card)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 102
Base set completion: 
76 of 350 (22 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Yu Darvish, Nolan Arenado, Jake Arrieta, Michael Conforto, Buster Posey, Justin Verlander

Rookie Cards (6) – Manny Margot, Roman Quinn, Adalberto Mejia, Jorge Alfaro, Jharel Cotton, Hunter Renfroe

Star power is really nothing new with Topps Update & Topps Traded RCs

First Bowman Chrome autos, Topps Heritage autos and Rookie Cards in general for key players seem to be powering sales of wax boxes most generally these days for Major League Baseball.

Those shouldn’t be too surprising, but in a world of seemingly countless options with autographs, serial-numbering or memorabilia pieces one could argue that less is more — that oldschool simplicity is back.

And one could argue that the basic Rookie Cards from a hobby staple such as Topps Update (or Topps Traded if you’re oldschool) continue to be an emerging go-to — and not just for players such as Mike Trout, whose 2011 Topps Update card is a ridiculous seller if in top condition and still pretty impressive if just in a lesser slab.

Perhaps it’s just a gut feeling with the arrival of 2017 Topps Update previewing last week and its date now known on the release calendar — but the old Topps Traded sets of the 1980s and even recent years of Topps Update also seem like fertile collecting ground, too, especially if you’re into graded specimens.

Here’s a year-by-year rundown of notable Rookie Cards from past Traded and Update sets …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1987 Donruss baseball wax pack (Hour 4)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 4.

The pack: 1987 Donruss baseball
The cost now: 55 cents ($20 for a 36-pack box; this pack randomly chosen)
The cost then: Under $1

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1988 Topps football cello pack (Hour 7)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 7.

The pack: 1988 Topps football cello pack 
The cost now: $2
The cost then: 79 cents

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1994 Upper Deck Series 1 Hobby Eastern Region baseball wax box (Hour 3)

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today’s your day then as we launch 12 in 12 — a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We’ll post one every hour on the hour all day long today … this is Hour 3.

The box: 1994 Upper Deck Series 1 Hobby Eastern Region baseball cards
The cost now: $19.99
The cost then: $72 (or more … it was hot)

What’s inside this box? Keep reading …

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Flawless football cards

What: 2016 Panini Flawless football cards
Arrives: April 5
Box basics: Two gemstone, six autographs and two memorabilia cards per box (two boxes per case)
Final checklist: Click here to view

What’s buzz-worthy: Flawless is back with nothing but on-card autographs but some new cut autos, new memorabilia cards, new oldschool signers and new approaches with its gem cards that include multiple pieces.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Buzz Poll: Looking back in time, which Bo did you prefer to know?

Bo was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s as a college football star, a professional baseball and football star and a marketing star. Everybody knew his name and they still know why.

And then suddenly one day it was gone.

Sure, Vincent Edward Jackson played some baseball after his final NFL game — that hip injury was 26 years ago tomorrow — but he was never the same. And in an interview today he had a different take on his career.

“If I knew back then what I know now,” he told USA TODAY Sports, “I would have never played football. Never. I wish I had known about all of those head injuries, but no one knew that. And the people that did know that, they wouldn’t tell anybody.”

His career as a pro — in both sports — lasted less than a decade but he’s easily one of the biggest icons of his time. It’s a story worth checking out if you missed it and it’s worth revisiting if you didn’t.

Here, though, we simply have one bit of curiosity presented below.

—

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

>> Click here to buy cards on BlowoutCards.com

Alabama & Clemson headline Panini’s College Football Playoff sets

We’re a week away from a rematch between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff — and we’re less than a week away from the newest college football cards from Panini America.

No, you haven’t missed any First Buzz previews — we’re talking about promo cards for those attending the big game.

Gallery: 2016 Panini Black Gold football autographs

It’s still more than a month away but Panini America‘s latest edition of Black Gold will pack some high-energy punch when it comes to its autographs.

And we have the gallery here to prove it.

First Buzz: 2017 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Football Mini Helmets

What: 2017 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Football Mini Helmets
Arrives: Feb. 1
Box basics: One autographed mini helmet per box (10 boxes per case).

What’s buzz-worthy: TRISTAR’s Hidden Treasures football brand returns to the field with some extra potential twists for collectors along with a guarantee of six Hall of Famers in every case.

Gallery: 2016 Panini Impeccable football cards

We’re less than a week away from the latest high-end football card brand from Panini America and it’s one that looks like it has a pretty high standard.

One might call it impeccable.

The brand is 2016 Panini Impeccable and it will pack some serious punch with metal cards, autographed memorabilia cards and standard autographs — and plenty of on-card autographs.

One just for fun: Bo Jackson is back in the game … you know, Tecmo Bowl

You may have seen a hint of him during last night’s game in one commercial’s montage, but Bo Jackson is back in the game.

Rather than say much … this is just one you need to watch. Keep reading to see two videos.

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

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 100
Base set completion: 
78 of 100 (78 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players found on base cards – Todd Gurley, Jerry Rice, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Emmitt Smith, Bo Jackson, Joe Montana, Cam Newton, Troy Aikman, Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Dez Bryant, Joe Namath, J.J. Watt, Eli Manning, John Elway, Barry Sanders.

Sunday Six: Memorable (and cheap) cards from 1992 Pro Line Portraits

There are many sports cards sets out there from the past that aren’t valuable in the financial way at all but they can carry some intrinsic quality that should just resonate with some collectors anyway.

Maybe it’s just because Buzz ripped these packs in the past — or maybe because they are just so much more different than anything made in the years since — but one set that feels that way for me is 1992 Pro Line Portraits. It’s a football card set that’s simple — portraits on the front — and oddly non-statistical with thoughts from the person on the back. Most are football players, but some are players’ wives and others are celebrities who have a fondness for the game. One of those people, for example, is Muhammad Ali and you can see his Team NFL insert card (No. 1 in the set) above. The biggest draw of these back then? There was an autographed card guaranteed in every box.

For a simple Sunday item — call it a Sunday Six — here’s a look at six fun cards from the product.

First Buzz: 2016 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Gameday Greats Football Jerseys

What: 2016 TRISTAR Hidden Treasures Gameday Greats Football Jerseys
Arrives: June 15
Box basics: One autographed jersey per box (five boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: TRISTAR’s Hidden Treasures football brand returns with the fabric of the game — autographed jerseys of notable players that collectors can chase via an affordable blind-wrapped box.

First Buzz: 2016 Panini Black Gold Collegiate sports cards

What: 2016 Panini Black Gold Collegiate sports cards
Arrives: July 27
Box basics: Four autographs or memorabilia cards per two-pack box (eight boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: This brand arrives on the college level for the first time with four cards per pack and the familiar look that we’ve seen in other sports with baseball, football and basketball cards in this release.

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Steiner Sports launches Heisman Collection autographed helmets

The Heisman Trophy is one of the most high-profile awards in sports, and its winners’ autographs are a coveted niche for fans who focus on football.

Steiner Sports knows this and has launched a new line of Heisman Collection autographs, a lineup that includes group-signed helmets as well as single-signed pieces from 23 past winners.

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

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
139 of 195 (71 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Kyle Schwarber, Stephen Piscotty, Michael Conforto (Rated Rookies), Albert Pujols, Jose Fernandez (Diamond Kings), George Brett, Frank Thomas, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Rickey Henderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Cabrera, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Nolan Ryan, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlos Correa, Clayton Kershaw, Kris Bryant, Yu Darvish, Pete Rose, Joc Pederson, Bo Jackson, Buster Posey, Pete Rose, The San Diego Chicken

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

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 42
Base set completion: 
29 of 195 (15 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Henry Owens (Rated Rookie), Andrew McCutchen (Diamond Kings), Ichiro Suzuki, Ken Griffey Jr., Rickey Henderson, Pete Rose, Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw, Steven Matz, Bo Jackson

Buzz Break: 2014 Panini Prizm football cards (super value rack 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: 2014 Panini Prizm football cards (super value rack box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 12 (each pack contains three standard Prizm packs and one three-card Red, White and Blue Prizm pack)
Cards per pack: 15
Cards in this box: 180
Base set completion: 
82 of 200 (41 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of notable players – Tom Brady, Michael Irvin, Frank Gifford, Bo Jackson, Terry Bradshaw, Fran Tarkenton, Brett Favre, Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger

Rookie Cards (short-prints) pulled (36) – Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, James White, L’Damian Washington, C.J. Mosley, Ahmad Dixon, Jerick McKinnon, Kony Ealy, T.J. Jones, Carlos Hyde, Brandon Coleman, Mike Evans, Mike Davis, Khalil Mack, Louis Nix III, Justin Gilbert, Kelvin Benjamin, Cody Hoffman, Jeff Janis, Sammy Watkins, Connor Shaw, Calvin Pryor, Jalen Saunders, Matt Hazel, Devin Street, Martavis Bryant, LaMarcus Joyner, Lache Seastrunk, Michael Campanaro, Dei Archer, Dee Ford, James Wilder Jr., Derek Carr (two versions), Logan Thomas, Allen Robinson, Tevin Reese, Taylor Lewan

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Feb. 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: Player collections, Panini Americana, oldschool box breaks and classic wrestling debates.