Hockey world loses Hall of Famer Johnny Bower at age 93

He was a dominating goaltender nicknamed “The China Wall,” a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, a four-time Stanley Cup champ and a Hall of Famer.

He’s Johnny Bower and the former star for the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs died Tuesday after a battle with pneumonia. He was 93.

“Johnny Bower enriched us all by sharing the pure joy he felt for the game he played and for the men who played it, with him and against him,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement. “It was a personal privilege to know him, a delight to be in his presence.”

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2011 In The Game Canadiana hobby box (Hour 5)

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 5.

The box: 2011 In The Game Canadiana trading cards (hobby box)
The cost now: $49.95 

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Legend of ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair takes real turn tonight on ESPN

He styled. He profiled. He wrestled around the world and made millions “Woooooooooo!”

The limousine riding and jet flying is a bit less chaotic these days, but the boisterous story of “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair — or, really, the real-life story of Richard Fliehr — will get the spotlight tonight at 10 p.m. on ESPN.

It’s a 30 For 30 documentary that’s been in the works for months — long before his recent health scare nearly ended his life at age 68. It’s a piece that promises to explore the man, the myth, the legend — and where that’s led him to today. (And to be the man, you still have to beat the man … he’s not done yet.)

Buzz-worthy Bargain Break: 2013 In The Game Sportkings Series F

If you hadn’t noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices this weekend and for the next week or so over on the mothership and they were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of them.

So much so here’s another of a few “picks” to come in the next few days.

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2011 In The Game Heroes & Prospects Hits Series 2 High Numbers 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: 2011 In The Game Heroes & Prospects Hits Series 2 High Numbers baseball
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

First Buzz: 2017 ITG Stickwork hockey cards

What: 2017 ITG Stickwork hockey cards
Arrives: May
Box basics: Four memorabilia cards per box (10 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: Leaf’s ITG brand explores game-used from legends of the past and present via just one type of memorabilia.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images released so far.

Board Buzz: Must-read threads on the Blowout Forums (Dec. 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: Some beefy mixed breaks from MLB and the NBA as well as a first 1/1 card, some In The Game hockey and an Allen & Ginter Rip Card that really delivered.

Black November Wave 9 is here — and here are five deals to consider

If you hadn’t noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices now over on the mothership as BlowoutCards.com’s Black November Wave 9 hits today.

Many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases — and here are five boxes that caught this collector’s eye.

2016 Panini Classics football hobby box
Just because it’s not expensive doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the best releases of the year so far — and if you ask this collector Classics is a contender for just that. You’ll find one autograph per box and memorabilia cards atop the ink in others. There also is one buyback auto per 20-box case with some big names to be found. This one’s retro-styled but brand-new design (with a nod to 1983 Topps) is strong with some quirky variations and touches that also add to the oldschool feel. You can see more of those and a gallery in past Buzz stories here. Aside from the hits, the printing quality and design here on retro stock make this a fun rip no matter what. Had Buzz not jumped on some cases in Black November previously, this would be in the ol’ cart.

Brian Price is back in hockey card business with President’s Choice

A previous card company owner is getting back in the trading card business.

Brian Price, the former owner of In The Game who sold the company to Leaf Trading Cards nearly three years ago announced on his blog Tuesday that he’s back in the game with the launch of a new venture called President’s Choice Trading Cards.

And they’ll potentially be arriving very soon.

Preview Gallery: 2016 In The Game The Final Vault hockey cards

When 2016 In The Game The Final Vault hockey boxes arrive in late March, there will be quite a bit of history found inside — some big hits from the history of In The Game as well as big hits from the history of the NHL.

Every box will include 10 cards — five game-used memorabilia cards, four autographs and one mask card — with special Vault stamping noting that it came from this release.

Abe Vigoda had very few roles when it came to trading cards

Actor Abe Vigoda had many roles in his acting career, but for people of a certain age his roles in Barney Miller and The Godfather might come to mind first.

Sal Tassio and Detective Fish were the most-memorable for the veteran actor during a career that spanned from the 1940s into the 2000s — nearly 100 credits. He died on Tuesday at age 94.

His roles on cardboard? They were much more limited.

First Buzz: 2016 In The Game The Final Vault hockey cards

What: 2016 In The Game The Final Vault hockey cards
Arrives: March 30 
Box basics: 10 Final Vault cards per box (10 boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: The last Vault release from In The Game will include five game-used memorabilia cards, four autographs and one mask card — each with Vault stamping.

Keep reading for more as well as a gallery.

New Buzz: Products arriving this week (Nov. 15-21)

 

After a few heavy weeks for new releases — and with Black Friday still to come later this month — this week’s schedule for new products just feels lighter. But it still packs some punch.

For football collectors, 2015 Topps Chrome is set to arrive on Wednesday with one rookie autograph in every 24-pack hobby box. It comes on the heels of Topps Finest‘s colorful and delayed arrival and Panini Prizm‘s expanded rainbow hitting last week, but the allure of Superfractor autos has been among the strongest out there for football cards in recent years.

It’s also not the only heavyweight coming.