Black November Wave 5 is here … and here are five deals to consider

If you hadn’t noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now over on the mothership as BlowoutCards.com is in the midst its Black November sales now.

Wave 5 is here and 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/cases that caught this collector’s eye. (And this wave was so big that there could easily be five more … check it out.)

2016 Panini Absolute Football retail Premium Box
At this sale price, this one is definitely worth checking out since last year’s rookie crop is stacked and this one includes two exclusive hits — one blue auto and one blue memorabilia card — in every box. This one is a simple retail take on a memorabilia-focused favorite of mine and there could be even more retail-only colors found in boxes, too. If those are big names such as Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliott — or any of the other newcomers that are making a mark — you’re way ahead with this price. Either way, it’s a fun rip — and you can grab it by the case, too. 

Keep reading for a few more picks among this newest wave.

Buzz Break: 2017 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: 2017 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 – David Ortiz, Francisco Lindor, Trevor Story, Albert Pujols, Gary Sanchez, Yu Darvish, Jose Quintana, Carlos Correa, Paul Goldschmidt

Rookie Cards (24) – Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman, Yulieski Gurriel, Trey Mancini, Tyler Glasnow, Carson Fulmer, Kyle Freehand, Amir Garrett, Antonio Senzatela, Jeff Hoffman, Luke Weaver, David Dahl, Tyler Austin, Orlando Arcia, Matt Strahm, German Marquez, Hunter Dozier, Mitch Haniger, Jose DeLeon, Jesse Winker, Joe Jimenez, Manny Margot, Jordan Montgomery, Christian Arroyo

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

Aaron Judge’s home run barrage has him on pace to be in elite company

If the season ended today, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge would win the Triple Crown.

As a rookie.

With two homers on Sunday — one a highlight-reel worthy 496-foot shot — he upped his mark to 21 this season and that goes right alongside a .344 batting average and 47 RBI. Will the Triple Crown pace continue? Who knows, but the power is a barometer of baseball card potential and he’s on pace to be among the best rookies in MLB history.

He’s on pace to top the 40-homer mark and that’s been done just one other time by a rookie. Even if he struggles some, by season’s end he’s likely to be very close to — if not among — the top 10 sluggers for most home run seasons by a rookie.

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2013 Elite Extra Edition hanger box (Hour 6)

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 6.

The box: 2013 Elite Extra Edition baseball hanger box
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2014 Topps baseball Mega Box (Hour 11)

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 11.

The box: 2014 Topps baseball Mega Box 
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 2017 Topps Heritage blaster Hot Box (Hour 8)

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 8.

The box: 2017 Topps Heritage baseball cards blaster (Hot Box)
The cost: Click here

What’s inside this one? Keep reading …

Buzz Break: 2017 Panini Diamond Kings 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 Panini Diamond Kings baseball cards (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 7
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 35
Base set completion: 
19 of 100 (19 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Francisco Lindor, Josh Donaldson, Jake Arrieta, Chipper Jones, Lloyd Waner, Pee Wee Reese, Ty Cobb, John McGraw, Stan Musial, Joe Jackson

Buzz Break: 2017 Topps Tribute baseball cards

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 Tribute baseball cards
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 6
Cards per pack: 3
Cards in this box: 19
Base set completion: 
11 of 90 (12 percent)
Duplicates: 0

 

Base cards – Cole Hamels, Ozzie Smith, Johnny Cueto, Francisco Lindor, Jake Arrieta, Trevor Story, Harmon Killebrew, Duke Snider, Roger Maris, Wade Boggs, Starling Marte

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

Packs per box: 8 (seven standard packs plus one Sepia Refractor pack)
Cards per pack: 4
Cards in this box: 32
Base set completion: 
20 of 200 (10 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – Kris Bryant, Matt Harvey, Paul Goldschmidt, Prince Fielder

Rookie Cards (3) – Raul Mondesi, Joey Rickard, Frankie Montas

National Baseball Card Day is set for Saturday with free cards & more

National Baseball Card Day is this Saturday.

The hobby shop event will have participating stores in the United States and Canada giving away free six-card packs to visitors. It’s a promotion that hasn’t been done since 2008.

A bonus card of Kris Bryant will only be available with purchases. It can be seen above.

First Buzz: 2016 Onyx Baseball Clubhouse Collection Authentic Game-used Batting Gloves

What: 2016 Onyx Baseball Clubhouse Collection Authentic Game-used Batting Gloves
Arrives: July
Box basics: One pair of game-used batting gloves per box (three boxes per case)

What’s buzz-worthy: This MLBPA-approved product includes batting gloves from top young names as well as established veterans — a roster that includes reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Jose Abreu, Alex Rodriguez, Nolan Arenado, Nomar Mazara and Andrew McCutchen to name a few.

Keep reading for more info, including a full checklist.

Buzz Break: 2016 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: 2016 Topps Series 2 baseball cards (blaster box)
 Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (for hobby)

Packs per box: 10 (plus one medallion pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion: 
79 of 350 (23 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Stephen Strasburg, Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, Albert Pujols, David Price.

Rookie Cards (10) – Kenta Maeda, Pedro Severino, Guido Knudson, Miguel Almonte, Scott Alexander, Luke Maile, Keith Hessler, Jorge Lopez, Ariel Pena, Ramon Cabrera.

Havana Sugar Kings don’t have many cards but hints of team can be found

With Major League Baseball‘s historic trip to Cuba and the Tampa Bay Rays’ exhibition game against the Cuban national team on Tuesday, the spotlight is shining bright on the country and its rich baseball history.

One part of that history that might not be remembered by many collectors is the fact that there was once a minor league team in Cuba, the Havana Sugar Kings, that was a Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the International League.

Buzz Break: 2013 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks baseball cards

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: 2013 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 20
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 120
Base set completion: 
92 of 100 (92 percent)
Duplicates: 9

Notable names pulled on base cards: Carlos Correa, Jose Abreu, Joey Gallo, Archie Bradley, Mookie Betts, Maikel Franco, Gregory Polanco

Buzz List: Nine autographs to find in 2013 & 2014 Elite Extra Edition boxes

Countless collectors call themselves prospectors, and that particular focus is one that can lead to a lot of pack-ripping or a lot of secondary market purchases with future flips in mind.

One brand that’s got many of those coveted newcomer names year after year is Elite Extra Edition, which is Panini America‘s foilboard-focused prospecting brand that typically packs one of the deepest checklists and, with Hot Boxes, some of the highest autograph totals in the hobby.

While the dust isn’t yet settling on the recently released newest edition of the brand, Buzz decided to take a look back at nine names who you should know from the previous two editions (2013 and 2014) and see how they did last season. Why? There are inevitably some bargains to be had if you consider this brand and these guys (along with countless other players that may not yet be on the radars of too many prospectors) given box prices these days. After all, old wax can still be good wax if the price is right.

Topps’ retail Mega Boxes are home to mega-bargains if you discover the right players & parallels

If you’ve done some cardboard hunting at the retail aisle, you may have passed right by the home of some of the hottest baseball cards available in stores like Target.

The card above? It’s a 2015 Topps Chrome Update Black Refractor of reigning National League Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant and it was only found in a 2015 Topps Update Mega Box — a retail box with five Update packs and two exclusive Chrome Update packs inside.

It’s serial-numbered to 99 copies and sold for $100 on eBay. Because there are only two Chrome packs per box, these have been selling quite well because key guys aren’t simple every-box pulls even for their base cards. (You can find boxes and cases at Blowout right here, though.)