PSA’s first-ever authentication and grading operation in Japan is now open.
The company’s office in Tokyo has its grading staff in place and they say most cards can now be graded on site rather than having them shipped to the U.S.
Collectors Universe announced the opening of a Japan office in 2018 but submissions were routed here until recently.
Over the last five years, demand for PSA graded cards has “skyrocketed” there, according to PSA. The company’s new authentication and grading operation is reflective of the continued global demand for grading and authentication of collectibles.
“We have seen incredible demand from collectors in Japan since opening our Tokyo headquarters,” says PSA president Ryan Hoge. “Launching our new grading and authentication facility will allow us to even better serve the Japanese marketplace with shorter and more convenient shipping times.”
“Both sports and non-sports collectors alike have been utilizing PSA’s grading services and we’re so excited to bring our operations closer to them,” remarked Tony Aram, PSA Japan Managing Director. “Many submissions from Japanese collectors have been Pokémon cards, as the massive franchise has maintained its prominence in pop culture. We’re also seeing many baseball cards from Nippon Professional Baseball League players as well as Japanese superstars who have successfully transitioned to Major League Baseball like Shohei Ohtani.”
PSA’s new facility in Japan will offer the same grading, authentication and appraisal services provided in PSA’s United States, aside from value bulk, TCG bulk or value plus service levels. PSA plans to hire additional team members in Japan, including new grading and authentication experts, to meet demand.
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Longtime collector, dealer and auction consignment director Mark Jordan has passed away, according to friends.
Jordan spent part of his 1960s youth in Florida as a spring training bat boy. He was already a show promoter in his teenage years, being quoted in newspapers and building an impressive collection as he related in this clip from the Tampa Bay Times 51 years ago this summer:
The personable Jordan went on to have a long career in sports collectibles, operating a collectibles shop at The Ballpark in Arlington before joining Heritage Auctions as a consignment director in 2006.
Regarded as a nationally known expert in autographs, Jordan was featured on NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, ESPN, USA Today, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and other media outlets that reported on collectibles.
He was 69.
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A Shohei Ohtani autographed and inscribed game-used base from a game against the Yankees last year is among the items in the new Fanatics auction.
Ohtani is a Fanatics exclusive athlete and its auctions are now including numerous signed items exclusive to the company and often either 1/1 or serial numbered.
A Kevin Durant Nets jersey from Game 3 of their 2021 Eastern Conference Championship Series against the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks is also up for grabs along with a James Harden City Edition model, a game-used rookie jersey from Jahan Dotson and other gamers from Myles Garrett and Khalil Mack, among others.
There’s a 2021 rookie year game-used, signed and inscribed football from Trevor Lawrence, a signed and inscribed 2020 Panini Luminance Joe Burrow rookie card (BGS 9.5/10), autographed items from Michael Jordan, Mickey Mantle, Larry Bird, Barry Sanders, Aaron Judge, Tom Brady, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Deion Sanders and others.
Over 300 items in all are listed with auctions closing over a four-day period, July 17-20.
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Fanatics is testing out its new live shopping platform during MLB All-Star Week in Seattle. Hosted by Scott Rogowsky, the app debuted with some live breaks on the field prior to Monday’s home run derby.
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Several players dropped by including Freddie Freeman, Josh Jung and Adley Rutschman. With Fanatics’ connections to pro sports, you can look for more of those “event breaks.” One issue…it’s only available through the App store at the moment–no Android.
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If you see them on the market at some point…
Former teammate Julian Edelman says he grabbed some Tom Brady jerseys and cleats after the future Hall of Fame quarterback left the New England Patriots a couple of years ago.
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