Loupe Tech Inc., a new sports card breaking app, has closed $3 million in funding since its October launch, with a first round led by Upfront Ventures. The company says entrepreneur and collector Nat Turner has also contributed capital aimed at growing the business. Loupe is a live e-commerce streaming platform built for sports card collectors. It offers a … [Read more...]
Notes: Contenders Brady Rookie Auto Auction; Huge Immaculate Pull; ’50s Football Rip; Breaker Living the Dream
A 2000 Tom Brady Contenders Rookie Autograph card is on the block, with a strong six-figure price expected. Graded PSA 9, it currently has a high bid of $270,000 with the auction scheduled to close Monday, January 25--the day after the NFC Championship game. The same card sold at auction for $168,000 in April 2019. A BGS 9/10 copy of the card sold for $400,100 in … [Read more...]
Notes: Heritage High Checklist; SABR’s 50-Year Look at Baseball Through Cards; Breaking Bonanza; NBA TTM
Topps has released the checklist for its final product of 2020: Heritage High Number Baseball. It's due out December 30. You can see it inside our preview. The story of baseball is sometimes best told through baseball cards. SABR members usually know both and in conjunction with the organization's 50th birthday, they published this very smart glimpse at the 50 … [Read more...]
Notes: SI, The Athletic Focus on Cards; Manny Gordon Passes; $800K Brady Package; Jordan Update
Sports Illustrated and The Athletic both published stories about the hobby on Monday. SI’s feature focused on the rise of case breaking, especially in recent times. The lack of live sports, no games to bet on and plenty of time at home were all credited with some breakers seeing huge increases in the number of customers. Card afficianado and long-time … [Read more...]
The Atlantic Explores “How Baseball Cards Got Weird”
Baseball cards are the subject of a feature story in The Atlantic, one of the few surviving magazines that actually pre-dates the first baseball cards. The piece is called “How Baseball Cards Got Weird: A very analog hobby finds a way to thrive in the digital age.” Writer Eric Moskowitz chronicles the changes in collecting over the years, with an emphasis on the … [Read more...]
Real Breaks Grows With Family Friendly Approach
A few years ago, collectors Ryan Holland and Tom Kulczewski didn't even know each other. Now they're best friends, business partners and run one of the largest sports card case break websites by volume on the internet. Their philosophy behind Real Breaks? Keep it fun...and family friendly. Holland says their business is growing thanks to the hobby's overall … [Read more...]
Recent Hobby Innovations Have Been Fast, Numerous
The concept that gave us the internet turned 30 earlier this month. As with any new invention, there have been moments of greatness associated with this watershed change in communication and moments when we wish it had never been invented at all. It's changed how many of us live, how we shop, how we communicate and really changed how we learn. It's also … [Read more...]
Sportszilla Breaks’ Clay Parks Among Aurora, Ill. Shooting Victims
Last week, an employee dismissed from his job at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Ill. opened fire against several of his co-workers, tragically killing five people. Among the victims was the company's Human Resources Manager, Clay Parks. The shooter was ultimately killed by police. Sports card collectors may be familiar with Parks, who operated the popular group breaks … [Read more...]
Notes: Jeter SP Soars; MHCC’s New Auction; Live Case Break Opens Shop
A PSA 10 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookie card is on the auction block and has already set a new record for the grade, sitting at $66,200 with the auction not set to conclude until mid-week. The SP Jeter has become the future Hall of Famer’s most popular—and pricey-- rookie card and ranks is among the most valuable cards of a modern era in high-grade. There … [Read more...]
Notes: Paper’s Story on Box Breaking; Roquan Smith Ripped Off; Big $ for LeBron; Singer Trades Tix for Cards
Work crews have torn up the street in front of his shop but as long as there’s an internet connection, Steve Palmer of BreakRoom Sports Cards and Autographs in Cape Coral, FL can get through the day. He’s one of a legion of online case and box breakers who are helping keep the modern collecting hobby afloat. Breakers tear open newer products and the cards are … [Read more...]