We spent Thanksgiving watching football and giving thanks for the wonderful things we have. So why not spill our thanks into the hobby? As collectors and hobbyists, here are 10 things we can be thankful for. Baseball's New Rules The pitch clocks, the bigger bases, and the limitations of pick-off attempts made baseball more fun to watch. But it also made teams open … [Read more...] about 10 (Mostly) New Hobby Things to Be Thankful For
Shohei Ohtani
Notes: 6-Figures for Signed Mickey; eBay’s Playoff Auction; Southern IN Show; 2 LeBron Gamers at Auction
Signed copies of some of collecting's most popular rookie cards sold late Tuesday night as Hunt Auctions wrapped up its latest Premier Live Internet Auction. A signed 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sold for $135,125. Graded PSA 2 with an autograph grade of 5, the card is one of just 19 signed copies on PSA's Population Report and surpassed the high end of the pre-sale estimate … [Read more...] about Notes: 6-Figures for Signed Mickey; eBay’s Playoff Auction; Southern IN Show; 2 LeBron Gamers at Auction
Notes: Fanatics Auction; Altan’s Q3 Report; CGC Partners with District
A game-used Derek Jeter bat from 20212 and a pair of Shohei Ohtani’s cleats from his historic 2022 season are among the items in Fanatics Auctions latest event. The Jeter bat carries a silver signature on the barrel. Also in the auction is a framed, serial numbered Mickey Mantle signed jersey, a game-used Yankees road jersey worn by CC Sabathia dating to his … [Read more...] about Notes: Fanatics Auction; Altan’s Q3 Report; CGC Partners with District
Notes: September Grading Numbers, T206 Cobb Record, Brandon Crawford’s Collection
The grading train isn't slowing down. PSA graded more than 602,000 sports cards last month and its competitors saw month-over-month growth in the number of cards shipped back to collectors, auction houses and dealers. That's according to GemRate, which tracks grading numbers across as variety of categories. SGC graded about 105,000 sports cards in September, CGC … [Read more...] about Notes: September Grading Numbers, T206 Cobb Record, Brandon Crawford’s Collection
Don’t Expect Huge Hobby Impact from Ohtani Injury
For a moment last week, the hobby held its breath as yet another serious injury to one of the sports card market’s premier investible and collectible players raised long term question marks. But while a torn elbow ligament suffered by Shohei Ohtani might mothball his pitching career for a year or maybe even two, don’t expect much negative impact on Ohtani’s popularity or … [Read more...] about Don’t Expect Huge Hobby Impact from Ohtani Injury
Shop Talk: Beating the Odds with Nice Hits from Recent Shop Boxes
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. —– I know I may sometimes come across as a bit of a Negative Nancy when it comes to the lack of big hits and bang for the customers buck when ripping boxes, packs, and maybe even cases of cards (if your nerves are good enough and your pockets are deep enough). I … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Beating the Odds with Nice Hits from Recent Shop Boxes
Notes: Archives Retired Set for Release; O’s to Give Autograph Collector Access; Fanatics Auction; More
2023 Topps Archives Signature Series Retired Player Edition arrives August 16. The annual release features a single one pack box with a previously released but now autographed and foil stamped card. All cards are hand-signed, serial numbered and enclosed in a Topps Authenticated case. This year, Topps says cards of players in the Hall of Fame will have stamp to … [Read more...] about Notes: Archives Retired Set for Release; O’s to Give Autograph Collector Access; Fanatics Auction; More
How One Doubleheader Fueled The National
Sometimes, they say, the baseball gods are smiling. But what happens when the baseball gods and the hobby gods are smiling together? That happened Thursday, July 27, and it happened in a big way. On the day that one of the most anticipated National Sports Collectors Convention in history was getting underway in Chicago, the most talked about player in the hobby went … [Read more...] about How One Doubleheader Fueled The National
Shop Talk: 1986-87 Fleer Jordan RC Submission, Whatnot Wonders, Local Theft Hits Store Radar
Tony Reid offers his weekly dose of happenings inside Sports Zone, the Central Pennsylvania shop where he works. —– My eyebrows were raised early this week as a younger customer I'd never seen in the shop before dropped off a 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card for submission to PSA. We are somewhat of a smaller shop and Jordan rookies don't just bounce into the store … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: 1986-87 Fleer Jordan RC Submission, Whatnot Wonders, Local Theft Hits Store Radar
10 Players And Cards To Watch In The Second Half
The All-Star Game has come and gone, and now it’s time to focus on the second half of the season. When you take it back three months, some of the players we were most excited about in the hobby have taken a back seat due to injury. Aaron Judge won’t chase 62 home runs as he suffered an injury at Dodger Stadium. Jacob deGrom will not establish himself as the most collectible … [Read more...] about 10 Players And Cards To Watch In The Second Half