Sports Cards Nonsense

On today’s episode of Sports Cards Nonsense, Mike and Jesse dive deep into the current state of the card market to answer a burning question: Are we experiencing another high-end bubble? Mike brings the data, comparing current sales of iconic "GOAT" cards like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Mickey Mantle against their peak prices during the 2020-2021 COVID boom. The guys break down why cards like the '89 Upper Deck Griffey and '56 Mantle are actually seeing higher prices now than they did during the pandemic craze. Later, Jesse doubles down on his Carolina Panthers take. After claiming Bryce Young still has potential, Mike challenges him to put his money where his mouth is. Plus, the guys discuss Upper Deck’s major announcement regarding NHL Rookie Debut Jersey cards and how they compare to Topps’ recent innovations. They also tackle the frustration of sticker autos versus on-card signatures , the confusing release schedule for upcoming products like "Midnight" , and open up the mailbag to discuss Shaquille O’Neal’s market value and Patrick Mahomes prices following his injury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jesse are back to break down the NFL playoff picture and what it means for the sports card market. They discuss which quarterbacks have the most price upside heading into Wild Card Weekend (is Bryce Young a buy?!) and which stars they are looking to sell immediately, including Aaron Rodgers and Trevor Lawrence. Later, the guys welcome Aaron Abrams (25:10), Director of Entertainment and Pop Culture Cards at Topps, for a fascinating look into the non-sports boom. Aaron shares the chaotic, cross-country story of how Topps secured the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman dual on-card autos for Marvel Chrome, discusses the "Product of the Year" success of Disney Chrome, and teases a massive surprise coming in Pixar Gold. The guys close out the episode by looking at the final Gem Rate numbers from 2025, reflecting on surprises in the card grading market from last year. And then answer a bunch of mailbag questions including everything from their favorite products of 2025 to chest bumps in the wild and why baseball got the short end of the stick with Exquisite Collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hobby news cycle is moving fast. Just days after the Collectors/Beckett announcement, a U.S. Congressman has sent a letter to the FTC asking for an investigation into monopolistic practices in the trading card industry. Is this a legitimate legal threat, or just political grandstanding? Plus, the hobby hype for Cooper Flagg has officially reached dangerous levels. With his first licensed Topps Chrome cards hitting the market, collectors are already paying NBA superstar prices for an unproven rookie. Is the hobby losing its mind? In this episode, Mike and Jesse dive deep into the numbers surrounding the Cooper Flagg Topps Chrome release. Mike crushes the math, comparing Flagg's current pre-sale pricing, where base cards are hitting $250-$400, directly against established talent Victor Wembanyama. They discuss why the "new toy syndrome" combined with the return of licensed Topps Chrome basketball has created a market bubble that makes zero statistical sense. If you are thinking about investing in Cooper Flagg right now, you need to watch this market reality check first. Later, they discuss the polarizing tweets of Geoff Wilson (Sports Card Investor). Is he "out of touch," or is he actually the smartest marketer in the room playing the engagement algorithm perfectly? Finally, the guys open up the mailbag to discuss sunk cost fallacies in flipping, why retail pricing is never coming down, and who ranks as the most collectible "bust" in sports history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jesse debate the massive acquisition of Beckett (BGS) by Collectors, the parent company of PSA. The guys have vehemently different reactions to the deal: Jesse believes Collectors will "save" the brand by leveraging its history and media assets, while Mike argues BGS is destined to be "gutted" like SGC. They discuss what this "monopoly" means for the hobby and whether it will actually improve PSA’s turnaround times. Then, Gordy Bonker joins the show to break down a major shift in the vintage market, with record-breaking sales for Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente cards. He discusses Ken Goldin’s theory about institutional money entering the space and whether hedge funds are finally treating cards like art. Plus, the guys discuss the London Card Show scandal, the new Arena Club "FR34K" packs, and answer a very timely mailbag question about what Collectors might buy next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Gioseffi and Jesse Gibson are back with the biggest stories in the hobby and on the field. Is now the perfect time to buy Patrick Mahomes (5:05) sports cards at a reasonable price, given his ACL tear and the Chiefs' first losing season with Mahomes as the starter. His pricing has been down for the last year or so, with his 2017 Prism Silver PSA 10 down 16% and his 2017 Optic PSA 10 down 20% on the month. Plus, Bo Nix's play (10:00) has closed the gap with Drake Maye, changing the narrative in the QB market. They also review buying opportunities for quarterbacks like Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, and Jordan Love. In case you missed it, the Sports Cards Nonsense Fanatics Live channel is now Hobby Nonsense (3:00) and there's a new Sports Cards Nonsense channel on Fanatics Live. Starting this week, the new SCN channel is running huge giveaways so you'll want to head on over to follow the account! The guys also discuss multiple breakers reportedly losing their Fanatics Breaker Program access, possibly due to a low "breaker scores." Plus, this week features the return of the iconic brand, Topps Chrome Basketball, with Hobby cases running about $6,000 and the Breakers Delight cases around $7,500–$8,000. Mike and Eddie are giving away boxes of both Topps Chrome Basketball and Topps Cosmic Baseball on Fanatics Live this week. To close out the episode, today's mailbag questions cover Mike's thoughts on Chrome basketball pricing , the difference in retail blasters and hobby boxes and if you'd rather have 1 $20 card of 4 $5 cards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices