Sports Cards Nonsense

Mike and Jesse are back with Papa Gio to take on the viral 2016 vs 2026 challenge by looking back at the state of the sports card hobby exactly ten years ago.

They break down the shocking price differences for iconic cards like the Michael Jordan rookie and Tom Brady Bowman Chrome to see just how much the market has exploded since COVID and the pre-investor era. The guys also react to some wild statistics about box prices from a decade ago and debate whether the "pure collector" days of 2016 were truly better than the modern hobby.

The crew also breaks some MASSIVE NEWS regarding the upcoming 2026 Topps Series 1 release. They reveal that the product will be the exclusive home for the legendary 1952 design on rookie cards, including Jonah Tong (Mets), Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers), Payton Tolle (Red Sox), Carson Williams (Rays), CJ Kayfus (Guardians) and more. They'll all also have on-card autos. After this, the 1952 design will be gone for good.

Later in the show, they discuss the sold-out Disney packs on Arena Club and do a live rip of a $100 slab pack to see if Mike can pull a monster card.

Finally, they wrap up with the latest release calendar, a Denver news station contacting the show for Jarrett Stidham analysis, and a mailbag segment featuring selling tool questions and Malik Willis.
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Is the NFL playoff market setting a massive trap for collectors?

Mike and Jesse are joined by BCW Tim to break down the wildest market spike of the week: Jarrett Stidham rookie cards have skyrocketed over 600% following the news that he'll be quarterbacking the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Base PSA 10s went from $6 to $50 overnight—is this a legitimate buying opportunity or the ultimate "sell the hype" moment? The guys debate whether these prices are fake and what it means for other playoff contenders.

Plus, Mike gives a massive update on the $50,000 card collection he bought. He reveals what it’s really like sorting through thousands of slabs, unearthing hidden $800 gems (like a rare Cal Raleigh), dealing with the random cards and his strategy to hit a $60k return.

Later, they call a listener, Phil, who just set up at his first local card show with his 10-year-old son. They discuss the reality of selling at tables versus the glamorous "Instagram" version of the hobby.

And, we end with a mailbag!
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Mike dropped $50,000 cash on a massive sports card collection to stock up for eBay Live and barely looked through it before buying. In this episode of Sports Cards Nonsense Mike and Jesse are joined by Shep as Mike breaks down the deal, how he fit 20,000+ cards into a Suburban, and the huge hidden gems he found including WNBA Prizm and NFL quarterbacks.

Plus, the guys discuss the major news from the Topps/Fanatics town hall where they announced they are effectively closing applications for new card shops unless they are already in the process. We debate if this move is truly "doing right by the collector" or if it is hurting new businesses.

We also react to the latest updates from PSA President Ryan Hoge regarding the future of SGC and Beckett. The guys also debate the benefits of shared "Pop Report Hygiene" to fix population counts and argue why cross-over grading standards need to change immediately. Then, we tackle the controversy from the Dallas Card Show involving Beckett’s new $65 raw review fee and discuss if it is a strategic move to create "Price Quality Bias".

Finally, Jesse rips open the new Arena Club Disney packs live on the show hunting for a grail and hitting an Enchanted card. Plus, we tease some massive high-end cards coming up for our "Big Game" auction.
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Mike and Jesse are back to recap a wild NFL Super Wild Card Weekend before diving headfirst into one of the biggest baseball releases of the year in Bowman Draft.

The guys react to the market fallout from the playoffs, discussing Caleb Williams flipping the narrative to clutch leader, why Jordan Love might be a smart buy with Micah Parsons returning, and why Mike argues you couldn't pay him to touch Justin Herbert cards right now after a pathetic showing. They also touch on Sam Darnold’s potential upside with a matchup against the 49ers coming up and Drake Maye’s debut.

Then, Aram Leighton from Just Baseball joins the show to preview 2025 Bowman Draft and explain why the pricing, over $750 for Hobby boxes and nearly $1,000 for the new Breaker’s Delight SKU feels totally out of whack for a class considered weaker than last year’s.

Aram and the guys break down the top chases, including Nationals shortstop Eli Willits, high-upside Pirates pitcher Seth Hernandez, and other top prospects like Kade Anderson and Tyler Bremner. They also dive deep into the sleepers and value picks you need to know, such as Blue Jays infielder Jojo Parker, the Cubs' Ethan Conrad, and why the Tigers' trio of Kevin McGonigal, Jordan Yost, and Michael Olavetto might make Detroit the best break value in the product.

Finally, the guys wrap up by discussing the unique Sadaharu Oh retrofractor chase, deciphering the confusing new "Super Jumbo" wax configuration.

They then open the mailbag to address questions about grading companies, specifically why TAG and BGS still struggle to overtake PSA’s market dominance. They also discuss the impact of LeBron James' new "23rd Season" jersey patch on future card values and whether coaching changes can actually move the hobby needle.
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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.
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