Sports Cards Nonsense

Mike and Jesse are back to break down the latest movement in the sports card market as we head toward the Super Bowl. First, Jesse shares a "cautionary tale" involving a massive rip of Marvel cards and the hunt for a Hugh Jackman auto. Then, the guys look at the disrespect in the NFL market, specifically comparing Sam Darnold's prices to Josh Allen's. Despite a stellar season and being the NFC Champ, Darnold's cards are a fraction of the price of many other quarterbacks. Are collectors missing the window? They also discuss the "dirt cheap" pricing on Cooper Kupp and the heating-up market for Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Later, they discuss the massive PSA Spotlight Auction starting this week and running through February 7 featuring cards directly from the personal collections of legends like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Eli Manning. They analyze the value of inscription cards, seeing exactly what Tom Brady wrote on his own rookie card, and debate if provenance from a player's own collection is the new grail for collectors. There are also plenty of other cards in the auction including a special Mewtwo Pokemon card. The auction's final hour will be broadcast LIVE on the SCN eBay Live channel. Finally, they tackle the Bill Belichick Hall of Fame snub and answer your mailbag questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New England Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl after an improbable run where they'll again meet the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Gioseffi coudn't be more excited as he reflects on the team's 9-0 road record and how this season has reinvigorated his interest in collecting the current roster, specifically MVP candidate Drake Maye. Mike also welcomes Justin Wickizer, the Director of PSA Marketplace, to discuss the highly anticipated PSA Spotlight Auction launching January 28th, which features items from the personal collections of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Eli Manning. A major highlight of the auction is a unique Eli Manning card featuring a hand-drawn diagram of the Xs and Os from the legendary "Helmet Catch" play, a piece Justin describes as a true one-of-one experience for collectors. Justin also explains the strategic advantages of the PSA Vault, emphasizing how its integration with eBay allows hobbyists to instantly capitalize on "market moments" and player performances. As the crew prepares for Super Bowl LX in San Francisco, they detail their plans for a massive live event on February 7th featuring high-end wax rips and live auction closings for the Manning and TB12 collections. Keep an eye out for much more info on that coming soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Mike and Jesse are back and are joined by attorney Paul Lesko who dissects the Panini-Fanatics antitrust lawsuit, revealing a major conflict: Panini is risking its own court credibility by showing potential buyers documents that claim their unlicensed products can outperform licensed ones, directly contradicting their courtroom defense. He also touches on the related Wild Card lawsuit, where Panini is accused of threatening distributors who worked with Wild Card. Separately, the Nikola Jokic card market is poised for growth as the star is officially signing with Topps. Plus, the guys debate which NFL quarterbacks to buy now and flip before the Super Bowl. Mike argues for Matthew Stafford, who is quietly building an unbelievable Hall of Fame resume, ranking top-10 all-time in major passing stats and is currently a top MVP candidate alongside Drake Maye. The ultimate market wild card is 44-year-old Philip Rivers who is joining the Colts' practice squad and could end up starting for them this season. In the baseball world, it's free agency time and Mike vents about the Red Sox refusing to sign big free agents, like Pete Alonso, despite the team's need for a power bat. Are young Orioles stars like Adley Rutschman and Gunner Henderson sneaky good value buys right now? The episode concludes with a look at the enduring cultural power of Pokémon cards among modern athletes and the high sale prices of crossover collectibles. Plus, upcoming card releases the guys will be breaking over the next few days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of Sports Cards Nonsense, Mike Gioseffi and Jesse Gibson break down Jeff Kent’s selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame and discuss the problematic process behind the committee's choices. The guys also tackle the "PSA Pikachu Scandal"—debating whether there is actual fire behind the smoke of recent conflict-of-interest allegations and if AI grading is the inevitable solution. They also spoke with PSA getting their first-hand reactions and explanation on what happened. Later, the conversation turns to the high-end market, focusing on the Shohei Ohtani Gold Logoman currently up for auction at Fanatics Collect for over $1 million, and why Ohtani remains immune to the off-season dip. They shift to the gridiron talking NFL QBs and "HOF Locks" (Rodgers, Stafford, Mahomes), "Buys" (Stroud, Love) and "Sells" (Maye, Burrow). Finally, Adam Palmer of Daily Nonsense joins the show to explain why you should care about the soccer market right now and the growth of the MLS. The show wraps with a mailbag segment covering the potential of a multi-sport Allen & Ginter set, how a baseball strike could impact card values, why sports cards and TCGs use different methods of pricing and more. Be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you think of today's episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jesse dive into the biggest market movers and the hottest debates—starting with whether Topps' pricing strategy a problem for collectors? They break down the shocking $3,300 starting price and $1,625 final price for the Topps Chrome Basketball Jumbo First Day Issue in a rapid-fire Dutch Auction. They also discuss how these massive price discrepancies impact the hobby and whether it's sustainable. The guys are joined by Tory from DCSports87 to preview a massive 2-night eBay Live event featuring a high-profile lineup of cards, including a Luka Doncic NTRPA and the MJ 1984 Star Rookie card. They also look at comps on the MJ card as well as other highly desired cards like Kobe autos, which will be featured in the live. Be sure to check that out here! In today's mailbag listeners wrote in asking about the current state of 'Whatnot' enforcement, key buying trends and the economics of card grading strategies to maximize profits. Let us know in the comments: Do you think Topps' pricing model is a problem? Our listeners get the ⁠Harry’s Plus Trial Set⁠ for only $10 at ⁠https://www.Harrys.com/Nonsense⁠ Be sure to use code: NONSENSE #Harryspod #Sponsored Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Gioseffi and Jesse Gibson open the show with a beginner-friendly guide to entering the sports card hobby. They cover how to approach breaks, what research actually matters, and where the line really is between cleaning a card and altering it. Upper Deck President Jason Masherah then joins the show for an unfiltered conversation about the state of the hobby. He dives into card pricing, how wealthy collectors influence spending, and why manipulation goes far beyond shill bidding. Jason also explains the tension between serving collectors and answering to shareholders, why Upper Deck doesn’t sell hobby boxes direct on its site, the realities behind products like The Cup, and the realities of breaking scams. He sticks around for mailbag questions covering Scotty Scheffler card possibilities, how ePack actually works, and why certain products are designed specifically for hobby-first buyers. After Jason signs off, Mike and Jesse tackle more mailbag questions on anonymous eBay sales, what could spark the hobby’s next downturn, and the long-term impact of high-end releases. Our listeners get the Harry’s Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/Nonsense Be sure to use code: NONSENSE #Harryspod #Sponsored Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Gioseffi is joined by the controversial yet insightful guest, Nick Andrews, also known as the Boston Card Hunter for today's episode of Sports Cards Nonsense. The conversation explores the current state of the market, the impact of auction houses, and the evolving landscape of card grading. Nick shares his candid thoughts on the recent hobby scandals and his strategic decisions in the hobby, offering a unique perspective on navigating the highs and lows of collecting. From Probstein and Snype to liquidity events and the impact of repacks, plus the most dangerous part of the sports card hobby, this episode has it all. Mike also ends with a mailbag covering some new releases and the cause of GOAT card spikes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle up for a jam-packed, scandal-filled episode of Sports Cards Nonsense as Mike Gioseffi and Jesse Gibson dive into the latest controversies and updates in the hobby. We start with a discussion on the recent security issues and allegations surrounding Probstein. From a massing shilling scandal to a data breech, it only sounds like bad news when it comes to this story. Topps Chrome Basketball dropped this week and Mike has mixed reactions on the prices. We also talk with the management team of The National Sports Collectors Convention about upcoming changes, vendor expansions, and new features like Pokémon TCG. Thanks to Jim Ryan, Joe Drelich and Brian Coppola for joining us! Later, the guys discuss Geoff Wilson's interview with Dr. Beckett and claims that shill bidding isn't self bidding. *Insert your eye rolls here.* We finish with a Mike vs Jesse Arena Club slab battle giveaway. Tune in to see who wins, hear from The National team and get the latest on the hobby scandals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Mike and Jesse discuss the end of the wax drought and the continued explosion of the grails market, highlighting significant sales and the potential for future investments. The episode also features talk on the MLB MVP buyback program, analyzing the impact of recent pricing changes on card values. Mike and Jesse discuss the intricacies of the buyback process and offer insights into maximizing returns on specific card types. Additionally, they engage in a lively discussion about the latest updates from the Topps townhall meeting, including upcoming product releases and strategic shifts in the collectibles market. Plus, Fanatics Fest prices are out with tickets now available. Are they WAY too expensive? The episode ends with listener questions in the mailbag segment, offering perspectives on everything from saving spots in line at GameStop to the future of eBay's PWE service, and women's basketball's new leagues. Plus, Tory from DCSports87 has an awesome update on their payout rates. Don't forget to vote for SCN for Best Media Platform in the Hobby Awards! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Sports Cards Nonsense Mike Gioseffi is joined by Joe Wysmierski as they dive into a variety of hobby topics, starting with a heartfelt moment as they address the absence of Jesse due to a personal loss. The conversation transitions into a lively discussion about the intricacies of selling personal collections, with Mike sharing his experiences and strategies for managing and selling sports cards. The episode also covers the excitement and challenges of the sports card market, including the impact of new releases and the dynamics of card shows. Plus. Joe previews some MASSIVE Pokemon releases and the value in Pokemon cases. Additionally, the guys are joined by Morgan Jon Fox to discuss the Mantle Awards, which Sports Cards Nonsense Media Network is nominated for! Morgan is a judge for the awards (and a SCN listener)! Be sure to vote for us for Media Platform of the Year! Don't make Mike break his TV over us losing... PLEASE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse and Mike are joined by Shep of Shep's Cards to talk about the latest sports card and collectibles news, and drama... Shilling is the talk of the hobby right now, which Mike and Shep weigh in on in detail. Plus, Boston Card Hunter has a juicy scoop the guys discuss. Probstein is breaking off from eBay is there more there than meets the eyes? They also talk about the impact on the hobby of players such as Skeens and Yamamoto, and the shifting dynamics in the football market with non-quarterbacks. Jonathan Taylor and Jaxon Smith-Njigba have booming markets right now and other skill players are following suit. Additionally, the guys reflect on the sentimental value of collecting, encouraging listeners to find joy beyond monetary gains. Remember, this is a hobby after all! The episode concludes with insights into upcoming sports card releases and answering mailbag questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices