Today I want to write about something that has been on my mind for quite a while. Five promising rookies whose cards didn’t just cool off but completely collapsed. The idea came to me by accident. I recently picked up a dirt-cheap Markelle Fultz Prizm card. And when I say cheap, I mean it. The … Read more
For many collectors, getting a strong PSA grade feels like winning. You send in cards you believe are clean, you get back nines and tens, and naturally you expect profit to follow. But that is not always how it works. A good grade does not automatically mean a good return. This is one of the … Read more
The goal of many investors and collectors is to achieve the highest possible grade for their cards. For collectors, this is obvious. A PSA 10 can significantly increase the value of a card. Even a PSA 9 or 8 can noticeably reduce its market appeal. A PSA 10 is often referred to as a GEM, … Read more
It’s one of those questions that keeps popping up in the hobby, and the answer is a bit frustrating at first. There’s no degree, no course, no official “grader training program” you can sign up for. You can’t just decide to become a grader and then study your way into it. That’s not how it … Read more
Creating custom trading cards such as baseball cards is easy and flexible using Canva. This guide walks through the full process from setting the correct card size to preparing a printable sheet for front and back designs. Step One Set Up the Card Size Start on the Canva homepage and select Custom size. Change the … Read more
Photomatching has long been—and still is—considered one of the most reliable ways to verify whether a jersey, shoe, or other item was actually used in a game. Trusted companies like the MeiGray Group rely on this method alongside their official team partnerships, and even auction house giants like Sotheby’s—now entering the sports memorabilia space—use it … Read more
In September 2016, California passed a new law, Assembly Bill 1570 (AB 1570), aimed at providing stronger protections against the fraudulent sale of signed sports memorabilia (California Legislative Information). Unlike earlier regulations, which mainly focused on sports memorabilia, AB 1570 expanded the rules to apply to all autographed items sold for $5 or more. The … Read more
Autograph grading autographs — or any signed collectible — has become more than just a way to verify authenticity. It’s a financial strategy. A slabbed signature carries weight in the hobby, adds legitimacy, and can drastically increase resale value. But the real question is: Does grading actually maximize your return on investment? Everyone loves to … Read more
The sports card hobby has witnessed an incredible resurgence in recent years, driven by nostalgia, technological advancements, and an influx of investors. However, despite its growth, there are several challenges that could threaten its long-term sustainability. Could we be heading toward another collapse similar to the “junk wax era” of the late 1980s and early … Read more
If you’re a dedicated sports enthusiast, you might already be aware that collecting sports memorabilia, including trading cards, autographed jerseys, and game-used items, can be a thrilling and engaging pastime. But did you realize that there are around 200 million collectors globally who collectively spend billions of dollars on rare sports memorabilia? Indeed, collecting rare … Read more
