Topps and the FA Deal: Why Fanatics Is Locking Down Soccer Before 2031

Topps announced an exclusive trading card, sticker and trading card games partnership with England’s Football Association, but the interesting part is not only the FA logo on future products. It is the date. The deal starts in 2031, which makes the whole thing feel less like a product announcement and more like a land grab … Read more

Why Upper Deck Still Matters for Michael Jordan Autographs

Upper Deck is in a strange place today. Not gone. Not irrelevant. But also not sitting in the middle of modern basketball cards anymore. A quick look at the Upper Deck Store in May 2026 says enough. Goodwin Champions, Skybox Metal Universe Champions, World of Sports, multi-sport boxes, hockey, nostalgia, niche products. That is the … Read more

Damaged Topps Relic Cards Are Becoming a Real Problem

A damaged Topps relic card made the rounds in collector groups recently, and honestly, I understand why people reacted so strongly. This was not just a tiny corner issue. It looked more like one of those cards where you immediately ask yourself how it came out of a pack like that. The top edge looked … Read more

Miami Heat Memorabilia: Why LeBron Still Changes the Conversation

The Miami Heat are an interesting memorabilia team. Not every Heat item is automatically valuable, but Miami has championships, a strong visual identity, and a few players who matter in the wider collectibles market. And then there is LeBron James. That changes the discussion. His Miami years were short compared to his full career, but … Read more

Are Topps and Fanatics Creating a Pay-to-Play Hobby?

Exclusive autograph deals with names like LeBron James and Shohei Ohtani have changed the feeling around modern sports card products. Not everything, of course. You can still collect cheap cards. You can still build sets, collect teams, buy vintage, search dollar boxes, chase weird inserts, whatever. The hobby is still big enough for all of … Read more

The ‘Smiley’ Secret: The One Detail That Proves a Maradona Signature is Real

I recently saw a Diego Maradona mural on the wall of a bar. That is not unusual. Maradona is still everywhere in football culture, especially when Napoli, Argentina, or the number 10 are part of the setting. What caught my attention was the painted signature next to the mural. This was obviously not a real … Read more

Which Sports Cards Are Worth Buying Right Now?

I saw the question again in a collector group the other night, and like always, the answers came fast. Wembanyama. Ohtani. Brady. Jordan. LeBron. Kobe. Mahomes. Curry. Giannis. Paul Skenes. Roman Anthony. Bobby Witt Jr. Cam Ward. Cooper Flagg. Harper. Tony Romo. Somebody even mentioned Wander Franco, which probably tells you enough about how chaotic … Read more

Are Fanatics COAs Legit? A Look at My Victor Wembanyama Signed Basketball

Today I want to look at a question that matters a lot in modern sports memorabilia: Are Fanatics COAs legit? I am using a real example from my own collection: a signed Victor Wembanyama basketball from Fanatics. Wembanyama is already one of the most important young names in basketball, and after becoming one of the … Read more

How Should You Store Trading Cards?

The big question I want to talk about today is simple: How should you actually store your trading cards? There are different opinions in the hobby. Some collectors swear by magnetic holders. Others say the best method is penny sleeve plus toploader. Those are the hard plastic holders most collectors know from buying, selling, and … Read more

How Many Real Hits Are Really Inside a Sports Card Box?

Today I want to talk about something very simple, but also very important: How many real hits are actually inside a sports card box? That question comes up all the time in the hobby. Collectors discuss it constantly. Are blaster boxes better? Are hanger boxes better? Should you buy retail at all? Or should you … Read more

Consent Management Platform by Real Cookie Banner