Sports Cards Nonsense

Latest Episodes:

Ultimate 2025 Bowman Draft Guide: Eli Willits, Seth Hernandez & Hidden Gems Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

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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Is the Sports Card Bubble Back? Buying Bryce Young & Upper Deck’s Big News Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

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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NFL Playoff Buys & Sells + CRAZY Story Behind Topps Celebrity Autos Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

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.

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Is Cooper Flagg the Next Wemby? Potential Monopoly Investigation Coming Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Will Collectors Gut or Save Beckett? The Future of Grading Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Should You Buy Patrick Mahomes Cards NOW?! Plus, Breaker Program Cuts & New Releases Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Lawyer Weighs in on Hobby Lawsuits; NFL Buy/Sell, MLB Free Agency Reactions Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Major Grading Scandal, Is Dak a GOAT & Adam Palmer Joins the Show Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

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!

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Is Topps' Pricing a Problem? Probstein Back on eBay Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

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

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Beginner's Guide to The Hobby l TOUGH Questions & Answers with Upper Deck President Jason Masherah Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

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

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