Is The Hobby just for hustlers? And a Tiger Woods photo goes from $75 to $90K in one month

DAVE MAXWELL via Getty Images

Morning, Collectors… or should we say Speculators instead? Flippers? Hustlers? Traders?

A newsletter I quite like, Shiny Thing$ from Rally, posted a provocative piece this week stating that “Every Hobby is About Money.” Rally brought to light something we’ve talked about a lot here atMantel— how these days, people who collect to cherish and hold seem to be in the minority vs. people who buy collectibles to profit.

But that isn’t always a terrible thing. Sure, if you want to collectJayden Daniels Kabooms, the market is very frothy. But those looking to make a quick buck tend to focus on the most hyped athletes and the most hyped sets, leaving plenty behind for collectors looking to fill up theirMantelpiece.

One thing we disagreed with from the piece? The writer states, “Even on the content side, the influencers who dominate “The Hobby” aren’t kids with binders; they’re men in their 30s and 40s... A 12-year-old can watch, but the buying power is concentrated in the hands of adults who treat cards as inventory.”

After walking the halls at card shows all summer, it’s pretty clear to me… some of the biggest bankrolls and toughest negotiators in this hobby are just wrapping up their first days of middle school this week. The kids are active and they are to be feared!

The Athletic: The Stars of MLB, the NFL and Beyond Who Drove Sports Card Sales to New Highs in July

As we’ve written about inthese pages, July delivered the biggest month yet for the 2025 card market, with $314M in sales tracked by CardLadder, 86% of that on eBay. The Athletic dug into the players who helped fuel those massive numbers, and some were a bit surprising. Nick Kurtz led all athletes in net sales gain (+$935K), ahead of Hulk Hogan and Caitlin Clark, while legends like Michael Jordan and Shohei Ohtani remain staples. The market’s volatility was on full display, with names like Lamine Yamal and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seeing sharp drops. Meanwhile, eBay’s new “Live Activities” feature hints at a future of real-time lock screen bidding, a potentially game-changing shift that could further fuel auction prices by keeping collectors locked in till the final second.

cllct: Bought for $75, Type 1 Photo was Used for Tiger Woods' Rookie Card

A $75 impulse buy is now a (nearly) six-figure photo. Golf collector Curtis Loop bought a print of Tiger Woods’ iconic putt at the 2000 PGA Championship from photographer Robert Beck on Instagram, only to later discover it was the original Type 1 photo used for Woods’ 2001 Upper Deck rookie card. PSA confirmed its authenticity, and bidding at Golden Age Auctions quickly surged past $90,000, making it the most expensive Tiger Woods Type 1 to date. As the market for rookie card Type 1s heats up, this photo joins elite company — alongside Mantle, Jackie, and Namath — proving the right image at the right time can become its own kind of trophy. Maybe I’m a softie, but I can’t help but feel sort of sorry for the photographer, who saw the value of his former piece 1,000x in a few short weeks.

Meanwhile… a major Type 1 of Tiger Woods is certainly rare, but do you know what apparently isn’t? Rory McIlroy signed pin flags from August National…

Bleacher Report: Ex-Heat Staffer Pleads Guilty to Stealing Game-Worn NBA Jerseys, Selling Items for $2M

A quick update on a storywe’ve been tracking: A former Miami Heat security officer, Marcos Thomas Perez, pleaded guilty to trafficking over 400 stolen jerseys and memorabilia across state lines. Perez, who previously served with the Miami Police Department and later worked for both the Heat and the NBA, exploited his access to the team’s equipment room to pilfer game-used items intended for a future museum. Over three years, he sold more than 100 pieces, some below market value, for a total of $1.9M. Among them was a LeBron James Game 7 Finals jersey that ultimately sold for $3.7M at Sotheby’s. Authorities recovered nearly 300 stolen items from Perez’s home.

Forbes: Michelle Akers And USWNT 85ers Launch Collection With The Realest

The 1985 U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, long overlooked despite their foundational role, is finally receiving overdue recognition with the launch of The 85ers LLC, a player-owned company committed to preserving their legacy. In collaboration with collectibles platformTheRealest, founded byThe Hobby Awards judge and friend of Mantel, DJ Skee, the team released their first-ever official memorabilia, including custom-designed jerseys and trading cards. Michelle Akers, one of the sport’s pioneers, helped spearhead the initiative, which also includes a content series and podcast supported by Adidas. With few historical records from 1985, the project modernizes their story while giving fans tangible proof the 85ers not only existed, but mattered.

WSJ: How Pop Mart Sold the ‘Happy Vibe’ of Owning a Labubu

It wouldn’t beAbove the Mantel these days without dipping into the Labubu craze, would it? Pop Mart has tapped into a booming niche of “affordable joy,” with its quirky Labubu dolls driving a 400% net profit surge and record-breaking sales in 2025. Founded by self-taught entrepreneur Wang Ning, the company capitalized on blind-box toy culture and emotionally resonant characters like Molly and Labubu, which now account for over a third of its revenue. The dolls’ scarcity, mystery, and collectibility —combined with celebrity sightings and a rabid Gen Z fanbase — have fueled global demand. With blind boxes selling at a pace of 10 million a month, Pop Mart’s rise reflects a collector economy driven by identity, gratification, and a need for “happy vibes.”

And look for the hype to only grow, asThe New York Times reported this week on rumors circulating that mini Labubus are set to hit the market. 📈