Good morning, Collectors. Finally a card shop criminal was nabbed! On Sunday police in Wilmington, NC arrested a man for kidnapping and robbery charges, tied t
Good morning, Collectors.
Finally a card shop criminal was nabbed! On Sunday police in Wilmington, NC arrested a man for kidnapping and robbery charges, tied to a more than $20,000 theft from a local TCG shop. This comes on the heels of officers in British Columbia intercepting cards stolen from a shop in the city of Nanaimo.
With card shops holding product worth significant money, robberies are on the rise, so it’s worth celebrating whenever the good guys win.
Hollywood Reporter: Sports Powerhouse Fanatics Pushes Into Entertainment With Launch of Fanatics Studios
Fanatics is launching Fanatics Studios, a major push into entertainment via a joint venture with entertainment heavyweight, OBB Media. The new studio is coming out of the gates fast, announcing deals with LA28, ESPN, WWE, and MLB, spanning live events, series, films, and digital media. Initial projects include the 2026 ESPYs and a docuseries on flag football with Tom Brady, along with content planned around the 2026 Fanatics Fest. As rumors continue to circulate about an eventual Fanatics IPO, developing more ways to promote company initiatives in pop culture is a shrewd move by Michael Rubin.
Credit: Upper Deck
Relic cards are finally getting a much-needed reboot. For years, collectors have been frustrated by meaningless “napkin” swatches with weak ties to players. But in response to growing backlash, Topps and Upper Deck are launching initiatives aimed at restoring trust and excitement. Topps is video-authenticating LeBron James patches from his 23rd NBA season, while Upper Deck will cut up full game-worn jerseys from NHL rookie debuts to create more accessible cards. Are the days of cards with random, never-used towel swatches numbered? Let’s all hope.
Collecting grass from Lincoln Financial Field for TheRealest, Credit: CNN
The Realest is turning team-issued gear, locker room signage, and even grass clippings into authenticated memorabilia for diehard fans. Founded by “Friend of Mantel” DJ Skee, the company broke through the zeitgeist thanks to a blunt smoked by Snoop Dogg and now partners with major franchises like the Eagles and Heat. With a law enforcement–backed authentication system and direct sourcing from players and venues, The Realest is bringing transparency to a fraud-ridden hobby. Whether the grass was smoked by Snoop or trampled by Jalen Hurts, The Realest ensures it’s all legit.
Kurt Cobain’s banged-up “Smells Like Teen Spirit” guitar. Courtesy of Christie’s
The late Jim Irsay’s legendary collection, an eclectic mix of music, sports, and pop culture artifacts, is headed to auction at Christie’s in March, with nearly 400 items up for grabs. Standouts include Ringo Starr’s Beatles drum kits (each estimated at $1–2M), Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” guitar ($2.5–5M), Muhammad Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” belt (purchased for $6.18M), and Secretariat’s Triple Crown saddle ($1.5–2M). Irsay, who saw himself as a steward rather than an owner, built the collection to be shared, even taking the collection on the road for the public to see, and now his daughters are passing that legacy on to the next generation of stewards.
Collectors president Ryan Hoge laid out 2026 plans for PSA, SGC, and Beckett on the company’s podcast, marking the first public comments since Collectors acquired Beckett Grading Services late last year. All three brands will operate independently, but share tech, fraud tools, and backend infrastructure. Among the teased changes, Hoge said Beckett will get a brand refresh, new labels, and digital upgrades. Hoge also said that PSA’s turnaround times remain “unacceptable”, and expansion efforts are underway at PSA to boost capacity, welcome news to all who grade.
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Topps Chrome’s 2026 U.S. Winter Olympics & Paralympic Team Hopefuls set is here, and J.R. Fickle has opinions. Among the most collectible names: Ilia “Quad God” Malinin, Amber Glenn, Chloe Kim, Jessie Diggins, and Jordan Stolz, each with hype, medals, or market upside. As always, it’s part research, part vibes, part eBay sleuthing. Just don’t blame J.R. when you pull an auto of the alternate luge coach from your hobby box.
Category: General Sports
