Latest news with #FanaticsCollect
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 Logoman cards set records to lead Fanatics Premier auction
Five of the six Logoman cards to sell in Fanatics Collect's May Premier Auction Thursday night set a record for a player featured, according to public sales data. The top sale from the auction was the $348,000 paid for a 2023 Panini Flawless Triple Logoman 1/1 featuring patches of LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. The sale is now the most paid for a Jokic card of any kind, topping the previous high of $205,000 paid for a 2015-16 Panini Immaculate Logoman 1/1 in 2024. Advertisement Two Logoman Autograph 1/1s from 2006 Ultimate Collection also set records, with a Tracy McGrady BGS 8.5 selling for $87,000 and a Vince Carter BGS 8 selling for $60,000. According to data tool Card Ladder, the previous record for any McGrady card was $78,000 and the previous high for any Carter card was $24,400. A 2008 Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autograph of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett sold for $84,000, topping the previous record of $31,720 for any Pierce card. The 2021 Immaculate Collection Logoman Autograph 1/1 featuring Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley fetched $36,000 on 38 bids, easily topping the previous high of $19,200 for any Mobley card. The auction's sixth Logoman, a 2004 SP Manu Ginobili Logoman 1/1, sold for $28,500, but didn't set a record for the former San Antonio Spurs guard. Advertisement Beyond Logoman cards, a 1997 Metal Universe Emmitt Smith Green Precious Metal Gems PSA 8 sold for $66,000 to set a record for any Smith card at public auction. Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Michael Jordan card prices are surpassing pandemic peaks — why now?
There are many theories why the value of sports cards exploded during the pandemic but the fact itself is undeniable. The peak prices achieved then are viewed as an outlier, a bubble, something to be ignored when looking at the otherwise linear appreciation of vintage cards. But four years after that market peak of early 2021, that's not true for a subset of low-population cards of the long-retired athlete most identified with this period. These cards are now hitting new highs, surpassing even peak pandemic levels. Advertisement According to Bryan Denison, 'Cajun Cardboard' on YouTube, a Michael Jordan card collector who closely tracks their values, the most recent Fanatics Collect auction saw multiple Jordan cards exceed or meet prior-highest-ever prices. Denison has a 41-part series on YouTube where he ranks Jordan cards based on 'demand, aesthetics, scarcity and value.' His top tier of Jordan cards out of the 378 he assesses (you can see all four tiers listed out here) are mostly low population cards from the 1990s in high grades. This tier consists of 27 cards. While it includes his iconic 1986-87 Fleer rookie card for its demand, Denison's most heavily-weighted criteria, the card's value is currently a fraction of its all-time high (last sale of a gem-mint PSA 10 grade example sold for $348,000 in April and the all-time high was $645,000 in February 2021) while others are soaring. Top row: 1997 Metal Universe PMG Green #23 /10, 1997 Metal Universe PMG Red #23 /100* (Qty. 90), 1997 Metal Universe Championship PMG #23 /50, 1998 Metal Universe PMG #1 /50, 1998 Skybox Molten Metal Fusion Titanium #41 /40, 1997 E-X2001 Essential Credentials Now #9 /9, 1997 E-X2001 Essential Credentials Future #9 /72, 1998 UD Choice Starquest Gold #SQ30 /100, 1997 Finest Die-Cut Gold Embossed Refractor #154 /74 Middle row: 1998 Fleer Tradition Playmakers Theatre #9 /100, 1986 Fleer #57, 1997 Ultra Stars Gold #1, 1998 Hoops Slam Bams #1 /100, 1984 Star #101, 1997 Skybox Premium Team Skybox Star Rubies #235 /50, 1997 Skybox Premium Star Rubies #29 /50, 1998 Skybox Premium Star Rubies #23 /50, 1997 SPx Grand Finale #6 /50 Bottom row: 1997 E-X2001 Jambalaya #6, 1997 Flair Showcase Row 0 Legacy Collection #1 /100, 1997 Flair Showcase Row 1 Legacy Collection #1 /100, 1997 Flair Showcase Row 2 Legacy Collection #1 /100, 1997 Flair Showcase Row 3 Legacy Collection #1 /100, 1996 Flair Showcase Row 0 Legacy Collection #23 /150, 1996 Flair Showcase Row 1 Legacy Collection #23 /150, 1996 Flair Showcase Row 2 Legacy Collection #23 /150, 1998 NBA Hoops Starting Five #23 /5 Advertisement It was that Jordan rookie card that became the symbol of the exploding sports card hobby during the pandemic. The combination of a housebound nation and the suspension of sports made his 'The Last Dance' docuseries a phenomenon. During its 10-episode run that spanned five weeks, 'The Last Dance' became the most viewed documentary in ESPN history. Then it transferred to Netflix, attracting nearly 24 million more international viewers. It turned out that many wanted to cap the experience by spending some of the money they saved by not being able to do anything or go anywhere on Jordan cards, particularly targeting his rookie card, a category long regarded as the best investment among buyers. 'Cards actually entered a boom in 2018,' Denison said. 'At least what anyone in their right mind would consider a boom. Then the pandemic scared everyone (in the hobby) — we thought cards would go down. But they went up. … Then the Jordan doc hits and creates a wave of nostalgia and a massive increase in demand early in 2021. 'But it was uneducated, FOMO (fear of missing out), unsophisticated. People ignored the fundamentals of card populations and what was certain to happen once grading got back online. There were thousands and thousands of cards that were going to be added to (graded) populations. So it was inorganic growth. You can say the supply was unknown but savvy people knew. Remember, 95 percent of cards in the hobby don't matter at all. Only five percent do. And for the five percent of cards, the so-called pandemic peak will prove to be just a speed bump.' The Jordan rookie, according to Denison, is too common to meet all of his top-tier criteria. According to CardLadder, which tracks trading card prices and populations, there are more than 47,000 graded examples of that card. That includes over 900 in gem mint condition. Denison said he sold his perfect Jordan rookie during the peak and put all that money into other Jordan cards in lower populations that were being largely ignored by newbie investors, 'big-money fund managers and rich people' who he says 'knew nothing about this market.' As iconic as the Jordan rookie card remains in the hobby, it's been mired in a post-peak malaise, relatively speaking. A PSA 8 (NM-MT on a scale of 1-to-10) sells for about $8,000-to-$9,000 now, according to CardLadder, far off its pandemic high of $20,000. Even if you ignore the top of the market that spiked dramatically and quickly retreated over a period of just a few months, your five-year return on investment on a Jordan rookie card is only about 30 percent. The S&P 500 has doubled in value in the same period. Advertisement But contrast that to Denison's rarities, which are at least matching and often selling well above prior highs. In a recent video, he highlighted eight cards, including a Jordan 1997 Flair Showcase Legacy Row Two numbered to 100 in PSA 8 condition, a 1996 Topps Mystery Finest Borderless Refractor and a widely issued 1992 Upper Deck McDonald's Hologram that's very hard to find in gem mint condition due to printing issues. Denison used historic prices to illustrate how all reached new highs, with the Topps Mystery selling for over four times more than its previous top sale. Savvy buyers are embracing the fundamentals of supply and demand. 'With the way modern cards are trending, people are going for true rare and scarce,' said Juho Whang, a New Jersey-based collector/investor who also sets up occasionally at shows. 'I collect Jordans. Focusing on scarcity is the way to go — 1990s playing days in a Bulls' uniform in low population and in high grade.' Whang warns that you need pretty deep pockets to pursue these cards at current prices, which are well into the four figures at a minimum. Whang added that he has an 8.5 BVG (Beckett graded) rookie Jordan and that the card had been worth as much as $17,000. But it's now worth about half that. If you ignore the very brief pandemic-fueled period where the card could have fetched that top amount, Whang said the card is 'basically keeping up with inflation.' Denison has his Top 10 Jordan cards listed on the Fanatics Collect website. They are not listed in order. When pushed to pick a top five in order of expected return, he listed the 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems at the top (the Red, Championship and Green), 1997 SPx Grand Finale, and 1997 Skybox Premium Star Rubies. All of those cards had print runs of 100 or less. Denison and Whang agree these are old-school concepts rooted in the vintage, '50s and '60s era where the supply of cards is a paramount consideration. Back then, parents created scarcity by throwing children's cards away every year. For the past 30 years or so, that scarcity has been manufactured into the products. But sometimes it's due to the rarity of a common card in high grade. Advertisement Jordan's popularity is expected to endure. He is still consistently the most searched athlete across all sports on eBay every month, beating out the hottest stars of today. His brand and especially his sneakers keeps him relevant to new generations, and it was recently announced that he'll be joining the NBA coverage on NBC as a special contributor. He's widely considered to be at that Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle level of transcendent sports superstardom that will never fade in the eyes of the public. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Paul Skenes' 1-of-1 baseball card sells for $1.11M at auction
Paul Skenes' 1-of-1 baseball card sells for $1.11M at auction Show Caption Hide Caption Can Pirates phenom Paul Skenes win the NL Cy Young Award after winning Rookie of the Year? USA TODAY Sports' Gabe Lacques shares his expectations for Paul Skenes ahead of the 2025 MLB season. Sports Seriously A baseball card featuring Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes sold for $1.1 million on Thursday. The sale price includes a buyer's premium, as there were 64 bids on the card via the Fanatics Collect auction. The proceeds from the auction are going to the LA Fire Relief Fund to help those who were impacted by the wildfires that devastated Southern California earlier this year. Topps says that only five baseball cards have sold for more than Skenes' card, including a 2022 sale of a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps card for $12.6 million. The buyer of the 1-of-1 card, which features Skenes' autograph and a patch the NL Rookie of the Year wore on his uniform when he made his major league debut on May 11, 2024, was not identified. Skenes' card drew so much attention that the Pirates offered the person who eventually retrieved the card a bounty for it, including seats behind home plate at PNC Park for the next 30 years, an exclusive meet-and-greet with Skenes and two autographed jerseys and a chance to host a softball game at the ballpark. Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, also said the winner would get a chance to sit with her in a suite. An 11-year-old from Los Angeles pulled the Skenes redemption card, and the family turned down the Pirates' offer and gave the card to Fanatics Collect so it could be auctioned off. Skenes, who is scheduled to make $875,000 this year, went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts last season and will be Pittsburgh's 2025 opening day starter when the Pirates take on the Marlins in Miami on March 27.
Fox Sports
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card sells for $1.11 million via auction
Associated Press A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card has been sold for $1.11 million after a two-week auction. There was a total of 64 bids on Skenes' debut patch card, which is autographed and contains a patch that was on the pitcher's jersey for his heralded major league debut in May. The final price announced by Fanatics Collect late Thursday night included a 20% buyer's premium. The buyer was not identified. Fanatics Collect plans to donate its proceeds from the sale to the LA Fire Relief Fund. The 22-year-old Skenes is slated to make $875,000 while in the major leagues this year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The card's journey over the last few months has generated the kind of buzz typically reserved for iconic collectibles featuring Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. The debut patch cards are featured in Topps Chrome Update. There were 91 in the first year in 2023 and 251 last year. While the cards have attracted the attention of some young major leaguers and longtime collectors alike, most of the attention has been focused on Skenes' card in particular. A combination of Skenes' burgeoning stardom, the considerable reach of his girlfriend, LSU gymnast/influencer Livvy Dunne and a head-turning offer the Pirates made in hopes of securing the card fueled the hype for the one-of-one collectible. It was claimed by an 11-year-old in the Los Angeles area after he discovered the redemption code for the Skenes card in a pack he received as part of a Christmas present. He declined the Pirates' offer and instead turned over the card to Fanatics Collect, which has given it the 'white glove' service for the last two months. Skenes was voted the National League Rookie of the Year after he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts for Pittsburgh last year. The right-hander is slated to start for the Pirates on opening day next week. ___ AP MLB: recommended in this topic
Chicago Tribune
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card sells for $1.11 million after a 2-week auction
A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card has been sold for $1.11 million after a two-week auction. There was a total of 64 bids on Skenes' debut patch card, which is autographed and contains a patch that was on the pitcher's jersey for his heralded major league debut in May. The final price announced by Fanatics Collect late Thursday night included a 20% buyer's premium. The buyer was not identified. Fanatics Collect plans to donate its proceeds from the sale to the LA Fire Relief Fund. The 22-year-old Skenes is slated to make $875,000 while in the major leagues this year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The card's journey over the last few months has generated the kind of buzz typically reserved for iconic collectibles featuring Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. The debut patch cards are featured in Topps Chrome Update. There were 91 in the first year in 2023 and 251 last year. While the cards have attracted the attention of some young major leaguers and longtime collectors alike, most of the attention has been focused on Skenes' card in particular. A combination of Skenes' burgeoning stardom, the considerable reach of his girlfriend, LSU gymnast/influencer Livvy Dunne and a head-turning offer the Pirates made in hopes of securing the card fueled the hype for the one-of-one collectible. It was claimed by an 11-year-old in the Los Angeles area after he discovered the redemption code for the Skenes card in a pack he received as part of a Christmas present. He declined the Pirates' offer and instead turned over the card to Fanatics Collect, which has given it the 'white glove' service for the last two months. Skenes was voted the National League Rookie of the Year after he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts for Pittsburgh last year. The right-hander is slated to start for the Pirates on opening day next week. Originally Published: March 21, 2025 at 8:36 AM CDT
