2 days ago
Messi fakes, rare Mantles and the best buy in the hobby right now
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - MAY 31: Lionel Messi (10) of Inter Miami CF is seen warming up prior to an MLS soccer match between Inter Miami CF and Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium on May 31, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The NBA Finals start tonight, Collectors. Who you got!? Hopefully not team, ' This small market Finals is bad for ratings !'
The benefit of an NBA Finals lacking global superstars? A chance for a new one to emerge. And Mantel's Keegan Wagner ( with help from eBay data ) thinks that Tyrese Haliburton, recently considered overrated by his peers, is actually underrated when it comes to his collectibility market, making him THE BEST buy in The Hobby right now.
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Agree? Let us know over on Mantel.
And by the way! Today, the Mantel experience gets even better, as we dropped an update that delivers enhanced profile stats, a more engaging leaderboard, and improvements to DMs and photo uploads. So update your app ASAP, and if you aren't on Mantel yet, get crackin!
Topps is remaking Lionel Messi autograph cards after PSA, the leading card grading co , refused to authenticate signatures from at least five Topps sets, including the high-end 2022-23 Dynasty line. A Topps collector support manager confirmed remakes were underway, suggesting the issue spans multiple cards. While Topps has yet to publicly address the situation, the scale and value of the affected cards, (there are 204 total Messi cards in the Dynasty run), has some high-end Messi collectors concerned.
Memory Lane's Spring Rarities Auction tallied $5.2M, led by a record-setting $231K sale of a PSA 8 1954 Stahl-Meyer Mickey Mantle, the highest graded known example. Originally inserted in hot dog packs, the card's clean condition helped drive the price. Pre-war cards also performed well in the auction, including a 1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb PSA 5, which hammered for $65K. High-grade examples from the 1933 Goudey set and iconic post-war stars like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays rounded out a deep bench of bidding action.
Yesterday Topps released the 2025 Topps Sterling Baseball set, one of the most premium products the company puts out each year. This year's highlights include a Shohei Ohtani game used bat relic with matching Kanji autograph, and the Charter Member 50/50 Club auto card, marking his historic 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases season. The set also features a Willie Mays & John F. Kennedy dual cut auto 'A Moment in Time' insert, blending sports and history.
Shohei Ohtani – Game-Used Kanji Bat Relic with Kanji Autograph
(Topps)
Restoring vintage sports jerseys is becoming an increasingly popular practice among collectors, blending craftsmanship with nostalgia to preserve game-worn history. The Athletic profiled jersey restorers bringing new life to priceless and sentimental uniforms, like a tattered Orioles jersey from the 1970s or a restored Jesse Jefferson jersey gifted to his son. As the practice gains traction, it's carving out a place in the broader memorabilia market, where sentiment and authenticity often go hand in hand.
In London? Head over to the London Concours, which wraps up it's ninth year later today. The rare car event drew a record 90 vehicles to the Honourable Artillery Company's cricket pitch in central London, showcasing a wild range of collectible rides. Highlights include a rare 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia SS, finally making its debut after a long restoration and a 1967 AC 428 Frua Spyder prototype, which took top honors in the event's AC class.
In 1996, a Rolex Datejust found on a body pulled from the English Channel became the linchpin in solving a murder case that initially offered no ID, wallet, or obvious leads. Preserved by cold waters and discovered by a fishing duo off Brixham, the victim wore the watch still ticking, displaying a time and date that helped narrow the window of death. This seemingly routine timepiece ultimately identified the victim as Ronald Platt and led authorities to a man living under his identity: Canadian conman and fugitive Albert Walker. The watch's serial number, service records, and robust construction made it a forensic breadcrumb trail, underscoring that, in the world of collectibles, even a watch can carry deadly secrets.
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