Latest news with #Superfractor
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Lewis Hamilton signs multi-year deal with Fanatics Collectibles, shares his favorite things to collect
Fanatics Collectibles has signed a multi-year partnership with seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who began the new season with Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes. The deal covers both memorabilia and trading cards, and includes an exclusive autograph deal, allowing for Hamilton signatures and race-worn items to be a part of his cards produced by Topps, which is owned by Fanatics. This individual deal is a new one, as Hamilton was previously included in Topps' trading cards through the brand's F1 rights. Advertisement This past Friday, Hamilton appeared at the grand opening of Fanatics Collectibles London Flagship Store on Regent Street. There he signed his first Topps Chrome F1 one-of-one card featuring him in a Ferrari race suit (pictured below), along with a 'Forza Ferrari' inscription and autograph on a red parallel of the card limited to just five in existence. Topps has held the Formula 1 trading card and sticker license since 2020, capitalizing on the sport's global surge in popularity following the 2019 debut of Netflix's Drive to Survive docuseries. This also coincided with the pandemic trading card boom that drove up values across all categories. As a result, there have been at least eight sales of Topps F1 cards for more than $100,000, including the Dec. 2024 sale of Hamilton's one-of-a-kind 2020 Topps Chrome F1 autographed Superfractor for more than $1 million. Hamilton cards make up each of the top three publicly known F1 card sales to date, with the other two being his 2020 Topps Chrome F1 (non-autographed) Superfractor, which sold for $900,000 in May 2022 and his 2020 Topps Chrome F1 Sapphire Edition Padparadscha 1/1 card for $740,000 in Sept. 2022. Before jetting off to Florida for the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton spoke exclusively with The Athletic about the new deal, what he collects, and the young drivers card collectors should chase. What made you want to sign exclusively for Fanatics? Well, I remember I met with (Fanatics CEO Michael) Rubin, and I love his enthusiasm. It was really interesting to learn from him about the business, to see (how its) grown. As a kid, I remember collecting Premier League stickers, and I remember swapping them through junior school, even into high school. And I remember just how important it was because always every little bit of change I would get, I would go down and get these little packs and we were (trading) them to be able to fill out those sticker books. Advertisement And when I got into Formula 1, I never thought there would be a memorabilia card of mine. But I have also always been really keen on holding on to my memorabilia, for one day to be able to utilize and to raise money for charity because it's so personal. It's just been incredible to see people around the world just collecting these cards. Obviously, I saw baseball cards over the years, and it's only the last few years that our sport have finally gotten into it. And I wanted to get involved, as it brings people together. As you see today, sheesh there's a lot of memorabilia collectors in for our sport that's super passionate. Those guys are the most passionate because they're going to all ends to try and find these cards. How was it meeting collectors today and what do you think about the Fanatics Collectibles store? It was really personal to see, to meet some of these collectors. Particularly the guy that has one of my one-of-one cards. And he was telling me the story of how he grew up watching Formula 1, and Arsenal and me. It was basically what he was into. So it was kind of surreal because I was like, dude, you look the same age as me. But I thought that was really cool. And we got to open up some of the boxes. It's been amazing to see the brand and how it's grown and how strategic they've been in terms of pulling all the sports together under one umbrella so it's not so tacky, like, being done by so many different companies. And just executed so well. I mean, this store is huge. And the crowd; I came today, I wasn't expecting 10 people. I was expecting a lot of people. And it's been incredible to see front and back just how many people have turned up and it's going to be really interesting. And now I have a place actually that I can come and get my collectibles, which is really cool. Which items have you kept from your career and cherish the most? There's been too many. There's my first go-kart helmet, my first yellow helmet, which my dad painted. That one is probably the most special I would say. Because I remember choosing it, going down to B&Q (hardware store) and coming back with him and him spraying it. My first Monaco Grand Prix trophy, my first race suit. Those things. The first, the first, the first of anything. Same as the cards, the one-of-ones. Advertisement Today I have lots of suits and we go through them. We go through many through the year. But, back then, I only had one for I don't know, God knows how many years. And so those ones are particularly special. How does it feel to be the first F1 driver to have a trading card sell for $1 million? I mean, it's pretty crazy. I've never thought that would ever be the case. The story of it, where the kid had bought it through a pack, the difference that purchase would have made to him and his family would have been huge. I can only imagine these things are just going to continue to go up now, especially with the store opening. I know there's another big launch of another league coming up and just the growth of the business. It's got me really hooked. I was opening up those boxes just now, and I was like, I need to get myself some more of these boxes. Actually, I didn't even take my Ayrton Senna one, damn it. Which young driver would you collect cards of? Naturally, Kimi (Antonelli). (Oliver) Bearman. Isack Hadjar is probably my favorite, he's really cool. What do you collect outside of memorabilia? So I was originally into cars. Now I'm heavy into art. I really, really love art. I love going to galleries. I just love the experience of it. But, car wise, of course I love vintage cars still, but I never ever drive and never have time to go and drive. But to actually sit at home with a glass of wine and admire a piece of art. I got home two days ago, and I just remember walking in. The first thing I did, I dropped my bag, went to this room, and just sat and just looked at this painting that I've managed to get and I just can't believe that I got this painting. But, that's my favorite thing to invest in. I really, really love to buy young up-and-coming black artists as well, and African art. There's just so much to learn in that world. That's what I spend most of my time searching online for. What's the weirdest item that you've been asked to sign? I would say probably the strangest thing was a pair of Japanese boxer shorts. And they were really tiny. They were really small. I didn't know if they were women's hot pants or what. I was like, where do you want me to sign these? 'Just across the butt,' they said. I was like, 'this is so weird,' but I signed them anyways. The guy was enthusiastic. So I just imagine him dancing in his wardrobe in them. (Laughs) The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (All images: Fanatics)
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
This Yoshinobu Yamamoto 1/1 Superfractor committed the Hobby's most grievous sin
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the third out against the Chicago Cubs in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) (Ronald Martinez via Getty Images) There is a lot to worry about in this 1/1 Yoshinobu Yamamoto Superfractor auto post on eBay . The lack of punctuation in the title. The seller's feedback at a mere 2. The fact that their only other eBay listing is a Superfractor lot of both Luka Doncic AND Kevin Durant, which inexplicably omits both player's names in the title of the listing. None of which is illegal or against TOS. But the most grievous, and most serious faux-pas, is the absence of a penny sleeve. The sought after Yoshinobo Yamamoto card is currently available on eBay. (Image from eBay listing) A penny sleeve serves as the hobby's fundamental protective measure, safeguarding cards against scratches, fingerprints, and smudges. In this case, it would have also prevented the auto from becoming tragically smudged as the card was carelessly pushed into the top loader. The penny sleeve might cost just a cent, but neglecting it can cost thousands. Advertisement Seeing a card of such stature without proper protection raises significant red flags and a slew of urgent questions: Where did this card originate? Who handled it so carelessly? Is the card even authentic? And crucially, is its surface compromised? The absence of something as basic as a penny sleeve isn't just negligence, it actively diminishes a card's value and shakes buyer confidence. Penny sleeves have become an essential staple within the hobby precisely because they're inexpensive yet vital. Ask any seasoned collector, and they'll emphasize how crucial these thin plastic protectors are to maintaining the integrity and value of prized cards. For beginners, penny sleeves are among the first investments recommended because even the slightest scratch can drastically impact a card's value. The hobby's reaction to this listing has been swift and vocal. MegaCardInvestor , the owner of the Yamamoto Kanji Superfractor 1/1 auto couldn't believe what he was looking at, "This is just a travesty. I'd like to know what happened to that auto and if it was pulled like that. I can't imagine the card being put into the pack like that. I'm hopingto get answers from seller.' Megacardinvestor claims he has gotten almost 6 figure offers for his Bowman 1/1 Yoshi Superfractor auto card, so 8k for some, is a steal. A steal on a card like this is great, but what then? Wiping the auto and attempting to have Yamamoto re-sign it raises immediate red flags; PSA would likely label the card as altered, a designation that almost always tanks its value. As the card's surface is most likely scratched on the surface, maybe the play is getting it re-signed and submitting only the autograph for grading? Or, maybe you submit as is and opt for just the 'authentic' designation? Whatever is decided, the buyer of this card has a lot to think about. Advertisement With Yamamoto boasting a sub-2.00 ERA through four games in the 2025 season, any Yamamoto Superfractor remains a massive chase for collectors, making this particular listing a stark reminder as to why penny sleeves are indispensable. It's also worth remembering that most people are doing the best they can, and we assume all good intentions here as respect to the seller, but penny sleeves are not merely optional; they're a requirement, especially when dealing with high-value collectibles. As the saying goes, 'penny wise, pound foolish'—never risk thousands to save just one cent. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Would you pay $100K for a signed baseball card with a piece of an Evan Longoria bat knob — or $700 for the entire bat?
Would you pay $100K for a signed baseball card with a piece of an Evan Longoria bat knob — or $700 for the entire bat? Evan Longoria created a stir in the collectibles world when he posted a picture of his new 2025 Topps Tier One Baseball card. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Daniel Shirey via Getty Images) Evan Longoria ignited the card-collecting social media world this week when he posted a baseball card he recently signed for Topps. Sure, Longoria has plenty of signed cards — well over 1,000 different ones. But this one stood out. It included a bat knob piece from one of his bats and made it truly special because the bat knob featured Charizard, the popular Pokémon character. With the Pokémon world in a current frenzy over trading cards combined with baseball card hype building, the mash-up created a perfect moment for collectors. Advertisement The card, which will be in 2025 Topps Tier One Baseball, immediately caught the eye of Alan Narz, owner of Big League Cards in Casselberry, Florida. He didn't just like the card. Narz NEEDED it. Narz immediately announced a $100,000 bounty for it. 'I think it belongs at Big League because our primary goal is to be the best sports and Pokémon store in the country,' Narz said. 'All of a sudden the best sports and Pokémon card is right there. It's just perfect. We have to have that card; whatever it takes.' Narz, who has been in the card industry for decades, feels this is the first MLB-licensed card featuring a Pokémon character. Topps has produced Pokémon cards before, but that was simply under the Pokémon IP. Advertisement Bat Knob cards are popular with card collectors. They feature the bottom of a bat that has been cut off and embedded into a card. Topps has included dozens of players including legends like Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson to modern-day stars. There's something about bat knob cards that are so appealing. 'When Topps puts that magic dust on a card, everything changes,' Narz said. It certainly feels that way because after the card was posted, it was noted by an X user that an Evan Longoria full-sized game-used bat with the same Charizard image on the knob was available on eBay for under $1,000. That caught the attention of Doug Caskey. He also had his eye on the Longoria card when it was posted. Advertisement Caskey, one of the co-founders of Mojobreak, has felt a connection to Longoria since the breaking business began in 2010. The Longoria Superfractor out of 2006 Bowman Chrome was one of the most chased cards in modern-day collecting. Longoria was a top prospect and the Superfractor is one of the most desired cards. The card has never surfaced publicly, which is a story in its own right, and at the time became a legend amongst collectors and breakers. Mojobreak spent a lot of time opening that product looking for the Superfractor. Caskey is also from the Bay Area and a San Francisco Giants fan where Longoria spent five seasons. Advertisement 'We've always been engrained with Longoria,' Caskey said. 'We were always like 'The Longoria hasn't been pulled!' We talked about it a lot. It still hasn't been pulled!' But instead of trying to match the bounty Big League Cards put on the bat knob card, Caskey bought the full-sized bat on eBay for $700. 'I didn't think it was going to get so many comments and likes (on X),' said Caskey of his post about buying the bat. 'For [Mojobreak], we have a large Pokémon group, and we are from the Bay Area. That is a really cool piece.' Would Caskey still like to find the card when 2025 Topps Tier One Baseball comes out later this year? Advertisement Of course! A collector can't help it with that Topps dust sprinkled on it. 'It's the hunt for the Tier One bat relic,' Caskey said. 'There's nothing like it. That is not as fun as hunting this card down.'
New York Times
12-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bidding on Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card nears his 2025 salary
An 11-year-old boy from Los Angeles who pulled the Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch card will likely sell it for more money than Skenes will make from his 2025 base salary with the Pittsburgh Pirates. With 56 bids as of Wednesday night, the gem-mint PSA 10 graded autographed one-of-one rookie card bearing the patch Skenes wore on his jersey sleeve during his Major League debut has a high bid of $550,000 as of this writing. That would mean with the auction house's buyer's premium (to be donated to the Los Angeles Fire Department and Red Cross), the new owner of the card would have to pony up $660,000 for one of the most hyped cards in the hobby. Advertisement And there's still ample time for more bids, as the auction for the card on Fanatics Collect ends March 20. At some point, Skenes could make $44 million per season if he continues his current trajectory. For now, though, the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star pitcher will make a base salary of $800,000 this season. The Skenes MLB Debut Patch card already carries a price tag more than four times higher than the most expensive sale of one of his other cards. The previously high mark was set by the pitcher's one-of-a-kind 2023 Bowman Draft Chrome Prospect autographed Superfractor card (PSA 7 card grade, 10 auto grade), which sold for $123,200 through Goldin Auctions last September. Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 29 sales of individual cards for at least $500,000 documented by Card Ladder's database. Only six cards in that period have sold publicly for more than where the Skenes card stands as of Wednesday morning: (Shohei Ohtani's record card sale came in November, when his 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor numbered to 25 in a Pristine BGS 10 grade sold for $533,140.) The Skenes MLB Debut Patch card will push the $500,000 card tally one tick higher when the auction ends next week. But how high will this card ultimately go? Here are some guesses from The Athletic's staff: Larry Holder I've been on record saying this card could reach the $1 million price tag. Is that too low given we're more than halfway there already? What makes me believe this could be the case is what Nick Bell, CEO of Fanatics Collect and Fanatics Live, told me just before the auction for the card opened: 'I can tell you obviously we get a lot of inbound from this, and the inbound that we've received for this card is not only from big collectors who typically kind of circle this sort of card, but also from a bunch of non-collectors who are really interested in this card for their first kind of major acquisition in the space.' Advertisement The interest from the non-traditional crowd could make this card more unique than the top dollar Honus Wagner or Mickey Mantle cards. Those cards may sell for more, but there's only one Skenes Debut Patch card and the hype surrounding it may be unmatched for a modern card. So I'm still bullish on a seven-figure sale. I'll guess $1.1 million will be the final bid. Caleb Mezzy When the Skenes MLB Debut Patch landed in the hands of an 11-year-old kid who declined the offers from everyone from the Pirates and Livvy Dunne to Ken Goldin, I predicted a wholesome $2 million. Here's why: First, there has been a chase spurred by the Pirates' bounty offer that Willy Wonka would applaud. Then there's Skenes himself, who is arguably the most generational pitching talent since Stephen Strasburg, when the sports card industry was much smaller. His talent and timing are the next ingredient. Skenes also had an interesting path coming from a college baseball powerhouse in LSU, where he transferred in as a catcher with the Air Force. His story, 100-plus MPH fastball, NL Rookie of the Year season, and All-Star game start, are another element. Then there's the story of the 11-year old kid who pulled the card and was kept anonymous by Topps to protect his privacy. But possibly the biggest element in this is Paul Skenes' famous girlfriend. If he's the face of Debut Patches, she's the face of NIL for the NCAA. Her celebrity status has brought attention to their relationship and this card, helping to draw in eyeballs and likely bids. Dan Uthman Skenes has the look of a generational pitcher, and he could get even better than he's shown in his professional career. But we're talking about a lot of money at a time when some financial portfolios have taken a hit. I see the ceiling as $1.5 million. Craig Custance Advertisement There's just so much buzz about this card that I think it blows well past $1 million and ends at $1.7 million. But we're still talking about a pitcher, which generally isn't a premium position in collecting so I'm not ready to push it over $2 million. Brooks Peck I have to admit that I didn't think that bidding on the card would be this high already, but it's become clear that the interest in this card has transcended the usual collector circles thanks to all those factors Caleb laid out above. But how high can those elements push the bidding? Narrative aside, it's hard to justify a seven-figure value on the card. Pitchers generally aren't as valued as hitters in the hobby and they also carry a significant risk for long-term injury. While the MLB Debut Patch cards are incredibly unique items that are just starting to find their footing in the space, no other Debut Patch card has sold anywhere close to where the Skenes card is already at. But with all that said, you can no longer divorce the narrative from the card. It has probably become the most widely recognized and pop-culture relevant baseball card of the last 25-30 years. For that reason, I now think it'll go over $1 million, but $2 million still seems like a bridge too far. So I'll say it lands around $1.4 million. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
