Latest news with #ToppsNow
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First, he became pope. Then, he took down LeBron James
First, he was elected to be the Catholic Church's new pope. Then, he took down LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama. No, Pope Leo XIV is not a basketball phenom. He's the subject of a highly popular new trading card, which is outperforming past cards featuring top NBA stars, according to The Athletic. Topps released the Pope Leo trading card on Thursday. It shows him standing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and waving to the crowd gathered below, moments after being introduced to the world. By Monday afternoon, Topps had sold 133,535 copies of its Pope Leo card, the company announced on X. That broke the record for sales of a Topps Now card focused on something other than sports. 'Topps Now cards are printed to order and made to commemorate milestone events, then sold individually for a limited time,' The Athletic reported. As The Athletic noted, the Pope Leo trading card has outperformed several sports-related Topps Now cards, including a card made to celebrate LeBron James reaching 40,000 career points. While more than 130,000 copies of the Pope Leo card have been purchased so far, Topps printed 86,072 copies of the James card and 133,777 of a card commemorating Victor Wembanyama winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. But the Pope Leo card has a long way to go if it hopes to set a new sales record for all types of Topps Now cards. 'The record for a sports Topps Now card is currently held by the one produced to commemorate Shohei Ohtani becoming the first MLB player to achieve a 50/50 season, which had a print run of 653,737,' The Athletic reported. The Topps Now card is just one of many new products that's been released in honor of the new pope. Several clothing companies in the U.S. have released shirts highlighting Pope Leo's connections to Chicago, using phrases like 'Da Pope,' according to ABC7 Chicago. Breweries are creating pope-themed beers, bobblehead brands are selling Pope Leo bobbleheads and Portillo's is selling a sandwich called 'The Leo' for the rest of May.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark Gold Vinyl 1/1 hits the market and what is the true hot dog rookie card?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 17: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever plays against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The 'next Messi,' aka 17-year-old wunderkind Lamine Yamal, got the Topps Now treatment this week with a card that features him alongside Travis Scott . Per usual, some lucky collectors have the potential to grab numbered parallels and one will end up with the 1/1 auto. I am going on record and saying that I absolutely love when they have non-sports stars on baseball cards. Advertisement Or even cross-over cards, like Wemby juggling at Yankee stadium or Jayden Daniels, Juju Watkins and Angel Reese throwing out the first pitch. Here are some of my favorite celeb-featured Topps cards: Finally, I want you to think of a celebrity that you would absolutely be thrilled about pulling while opening a pack. Think really hard. You got a card? OK, keep thinking… is this your card ? Again, I'm a big fan of the celebrity cards, whether they are First Pitch or Topps Now or in Allen & Ginter, however - and this is a big however - you should never consider a non-sport card auto or relic a 'hit' in a box. Especially a relic. But it feels like you're mostly setting up disappointment. And this is not Shin Lim slander, this goes for about 98% of the celebrities in the set. Speaking of Yamal, he's been a hot riser in the hobby over the last month, with a 42% increase in sales month-over-month according to Alt . Advertisement Even Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the Yamal craze. Watch for Yamal sales on eBay. If the user name is 'IWantOutOfMilwaukee' then you might be selling to a future Hall of Famer. The Caitlin Clark Gold Vinyl Prizm 1/1 has hit Alt auctions and this card is probably going to break all sorts of records. The timing is perfect, with the WNBA season just underway and Clark coming off a triple-double in the opening game against Chicago. She very well might be the league's MVP in just her second season. And while this 6-figure-plus card likely won't beat the $366,000 price tag for the Gold Vinyl 1/1 Prizm Auto that sold at the end of March, it's probably going to become the second most expensive women's sports card ever. Advertisement Very cool. Sponsor patches have officially reached the inside of baseball cards. This one's for the 'boy, cards have really gone too commercial for my taste' crowd. And the 'they'll put anything in cards' crowd as well. How's this for a hot hand : We The Hobby pulled seven 1/1's in a single case of 2024 Clearly Donruss FOTL. Ever since the Backyard Breaks scandal people were starting to wonder where their juiced boxes were ending up, well, I guess we now know! (Note: as you know I'm not a juiced-box-conspiracy-theorist. This is very fun to see, IMO). People are paying over $100 for the 70th Anniversary commemorative Key to Disneyland which was recently launched. It's a super fun search-for-rewards offering that Disney debuted and I suppose that if you aren't intending on making your way there this summer then it makes sense to grab one on eBay, but paying $100+ seems a little excessive at this point. Right? And finally, Bill Walton's personal collection of sports and music memorabilia is up for auction, including some incredible grails for any Grateful Dead fans. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit a charity. Advertisement So, if you're a music and/or sports collector, then take out the old credit card and throw it down, big man . Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Pope Leo XIV trading card sets Topps record
Pope Leo XIV can add another major milestone to his résumé: a trading card set that outperforms LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama. According to Topps, the first US-born pope's run of trading cards set an all-time record for any non-sports card under the brand. Leo's set of Topps Now cards sold 133,535 units during its limited time release from Thursday through Sunday. Topps Now sets commemorate milestone events contemporaneously and are sold individually for a limited time. The card depicting the Chicago-born pope chosen Thursday to lead the Roman Catholic church was listed at $8.99 per card on the Topps website. Topps is one of the most popular manufacturer of trading cards and collectibles in the US. And its run of Leo sales indicates the US's excitement after one of its own was elected as the worldwide Catholic church's pontiff. In terms of sales, Leo's Topps Now card has eclipsed other notable sets under the line, including James exceeding 40,000 career points (86,072) and Wembanyama's NBA Rookie of the Year win (113,777). The record for a sports Topps Now card belongs to Shohei Ohtani becoming the first MLB player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, which had a print run of 653,737. Pope-related trading cards have been around for years, including Chocolat Guerin-Boutron producing a Pope Leo XIII card in 1909. In 2015, with Pope Francis visiting, the Philadelphia Phillies released a Pope Francis 'rookie' card. Eight years later, a 2009 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts signature card of Pope John Paul II sold on eBay for $1,800 – the most expensive pope-related trading card sold.
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Pope Leo XIV trading card sets Topps Now sales record, exceeds LeBron and Wemby milestone cards
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, became an instant hit among trading card collectors. His Topps Now card released Thursday has set an all-time record for any non-sports card within that brand with 133,535 copies sold as of Monday afternoon, the company announced. Topps Now cards are printed to order and made to commemorate milestone events, then sold individually for a limited time. The card for the Chicago-born pope went on sale Thursday on Topps' website at $8.99 for one card and discounts for bulk orders. NEW RECORD: Pope Leo XIV has set an all-time record for any non-sports Topps Now card. 133,535 copies sold. — Topps (@Topps) May 12, 2025 With 133,535 copies purchased, the print run exceeds that of notable Topps Now offerings like the card produced to mark LeBron James reaching 40,000 career points (86,072 printed), Victor Wembanyama's NBA Rookie of the Year win (113,777), and Paul Skenes' NL Rookie of the Year win (43,593). The record for a sports Topps Now card is currently held by the one produced to commemorate Shohei Ohtani becoming the first MLB player to achieve a 50/50 season, which had a print run of 653,737. Advertisement The large print run for the Pope Leo card means it qualifies for additional Chrome parallel cards, with serial numbers to 99, 50, 25, 10, 5 and a one-of-one 1/1 SuperFractor. There is also an image variation with a white smoke background numbered to 267 (since he is the 267th pope). These limited parallels and variations are likely to command high values on the secondary market. A presale of a white smoke variation card stands as the highest priced Pope Leo XIV card in the set so far at $195. There will also be foil parallels numbered to 50, 25, 10, 5 and a one-of-one FoilFractor. Leaf is also selling Pope Leo XIV cards for $9.99. Variations include deep dish pizza, Chicago hot dog, snow and skyline backgrounds. Pope trading cards are nothing new, though. Belgian company Chocolat Guerin-Boutron produced a Pope Leo XIII card in 1909. The Philadelphia Phillies produced a Pope Francis 'rookie' card when he visited the city in 2015. The most expensive pope-related trading card sale occurred Sept. 28, 2023 when a 2009 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts signature card of Pope John Paul II sold for $1,800 on eBay. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panini or Fanatics? Where top NFL Draft picks are signing first
BOULDER, CO - APRIL 19: Former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders looks on during a ceremony to retire his jersey before the Black and Gold Spring Game at Folsom Field on April 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo byfor ONIT) Before the podium, before the jersey, before the social media welcome video—many athletes today are making a very different kind of announcement. It's not about where they're headed in the draft, but who they're signing with in the collectibles world. Panini and Fanatics have turned exclusive autograph contracts into an early scouting war. And in 2024 and 2025, that war has escalated—sometimes as early as high school. Advertisement Take Vernell Brown III, a four-star Florida commit who signed an exclusive NIL deal with Panini while still in high school . He's part of a growing trend of athletes getting locked in long before their pro debuts. This strategic shift has redefined the recruiting landscape—not just for schools and scouts, but now for memorabilia giants, who are locking in talent earlier than ever. Recent Big Signings Here's a breakdown of notable exclusive signings heading into and around the 2025 NFL Draft. Fanatics dominated the 2024 draft, picking up three of the highest profile QBs from the first round. Panini has made big splashes for the 2025 draft, including signing both Colorado superstars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders; as well as their most recent signing– Arch Manning , who already has signed photos, helmets, and jerseys available on the Panini Site. Shedeur Sanders Status: 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Signed With: Panini Notable Autograph: 2023 Dino-Might (eBay) Advertisement Travis Hunter Status: 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Signed With: Panini Notable Autograph: 2024 Wild Card Sweets (eBay) Arch Manning Status: 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Signed With: Panini Notable Autograph: 2023 Flawless Sapphire (eBay) Jayden Daniels Status: #2 Overall Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft Signed With: Fanatics* Notable Autograph: 2024 Topps Now (Fanatics) JJ McCarthy Status: #10 Overall Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft Signed With: Fanatics* Notable Autograph: 2024 Panini Gold Standard (Fanatics) Bo Nix Status: #12 Overall Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft Signed With: Fanatics* Notable Autograph: 2024 Topps Chrome Future Stars (eBay) Cam Skattebo Status: 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Signed With: Fanatics* Notable Autograph: "Nobody Can Stop Me" Signed Football (eBay) Jaxson Dart Status: 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Signed With: Fanatics* Notable Autograph: 2022 Bowman University Chrome 1st Bowman Gold Lava (eBay) Emeka Egbuka Status: 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Signed With: Fanatics* Notable Autograph: 2023 Bowman University Chrome 1st Bowman Gold #/50 (eBay) * Listed as an exclusive athlete on Fanatics here. Top 2025 Prospects Still Unsigned Not every elite player has signed an exclusive—yet. Here's a short list of 2025 NFL Draft hopefuls that collectors are watching closely: Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State) Will Howard (QB, Ohio State) Cam Ward (QB, Miami) Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas) Should any of them ink deals ahead of the 2025 season, expect early autos and NIL memorabilia to follow shortly after. Why Sign Exclusive? It's no secret—these deals come with guaranteed money, sometimes in the six or seven-figure range, plus royalty structures on card sales. For athletes already generating buzz through NIL opportunities, it's a logical next step. These exclusive deals aren't just one and done, they have turned into multi-year agreements that benefits both the player and the brand. Advertisement From the brand side, Fanatics and Panini see this as a hedge on future hype. Signing players before they become stars ensures early product exclusivity, and in many cases, a competitive advantage in the rookie card market. These deals are for more than just these players' signatures–it's for their platform. Pros and Cons for Collectors Pros: Early access to "first autos" before NFL debut Defined scarcity and exclusivity depending on the signing Potential to collect an entire 4 Cons: No NFL logos in pre-draft/NIL releases Depending on the signing, there's a chance you won't find your favorite players auto in your favorite pack Hobby Takeaway So what can we expect in the years ahead? More. More exclusive autograph deals. More high school athletes signed before they've even stepped onto a college campus. More 360-style contracts that turn rookies into full-blown brand ambassadors, appearing in marketing campaigns, social content, and public activations. For Fanatics, this model is baked in. For Panini, it's a play to stay relevant as they face losing their official league licenses. We've already seen both sides go all-in, locking in names like CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and Victor Wembanyama before their rookie cards even hit the shelves. Expect this trend to accelerate, at least until the consumer feels squeezed by rising prices or limited access. But until then, the arms race for talent will keep intensifying as Fanatics and Panini fight for collector attention and brand supremacy. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
