Sports Cards Nonsense

Topps is bringing serious heat with Bowman Basketball, Cosmic Basketball and the return of Topps Football, but Mike Gioseffi has a big problem with how it’s all being rolled out. He opens the show with a rant on Topps flooding the market all at once after long gaps with almost no major releases, and explains why the timing is brutal for collectors trying to plan around multiple expensive product drops. At the same time, he gives Topps credit for what looks like a loaded stretch of releases, from Cosmic’s massive chase potential to Bowman Basketball’s return and the inserts that could help Topps Football be a major success. Then the episode shifts into a fun deep dive on underrated 90s inserts with Lane Dukart, including Penny Hardaway, Platinum Medallions, Flair Row 0 and other nostalgic cards that still feel under-appreciated in today’s market. Later, Gordy Bonker joins to break down what’s happening in vintage, why top-tier names like Mantle, Ruth and Jordan keep rising, and why he’s making the move from TikTok to eBay Live for his live selling show. Join Gordy's debut on eBay Live Sunday at 8 pm ET. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Jesse are back as Mike shares the story of the biggest and most valuable sports card collection he's ever seen in person. The collection includes six-figure Shohei Ohtani cards, 1/1 autos, high-end Mike Trout, Bobby Witt Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols and more, along with what Mike actually bought and how a deal like that comes together.From there, they get into the reality of moving big cards through eBay Live, why some cards make more sense for consignment, and what stood out after handling that much high-end inventory at once.Later in the episode, they react to the ongoing Topps website issues and ask a question a lot of collectors are asking right now: if regular buyers still cannot get product at launch, what does that mean for the long-term health of the hobby? And does Topps have any reason to change a system that keeps frustrating collectors?They also talk Fanatics Fest and the new Game Plan crossover bringing business and celebrity names into the space, then close with a fun mailbag covering modern parallels, favorite card colors and refractors, and whether 1990s inserts still have room to grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of Sports Cards Nonsense, Jesse Gibson is joined by Joe Wysmierski for a mix of Opening Day baseball talk, hobby debate, and complete nonsense. Jesse rips 2025 Topps Update, 2025 Stadium Club, and 2026 Series 1 blasters while Joe breaks down what collectors should actually be hunting for, including Stadium Club image variations, green parallels, and the upside of ripping retail on a day like Opening Day. The episode also dives into the buzz around Select Football packaging and whether certain boxes really give away where the case hits are hiding. Beyond that, Jesse and Joe get into the Fanatics monopoly lawsuit being dropped, the state of eBay Live, why soccer cards could have a real runway with the World Cup coming, and Joe’s very honest thoughts on card shows. It’s a fun (and totally nonsensical) episode with a little bit of everything: opening day energy, hobby opinions, retail ripping, and the kind of banter that makes this show what it is. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off with promo code NONSENSE at ⁠shopmando.com⁠! #mandopod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani card prices are doing things the hobby rarely sees, and Mike, Jesse, Shep from Shep's Cards & Collectibles break down why the demand keeps rising.The guys react to the recent Ohtani vs. Judge dual Logoman sale and debate why an Ohtani solo card can still outpace a massive dual-player piece. They also dig into the bigger picture around Ohtani’s market, including why his cards keep climbing, why even common and lower-end inserts are getting real attention, and whether collectors should be grading more Ohtani cards from products like Cosmic, Pristine, and other chrome releases.Plus, Tory joins the show to preview DCSports87’s MLB Opening Day eBay Live event, part of eBay Live’s 48 Hours of Drops is taking place Thursday, March 26 & Friday, March 27.The DCSports87 stream will feature Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, with penny drops of his signed memorabilia, and a loaded lineup of baseball singles. Plus, Mike will be joining in-person -- Thursday at 6:30 pm EDT.Later, the conversation shifts to vintage Beckett nostalgia, old-school card values, eBay Live strategy, flipping singles, and a mailbag full of hobby questions. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off with promo code NONSENSE at shopmando.com! #mandopod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Gioseffi takes a deep dive into flipping singles, the rapid growth of SCN’s singles business, what he’s learned from moving serious volume on eBay Live. Plus, why selectivity matters more than ever if you’re trying to build a profitable flipping operation. Then, he's joined by Corey Merriman AKA SlabSquatch to discuss which Topps wax products are actually worth buying right now. The guys take a detailed look at Bowman’s Best, Pristine, Gilded, and other Topps products through the lens of value, odds, resale, and what collectors are really getting for the money. Mike also gives an update on the ongoing Whatnot accountability debate, shares his thoughts on buyer vs. seller responsibility, and answers mailbag questions on where the singles market is headed, whether delayed grading turnarounds are pushing more collectors toward raw cards, and how to think about the best platforms for selling different kinds of inventory. Our listeners get the Harry’s Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/Nonsense #Harryspod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse Gibson and Alex of Clever Cuban Cards break down the explosive allegations involving Whatnot as hobby attorney Paul Lesko joins the show (13:48) to discuss the arbitration currently filed against Whatnot. Lesko, who is representing the plaintiffs, explains that while these are private proceedings rather than a public lawsuit, the stakes are just as high for the hobby. Then, with the Card Ladder 50 Index up 11% since the start of the year, Chris McGill of Card Ladder joins to share which stars are driving the current momentum and which are cooling off. Aaron Judge leads the pack with a staggering 64% increase. High-profile NFL quarterbacks are feeling the out of sight, out of mind effect, with Lamar Jackson down 18% and Jordan Love also seeing a decline. Meanwhile, GOATS like Tom Brady continue to increase in value. Our listeners get the Harry’s Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/Nonsense #Harryspod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Sports Cards Nonsense, Jesse and Mike break down a historic week for the hobby. The headliner? The record-breaking $5.2 million sale of Aaron Judge’s 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor 1/1. The guys dive into the implications of this massive sale and debate the "modern vs. ultra-modern" labels in today’s market. The heat isn't just in baseball, though; the guys react to Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance and the subsequent spike in his card prices. Plus, they address the recent Bowman’s Best release, specifically the technical glitches and "add to cart" frustrations on the Fanatics website that have collectors on edge. Later, Weston Spece of Oak City Sports Cards joins the show to discuss his journey from a 5-year-old "Beckett Almanac" to running successful shops and launching the NextUp Card Show in Pittsburgh during the NFL Draft this year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bowman's Best takes center stage as Mike explains why it’s one of his favorite products every year, why this year’s release may actually rise in price after launch, and which names collectors should be watching. Later, Joe Wysmierski of Sports Card Confessions joins for a wide-ranging episode that starts with one of the all-time hobby pain stories: Joe reveals he was a Josh Rosen super collector. From there, the conversation turns into a fun and chaotic mix of hobby confessions, market takes, and the kinds of side roads only this show can take. They also get into how global events can create real card-market momentum, talk about the World Baseball Classic effect, why Shohei Ohtani still towers over almost everyone in the market, whether Juan Soto is being overlooked, and how much personality and fan connection really matter in the hobby. Plus, they dive into people scalping One Piece promo cards outside NCAA basketball games. The crew debates whether sports-only collectors should care, how big the non-sports and TCG crossover has gotten, and what that says about where the hobby is heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Sports Cards Nonsense, Jesse Gibson is joined by Alex from Clever Cuban Cards to dive into the current state of the hobby and the strategies that actually work for collectors today. We kick things off with a deep dive into the "Bin to Binder" challenge, where Alex reveals how he managed to turn a strict $35 monthly budget into a collection currently valued at over $1,100 in just two months. We break down the specific flips, including a massive $60 to $325 move on an Albert Pujols rookie at a recent card show, and discuss the discipline required to keep "PC" cards instead of chasing a quick premium. The conversation moves into the world of low-end slabs and the "15 dollar slab" debate. Jesse and Alex debate whether it makes sense to grade modern cards that return as PSA 9s when they often sell for less than the cost of the grading fee itself. We also tackle the ethics and mechanics of cracking slabs, including Alex’s recent purchase of a PSA 8 Tom Brady case hit with the express intent to sell it raw or regrade it, and whether the hobby is shifting toward a more "pro-restoration" mindset similar to the comic book and Pokemon communities. We also cover the latest headlines, from the "Taco Seasoning Bandit" who used grocery store self-checkouts to steal thousands in sports cards to the recent massive sales volume in February 2026. We wrap up by answering listener questions about the future of Topps, the safety of TCG versus sports cards as a long-term play, and whether card manufacturers should include identification guides on packs to help new collectors navigate the endless sea of parallels and short prints. Check out Clever Cuban's eBay Live tonight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse Gibson is back from 18 days abroad and the data he brought back from the London and Dublin card shows is a focus of today's show. While the U.S. hobby is hyper-focused on speculation, we are breaking down the differences in "vibe" and why international shows are attracting a much younger crowd. We also look at the massive organic surge in TCG and sports card interest that feels like the U.S. hobby three years ago. Mike Gioseffi and Jesse also dive into the "Hobby Busts" of the last decade, comparing current hype for current top prospect Konnor Griffin to the massive price drops of guys like Anthony Volpe and Jackson Holliday. We also tackle the "cringe" factor of Kevin O'Leary's latest marketing stunts and debate whether "mega-influencers" are actually helping or hurting the long-term health of the hobby. Finally, we look at the February Gem Rate numbers to see which grading companies—Beckett, PSA, or SGC—are actually gaining ground in 2026. If you want to know where the global market is headed and how to avoid the next prospect trap, you can't miss this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices