Nonsense Newsletter No. 63: Breaks, other NFL options, vintage hockey cards, BGS pricing changes and Break Battle!
Sponsored by SGC Cards gosgc.com
In this week’s mind-blowing edition of the Nonsense Newsletter — I finally catch a break (but I actually had to pay for it), John Dudley goes over some overlooked NFL options, REA preps to offer some insane vintage hockey cards and BGS makes some pricing adjustments. Yes, this weeks edition really is that good!
Contributor: John Dudley
The NFL Playoffs are off to a great start and that’s got fans excited. While it is tempting to go out and buy cards of the players putting up big postseason numbers, buying at the peak of playoff hype leads to overpaying and regret. Unless you are lucky and hit killer Purdy cards in a break, focusing on another sport this time of year isn’t a bad idea but it’s not particularly fun. Instead, I tend to concentrate on players who either missed the playoffs or players who have recently been eliminated.Â
This approach brings bargains galore and can save you 30%or even more of what you might’ve paid just a month ago. This week I’m going to look at six players that are on the outside looking in that you can snag some deals on.Â
Contributor: John (Mr. Breaks) McTaggart
Well, I did it.
After years of fighting the urge, of denying the realities of today’s hobby world, I broke down and participated in an official break earlier this week.
You have to remember, I am old school when it comes to the hobby in some respects.
I embrace the technology, the social media aspect, and am very welcoming of a hobby that was once comprised of local card shows with the occasional regional one sprinkled in, to a global community of collectors with a wide array of likes and dislikes.
But, I’ve never understood the appeal of breaks, nor the breaker mentality.
In my opinion, they were the driving force behind the crazy increase in the prices of wax, and in turn singles. So here are my thoughts after joining my first official break.
The Break Battle is HERE!
The Break Battle between Gio Breaks and Celebrities and Cardbreaks starts tomorrow!Â
Whoever’s break is weaker will rip a case of 2022 Topps Chrome Black for free for all the losings end break! ($1500 Value)
Quick Hits!
Hobby News- Many thought that 2022 Topps Sapphire was overpriced especially with a large checklist and no autos. It looks like Topps agreed as they cut the price of Topps Sapphire Update in half to $125 and added autos of the top rookies. It’s a lightning-quick turnaround and has Sapphire Update poised to be one of the best releases of the year.
Vintage- Alas, something for the vintage hockey collector! Robert Edward Auctions is offering up part of one of the most impressive vintage hockey collections on the planet this spring. A dozen of some 37 full binders of vintage hockey cards are up for auction and included in this are cards that simply boggle the mind. Complete sets of Parkhurst hockey from the late 1950s and early 1960s, a 1966 Topps USA Olympic set and more. If you’re a hockey geek like myself, then click here for more.Â
Grading News- BGS announced their new pricing schedule for the new year. Fans of BGS will be happy for any price reduction but it’s a bit underwhelming as Beckett’s opening salvo in the grading pricing war of 2023. Given their longer turnaround time, I expected a more aggressive move to try to recapture most of the volume that has gone to CSG and SGC. CSG has the lowest bulk prices and SGC seems to be running specials targeted at capturing the business in areas that BGS still does well in. Currently, this means TCG cards are only $15 a card at SGC as they look to grow their foothold in that world.
TCG News- MTG’s Dominaria Remastered has brought back a lot of popular cards, but which ones are collectors searching for? Force of Will is the clear must-have card, but Urza Lord High Artificer, Sylvan Library, Yawmgoth Thran Physician, and the Tutor Cycle cards are all selling briskly as are quite a few others. Collectors have a tough choice though with the borderless foils and the retro foil frames vying to be the most expensive version of each card in the set. Either way, the reprints in this set are some of the nicest versions of these cards printed to date.
The Sports Card Nonsense newsletters reflect the opinions of only the authors and contributors. They are for informational purposes only and are not a recommendation for purchases or of an investment strategy or to buy or sell any assets.