Nonsense Newsletter No. 76: Baseball check-in, Hockey Confessions, 1948 Leaf baseball and more!
Sponsored by SGC Cards gosgc.com
In this week’s mind-blowing edition of the Nonsense Newsletter, John Dudley checks in with Major League Baseball. I confess to abandoning nearly 75% of the hobby and explain why. We talk vintage and a deal for the USFL. And there is $100 Card Shop Live Giveaway. So kick back, relax and enjoy the latest, and perhaps the greatest edition ever (I’m going to say that every week, btw) of the Nonsense Newsletter.
Contributor: John Dudley
The baseball season is going strong and that means it is time to check in to see whose cards are moving up, or sadly, down in price. The season is long, but collectors always react strongest to performances at the beginning of the year as hot streaks are harder to identify later in the season.
This week I’m going to look at three players whose cards are going up and three who are going the other way. The big question is if collectors are overreacting, underreacting, or if they nailed it. Basically, Goldilocks with cardboard. I’ll look at each player and give them the three bears treatment to see if fans are overreacting (too hot), underreacting (too cold), or if they nailed it like baby bear with a just right reaction.
Contributor: John McTaggart
How do I begin?
Where do I start?
I made a decision the other day to cash out my entire collection of all sports except one — hockey.
It was actually an easy decision for me, and one rooted in both logic and sentiment.Â
It started with selling off a handful of Ja Morant rookies to a guy on discord.
It ended with the departure of all my baseball.
Why, you might ask am I doing this?
The answer is simple — I like the hockey hobby and love the community.
So, I’ve decided to dive in with both feet, and both hands, and just about everything else.
I’ve converted my company to one specializing in hockey only.
We love big hits! That's why we are giving away $100 CSL cash this weekend to anyone who posts their hits.Â
To enter:
1. Post your favorite hit from CSL
2. Tag us & the seller you got it from
3. Tag a friendÂ
That's it!
The entries will be pooled and a random winner will be chosen to win the $100 CSL cash!
Giveaway starts tomorrow, April 21st through April 23rd.
Quick Hits
Hobby News- Panini’s Monopoly-themed Prizm offering is the set no one knew they wanted but secretly did. While all cards in the set have the Monopoly logo, it is the parallels that collectors are after. With a pared-down 90-card checklist, your odds of getting a decent player are strong. Unfortunately, many of the parallels lack any noticeable connection to Monopoly and many boxes are being opened with only base cards in them. It’s a great idea, but the execution needs work. Regardless, this set has some of the most interesting parallels in recent memory.
Pop Culture- The Jay and Silent Bob Reboot movie couldn’t muster 5 million at the box office, but it managed to get its own Upper Deck set. Kevin Smith seems to be surprisingly popular in the card world as his movies keep getting the cardboard treatment. I’m honestly not sure what is going on with these but releasing this the week of April 20th surely isn’t a coincidence.
Grading News- We are four months into 2023 and there still hasn’t been any movement on grading prices outside of SGC’s sales. Those sales are showing major results in the monthly grading volume numbers so one would expect companies that are lagging in numbers to consider price drops at some point or promotions as well. BGS is asking customers what they want after their aborted new grading scale debacle and the low-hanging fruit for a boost to their relevancy is to get the grading price wars going.Â
Vintage- Retired firefighter and super-collector Mike Ryan has a long list of crazy hobby accomplishments on the resume. The 87-year old California resident has nearly completed a T206 set, and, according to an article in Sports Collectors Daily, Ryan has also compiled one the best examples of a 1948 Leaf baseball set around. For more about Ryan and his 1948 Leaf set, click here
More Vintage- Heritage is set to offer up for bidding in May some of the collection of legendary hobby hero, Lionel Carter. Included in this auction is a 73-card lot of 1952 Topps baseball cards. According to Sports Collectors Daily, the majority of these cards up for auction are considered to be the highest-graded examples. For more about this incredible collection, click here.
In Other Card News- Upper Deck struck a deal to be the sole producer of USFL (United States Football League) cards, according to a company statement. The cards will be produced in time for this season’s action. For more info on this deal, click here.
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.