Nonsense Newsletter No. 88: All-Star Game Impact, Hockey! Hockey! Hockey! A SGC 9 1952 Mantle and More!
Sponsored by SGC Cards gosgc.com
In this week’s edition of the Nonsense Newsletter John Dudley takes a deep dive into the impact of being named a Major League Baseball All-Star. Meanwhile, I talk about, you guessed it, hockey. Don’t judge, it’s a great hobby! Then we take the Quick Hits section this week and amp it up to a level never seen before by human beings! It’s amazing, and includes a SGC 9 1952 Topps Mantle that could be yours! And of course, there’s more! So, as the kids nowadays say, “Let’s go!
Contributor: John Dudley
The MLB All-Star Game is no longer must-see tv, but it is still an excellent marker on the holiday calendar. The arrival of the Midsummer Classic means it is time for the NFL and NBA to start ramping up, but more importantly, it means it is time to start taking every baseball game seriously. The games played previously count for the standings, but losing to a divisional rival just hurts that much more after the break.
The All-Star Game also helps collectors know which players to focus on. Getting chosen for an All-Star team can have an impact on one’s hobby value, but it is not determinative. Getting chose also shines a light on a player that can alter hobby plans. Everyone wants to find the next under-the-radar player, but making an All-Star team destroys that possibility. For many players, that means that the All-star Game is the perfect time to sell.
For all the All-Stars this year, I’ve rated them into three groups. The first is the “sell now” group. This is the group of players that are likely to peak in popularity with this selection. The second group are the “look-at-me” guys who are young and looking to make waves in the hobby. Finally, there are the “victory lap” guys who have already put together stellar careers and are just collecting laurels.
Contributor: John McTaggart
I’ve spent many words and many column inches in this newsletter talking about hockey cards and the hockey hobby.
Now, the very notion of this may turn off most of you, but be honest with yourself for a second…. It’s an intriguing hobby, you have to admit.
The cards, for the most part, are still very reasonably priced.
The wax… same story.
The people in the hobby are extraordinarily pleasant to deal with and kind.
The hockey hobby community is, and believe me when I say this because I have been in this game for a very long time now, helpful, supportive and downright wonderful.
There are also legitimate stars in the game right now, stars that should transcend the sport alone.
Players like Connor McDavid, Alexander Ovechkin, Auston Matthews and soon-to-be Connor Bedard (okay, he san’t played a game yet, but I am optimistic here), are superstars (and budding superstars) on the same level as the LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, and Patrick Mahomes, for example.
These players are that impactful in their respected sport of hockey and that dominant at the same time.
All of this said, the hobby that centers around hockey is still a fraction of that seen in the other sports, and the deeper I delve into this hobby (and I’m pretty deep into it at this point, and diving even further in) the less I understand it.
Quick Hits
Grading News: It was in vogue to denigrate baseball only a couple of years ago, but now the trend is to tout its stability. Baseball is providing over half of SGC’s grading volume and is far and away PSA’s most-graded sport.
Vintage- Well, for all of you who have an instance amount of disposable income directed toward high-end vintage baseball cards, this blurb of info is for you! There is a SGC 9 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle headed to auction! The auction gets underway July 28 through Heritage Auctions. A pre-sale estimate for the card is in excess of $6 Million.
Hobby News- Think you’ve got your hobby bonafides? This couple has been to every single The National since its first run in 1980 and started selling st shows all the way back in 1974. Read more about two of the most experienced hobbyists around here.
Pop Culture News- It’s time again for Leaf Metal Pop Century which has quietly become the place for pop culture autos. The set is popular, so you won’t snag any outrageous deals, but it is a blast for both personal rips and breaks in general. A lot of products get described of as fun, but this one might literally be fun for once.
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.