Nonsense Newsletter No. 99: Momentum, Magic The Gathering, SGC's solid position in the market, hot dog cards and more!
Sponsored by SGC Cards gosgc.com
In this weeks edition, John Dudley delves into the world of hobby momentum, I recall my days of Magic The Gathering (and renewed interst in it), and we bring to you another Quick Hits section that would be worthy of a sports card Grammy if there were such a thing. So enjoy this week’s offering, folks! It’s a dandy one!
Contributor: John Dudley
Hobby momentum is something I think about as often as most guys apparently think about the Roman Empire (to be fair I do that too). By hobby momentum, I mean the tendency of the hobby to continue on as it has unless there is a shock to the system equally as big as the momentum. The more entrenched the thinking is, the bigger the shock that will be required to change said thinking.
Momentum is Real
Hobby momentum is a real phenomenon. Look no further than poor Kurt Warner for proof. His cards are still trying to overcome the negative hobby momentum that came with being undrafted and then being out of the league. Superbowl?, MVP?, HOF? Who cares. His card values are still fighting against not being a top draft pick. It works the other way too. Spencer Torkelson rookies still carry a much bigger premium than his on-field performance would suggest. Of course, Tom Brady is the ultimate example of escaping hobby momentum, but I’d argue he didn’t really escape it until his third Super Bowl win. Remember, hobby momentum can change, but it takes a big event or series of events to change it.
Contributor: John McTaggart
Tucked away in the back of the closet in my home office is a yellowed cardboard 500 card box, the edges round and tattered.
Honestly, I nearly forgot about it because it has been there for such a long time.
This box has moved four times, been in attics, basements and eventually in the darkest corner of a closet that rarely gets opened.
Change is in the Air
Recently, however, I’ve been in my one-a-decade-home-office-remodeling kicks, and thus have literally dismantled the entire room — rearranging, reorganizing and flat-out pitching stuff from this sacred space tucked in the far corner of the house.
So, last week, I stumbled upon that yellowed box.
The moment I saw it, I remembered what it held, and a lot of memories came back to me quickly.
You see, back in the day, nearly 25 years ago when my brother and I were setting up at regional card shows, we took a chance on a concept that we both agreed was just cool.
We were one of the first to delve into the Wizards of the Coast waters back then, and one of the rare dealers who had both sports cards and Magic The Gathering cards in the same space.
Quick Hits
Hobby News- UEFA Women’s Champion’s League Sapphire marks the first women’s soccer product to get the Sapphire treatment from Topps. Boxes are affordable at $75 and, as of writing, are still available from the Topps site. It’s an interesting product that could have been a much bigger release if the US had done better at the recent World Cup. As it stands, it’s still an attractive offering for fans of women’s soccer.
Vintage- Okay, the Orioles are my team, have been since I was a very small child! So, when I see an article like this posted in Sports Collectors Daily — I’m geeked! A 1954 Esskay Hot Dogs Orioles set is quickly rising on my “I need to have,” birds list. Check out the article here.
Hobby News- Ginter is here! Grab a box or hop into a break of America’s most divisive product. You’ll either love or hate the randomness. Changes this year include Rip cards showing up more frequently. This year’s version also has one of the more intriguing auto checklists in a few years.
Grading News- SGC has extended their 2023 Topps Chrome $9-a-card special. These specials seem to be doing wonders for SGC’s grading volume keeping them a strong number two behind only the juggernaut that is PSA. Surprisingly, the third and fourth-place companies haven’t followed suit. I’m still waiting for the great grading price wars, but I’m starting to think they may never happen.
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.