Top 10 LeBron James Rookie Card Picks

lebron-james-rc

LeBron James is often hailed as one of history's most outstanding basketball players.

He has consistently exceeded expectations since his early days as a high school sensation.

Last season, he clinched the title as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

As he gears up for his 21st NBA season in 2023-24, he remains an undeniable powerhouse on the court.

LeBron's sports cards rank among the most coveted collectibles for enthusiasts.

Let's delve into the top 10 LeBron James rookie cards, selected based on their popularity, value, and sales volume.

Read More

Ten 2023-24 NHL Breakout Players With A Young Guns Rookie Card

young-guns-rc

The NHL 2023-24 season is fast approaching, and now is the time to start buying Upper Deck Young Guns rookie cards.

This list showcases ten potential breakout NHL players for the 2023-2024 season who have a Young Guns rookie card.

I recommend buying these hockey cards in graded PSA 10 examples.

Last season, players like Matthew Tkachuk, Ramus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, and others had breakout seasons.

As a result, their Upper Deck Young Guns rookie cards saw an all-time high in value.

Here are my top 10 potential players who could break out in the 2023-24 season, featuring an Upper Deck Young Guns (YG) rookie card.

Read More

Top 20 Most Valuable 1986 Fleer Basketball Cards

1986-fleer-most-valuable

The 1986 Fleer Basketball set is one of the most iconic basketball card issues ever.

It was issued at a time when basketball was finally getting its due in terms of fan support. Driven by the continued dominance of the likes of new players such as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and, of course, the legend himself, Michael Jordan.

The set was small in number (132 base basketball cards plus 11 stickers) but loaded with big-time rookie cards, including the iconic rookie card of Michael Jordan.

The cards themselves aren't necessarily rare. However, gem-mint (PSA 10) copies are a challenge due to the propensity of easy damage to the red borders of the cards and common centering issues.

In this piece, we will provide a look at the top twenty most valuable cards in the 1986 Fleer Basketball card set. 

Read More

Shohei Ohtani: Top 10 Rookie Cards

ohtani-best-rookie-cards

Shohei Ohtani has captivated major league baseball since his 2018 debut.

He has excelled as a hitter AND a pitcher, making him the only active MLB player to achieve such a distinction.

In 2021, Ohtani clinched the AL MVP title, and based on his outstanding 2023 performance, he's poised to claim it once more.

To no surprise, the value of Shohei Ohtani's rookie cards have soared in recent years.

In this piece, we'll delve into the top 10 most sought-after and valuable Shohei Ohtani rookie cards. 

Not all of these Ohtani rookie cards are not the most expensive, but they are the most popular in the sports card community.

Read More

The Best Lionel Messi Rookie Cards

messi best rookies

Lionel Messi is often hailed as the contemporary GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) among soccer legends. Following a stellar career in the Premier League, Messi transitioned to the US, earning over $50 million a year with Inter Miami. His debut in American soccer has profoundly influenced the sport in the U.S.

Many new fans are now interested in soccer due to the lure of Messi's legend. And he hasn't disappointed with outstanding play in the last couple of weeks. Messi's rookie soccer cards have seen a significant increase in value of late due to his dominant play and impact in the US. Let's look at some of Lionel Messi's best rookie cards.

Read More

CSG Card Grading 2023 Update – Are They A Legit Contender?

csg-grading

I wrote a piece on CSG Card grading in 2021 and there have been some requests for an update, given some of the changes at CSG.

The most significant change happened in 2022, with the launch of a new label and a revamped grading scale.

In my last article, I noted the following about CSG's slabs:

In a simple word--ugly.  This is where I wish they tried to survey the collecting world before pulling the trigger on a slab/flip design.  I have to admit, I don't like the design--it feels too busy and suited for a more modern day card.  

Well, maybe they were listening to me? Because they made a significant change.

Here was the slab before (that I was highly critical of):

Read More

Hidden Gems: Top 10 Undervalued ’70s Baseball Rookie Cards

1970s-baseball-rookie-cards

The 1970s featured many baseball stars, Hall of Fame players, rookies, and some players who made a significant impact during the decade. 

Still, today many rookie cards from that era fly under the radar. Rookie cards from this decade, especially high-grade examples, continue to increase in value.

In previous baseball rookie card articles, I have discussed rookie cards of players not yet in the Hall, including Dave Parker, Keith Hernandez, Lou Whitaker, Thurman Munson, and Dwight Evans.

In this piece, I dive deeper into ten rookie cards from the 1970s that still look like excellent buys.

Read More

SGC Can’t Seem To Identify Trimmed Cards

I've been pretty supportive of SGC over the years, even used their card grading services for a lot of cards in my own personal collection.

However, another recent discovery of a trimmed card in an SGC holder has me somewhat concerned.

Here's the deal: a Blowout Forums user (who else?) discovered that an SGC 6 1936 Goudey World Gum Joe Dimaggio card was trimmed, resubmitted to SGC and ultimately rewarded with a new SGC 8.5 grade. 

Check out the comparison from user CornDog below.

Read More

Hidden Gems: Top 10 Vintage NBA Rookie Cards To Invest In

hidden-gems-nba

Vintage basketball rookie cards featuring some of the biggest names in the sport remain highly sought after. In particular, high-grade cards of these yesteryear stars are gaining popularity on online marketplaces such as eBay.

Interestingly, the rookie cards of many Hall of Fame greats and former stars are still considered undervalued. Thus, in this piece, we will examine ten hidden gems that are not only affordable but also have the potential to serve as a good long-term investment.

Read More

The 12 Most Valuable Upper Deck Young Guns Hockey Cards

young-guns-cards

Upper Deck first developed Young Guns (YG) hockey cards with their inaugural hockey set in 1990. Young Guns cards have been quite popular with collectors over the years. The cards include the first cards of many star players and future Hall of Famers.

Hockey card collectors expect the release of Series 1 and Series 2 Young Guns each year. It's incredible that thirty-three years later, the Upper Deck Young Guns rookies are still the main staple in the hobby.

Young Guns cards are not 'rare,' given that the cards are part of mainstream Upper Deck sets with large print runs. But, Upper Deck has started to issue more limited variations, including serial numbered and clear-cut copies.

Hobbyists view Upper Deck Young Gun's base rookie cards as a player's key rookie card. Many have already been designated as their future PSA Hall of Fame Rookie Registry card.

Gem-Mint, PSA 10 graded examples of many big-time Young Guns rookie cards are popular and have seen a significant increase in value in the past few years.

This list focuses on the twelve most iconic and valuable hockey Young Guns Rookie cards of all time. We conclude with two lists of Young Gun cards that we think have good long term investment potential.

Read More