Market Analysis — Cardboard Police

September 01, 2026

A PSA 6 Mantle Sold for $690,000 at Fanatics Collect — $170,000 More Than a PSA 8 Brought in May

On May 29 this blog reported a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle in a PSA 8 holder selling for $520,000 at Heritage. Three months later, a PSA 6 of the same card sold for $690,000. Two grades lower, $170,000 more. The figure comes from Fanatics Collect's own...

Hobby Article Market Analysis Fanatics Vintage Million Dollar Cards

CASE #0300 Informational

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August 31, 2026

Gongshow Previews UD Premier Week as Hockey Gets Its First $20 Million Man — Video of the Day

CARDBOARD POLICE The hockey card season turned over this morning, and it did so three days after the sport handed out the largest contract in its history. The Hockey Cards Gongshow Podcast posted "2026-27 Hockey Hobby Breakout Candidates, 2025-26 U...

Video of the Day Market Analysis Hobby Trends Hockey

CASE #0298 Informational

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August 31, 2026

A Garbage Pail Kids Card Sold for $288,000 — and It Was Only Cooper Flagg's Second-Biggest Sale

A Garbage Pail Kids card sold for $288,000 on August 28. It topped its own auction night — and it still only ranks second on Cooper Flagg's all-time sales list. The lot was a 2025 Bowman Garbage Pail Kids NBA Superfractor Cooper Flagg rookie, number...

Hobby Article Basketball Market Analysis Fanatics Non-Sports

CASE #0297 Informational

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August 28, 2026

All Kings Owned 2026 Topps Flagship Football’s Opening Week — a Mendoza SSP at $6,500

Six days after 2026 Topps Flagship Football reached shelves, the top of the product had not settled down. It had gone up. Sports Illustrated published a first-24-hours sales rundown on August 22 and a rookie sales follow-up on August 27. Read side by...

Hobby Article Football Market Analysis Topps NFL Rookie Card

CASE #0291 Informational

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August 26, 2026

RED HOT Card Market BUT Watch out for SHILL Bidding — Video of the Day

CARDBOARD POLICE The Sports Card Dad published "RED HOT Card Market BUT Watch out for SHILL Bidding" on August 24, 2026 — three days after Heritage opened the largest sports auction ever held. The timing is the reason it is worth watching this week...

Video of the Day Market Analysis Card Prices Hobby Health

CASE #0286 Informational

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August 26, 2026

Heritage's $62.9 Million August Was the Largest Sports Auction Ever — Led by a Wagner Once Valued at $25

Heritage Auctions' Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction closed on August 23 having realized $62,963,254, which the house says makes it the largest sports auction ever held. The previous mark, $61,645,972, was set by Heritage's own 2024 Summer Platinu...

Hobby Article Market Analysis Card Prices Vintage Hall of Fame Pre-War

CASE #0285 Informational

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August 25, 2026

A $414,800 Peyton Manning Rookie Just Set His Card Record — Without an Autograph

The most expensive Peyton Manning card ever sold at public auction does not have his signature on it. A one-of-one 1998 SkyBox Metal Universe Gem Masters Manning rookie — card No. 189, the only copy produced — drew a $340,000 winning bid in Heritage...

Hobby Article Football Market Analysis Card Prices

CASE #0282 Informational

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August 23, 2026

Football's $1 Million Card Club Is Almost One Card — Tom Brady's, 22 Times

Thirty-three players across five sports have now had a card sell for at least $1 million publicly. Football's share of that list is, in practical terms, one man holding one card. The Athletic's Larry Holder, working from Card Ladder's sales database,...

Hobby Article Football Market Analysis NFL Million Dollar Cards

CASE #0277 Informational

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August 22, 2026

A 1997-98 Jordan PMG Red Sold for $1,473,989 — a Record for the Line, Not for Jordan

A 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Red Michael Jordan sold for $1,473,989 through Alt, and the marketplace called it the most expensive PMG card ever sold at auction, regardless of player or year. That is a precise claim, and the precision ...

Hobby Article Basketball Market Analysis Grading Million Dollar Cards

CASE #0274 Informational

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August 20, 2026

Dick's Sporting Goods Is Building Card Shops Inside Its Stores — and Sent Buyers to the National to Stock Them

Dick's Sporting Goods does not buy its inventory at flea markets. It buys hoodies and gloves and golf clubs from manufacturers, in bulk, on contracts. So the detail worth stopping on in The Athletic's August 18 report is this one: Dick's sent a team ...

Hobby Article Market Analysis Hobby Trends

CASE #0266 Informational

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the cardboard chronicle

Tagged: Market Analysis

A PSA 6 Mantle Sold for $690,000 at Fanatics Collect — $170,000 More Than a PSA 8 Brought in May

Gongshow Previews UD Premier Week as Hockey Gets Its First $20 Million Man — Video of the Day

A Garbage Pail Kids Card Sold for $288,000 — and It Was Only Cooper Flagg's Second-Biggest Sale

All Kings Owned 2026 Topps Flagship Football’s Opening Week — a Mendoza SSP at $6,500

RED HOT Card Market BUT Watch out for SHILL Bidding — Video of the Day

Heritage's $62.9 Million August Was the Largest Sports Auction Ever — Led by a Wagner Once Valued at $25

A $414,800 Peyton Manning Rookie Just Set His Card Record — Without an Autograph

Football's $1 Million Card Club Is Almost One Card — Tom Brady's, 22 Times

A 1997-98 Jordan PMG Red Sold for $1,473,989 — a Record for the Line, Not for Jordan

Dick's Sporting Goods Is Building Card Shops Inside Its Stores — and Sent Buyers to the National to Stock Them