The Hobby says hello to Sophie Cunningham, while Funko says goodbye to CEO
Special thanks to Mike Metzler for covering for me these last Above the Mantel issues, as my wife and I welcomed our first child, Lucy. Since we've been settling into life as a family of 3, I haven't been able to do much collecting… except for dirty diapers, that is!
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(OK… so my Dad Jokes need refining, but come on, I'm just a week into this thing… Let's get back to the headlines…).
Willie Mays' custom-made 1977 Stutz Blackhawk VI will be made available via Hunt Auctions in September.
(Hunt Auctions)
The personal collection of Willie Mays, who died last June at 93, is heading to the auction block Sept. 27–28 via Hunt Auctions, with proceeds benefiting his Say Hey! Foundation. The lineup includes heavy hitters: his 1954 World Series ring, two MVP awards, Hall of Fame induction ring, and a photo-matched 1962 Giants uniform worn during that year's All-Star Game. Also up for grabs: a custom 1977 Stutz Blackhawk VI and his Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
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PSA is officially entering the comic and magazine grading arena, with submissions opening July 14. Modern-era items (1975 and up) will start at $25.99 with a 20-day turnaround, and optional pressing services begin at $11.99, though adding pressing will roughly double the turnaround time. Long dominated by CGC, the comic grading space now faces serious competition, with PSA pricing its services to undercut the incumbent in key spots. Their entry was teased at 2024's San Diego Comic-Con via a Kith x Marvel collab, where a Venom-Spider-Man 1/1 PSA-holdered sketch variant later fetched $30,000 on eBay.
Sophie Cunningham is having a moment, per Mantel's J.R. Fickle, and collectors are paying attention. From viral outfits and 'enforcer' energy to her front-row seat next to Caitlin Clark in Indiana, she's become one of the most visible and talked-about players in the WNBA. That visibility is translating into hobby heat: autographed Prizm cards are hovering above $120, and despite no official jersey on for sale from Fanatics, Cunningham has three of the top six Fever merch items. Media savvy, meme-ready, and in the spotlight every game, her cardboard stock might just be climbing still.
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Funko is shaking up its leadership again, replacing CEO Cynthia Williams after just 14 months. The move follows a rough Q1 showing, with the company posting a $27.6M net loss and citing macroeconomic pressures like tariffs. Board member Michael Lunsford steps in as interim CEO, tasked with guiding a transition that includes finding new leadership, jumpstarting organic growth, and evaluating financial and strategic paths forward. Investors responded swiftly, with shares falling from $4.94 to $4.35 on the day of the announcement. Another twist in the ongoing saga of a collectibles titan under pressure.
eBay is quietly testing a new 'extended bidding' feature for trading card auctions on its mobile app, giving sellers the option to add time to the clock if a bid comes in during the final two minutes. The test is limited, only visible to users with the latest app version, and doesn't apply to all listings. No details yet on whether bidding can keep rolling with additional last-minute bids. This shift nudges eBay closer to formats used by live auction platforms and major memorabilia houses, where extended bidding keeps the action alive, and snipe bids sweating.
A one-of-one Bronny James 2024-25 Panini Select Jumbo Patch Black Finite card sold for $1,802 on eBay, featuring a patch that unintentionally reads 'LEAVE,' a cropped snippet of the Lakers' 'leave a legacy' tribute to Kobe Bryant. Out of context, it's… well, poetic? The card joins a long tradition of unflattering or bizarre sports cards, from Billy Ripken's infamous bat knob profanity to a Tobias Harris 'BUM' patch masterpiece. Even LeBron's 2024-25 Prizm card raised eyebrows for emphasizing hair loss over heroics. Whether by accident or design, these awkward cardboard relics are a reminder: the hobby has a long memory, and a wicked sense of humor.
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