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New York Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Fanatics Fest 2025: The coolest things we saw (and didn't see)
Fanatics Fest might be the best value for money in sports today. Anyone who hasn't attended either of the three-day events held at New York's Javits Center might find that shocking, but its case has only strengthened from year one to year two of its existence. Yes, there are a plethora of pricey merch, trading card, autograph and photo opportunity offerings that can easily skyrocket the total cost of a day at the fest (a single-day entry ticket was $60 for adults and $30 for kids this year), but all of those elements are shockingly non-essential to having a fun and unique experience that's almost entirely different from someone else there at the same time. Advertisement At most events, you might need to be in the exact right spot at the exact right time in order to witness the one viral moment that takes place there. At Fanatics Fest this year, moments like that were happening all the time, everywhere, and involving some of the biggest athletes and celebrities in the world all throughout the three days. It was honestly both impressive and overwhelming. Everyone who attended for The Athletic agreed that they left each day of the event feeling like they saw first-hand a dizzying array of notable things and experiences, only to get back to their hotel room each night and pull up their social media feeds to see a dozen other interesting moments they had missed. '(Fanatics Fest) makes people love Fanatics,' said Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. 'The way we can pull together 300 of the world's best athletes, artists, celebrities together with every sport in the world that matters and have them all in one place. … We invest a lot of money in this. We lose a lot of money doing this. But this is the way we tell the Fanatics story. We have all of our businesses here. We bring everything here. It's just the way we want to tell our story. … Putting this on is harder than running our three businesses (commerce, collectibles, and betting) combined.' Rubin estimated that Fanatics lost around $15 million on last year's event, which was significantly smaller than this year's. Attendance in year one was around 75,000 and in year two it exceeded 125,000, according to the company. First and foremost this year, there were the news events that played out over the three days — from Victor Wembanyama speaking publicly for the first time since his injury to Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris buying a $500,000 Jayden Daniels rookie card at Topps trade night (a free after-hours event at the venue on Saturday night that was open to all attendees) with Daniels standing beside him to Kevin Durant's trade to the Houston Rockets being announced for the first time while he was on stage. Then there were the countless other moments that filled everyone's social media timelines. It would be impossible to list them all here, so here are just some of our favorites. Coolest thing I saw: It will be hard for me to ever forget the image of the 7-foot-3 Victor Wembanyama standing in bath robes and then shirtless next to the 5-foot-4 Kevin Hart to open a live episode of Hart's 'Cold as Balls' podcast during Saturday's session. Rubin had custom metal tubs designed for Wembanyama and Hart, which properly suited each star given their uniquely varying heights. Advertisement There were several star-studded panels throughout the weekend I attended, including 'The Shop Live' with LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Wembanyama, that brought out the seriousness of the event's star power. As well as a panel with Rubin, Brady and musician Travis Scott, that basically turned into a reason for Scott to perform a brief, but rowdy set. Still, Wemby's comfort level and demeanor felt natural and likable, even with so much attention attached to him during a blockbuster event. Coolest thing I didn't see: Tom Brady made more appearances at the Fest seemingly than Rubin himself. And that's saying something given how much Rubin relishes being front and center of the sports mastodon he created. I watched Brady serve as a guest on numerous panels, I watched him participate in live card box breaks and cram into his own sports card vault with buddy Mark Wahlberg. But man, I wished I could've witnessed firsthand Brady's journey through the Fanatics Games. I knew the absurdly competitive Brady would take this competition against fellow athletes, celebrities, and 50 fans seriously. But it still sort of surprised me that he won it, given how many active elite athletes participated (Brady divided up his $1 million prize by buying the rare LeBron James rookie card won by the fan who finished third for $250,000 and promised $5,000 to each of the 49 other fans who participated). The showstopper occurred when Brady strutted down the makeshift WWE aisle for the superstar entrance portion of the competition, tearing up a Giants jersey only to be 'attacked' from behind by Eli Manning. Brady carried Manning on his back back to the 'dressing room.' It's chaos at @FanaticsFest! 👀@TomBrady just ripped up an @EliManning jersey, and that wasn't going to fly with Eli! 🤣@Fanatics — WWE (@WWE) June 20, 2025 —Larry Holder The coolest thing I saw: It wasn't a thing, it was a vibe: tens of thousands of people who have eschewed cool-guy aloofness and opted instead to enthuse unironically — sharing in the thing they love most. I saw yolked-up dudes cry meeting their sports heroes. I saw grandmothers scream over Kevin Costner (and wolf-whistle when he said his sports films succeeded 'because they were about girls'). I saw little kids holding hand-painted posters watching their parents compete in the Fanatics Games. I sat on a railing with LeBron fans while the tallest guy offered to hold up each person's camera to get a good shot of their idol. I stood on a shaky, over-crowded bleacher next to a mom whose son was competing against Joey Chestnut in a Raising Cane's chicken finger eating contest. (Sorry to say Joey Chestnut obliterated him.) Raising Cane's was insane today 🤩🔥 — Fanatics (@Fanatics) June 21, 2025 The coolest thing I didn't see: By the time I heard Victor Wembanyama was downstairs playing chess against 100 fans, it was too crowded to see. I heard 15 minutes too late that Joe Burrow was throwing pitches on the other side of the expo floor (reportedly, not well!). I saw Livvy Dunne in the eating contest (on a team with DJ Khaled, Druski, and Rubin, lmao) but I missed when she bought a rare Paul Skenes baseball card. I asked Cam Jordan about something he's been gifted that he considers a priceless collectible ('Me!'), and RG3 showed me one of his favorite pairs of socks (Ninja Turtles), but I didn't get to see Tom Brady challenge Eli Manning on the WWE floor, either. Advertisement The place was suffused with a sense of serendipity mixed with panic, because you had to be in the right place at the right time. I think that was both wonderful and maddening: Fans had the unimaginable opportunity to be up close and personal with Tom Brady, but you also had to take your life in your hands fighting through the crowd to get there. The love of collecting is something like hunger for a quest — pursuing a potentially unattainable goal with a blend of joy, dogged persistence and a touch of lunacy. Not unlike the Fanatics Fest experience. —Hannah Vanbiber Coolest thing I saw: Watching Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Jayden Daniels on a panel moderated by Taylor Rooks was quite the scene. The crowd was predominantly pro-Jayden but everyone enjoyed the insights of Montana (the former/still GOAT?) and Marino (a downfield deep ball passer ahead of his time). Marino got the most laughs out of the crowd not being able to resist a deflated balls joke about his former AFC East rivals. Both legendary former quarterbacks had nothing but good things to say about Daniels and his historic rookie season. Daniels seemed to be genuinely appreciative of the praise he received face to face with two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play, especially the praise from Montana, who Daniels admitted was his father's favorite, and who he was told to emulate as a California kid dreaming of being a quarterback one day. If you were a paying customer and willing to wait in line (assuming you didn't purchase VIP access), candid conversations with sports stars were everywhere on various stages. Coolest thing I didn't see: Kevin Durant being traded in real time and finding out about it while on stage Sunday might have been the wildest moment of Fanatics Fest among many contenders. The buzz in the crowd seemed like a collective 'I can't believe this happened right now.' For all the many things that may have been pre-arranged at Fanatics Fest, the Durant trade seemed like organic magic for those in attendance. The crowd couldn't believe what just happened 🤯 — Fanatics (@Fanatics) June 22, 2025 —David Betancourt The coolest thing I saw was completely unexpected — the Grays Sports Almanac from 'Back to the Future II.' Not the one you can get easily as a mere replica. But the one that was screen-used in the movie. One personally owned by Michael J. Fox sold for $30,625 last year, which seems like a bargain, frankly. I'm not sure if Fanatics is testing the water at Fanatics Fest with this one movie memorabilia exhibit. But it makes sense that Topps, given their involvement with Marvel and Star Wars and various non-sports celebrities, would get into this space. Advertisement Screen used Hollywood memorabilia is usually one of one, at least when tied to a scene or a shot in a famous movie. And I guess it could be 'cardified,' for lack of a better term. Maybe they chop up Dorothy's slippers into 200 pieces and embed those pieces into 200 cards. That seems borderline criminal but they do the same thing with iconic jerseys and Babe Ruth bats. (Don't worry, 'Wizard of Oz' fanatics; Dorothy's actual slippers are safe in the Smithsonian.) They found Bruce the Shark from Jaws (one of them) in a junkyard, where it was languishing. So it's not crazy to think the outer rubberized skin and teeth can end up being slabbed. Maybe one day they'll do the same thing with the Mona Lisa! Objectively, the coolest thing I missed at the show, which was mostly a cultural event and not much of a memorabilia show for my vintage tastes, was the Travis Scott concert. But personally, I wish I saw Burrow struggle so mightily to hit a stationary strike zone with a baseball that it seemed like a put on. Joe Burrow pitches … just a bit outside 😅⚾️ — MLB (@MLB) June 22, 2025 —Michael Salfino The coolest things I saw: I was able to check out the 'Netflix Sports Club.' My favorite part of the experience was the golf simulator and putting green to promote Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore 2. The putting green looked like it was taken straight out of the first movie, featuring Happy's boots and the one-eyed alligator holding Chubbs' wooden hand. The putter you use is even a replica of Happy's famous hockey stick putter, which will be officially available for purchase following the movie release. Fans also received a mini movie poster and a small box of 'Shooter McGavin's Pieces of S*** For Breakfast' cereal — a nod to the hilarious scene in the first film. I'm being told @netflix is handing these out at Fanatics Fest. Hilarious. — Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) June 20, 2025 The MLB activation also brought a fun ballpark experience, featuring a pitching cage with speed radar and one-of-a-kind baseball memorabilia on display. Some of the unique pieces shown included the 2023 World Baseball Classic trophy and a Julio Rodriguez Autographed 2022 Home Run Derby graffiti-design bat. The coolest things I didn't see: I missed out on the Topps trade night and the Commanders owner purchasing Daniels' 1/1 Prizm Black Finite rookie card from dealer Roth Cards for a whopping $500,000. I also didn't get the opportunity to see any of the panels at The Theatre due to its confusing entrance and location on Level 1. This, combined with how large and separated the two show floors were throughout the Javits Center, I found myself spending most of my time where the brand/league activations and card dealers were located on Level 3. —Tyler Holzhammer The coolest thing I saw: The fact that every athlete or celebrity I saw was fully bought into the spirit of the event and not just going through the motions or there to collect a check. Fanatics got a ton of huge names — not the long-forgotten or unknown benchwarmers — to engage with fans and act goofy and seemingly have actual fun. That's what really puts this event over the top. To that point, John Cena was the MVP of Fanatics Games. He did everything in his power not to win it (presumably so the fans who were competing could have a better shot at the prizes), but he did it in the most creative way possible. His six-ball pitching demonstration and power punch were highlights. Can't see him in anything 🚫🤣 @WWE — Fanatics (@Fanatics) June 21, 2025 Speaking of wrestlers, the WWE entrances were so fun. Not just the ones performed by the athletes and actual WWE superstars, but the ones all the fans did, ranging from little kids jumping around in fake mullets and beards to adults who meticulously re-enacted their favorite wrestler's every movement. At one point on Saturday I realized I had been standing there watching these for over an hour with a smile on my face the whole time. The very best one came on Friday, when a Macho Man Randy Savage impersonator did his entrance in a full St. Louis Cardinals uniform, with 'Poffo' printed on the back (Savage's real last name) and a Slim Jim in hand. Why a Cardinals uniform? Poffo/Savage was signed by the organization as a catcher out of high school. Impressive. The coolest thing I didn't see: Two stand out. First, Wemby playing chess against 100 fans — many of whom apparently did not know how to play chess. A post shared by Fanatics (@fanatics) And Durant, sitting in the balcony of the temporary 40/40 club built inside the venue that served as a refuge for the VIPs, graciously holding out his hands for one of the fans down below to throw him an item to sign, only for a bunch of people to all chuck things at him at once. A post shared by Fanatics Sportsbook (@fanaticssportsbook) —Brooks Peck The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Top photo of Tom Brady:for Fanatics)
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Commanders owner Josh Harris buys $500,000 Jayden Daniels card in record sale
NEW YORK — A new record sale for a Jayden Daniels trading card was set when Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris agreed to pay $500,000 for one of Daniels' most sought-after rookie cards while standing next to the young quarterback on stage at Topps Trade Night on Saturday. Harris and Daniels were special guests at the event, which followed Day 2 of Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center. Advertisement Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin played negotiator on the microphone in front of a sizable crowd after asking attendees who had the most valuable Daniels card with them. Josh Roth and Jacob Ramos of the Florida-based Rothcards answered that call with Daniels' 2024 Panini Prizm Black Finite one-of-one card. After a quick back-and-forth chat, Harris agreed through Rubin to purchase the card. In addition to the $500,000, Roth and Ramos also received an autographed Daniels jersey, which the 2024 NFL offensive rookie of the year and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner inked on the spot. Harris will display the card at the Commanders' Northwest Stadium, according to Fanatics. The original unearthing of the Daniels Black Finite card bears its own improbable story. A collector with the username 'Dr. Moist Muffins' acquired the card from a pack through a box break (where collectors pay for a select portion of the cards opened by a third party) on a Fanatics Live stream around midday New Year's Day. Dr. Ojash Raval, as he's known outside of trading card livestreams, only spent $36 for the rights to all the Commanders cards in the break. The monster Daniels card then emerged from a pack, spurring immediate offers from interested buyers. Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and husband to tennis legend Serena Williams, had previously offered a $200,000 public bounty to whoever pulled the card. Roth wouldn't give an exact amount of how much was spent in buying the card from 'Dr. Moist Muffins,' but said it was in the mid-$300,000 range. So Roth and Ramos will share in a profit of about $150,000 on the card. And as much as the original discovery of the card came by chance, the card's sale to Harris felt just as improbable. Roth said he walked into Fanatics Fest before the doors opened early Saturday since his business had purchased a table to sell cards at the show. He found Rubin 'just chilling, kicking a soccer ball' in the Dick's Sporting Goods set-up near one of the Fest's entrances. Ramos called the encounter with Rubin 'just random.' Advertisement 'I walked up to him and said, 'Yo, we've got to show Jayden this card. It's the best (Daniels) card in existence.' Now granted, it's not a Topps product. So Rubin was kind of (hesitant).' Roth said his table had a great day at the show and he and his business partner Ramos then walked into the Topps trade night, which is essentially a swap meet for card collectors, on the top floor of Javits Center after the Fest closed up shop for the day. Rubin introduced Daniels and Harris to the crowd and shortly after asked, 'Who has the biggest Jayden Daniels card?' The duo, with the help of a bulky lead blocker, broke through the crowd to the stage holding up the one-of-a-kind card. Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris bought the Jayden Daniels Prizm Black Finite 1/1 for $500,000. This makes it the most expensive Jayden Daniels card sale ever. 🤯 Rothcards, the previous owner of the card, agreed to the deal during Trade Night at Fanatics Fest, also… — Fanatics Collect (@FanaticsCollect) June 22, 2025 Rubin asked Roth what he thought the card was worth. Roth shouted '$2 million!' Rubin asked again what the card was really worth, turning to Fanatics Collect CEO Mike Mahan for his assessment, which was $500,000. Roth went right for Rubin's heart, invoking the Paul Skenes Topps MLB Debut Patch autographed one-of-one card that famously sold for $1.11 million to Dick's Sporting Goods in March. As he continued to plead the case for the card, Rubin named the price: 'Alright one time, half a million dollars. You want it? From Josh Harris, with Jayden here right now.' Roth looked back at Ramos and quickly agreed on the sale. 'It was such an experience to be on stage with just everyone. It really happened so fast. Moments like that are timeless,' Ramos said. 'That was our negotiation right there. I should have countered him!' Roth said with a laugh. Advertisement Roth said the duo held onto the card by design for the summer months, thinking it would be 'exciting' given how much momentum Daniels' hobby stock would carry into the 2025 NFL season. Daniels was the second most searched athlete on eBay in May behind only Michael Jordan. Roth added that he hoped for a seven-figure payday for the card, 'but when the moment came, we just had to say yes to a deal like that.' 'We were kind of looking for Jayden in the other room (the main Fest area on the floor below), and it kind of didn't work out,' Roth said. 'And then we come up here. If it happens, it happens. It just so happens that fate worked out perfectly.' The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Brady's WWE-style Fanatics Fest entrance interrupted by Eli Manning
The post Tom Brady's WWE-style Fanatics Fest entrance interrupted by Eli Manning appeared first on ClutchPoints. It was Tom Brady and Eli Manning's turn at Fanatics Fest NYC, and the two legendary quarterbacks brought back their legendary NFL rivalry – with some fun WWE flair – to an excited audience at the Javits Center. Brady and Manning had everyone standing and cheering at Fanatics Fest with a moment that seemed like it was out of a wrestling show with the music, props, and a light-hearted tackle. Advertisement Brady made a flashy entrance to the tune of WWE star Cody Rhodes' theme song, 'Kingdom,' sporting sunglasses and draping a WWE championship belt over his shoulder. As the music pumped, he paused mid-ramp to grab a New York Jets jersey, spat on it, and stomped it into the ground. But he didn't stop there—he pulled out a Eli Manning Giants jersey, and ripped it in half, sending the crowd into a complete frenzy. A few moments later, Manning himself made a surprise appearance, running on the stage and jumping on Brady from behind, recreating their famous battles on the turf. The whole scene felt right out of WWE, with both quarterbacks grinning as they exited together. WWE even shared the clip with the caption, 'It's chaos at Fanatics Fest,' adding to the excitement. This interaction was a nod to one of the most famous rivalries in NFL history. Brady may have seven Super Bowl victories under his belt, but it's worth noting that two of his three losses were against Manning and the New York Giants in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. Those setbacks not only kept Brady and the Patriots from achieving a flawless season in 2007 but also helped cement Manning's reputation in the playoffs. Advertisement The atmosphere at Fanatics Fest NYC was part of a larger event where sports stars embraced WWE-style entrances in front of live audiences. Earlier, Manning had entered Roman Reigns' theme song, even throwing in the 'Acknowledge Me' line, which added to the theatrical vibe. This event brought together fans, athletes, and pop culture under one roof. Related: John Cena drops 'Pipe Bomb' promo on CM Punk before WWE Night of Champions Related: Released WWE star 'hopeful' they can orchestrate AJ Lee return
New York Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Why Fanatics Fest's ‘Museum of Greatness' almost didn't include Tom Brady's Super Bowl jerseys
NEW YORK — Walk to the end of the 'Museum of Greatness,' a one-of-a-kind exhibit at Fanatics Fest in the Javits Center and you'll see the centerpiece of a collection full of centerpieces: seven of Tom Brady's game-worn Super Bowl jerseys, including his Super Bowl LI jersey, which was stolen after the game and eventually recovered by the FBI. Advertisement A few hours before the show opened, though, the jerseys were nowhere to be found. 'Brady lost his Super Bowl jerseys!' Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin said excitedly Friday morning before making an appearance on ESPN's First Take from the massive three-day celebration of sports fandom. Rubin said Brady had forgotten where the jerseys were, which is actually understandable since Brady had just helped open the Hall of Excellence museum in Las Vegas on Wednesday that now houses all of his Super Bowl rings. Realizing the importance of the jerseys to the museum, Rubin sent a plane down to Miami to retrieve them from Brady's safe. The exhibit wouldn't be complete without the jerseys, in Rubin's eyes. So there was no price too high to make the swift jersey rescue to bring them to the museum that is temporarily housing an estimated $250 million worth of sports trading cards and memorabilia. 'It's the biggest exhibition of trading cards and memorabilia that's ever been brought together,' Rubin said. 'We don't want to be a big company. We want to be a beloved company that makes people love Fanatics. … So we had to have those jerseys to complete the fan experience.' The temporary museum's 10,500 square-foot showcase features trading cards and memorabilia from other all-time sports greats like LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, Lewis Hamilton, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle as well as up and coming stars like Caitlin Clark, Paul Skenes and Elly De La Cruz. Several of these items have never been displayed publicly, with some coming from the players' personal collections, as well as from 30 individual collectors. Among the athletes who contributed their personal items to the museum include Brady, Kevin Durant and Logan Paul, who added his famed 1998 Pokemon Pikachu Illustrator Holo PSA 10 card he wore around his neck for his Wrestlemania 38 ring entrance. Advertisement 'I think we have something for everyone, which is what I think Fanatics is all about,' said Mike Connolly, the company's vice president of collector relations. 'So no matter where you are in your collecting journey or where you are as a fan, the fact that you can come here and see items you've either recognized or heard about or that you can see for the first time, is a very special experience.' There's a heavy security element for the display. A security guard stands by every case and alarms ring if anyone, even authorized museum curators, enter the display case. The items will be under 24-hour surveillance by more than 25 armed security guards, 360-degree cameras, undercover and uniformed police and canine units for the duration of Fanatics Fest. Even with the security, though, collectors and fans are able to get up close to items that may have previously seemed mythical. Some of the other more notable items include: Fanatics Collect CEO Mike Mahan, who oversees trading cards giant Topps, walked around the display before the Fest opened in his Washington Nationals' James Wood jersey almost with his jaw dropped given the amount of 'grail' cards and pieces of memorabilia around him. 'As a professional, I'm blown away by what this is and how it came together so quickly,' Mahan said. 'And with this only in its second year and the way that it's put together, it's truly special. And then there's the kid collector in me who sees all of these things, not only in one place but presented in a way that's frankly befitting of how important and special they are, it's awesome! 'It's really a vision to elevate collectibles in a way that was worthy of the moment. I think this is a manifestation of that. When you're a kid and you open a pack, you hope to have that card come in there someday. That's cool.' The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Museum of Greatness unveils $200 million collection of 'iconic' memorabilia
Game-used memorabilia and rare cards are on display from some of sports' top athletes in history. (Credit: cllct photo/Will Stern) NEW YORK — 'Iconic.' That's how Nick Connolly, Fanatics VP and head of collector relations, described the standard for inclusion at the 'Museum of Greatness.' The 10,500-square-foot exhibit on display for Fanatics Fest this weekend at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan is estimated to be worth $200 million — likely the most expensive collection of memorabilia ever put together. Advertisement Much of these pieces have not been seen publicly in years, if ever. It also makes a case for the most significant by any other standard, especially historic value. Walking in, past the countless security guards defending the treasures, it's easy for anyone — regardless of their experience with collectibles — to feel the weight of the items sitting in the display cases. It starts with Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Ruth is represented by a 1918 Red Sox game-used bat, one of the earliest in the hobby. Mantle is seen through a photographers' lens by two of the most valuable Type 1 photos and their associated trading cards, the 1951 Bowman and 1952 Topps. One of the more remarkable and complete collections of unopened wax boxes and packs, from vintage baseball to football, in BBCE cellophane and PSA slabs, comes next. Logan Paul's Pokémon Illustrator, an embarrassment of riches containing some of the most valuable '90s insert cards ever created (PMGs) and, perhaps most impressive of all, a complete collection of Tom Brady's victorious Super Bowl game-used jerseys, on loan from the man himself, are all highlights. Advertisement 'People were excited because they wanted to display [their collections] for everyone,' Connolly said, describing the curation process, which largely involved dealing with individual and private collectors. 'Once the marketing was done it was actually very fun because we actually got a lot of inbound of people saying 'Oh, I have this, I'd like to display it.'' No collectibles exhibit would be complete without the T206 Honus Wagner, which sits alone in a display case. Rounding out the collection is Michael Jordan's game-used Game 3 jersey from the 1998 'Last Dance' NBA Finals, the sister to the Game 1 jersey which sold for a record $10.1 million. Fanatics also managed to procure more than 50 MLB Debut Patch Autograph cards, its creation which its CEO Michael Rubin recently called the greatest innovation in the history of trading cards. Advertisement 'The fact we could get a Honus Wagner, a Mickey Mantle and 50 Debut Parches all in one place … I think that's very special,' Connolly said. 'This is the perfect way, whatever stage you're at [as a collector] to take one step further.' Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.
