Latest news with #MikeMetzler
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Countdown to The National is on, as bobblehead mania takes over MLB, plus NFL rookie cards to watch
Collectors, we are two weeks away from The National Sports Collectors Convention. I repeat. Two. Weeks. Away from The National. We haven't even caught our breath from Fanatics Fest, yet we're already counting down the days before The Hobby descends upon Rosemont, Il. for one of the very best weeks of the year. I've been fortunate enough to attend The National multiple times, and I'm pretty convinced that if a card or piece of memorabilia exists, you'll be able to find it on the show floor. We were curious what members of the Mantel community were planning to hunt for at The National this year, and Mike Metzler pulled out a few of our favorite 'In Search Ofs' for a fun read… Mantel: Can't Find It Anywhere Else? Try The National Sports Card Convention The National isn't just a convention… it's the collector's Hail Mary, the one place where impossible grails suddenly feel within reach. Whether it's a Harry Heilmann card tied to a family legend, a PSA 10 Hulk Hogan from the ultra-rare 2013 Upper Deck Employee set (only 125 made, with no Hogan 10s surfacing since 2020), or the elusive junior-year high school card of John Smoltz, this is where the hunt gets personal. It's not always about value; sometimes it's about closure, purpose, or just proving the card exists. Sports Collectors Digest: Sports Memorabilia Dealer Raided, Admits Scamming Collectors, Hobby in $350M Fraud and Forgery Scheme In a still developing story, one of the largest autograph forgery rings in hobby history has been exposed, with dealer Brett Lemieux, founder of 'Mister Mancave', publicly confessing to forging millions of sports memorabilia items over the past two decades. Authorities raided his Westfield, Indiana facility, seizing merchandise allegedly worth up to $700M. Lemieux has admitted to faking autographs, holograms, and even developing a signature machine to fool COAs, en route to selling more than $350M in fraudulent items. With connections to nearly every major athlete and authentication company, Lemieux's operation may eclipse even the infamous Operation Bullpen. And last night it was reported that a dead body was found at Lemieux's warehouse, though at press time no more details were confirmed. Collectors are now left wondering how many "authenticated" items in their stash are actually fakes, as the whole industry turns their attention to this sad, still developing story. FOS: Baseball's Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe Bobblehead mania is officially out of control, and incredibly collectible. Fans now show up hours before first pitch to stadiums across the country, braving summer heat and subway chaos for the chance to grab a limited-edition bobble, often reselling them for big profit before the game even gets underway. Designs have evolved beyond basic poses into creative collabs and cultural tributes (hello, Superman Judge and George Costanza Night), fueling a booming subculture and prompting the National Baseball Hall of Fame to dedicate an entire exhibit to them. Rising tariffs have jacked production costs, but between attendance bumps and eBay markups, teams are still all in. cllct: Mickey Mantle Jersey From 1960 All-Star Game Hits Auction Block A photo-matched, game-worn Mickey Mantle Yankees jersey inscribed 'No. 7' and authenticated across 13 images including the 1960 All-Star Game, is heading to auction at Heritage with a $4M estimate. Fresh to the hobby and unaltered (a rarity for gear from that era), the jersey was quietly acquired in the 1990s from a teammate's estate. It's been linked to multiple games across 1960 and 1961, including spring training and an exhibition with Roger Maris. If bidding meets expectations, it could join Mantle's elite memorabilia club, alongside his 1958 jersey ($4.68M) and a 2024 World Series gamer ($3M). IGN: Pokémon Card Shop in Japan Allegedly Robbed by Rival TCG Shop Owner Pokémon cards continue to be the ultimate high-stakes collectible, now doubling as bait for international heists. In the latest caper, a shop in Japan's Gifu Prefecture was hit for $92,000 in cash and cards, allegedly orchestrated with help from the manager of a rival card shop. It's the third arrest tied to the June 16 robbery, which involved a knife, a 3:30 a.m. break-in, and a flood of online outrage. Similar heists have struck Osaka, Melbourne, and Massachusetts, with six-figure losses becoming disturbingly common. Pikachu may not carry a wallet, but collectors clearly need safes. Mantel: Hidden Gems and Big Names: the NFL Rookie Cards to Watch in 2025 With 2025 Score Football hitting the market just in time for preseason hype, collectors are already placing bets on this year's NFL rookie class. Aside from the more obvious, early picks like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter, plenty of rookies are worth keeping an eye on, with cards currently trading at reasonable prices. Shedeur Sanders is a risky but intriguing QB play at $100. Further down, Tetairoa McMillan ($33), Tyler Warren ($35), and Matthew Golden ($45) offer solid value with potential upside. True bargain hunters may eye sleepers like Xavier Restrepo ($15), Tre Harris ($7.50), and Elic Ayomanor ($10), all of whom could be poised for big seasons. NYT: Would You Pay Nearly $9,000 for a Puzzle? Hand-cut wooden puzzles are having a luxury moment, with elite puzzlers shelling out thousands for bespoke, brain-twisting works of art. Companies like Elms, Stave, and Par craft these heirloom-quality pieces from fine hardwoods, often featuring irregular edges, no image references, and sculpted, whimsical pieces. Top-tier sets can hit $9,000 (or more for custom commissions), with some puzzlers spending over $500K to grow their collections. Meanwhile, micro-puzzle jeweler Lazels just dropped a $1,200 titanium puzzle the size of a cellphone, which sold out in only 12 minutes. Call it jigsaw couture: tactile, meditative, and wildly collectible. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Hobby says hello to Sophie Cunningham, while Funko says goodbye to CEO
Good morning, Collectors, 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! Advertisement (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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
