As a serial over-analyzer of Topps odds, one of the most common comments I hear is that we are in “Junk Wax Era 2.0.” That assertion contains multiple layers, not the least of which is “What exactly is your definition of ‘Junk Wax Era’?” Though technically there is no hard and fast definition, the guidelines…
Every championship team these days seems to have a tie to Drake. He’s either the team’s most vocal celebrity fan or a combative supporter of their opponents. The Los Angeles Dodgers were the latest member of the latter group. Drake took shots at Shohei Ohtani during the 2025 World Series, where the Dodgers faced the…
It happened again. Another regrettably out of context jersey piece has made it into a trading card, requiring an update to our ranking of the most unflattering sports cards ever. This time, the victim is Jimmy Butler. The card is his Pristine Patches 1-of-1, recently pulled on camera from a box of 2024-25 Panini Immaculate…
NEW YORK — On a chilly Sunday in December, about two dozen people filled a few tables at Wilka’s, a women’s sports bar in lower Manhattan. Women’s college basketball and PWHL games filled the screens, but most early afternoon patrons weren’t there to watch a specific matchup. They were there to knit. They wore handmade…
On New Year’s Day 2025, Topps put a sports card twist on an old holiday by turning Jan. 1 into “1 of 1 Day” — an occasion to celebrate one-of-a-kind cards across the hobby. It immediately took off on social media, with everyone from actress Emma Roberts to rival manufacturer Panini and thousands of collectors…
It was another milestone year for the still-growing sports card world, as collectors in 2025 sharpened their interests in all-time greats such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and Shohei Ohtani. However, it was also a year of unfulfilled potential as injuries to Caitlin Clark and Jayden Daniels derailed the momentum and excitement they built…
It’s December and you’ve either just watched or are currently watching Home Alone. Or, like me, you’re in a perpetual state of both those statements being true. Somewhere around the time I lost count of the rewatches, I realized that sports collectibles play a vital role in the movie. They help Kevin McCallister hone his…
Panini, the trading card and collectibles company, is entrenched in a court battle with rival Fanatics. Earlier this year, it was also put up for sale. In court documents, Panini portrays itself as a company unable to compete in key markets against its most dominant rival. Meanwhile, in private meetings with potential buyers, Panini is…
Last year, we shared gift ideas for the sports fan who has everything. This year, we’re back with some new items to consider in a variety of categories. We also have another guest recommender from The Athletic’s newsroom: senior college sports writer and expert gift giver Lindsay Schnell. We hope this list makes your holiday…
Welcome to The Athletic Collectibles Staff’s 2025 Sports Card Power Rankings! Here we spotlight a mix of the most notable, eye-catching and downright fun sports cards released so far in 2025. Our selections and rankings are not based on anything scientific — not market value, rarity, or sales volume — it’s about highlighting cards we…