Football season is officially underway, and Ryan Alford and Bella are breaking down what that means for the football card market. With an unusually strange rookie quarterback class and none of the rookie QBs expected to start, they discuss which players collectors should actually be watching and where value could emerge as the season develops.

Ryan and Bella also react to Drake Maye’s three-interception fourth quarter and discuss whether his current card prices accurately reflect what he has proven on the field. Ryan still believes in Maye’s long-term potential, but the question becomes whether a dip is coming and, if it does, whether collectors should buy it.

The conversation also covers Arch Manning’s exclusive Topps deal, the impact of his family name on his card market and the latest installment of Collector Nation’s Iconic Cards series featuring the 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan, including Ryan’s childhood connection to one of basketball collecting’s most recognizable cards.

Topics Covered

• The start of football card season
• The rookie quarterback market
• Why no rookie QBs are starting
• Football rookies to watch
• Drake Maye’s card prices
• Drake Maye’s three-interception fourth quarter
• Is Drake Maye a buy on a dip?
• Caleb Williams vs. Drake Maye
• Arch Manning’s exclusive Topps deal
• The Manning name and card-market hype
• Bowman Football prospects
• 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57
• What makes the Jordan card iconic
• Ryan’s childhood Jordan collecting story
• Collector Nation app and collection tools

🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

Burbank Sports Cards owner Rob Veres joins Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden live from The National to discuss nearly four decades of building one of the hobby’s most recognizable card shops and how the collector experience continues to evolve.

Rob explains why affordable singles remain at the heart of Burbank’s business, how the store can see as many as 1,700 customers in a single day, and how technology, social media and an inventory of roughly 2.4 million different cards have transformed the way collectors shop.

The conversation also explores the explosive growth of Pokémon and TCG, changing demographics within the hobby, Burbank’s approach to AI and retail technology, building a multigenerational family business and why Rob believes the future of collecting still comes down to creating an experience people want to be part of.

Topics Covered

• The history and growth of Burbank Sports Cards
• Affordable cards and the collector experience
• 1,700 customers in a single day
• 2.4 million different cards in inventory
• Pokémon and TCG growth
• Sports cards vs. TCG
• Technology and AI in card shops
• Digital pricing and in-store kiosks
• Social media’s impact on retail
• New demographics entering the hobby
• Building a family business
• The future of local card shops
• Why Burbank will remain one destination

🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Burbank Sports Cards
Website: https://burbankcards.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burbankcards

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Brian Ludden / Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
App: https://www.ludex.com/download
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden and Bella are back with another Collector Nation hobby roundtable covering the latest shifts in sports cards, from new technology to overlooked vintage and junk-wax-era cards.

The crew breaks down Topps Instant Packs after Ryan tries the new $100 format himself, debating what digital ripping of real physical cards could mean for collectors, hobby shops, breakers, vaulting and card resale. Ryan also explains why breakers may have an overlooked advantage when major cards are pulled and buyers want immediate liquidity.

They also talk about the massive card collection Ryan recently picked up, the unexpected Peyton Manning 1/1 hiding inside it, growing interest in older inserts and pop culture cards, the iconic Bo Jackson card, football season returning and what’s next for Collector Station and Collector Nation.

Topics Covered

• Topps Instant Packs
• The future of sports card ripping
• $100 four-card packs
• Fanatics Collect and vaulting
• Breaker buyback opportunities
• The Peyton Manning 1/1 discovery
• Buying massive card collections
• Junk-wax-era cards gaining value
• Shaq and Tim Duncan cards
• Entertainment and pop culture cards
• Collector Station’s Topps distribution
• Football Debut Patches
• Football season and Ludex scan data
• Bo Jackson’s iconic 1990 card
• Modern appreciation for junk-wax-era stars

🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Articles Mentioned
Topps Chrome Black: https://thecollectornation.com/analysis/buyback-offers-breaker-leverage
Time Duncan https://thecollectornation.com/analysis/the-shaq-spike-is-real-it-is-structural-and-the-sports-card-lessons
Shaq: https://thecollectornation.com/analysis/shaquille-oneals-card-market-has-doubled-since-mid-july-and-nobody

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Brian Ludden / Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
App: https://www.ludex.com/download
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

Pristine Auction founder and CEO Jared Kavlie joins Ryan Alford live from The National to talk about the rapid evolution of auctions, live selling, and where he sees opportunity in today’s collectibles market.

Jared explains why live selling has already grown to roughly half of Pristine Auction’s sales, shares the story behind a Michael Jordan signed rookie that sold in the $40Ks, and breaks down why signed vintage cards and game-used jerseys continue to catch his attention.

They also discuss Pokémon, Trade Night at The National, Pristine’s original Days of Thunder car, faster auction formats, and what’s next for Pristine Auction as the hobby continues to evolve.

Topics Covered

• Michael Jordan signed rookie
• Growth of live selling
• Signed vintage cards
• Game-used jerseys
• Pokémon and TCG
• The original Days of Thunder car
• Trade Night at The National
• 10-second auctions
• Pristine Auction’s selling model
• What’s next for Pristine Auction

🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Jared Kavlie / Pristine Auction
Website: https://www.pristineauction.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pristineauction
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pristineauction

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

Could Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey really be worth over $15 million?

Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden and Bella Shafer break down the upcoming sale, debate what the jersey is actually worth, and discuss whether game-worn memorabilia is becoming an even bigger part of the collectibles market. Their predictions range from $25 million to more than $40 million.

They also take a hard look at the new Topps flagship football release, discuss whether affordable wax can still deliver an exciting ripping experience, revisit the iconic 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie, and talk modern chase cards, Frozen Fractors, Minions, SPs and SSPs.

• Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey
• The $100 million valuation debate
• Game-worn memorabilia vs. cards
• Topps flagship football
• Hit rates and affordable wax
• 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.
• Kyrie Irving Frozen Fractor
• Modern inserts and chase cards
• SP/SSP scarcity
• Collector Station live selling

Check out Pristine Auction and use code NATION at PristineAuction.com and you'll knock $20 off your first win.

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Brian Ludden / Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
App: https://www.ludex.com/download
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

Barry Meisel has spent nearly three decades helping transform game-worn memorabilia into one of the most fascinating categories in collecting.

Live from The National, Barry joins Ryan Alford and Brian Ludden to share how he built MeiGray around one fundamental idea: collectors needed a way to prove that the jersey they were buying was actually worn by the athlete. He explains the forensic process behind photo-matching and shares the stories behind a Michael Jordan Finals jersey that sold for $10.091 million and another game-worn relic that reached $24.12 million.

They also discuss counterfeit memorabilia, game-worn relics in trading cards, Steph Curry and Conor McDavid equipment, and why Barry believes authenticated sports memorabilia still has significant room to grow.

• The origin of MeiGray
• How photo-matching works
• Michael Jordan's $10.091M Finals jersey
• The $24.12M game-worn record
• Authentication and memorabilia values
• Fighting counterfeit memorabilia
• Game-worn relic cards
• Buying your first game-worn jersey
• Steph Curry and Conor McDavid equipment
• The future of game-worn collecting

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Brian Ludden / Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
App: https://www.ludex.com/download
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp

Barry Meisel / MeiGray
Website: https://www.meigray.com
Auctions: https://www.meigrayauctions.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meigrayofficial

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

The sports card market keeps climbing, but does the value of today's cards actually make sense?

Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer break down another big week in the hobby, from record-setting sales and the strength of high-end cards to the growing debate over modern cards versus cards that have already survived multiple market cycles. Ryan also shares a recent product comparison that revealed nearly a 30X difference in card value, despite pulling numbered cards and an autograph from the competing product.

The crew also discusses Justin Herbert and football players they're watching, the return of Topps flagship football, Cooper Flagg, buying collections, the explosion of parallels, Collector Station's first eBay Live streams, and new Ludex features.

Topics Covered

• Sports card market prices and record sales
• Can the current hobby boom last?
• Modern cards vs. proven cards
• The surprising 30X card value difference
• Cooper Flagg and Topps Chrome Update
• Topps Signature Class Basketball
• 2026 Topps flagship football
• Justin Herbert and football cards to watch
• Buying large sports card collections
• The problem with too many parallels
• Collector Station's first eBay Live streams
• What's new at Ludex

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Brian Ludden / Ludex
Website: https://www.ludex.com
App: https://www.ludex.com/download
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludexapp

⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe to Collector Nation, leave a comment, and share it with another collector.

Storage Wars star Rene Nezhoda joins Ryan Alford live from The National to talk about his journey from reality television to sports cards and building Bargain Hunter Breaks.

Rene shares the story of a vintage card-filled storage unit he bought for a few thousand dollars, sold for around $25,000, and now wishes he had kept. He also discusses the rapid growth of his breaking business, the $3 million Ohtani pull, rare sealed packs, collectors vs. investors, TCG, and why he believes the collectibles industry hasn't come close to reaching its potential.

Topics Covered

• Rene's journey from Storage Wars to sports cards
• The vintage collection he regrets selling
• Bargain Hunter Breaks
• The $3 million Ohtani pull
• Rare graded and sealed packs
• Live breaking and PYTs
• Collecting vs. investing
• TCG and the future of collectibles

Collector Nation
Website: thecollectornation.com
Instagram: @thecollectornation
TikTok: @thecollectornation
YouTube: @thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: @thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: ryanalford.com
Instagram: @ryanalford

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another collector.

The biggest chase in sports cards is officially over.

Ryan Alford and Bella Shafer react to the pull of the Cooper Flagg Logo Man Auto and discuss what happens next. They debate the competing offers from Golden, ALT, Pristine, and the Dallas Mavericks, while exploring whether selling the card is actually the best long-term decision.

The conversation also covers the explosive demand for Topps Chrome Basketball, Collector Station’s upcoming eBay Live debut, the return of Topps Pristine Baseball, on-card autos versus sticker autos, and Ryan’s latest NFL quarterback investment picks, including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Carson Beck, and Trevor Lawrence. 

cam-bella-ryan-take-02.txt

• Cooper Flagg Logo Man
• Golden, ALT & Pristine offers
• The future value of the card
• Collector Station on eBay Live
• Topps Pristine Baseball
• On-card autos vs. sticker autos
• NFL quarterback market
• Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels & Carson Beck

Collector Nation
Website: https://thecollectornation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectornation_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecollectornation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecollectornation

Collector Station
Website: https://thecollectorstation.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollectorstation

Ryan Alford
Website: https://www.ryanalford.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalford

Collector Creative
Website: https://collectorcreative.com

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, follow Collector Nation on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with another collector.

The National was the biggest show the hobby has ever put on. The most important thing I saw there wasn't a card.

This is not our usual episode — no guest, no Friday news rundown. It's a 23-minute audio essay about something I couldn't stop turning over on the flight home: I walked past a dozen different versions of this hobby in a single afternoon, and most of them barely acknowledged each other.

Somewhere in the last five years, without any announcement, the thing we all still call "the hobby" stopped being one thing. Nobody stopped to rename it.

In this episode:
• Why the collector-versus-investor argument is over — and what replaced it
• The two floors of The National, and why they barely speak to each other
• Trade night, and the difference between paper gains and profit
• How Michael Jordan became the hobby's language of certainty
• The quiet shift from accumulating to editing a collection
• Why the next decade belongs to whoever helps collectors make sense of it

Read the written version: https://thecollectornation.com/news/the-national-didnt-change-we-did

Collector Nation is built on one idea: the hobby doesn't need more recaps, it needs interpretation. Anyone can tell you what sold and for how much. What matters is whether it means anything, and what you should do about it.

More at https://thecollectornation.com
Ryan Alford — Instagram and LinkedIn: @ryanalford

Which hobby are you actually in? Tell me in the comments — I read them.

#sportscards #thehobby #TheNational2026 #cardcollecting #pokemontcg #tradingcards
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