Global Card Collectors

Is the sports card market heading for a crash, or are we witnessing a new era for collectors?

Jeremy from Totally Football Cards is back on Global Card Collectors for a wide-ranging discussion about the biggest sales, strangest trends and fundamental differences between soccer and American sports card collecting.

We kick things off with a jaw-dropping comparison: a Mickey Mouse card selling for $90,000, just $5,000 less than a Michael Jordan 1-of-1! From there, we get into record-breaking rookie cards, repack companies, market hype and whether some prices are getting completely out of control.

But this conversation goes well beyond headline sales. Jeremy shares his perspective on why football card prospecting is so risky, why a player's club shirt can matter more than the card itself, and why collectors shouldn't overlook vintage football stickers.

🔥 In this episode:

🏀 Is the card market in a bubble? We discuss the $90K Mickey Mouse card, Michael Jordan, Cooper Flagg's eye-watering debut patch valuation and signs that some markets may be cooling.

💸 Are we seeing market manipulation? We explore the influence of hype, repack companies and headline-grabbing valuations — and ask whether new collectors are being drawn in by unrealistic expectations.

⚽ Why football card investing is different. Jeremy explains why prospecting young players can be particularly risky in soccer, where there is no draft system and promising youngsters don't always make it.

🔥 Football tribalism is REAL! Why do fans sometimes refuse to collect a player who has played for their rivals? Jeremy tells the story of Tottenham's Sol Campbell and the cards he actually ripped up and threw away!

🏆 Does the Ballon d'Or move card prices? We discuss Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal and why personality, playing style and popularity can matter as much as trophies.

🃏 Why vintage football stickers deserve more respect. From Zidane and Ronaldinho to Maradona and Gareth Bale, Jeremy explains why stickers are an essential part of football collecting history — and a potentially overlooked way to build a collection.

🌍 Different sports, different collectors. We compare football and basketball card markets, team loyalty versus player collecting, and why the history of each hobby matters.

This is an honest, opinionated conversation about the hobby we love — the opportunities, the risks and the things that make collecting about much more than money.

👇 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Are sports cards overpriced right now, or is the market simply evolving?

Would you rather own a legendary player's rarest card or a more affordable card that means something to you personally?

And be honest: would you ever destroy a card of a player who betrayed your club?

In this episode of Global Card Collectors, Will sits down with Kieran aka ShinyKiwiTCG to discuss why Pokémon's 30th anniversary has felt different, and how The Pokémon Company may have changed the game for collectors.With beautiful artwork, exciting pull rates, and cards that feel genuinely achievable to chase, the anniversary release has brought something special back to the hobby: the joy of opening packs. But was that the plan all along? And has Pokémon found a way to make collectors happy while taking some of the power away from scalpers?We also look at the bigger picture. Are Pokémon cards entering a dangerous bubble? Are some modern cards wildly overpriced? And where might collectors find value without spending a fortune?In this episode:- How Pokémon's 30th anniversary changed the collecting experience- Why easier pull rates might be good for the hobby- Scalpers, product availability, and getting cards into collectors' hands- The magic of opening packs with friends and family- Why vintage Pokémon cards are surging in value- Modern cards, market hype, and potential warning signs- Affordable cards and Illustration Rares worth a closer look- What's coming next for Pokémon, including Mega Rayquaza- Memorable pulls from the Auckland Card Show, including a triple-autograph cricket cardWe also share why collecting should be about more than prices, investments, and chasing the biggest hit. Sometimes, the best moment is simply pulling an incredible card with the people you love.What do you think? Has Pokémon's 30th anniversary genuinely improved the hobby, or is this just another boom? Let us know in the comments.A huge thanks to Kieran aka ShinyKiwiTCG for joining us.

In this episode of Global Card Collectors, Will and John debate the state of the hobby, comparing today's booming collecting ecosystem with the creativity and iconic designs of the late 1990s and early 2000s. From the accessibility of modern collecting and the influence of social media to concerns about repetitive designs and market hype, we ask what makes this era special — and whether it can last.We also get into the cards we're chasing, the players we're watching, and why sometimes the best pickups are the ones that take you beyond the mainstream.🏀 In this episode:- Is this the golden era of card collecting, and when might the market peak?- 90s nostalgia vs modern card design, quality control and originality.- Chasing an Allen Iverson PMG and investigating its possible Beşiktaş connection.- The incredible story of a collector gifting Will a rare Ardie Savea autograph.- Why rugby legends like Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Jonah Lomu deserve more attention.- Luka Dončić's card market, Court Kings Level 4, and what makes a great action shot.- NBA prospecting, second-year players, overlooked talent and potential market opportunities.- George Kittle 1/1s, NFL collecting, and whether a player's narrative can change their card market.As always, this isn't just about prices and investment potential. It's about the cards we love, the stories behind them, and the friendships that make collecting worthwhile.Join the conversation: Are we living in the golden era of card collecting? And which era produced the best cards?

What happens when a lifelong collector turns his hobby into a business and then moves to Turkey?In this episode of Global Card Collectors, we sit down with Jake, a collector and card dealer we first met at Collectors Fest in Istanbul.Jake takes us through his collecting journey, from destroying a box of 1989 Bowman as a kid and owning a beat-up Ken Griffey Jr. rookie, to rediscovering the hobby as an adult and eventually building an eBay inventory of around 300 slabs and 100,000+ cards.And then comes the story that every collector will feel in their soul…Jake pulled Patrick Mahomes rookie cards in 2017 — and sold a Prizm rookie for just $10.We talk about the lessons he learned from that mistake, the difficult balance between being a collector and a dealer, and the painful reality that sometimes you have to sell cards you genuinely love if you want the business to keep moving.We also dive deep into the Turkish card market after Jake's first experience selling at a card show in Istanbul.Why are Turkish collectors so focused on PSA, autographs and patches? Why are some incredible inserts and parallels still misunderstood? And how can American sellers find cards that are undervalued in the US but potentially much more desirable in Turkey?Jake also shares what it's like trying to introduce his 9-year-old son to collecting — including the unexpected decision to get into Pokémon because his son isn't interested in sports cards yet!There's plenty of discussion about buying and selling across international markets, grading cards from Turkey, finding bargains on eBay, the future of the Turkish hobby, and what the next generation of collectors might look like.A really enjoyable conversation about collecting, dealing, family, international card markets — and some very painful lessons along the way.What was your biggest card-selling mistake? Let us know in the comments.

In this week's episode Justin sits down with PJ, long-time collector and communications director for one of the hobby's biggest auction houses: REA (Robert Edwards Auctions). PJ not only discusses his collecting roots, but also how working for REA has influenced his personal collecting. Justin and PJ conclude the episode by discussing what new and future trends are on the rise in the hobby, and, of course, PJ shows off some pieces from his personal collection!

John (@istanbulcards) and Nathanael catch up on what they’ve been doing in the hobby lately, from set chasing to the surprisingly satisfying world of de-slabbing cards.

Then they turn to Luka Dončić and one of the great modern rookie-card classes. With so many releases, parallels, and designs from Luka’s 2018-19 rookie season, which cards actually look the best? John and Nathanael run through some of their favorites—from Prizm and Select to Court Kings, Impeccable, Status, Upper Deck, and more—and discuss what makes certain Luka rookies stand out beyond price and scarcity.

A conversation about collecting what you like, appreciating great card design, and why sometimes the best-looking Luka rookie isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.

Is the sports card market starting to look a little too familiar?In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the warning signs we’re seeing in the hobby right now. From the return of extreme confidence and “cash is dead” mentality, to cards suddenly moving at prices that don’t seem to make much sense.We also talk about the last major sports card market downturn, what it felt like when cards were being bought purely because people believed they could sell them to someone else for more, and why that experience has changed the way we collect today.And then there’s Fanatics Collect…After receiving some cards that weren’t necessarily cards Ryan wanted to keep, he decided to test just how quickly they could be turned into cash. He had a PSA 10 2018 Luka, a 2008 Lebron Chalk Toss and a 1992 Jordan Beam Team PSA 8 and each sold remarkably quickly, not even offers, just dudes smashing the Buy Now button, raising some interesting questions about liquidity, current demand, and whether the market is healthier than it looks… or whether we should be paying attention to the warning signs.Are we heading toward another major correction or is this simply a different market with a different set of dynamics?

Global Card Collectors is back and after stepping away from the hobby for a while, John and Will have plenty to talk about.

Will has just returned from New Zealand, where he attended the Auckland Card Show and experienced what he calls the best card show he's ever been to. From meeting old collecting friends and interviewing bare-knuckle boxer Haze “The Huntsman” Hepi, to watching a kid pull a 1/1 on stage and finding $1 rookie cards that are now worth around $100, it was a reminder of what makes card collecting fun in the first place.

But back in Turkey, the hobby feels very different.

John has taken a noticeable step back from the modern card market, while Will talks about the growing obsession with comps, PSA 10s, autos, breaks and the latest “hot” cards. Have sports cards become too focused on money?

We also talk about:

🏀 Michael Jordan cards: including a card Will bought for around NZ$50–70 that's now averaging around US$800

🔥 Whether Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley or another NBA legend could be the next player to explode

📉 Why John has stepped back from the modern card market

🏆 The return of 90s and early-2000s basketball cards

🇳🇿 New Zealand sports cards and why cards featuring the Kiwi flag are so special

🏉 Will's new “ghost card” chase: a Dan Carter autograph from his playing days in Japan

🇯🇵 The rabbit hole of Japanese rugby cards and BBM

👨‍👦 Collecting with your kids and rediscovering the fun of simply ripping packs

🐐 John’s growing International Treasures collection

🐲 Pokémon, the 30th anniversary and whether the current hype can get even crazier

And finally, Will reveals a Dennis Rodman & Trinity Rodman card that has a much deeper story than simply being a father-daughter card.

This is a conversation about collecting, nostalgia, the changing hobby and perhaps most importantly, remembering why we started collecting cards in the first place.

Welcome back to Global Card Collectors.

Is the sports card hobby becoming more about money than collecting?In this episode of Global Card Collectors, Will sits down with Jeremy from Totally Football Cards for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of the hobby and where it might be heading.We talk about the explosive growth of the modern card market, rising pack prices, breaks, collector fatigue, the growing focus on card values, and whether the hobby is slowly becoming more like an investment industry than a hobby.But it's not all doom and gloom.Jeremy shares his approach to collecting, including why he prefers playing-days cards, how he chooses which post-playing-days cards are worth owning, and some of his favorite cards of Gareth Bale, Luka Modrić and Allen Iverson.We also get into some talk about seriously underrated football legends, including Rivaldo, Ruud Gullit, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry, and discuss whether players like Bale, Rooney and Harry Kane are underappreciated by collectors.And if you're thinking about starting (or restarting) a collection, Jeremy has some excellent advice, including what he would do with $2,000 today, why he says to stay away from breaks, and how to build a collection around cards you actually love rather than cards the market tells you to want.Most importantly, we come back to a simple question: Are we still collecting because we love the cards or have we become too obsessed with what they're worth?

A simple trade offer turned into a masterclass in card collecting.

In this episode of Global Card Collectors, Justin is joined by passionate collectors Sam and Logan to dissect one of the most fascinating trade proposals you'll see: a 2018 Bowman Sky Blue /499 Shohei Ohtani in exchange for a 2003 Finest LeBron James rookie card.

Would you make the trade?

Rather than relying on gut instinct, Sam and Logan break down every factor that serious collectors and investors should consider. They examine the rarity of each card, grading nuances and subgrades, population reports, long-term market dynamics, historical significance, global popularity, player legacies, and what ultimately creates lasting demand.

More importantly, they reveal the framework they use whenever they're faced with a major buying, selling, or trading decision—a process that has shaped many of the biggest cards in their own collections.

Whether you're collecting for passion, investing for the long term, or simply love hearing experienced hobbyists debate the toughest decisions in the hobby, this episode offers a rare look inside the mindset of elite collectors.

Would you keep the LeBron... or take the Shohei? Let us know!