Is Mickey Mouse the Next Giant in the Trading Card Hobby?

Disney cards are on fire and some vintage Mickey Mouse cards are reaching prices few collectors could have imagined even just weeks ago.

Joe Davis is joined by non-sports expert Cleve Bosher to dig into the rapidly changing Disney card market and clear up some major confusion surrounding Mickey Mouse’s earliest cards. Is the famous 1931 Wills card really Mickey’s “rookie,” or do much scarcer cards predate it?

From obscure European issues and the beautiful 1935 Mickey Mouse Gum set to early appearances of Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck and other legendary Disney characters, Joe and Cleve explore the cards collectors are suddenly chasing - and why identifying true first appearances in the non-sports world can be so complicated.

After a whirlwind stretch at Fanatics Fest and The National, Joe Davis is back behind the mic and there’s a lot happening in the hobby.

In this episode of Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe, Joe shares what he learned firsthand at two of the industry’s biggest events, along with important updates on the rapidly changing grading landscape. With PSA and BGS limiting lower-cost services and demand showing no signs of slowing, what should collectors be doing with their cards right now?

But grading is only part of the story. Joe dives into some of the hottest trends he witnessed at The National, including the explosive growth of vintage and modern non-sports cards, surging demand for iconic characters, and a major shift taking place in sports cards. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Ken Griffey Jr. and other established legends are gaining momentum as collectors increasingly look toward proven stars rather than the next big prospect.

From grading strategies and changing buying habits to surprising trends coming out of The National, this episode is packed with observations collectors won’t want to miss.

The hobby is changing fast. The question is: are you paying attention?

What if the next hobby boom is hiding in a bargain box?

This week, Joe Davis dives into one of the most fascinating questions in the sports card market: Who's next? After watching Michael Jordan cards explode in value and Ken Griffey Jr. follow a similar path, Joe explores which Hall of Famers and forgotten 1990s inserts could be the hobby's next breakout stars. From iconic parallels and overlooked sets to AI predictions and collector insight, this episode is packed with thought-provoking discussion that will have you looking at your collection in a whole new way.

Most importantly, Joe wants to hear from you. Who are your sleeper picks? Which players, inserts, or eras are being overlooked today but could be tomorrow's hottest chase? Join the conversation and see if your prediction becomes the next big hobby trend.  This episode is being released a week late due to the New York Show.  Stop by Joe's booths at the National: 853, 855, 952 and 954.

Whether you're heading to Fanatics Fest, The National, the Dallas Card Show, or your local card show, one wrong move could cost you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. In this episode, Joe Davis shares decades of experience from behind the dealer table, revealing smart strategies for buying, selling, grading, and negotiating at today's biggest hobby events. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, maximize your budget, spot hidden opportunities, and prepare like a seasoned collector before you ever walk through the doors. If you're planning to attend a card show this summer, this is one episode you won't want to miss.

From Snoopy's earliest appearances to the surprisingly complex world of Peanuts trading cards, this episode uncovers one of the hobby's most overlooked collecting opportunities. Joe Davis explores the history behind Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the beloved Peanuts gang, revealing rare vintage issues, international releases, and the cards many collectors don't even know exist. Along the way, he shares the research strategies he uses to identify long-term collectibles and explains why one of the world's most recognizable brands may still be undervalued. Whether you're a lifelong Peanuts fan, a vintage card collector, or simply love discovering hidden gems in the hobby, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

PSA's value-level grading services have been paused for a full month now, so what should collectors be doing? In this episode, Joe Davis shares what he's seeing firsthand after handling thousands of grading submissions and reveals the strategies his own shop is using while the hobby waits for PSA to reopen. From surprising grading trends and market shifts to the best alternatives for modern cards, vintage, and TCG, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you make smarter decisions in an uncertain market. If you're wondering whether to wait, switch grading companies, or keep your collection moving, you won't want to miss this insider's perspective from one of the hobby's most experienced grading submitters.

This week on Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe… Joe’s out, so it’s time for A Cup of Tea. ☕️

Join Taylor alongside retail power duo Jeff and Annette as they share about life behind the counter at GotBaseballCards and recap the team’s latest trip to the Nashville Card Show. From unforgettable customer moments and hobby stories to grading trends, vintage finds, exploding interest in Pokémon and cartoon cards, and what really makes a great card show experience—this episode goes deeper than buying and selling.

You’ll hear about collecting across generations, balancing family and hobby, lessons learned on the show floor, and why creating memorable experiences still matters most in today’s market. Plus: rapid-fire hobby questions, dream cards, show insights, and a look ahead at what’s next for the hobby this summer.

Whether you’re chasing slabs, building sets, or just love the community side of collecting, this episode is packed with stories that remind us why we got into cards in the first place.

What if the biggest “rookie cards” in collecting aren’t athletes at all? In this episode of SportsCards & A Cup of Joe, Joe Davis takes listeners into a world most collectors never realize exists- vintage non-sports cards featuring legendary cartoon and entertainment characters. Inspired by a record-setting sale of a rare Luke Skywalker card, Joe explores the hidden market behind early appearances of icons like Fred Flintstone, Scooby-Doo, and Bugs Bunny.

From obscure international releases and ultra-low population reports to the thrill of uncovering forgotten cardboard treasures decades later, this episode blends nostalgia, collecting strategy, and a fresh way to think about long-term demand. Whether you collect sports, vintage, or simply grew up with Saturday morning cartoons, you may never look at “rookie cards” the same way again. And this is only Part 1.

This episode peels back the curtain on one of the hobby’s most talked-about new ideas. Joe Davis and Taylor Pruitt return to answer the flood of collector questions surrounding Got Pregrade - what it is, who it’s for, and why now may be the perfect time for a service like this. From turnaround times and condition transparency to vintage cards, modern pulls, show prep, and the future of buying and selling raw cards, this conversation tackles the questions collectors are already asking. Plus, Joe shares where this fits alongside traditional grading and why this isn’t about replacing the hobby… it’s about helping collectors make smarter decisions. And don’t miss the teaser at the end for an upcoming episode collectors have been requesting for over a year.

Big news is shaking up the grading world and this episode of Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe has a new alternative. Joe Davis shares the personal story that sparked decades of passion for authentication and collector protection, reveals the challenges facing the grading industry today, and announces a brand-new service designed to help collectors move faster, make smarter decisions, and know exactly what they’ve got before sending cards off.

From a memorable vintage Hank Aaron lesson to behind-the-scenes insight on how thousands of cards are evaluated, this episode dives into affordability, transparency, and turnaround times in a way collectors won’t want to miss. If you grade, buy, sell, or simply love cards, this conversation could change how you approach your collection.

Know what you’ve got. Hear why now is the time.