Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe

Is Big Money About to Change the Sports Card Hobby Forever?

Major players are making moves in the trading card industry, and the hobby may be on the verge of another major shift!

In this episode of Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe, Joe Davis dives into some potentially game-changing news involving Coinbase, the growing influence of corporate money in collectibles, and what it could mean for the future of sports cards.

Plus, Joe shares encouraging updates on PSA's grading backlog, discusses the incredible demand for graded cards, and reveals some eye-opening trends he's seeing in the marketplace. This includes the continued surge of '90s basketball stars.

With major card shows on the horizon, new opportunities emerging, and collectors facing some big decisions, there's plenty to unpack. Are we witnessing the beginning of an entirely new era in the hobby?

Whether you're a collector, investor, or dealer, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

The sports card hobby is making headlines again and some of the numbers are almost impossible to believe.

In this episode of Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe, Joe Davis breaks down the blockbuster sales of three ultra-high-end basketball rookie cards that combined for more than $13 million, including a Cooper Flagg card that topped $8 million. What do sales like these say about today’s market and is the hobby’s focus really shifting from hot rookies to established GOATs?

Then Joe goes behind the scenes of another major story affecting collectors everywhere: the growing grading crunch. With PSA, BGS, SGC and CGC facing enormous demand, prices changing, services disappearing and turnaround times stretching, Joe shares what he’s seeing firsthand-and why his shop made the aggressive decision to send out nearly 11,000 cards for grading in just a matter of months.

Plus, why cards that once lived in $2, $5 and $10 boxes may suddenly deserve a second look, the incredible surge in ’90s stars and inserts, and why Joe believes the demand for graded cards may be stronger than he’s ever seen.

The hobby is changing fast. The question is: what’s the next domino to fall?

What’s hotter than ever in the sports card hobby, and where are collectors putting their money next? Chuck Oliver returns to the studio with Joe Davis for another entertaining conversation about the changing world of sports cards and collectibles!

From the explosive demand for Disney and Topps Chrome cards to the resurgence of legendary athletes and rare ’90s inserts, Joe and Chuck explore the trends reshaping the hobby. They also tackle the rising cost of collecting, the next generation of young collectors, and the age-old question: Should you rip that unopened box or leave it sealed?

Plus, they revisit a remarkable LeBron James card story, discuss the changing habits of today’s collectors, and wrap things up with some college football and Atlanta Braves talk!

Whether you’re a lifelong collector, a newcomer to the hobby, or simply wondering what’s next, this episode of Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe is one you won’t want to miss!

What happens when two lifelong friends, passionate collectors, and hobby veterans reunite behind the microphone?

This week on Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe, Joe Davis welcomes longtime friend and sports radio legend Chuck Oliver for a conversation packed with nostalgia, laughs, and plenty of hobby talk! From their earliest days collecting baseball cards to the incredible changes shaping today's sports card market, Joe and Chuck share stories, insights, and a few surprises along the way.

The conversation takes some unexpected turns as they tackle college football predictions, the rising cost of collecting, the changing world of card grading, and some of the biggest questions facing the hobby today. Plus, Chuck puts Joe on the hot seat with a few questions collectors everywhere are asking!

Whether you're a vintage enthusiast, a modern collector, or simply love a great conversation about sports and the hobby, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

And there's plenty more to come-this is only Part One!

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.