What happens when you discover a vintage card you believe has been overlooked, buy it, and then one of the biggest voices in collectibles suddenly calls out the exact same thing?

In Part 2 of our post-National Sports Cards Live conversation, Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot and David Chase are joined by Leighton Sheldon of Just Collect and Auction Wire for a deeper look at pricing, buying and negotiating at the 2026 National.

Leighton gives us the dealer's perspective on the "overpriced National" debate and explains what he saw from both sides of the table. We dig into the difference between commodity cards and genuinely scarce cards, when comps matter, when they don't tell the whole story, paying premiums for exceptional eye appeal, and why building rapport can make a real difference when trying to get a deal done.

Then things take an unexpected turn.

Jeremy reveals the 1935 Mickey Mouse card he had identified months earlier as a new personal grail, along with an extremely scarce O-Pee-Chee variation he discovered through Auction Wire. David had also started buying cards from the set at the National.

Then, almost immediately afterward, a video surfaced of Gary Vaynerchuk specifically calling out 1935 Mickey Mouse and 1940 Superman as vintage fictional cards he believes have significant potential.

Within days, available examples began disappearing and asking prices jumped dramatically.

Coincidence? The Gary Vee effect? Or an overlooked segment of vintage collecting finally starting to get attention?

We also get the incredible story behind Leighton's 1948 Leaf Hal Newhouser deal with David, discuss why relationships still matter in the hobby, and look at how tools like Auction Wire are changing the way collectors discover cards they might otherwise never find.

Featuring Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot, David Chase and Leighton Sheldon.

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💬 Let us know in the comments: Are vintage non-sports and fictional character cards such as 1935 Mickey Mouse and 1940 Superman still underappreciated, or has the market already caught on?

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🔗 Check the links in the episode description for Hobby Spectrum, Pops and Comps, Auction Wire, Fanatics Collect and more ways to connect with Sports Cards Live.

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Was the 2026 National really overpriced, or were collectors simply experiencing the realities of a rising sports card market?

In Part 1 of our post-National Sports Cards Live conversation, Jeremy Lee is joined by Joe Poirot and David Chase to break down what they actually saw on the show floor. Were dealers asking too much? Were there still deals to be found? And how much does your approach to a dealer affect the price you're ultimately able to negotiate?

We get into comps, "not for sale" pricing, why dealers may be reluctant to sell at the last recorded sale, and the lost art of actually talking to people before asking, "What's your best price?"

We also discuss the enormous demand for grading at the National, PSA and Beckett being overwhelmed, whether collectors should simply wait to submit their cards, and the growing fascination with MBA stickers and fourth-party card assessment.

Plus, some National stories, the aftermath of a marathon week in Chicago, and plenty of interaction with the Sports Cards Live community.

Featuring Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot and David Chase.

👍 Like the episode if you enjoyed the conversation and subscribe to Sports Cards Live for more hobby discussion, interviews, analysis and live shows.

💬 Drop a comment and let us know: Did you think prices at the National were too high, or were there plenty of deals if you knew where and how to look?

📊 Discover where you fit in the hobby with the Hobby Spectrum assessment and explore the growing Hobby Spectrum platform.

📖 Check out Pops and Comps: Truths, Insights, and Psychology Behind the Numbers that Drive the Sports Card Market.

🔗 Check the links in the episode description for the Hobby Spectrum, Pops and Comps, Fanatics Collect and more ways to connect with Sports Cards Live.

🎙️ Listen to Sports Cards Live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for watching, listening and being part of the Sports Cards Live community.

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Steve Taft has been collecting, dealing, researching, and studying sports cards since the 1960s, making him one of the hobby's true veterans and one of the foremost experts on Star basketball cards.

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Joe Hollywood joins Sports Cards Live for a recorded conversation about his rise in the hobby, his role in the new sports memorabilia documentary Sign, Sealed and Delivered, and the journey from childhood collector to one of the biggest live-selling personalities in sports cards.

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Who ultimately determines the value of a sports card—the grading company or the collectors themselves?

In the concluding segment of this conversation, Jeremy, MattyC, David Chase, and Joshua Adams continue exploring the evolving role of eye appeal, grading, and collector opinion in today's hobby.

Topics include:

• Why Jeremy chooses not to submit cards for grading

The episode wraps up with final thoughts before everyone heads to The National, along with updates on upcoming Sports Cards Live programming, Fanatics Collect giveaways, The Hangover, and Enter the Inferno.

Whether you agree or disagree with the panel's perspective, this discussion challenges collectors to think critically about how they evaluate cards—and why.

📊 Submit your cards to iAppeal Inc.
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https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903

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Does the number on the slab really tell the whole story?

The Sports Cards Live panel continues its discussion with MattyC of Eye Appeal Inc., David Chase, and Joshua Adams as we explore one of the hobby's most fascinating questions:

How much should eye appeal matter?

Topics include:

• Why collectors often disagree with technical grades

We also examine remarkable sales of iconic vintage cards whose visual appeal dramatically exceeded what their technical grades suggested, raising important questions about how collectors value condition today.

If you've ever looked at two cards with the same grade and thought, "These don't belong in the same holder," this conversation is for you.

📊 Submit your cards to iAppeal Inc.
https://www.iappealinc.com

📊 Take the Hobby Spectrum Assessment
https://www.hobbyspectrum.com

📖 Pops and Comps
https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903

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👍 If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversations, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and join us live every Saturday night for another episode of Sports Cards Live.

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MattyC returns to Sports Cards Live for his first appearance in nearly a year to discuss the evolution of Eye Appeal Inc. and why collector opinion deserves a seat at the table alongside third-party grading.

We discuss:

• The vision behind Eye Appeal Inc.

Matty also shares stories from his Hollywood career, including writing Paid in Full, Rambo: Last Blood, creating the Netflix series Absentia, and his upcoming feature film set in the sports card hobby.

Joining the conversation are David Chase and Joshua Adams as we explore how collectors evaluate cards differently and why those different perspectives make the hobby stronger.

📊 Submit your cards to iAppeal Inc.
https://www.iappealinc.com

📊 Take the Hobby Spectrum Assessment
https://www.hobbyspectrum.com

📖 Pops and Comps
https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903

🛒 Support the channel through Fanatics Collect
https://fanaticscollect.onelink.me/xx0N/iyiniif4

👍 If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversations, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and join us live every Saturday night for another episode of Sports Cards Live.

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The conversation with Mike Gio from Sports Cards Nonsense continues as we shift from fake patches to one of the hobby's hottest debates:

Are sports card prices getting ahead of themselves?

We discuss:

• Who should be responsible for stopping fake patch fraud

Mike also shares why he's become increasingly cautious despite the hobby's incredible momentum heading into The National, while Joe Poirot offers his perspective on navigating a rapidly rising market.

Whether you're buying, selling, or simply watching the hobby evolve, this conversation offers valuable perspective on where things stand today.

📊 Take the Hobby Spectrum Assessment
https://www.hobbyspectrum.com

📖 Pops and Comps
https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903

🛒 Support the channel through Fanatics Collect
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The fake patch epidemic has become one of the hobby's biggest concerns.

Mike Gio from Sports Cards Nonsense joins Sports Cards Live to discuss how widespread the problem has become, why it's receiving so much attention right now, and what can be done to protect collectors.

We explore:

• How fake patch cards are created and sold

We also touch on National week excitement, grading submissions at the show, the growing visibility of alternative grading companies, and what collectors should expect heading into the hobby's biggest event.

This is an important conversation for anyone who buys, sells, or collects memorabilia cards.

📊 Take the Hobby Spectrum Assessment
https://www.hobbyspectrum.com

📖 Pops and Comps
https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903

🛒 Support the channel through Fanatics Collect
https://fanaticscollect.onelink.me/xx0N/iyiniif4

👍 If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversations, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and join us live every Saturday night for another episode of Sports Cards Live.

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The countdown is over. National week is finally here.

Joe Poirot and Leighton Sheldon join me as we discuss our plans for the hobby's biggest event, what collectors should bring to the show, and what we're expecting once the doors open in Chicago.

We also revisit one of the biggest auction results of the year after Leighton came astonishingly close to predicting the final sale price of the iconic signed Jackie Robinson rookie card.

Then we dive into one of collecting's toughest psychological challenges: forced consolidation.

What happens when a grail card suddenly becomes available? Do you sell ten... fifteen... even hundreds of cards from your collection to make it happen? We explore the emotional side of trading up, why it's often harder than collectors admit, and how each of us approaches those difficult decisions.

Whether you're heading to The National or simply thinking about the future of your collection, this is a conversation every collector can relate to.

📊 Take the Hobby Spectrum Assessment
https://www.hobbyspectrum.com

📖 Pops and Comps
https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903

🛒 Support the channel through Fanatics Collect
https://fanaticscollect.onelink.me/xx0N/iyiniif4

👍 If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversations, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and join us live every Saturday night for another episode of Sports Cards Live.

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