The countdown to The National Sports Collectors Convention is officially on!In Episode 201 of Talking Shop, Josh and Michael share everything they've learned from attending the biggest sports card show in the world—from budgeting and buying strategy to grading decisions and navigating the massive show floor.We also discuss whether PSA's grading slowdown could impact the raw card market, what products are hitting hobby shop shelves this week, and which cards we'd be chasing if we had a $1,000 budget heading into Chicago.Whether it's your first National or your fifth, this episode is packed with practical advice and collector stories to help you make the most of hobby week.

In this episode:

🏟️ Preparing for The National 2026

💰 Budgeting before the biggest card show of the year

📦 What cards are actually worth grading?

🧳 National survival tips for first-time attendees

🏈 What we'd buy with a $1,000 budget

📈 Does PSA's grading pause affect raw card prices?

🛍️ New releases: Topps Finest Baseball & Topps Chrome Black Football

🤝 Trade nights, dealer strategy, and collector etiquette

Story LinksPSA Discussionhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DaT5g79GI--/National Sports Collectors Conventionhttps://nsccshow.com/National Floor Planhttps://nsccshow.com/floorplan/

om Brady finally explains why his autograph has changed over the years... and collectors may look at his signatures differently after hearing it.Then we dive into what might be Panini's biggest hobby win in years. With the FIFA World Cup taking over the United States, 2026 Panini Prizm FIFA World Cup has arrived at exactly the right time, and the product absolutely delivers.We also discuss:⚽ The 8-year-old who pulled a Lionel Messi 1/1 Superfractor📈 Are PSA 9s becoming more valuable after PSA paused bulk submissions?🏀 Why did a Gold Victor Wembanyama autograph outsell an Orange version?✍️ A top MLB prospect explains why he now takes autograph signing much more seriously.Plus:• New releases• Shop updates• Crazy Stat of the WeekBecause Every Card Has a Story.

Victor Wembanyama didn't make the Finals.Again.So what does that mean for basketball cards?This week on Talking Shop, Josh and Michael discuss the health of the basketball card market, whether Wemby can truly become the face of the hobby, and who could be next if collectors start looking elsewhere.Plus:🏈 Brady & Gronk's game-used Super Bowl touchdown football heads to auction🇺🇸 One of the earliest printed copies of the Declaration of Independence hits Goldin🚀 A Buzz Lightyear card shocks collectors with a massive sale price📈 PSA's reported submission backlog explodes after its grading changes📦 New releases including:2026 Topps Series 2 BaseballLeaf Vivid BaseballTopps Merlin Premier League SoccerTopps Chrome FriendsSelect NASCARTopps Chrome DisneyCosmic Chrome FootballTopps Chrome Cactus Jack BasketballBecause every card has a story.

Has grading become the hobby? And which basketball company actually owns the future: Topps or Panini?PSA says it has a 10 million card backlog and is suspending several submission levels. At the same time, a Victor Wembanyama Black Prizm 1/1 sells for $5.11 million, a LeBron James Topps Chrome Superfractor Auto sells for $1.26 million, and the hobby's most famous missing redemption card finally resurfaces.This week the guys debate whether grading has become more important than collecting, whether Panini is really losing relevance, and what collectors are actually paying for when million-dollar cards change hands.Plus, Topps and Panini both launch new basketball products in the same week, leading to a bigger question: are collectors chasing cards, or chasing outcomes?In This EpisodePSA pauses multiple grading tiers10 million card backlog discussionTopps Signature Class BasketballPanini Signature Series BasketballBlind Ranking: Hobby AccomplishmentsWembanyama Black Prizm 1/1 sells for $5.11MLeBron Chrome Superfractor Auto sells for $1.26MThe Mantle redemption has finally been foundBiggest grading fee in Grand Slam historyJosh's Crazy Stat of the WeekFeatured Stories & LinksPSA Suspends Submission Levelshttps://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1606829914782841&id=100063675425060Victor Wembanyama Black Prizm 1/1 Sells for $5.11 Millionhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense/permalink/1932782434373082/LeBron James Topps Chrome Superfractor Auto Sells for $1.26 Millionhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1441067771395889The Mantle Redemption Has Been Foundhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/sportscardsnonsense/permalink/1934653164186009/Topps Signature Class Basketballhttps://www.topps.com/pages/topps-signature-class-basketballPanini Signature Series Basketballhttps://www.paniniamerica.net/2025-26-panini-signatures-series-basketball-trading-card-box-hobby.htmlBecause every card has a story.#talkingshoppodcast #SportsCards#CardCollecting#VictorWembanyama#LeBronJames#PSA#PaniniPrizm#ToppsChrome#SportsCardInvesting#BasketballCards

Did Aaron Judge just enter all-time territory? And are collectors too early… or already too late on Wembanyama?Aaron Judge's 2013 Bowman Chrome Superfractor resurfaced after 13 years and sold for nearly $840,000. That sparks a bigger question: where does Judge actually rank among Yankee legends and baseball's all-time greats?Then the guys dive into Victor Wembanyama's latest hobby headline as a game-used net from his historic 41-point, 24-rebound performance is turned into a 1/1 autograph card. Is this the future of memorabilia cards, or are manufacturers getting carried away?Plus, Grand Slam Cards is loaded with new releases this week, including Bowman Best Basketball, Topps Finest Football, FIFA Prizm Soccer, NBA Hoops Basketball, Leaf Baseball Nation, and more.And somehow the episode starts with a debate about Deadpool, Miles Morales, Harley Quinn, Mickey Mouse, and whether sports collectors forget stars faster than non-sports collectors.Because of course it does.This Episode:🏆 Aaron Judge's $838,800 Superfractor sale⚾ Where Judge ranks among Yankees legends🏀 Wembanyama game-used net 1/1 auto🤔 Are modern athletes protected by the leagues?🎭 Sports cards vs. non-sports collectibles debate⚽ FIFA Prizm Soccer & Donruss Soccer🏈 Topps Finest Football🏈 Leaf Optichrome Football🏈 Wild Card Aluminations Football🏀 Bowman Best University Basketball🏀 NBA Hoops Basketball⚾ Leaf Pro Set Metal Baseball⚾ Leaf Baseball Nation🎁 Cooper Flagg & Kon Knueppel giveawayWelcome to Grand Slam Cards, located in the heart of Rock Hill, South Carolina! If you found something to enjoy in this video, we'd really appreciate it if you could hit that SUBSCRIBE and LIKE button. Also, drop a comment below to let us know what you're interested in seeing next!Visit us at our store at:952 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730Our doors are open during the following hours:Monday-Friday: 11am-7pmSaturday: 11am-5pmIf you can't make it to our store? You can visit our website by clicking on the link below:https://grandslamcardsrockhill.square.site/And for those of you who are all about card breaks:https://www.grandslambreaksrockhill.com

Would you rather own a $700K Luke Skywalker card or modern sports grails? Plus: wrestling fork relics, Toy Story autos, and GameStop trying to buy eBay.The hobby officially got weird this week.We debate whether a PSA 10 1977 Luke Skywalker card selling for nearly $700,000 says more about nostalgia than modern sports cards, react to an AEW match-used fork relic that somehow became real, and try to figure out why a Pokémon card ended up sewn into a baseball glove.Plus:Mike Trout signs his first Eagles cardPanini’s new Manga inserts are absolute chaosToy Story autograph cards are coming for millennial walletsGameStop and eBay somehow become hobby newsJosh gets fired up about GameStop carrying hobby boxesNew releases hitting Grand Slam this weekBig shop pulls including a Wemby auto /5Because every card has a story.🧾 In This Episode$687,500 Luke Skywalker PSA 10 saleAEW match-used fork relic debatePokémon card inside MLB gloveToy Story dual autograph cardsMike Trout Eagles autograph cardPanini FIFA Manga insertsGameStop CEO suspended from eBayCould GameStop actually buy eBay?Bowman Basketball release reactionsLorcana “Reign of Jafar” artwork discussionWemby auto /5 pulled at Grand Slam⏱ Suggested Chapters00:00 Cold Open — $700K Collectibles Debate03:25 Welcome to Talking Shop05:10 AEW Match-Used Fork Relic14:40 Pokémon Card Inside Baseball Glove22:18 New In The Shop35:12 Lorcana Artwork Discussion46:55 Giveaway Segment49:20 Grading Promo50:45 Toy Story Autograph Cards57:02 $687K Luke Skywalker Card1:07:50 Panini Manga Inserts1:12:40 Mike Trout Eagles Card1:16:25 GameStop vs eBay Discussion1:31:18 Big Pulls From The Shop1:38:45 Crazy Stat of the WeekStory LinksAEW Fork Relic: https://www.facebook.com/reel/4468513053468450Pokémon Glove: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1658690798710583Toy Story Autos: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1261408429531545Luke Skywalker Sale: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1426675886168411FIFA Manga Inserts: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYAylecjcgA/Mike Trout Eagles Card: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXzU1ILDthB/Ryan Cohen/eBay: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYCnOEkkWTo/GameStop/eBay Story: https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/gamestop-offers-buy-ebayHashtags#TalkingShopPodcast#SportsCards#PokemonCards#StarWarsCards#AEWCards#Lorcana#CardCollecting#GameStop#PaniniPrizm#ToppsWelcome to Grand Slam Cards, located in the heart of Rock Hill, South Carolina! If you found something to enjoy in this video, we'd really appreciate it if you could hit that SUBSCRIBE and LIKE button. Also, drop a comment below to let us know what you're interested in seeing next!Visit us at our store at:952 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730Our doors are open during the following hours:Monday-Friday: 11am-7pmSaturday: 11am-5pmIf you can't make it to our store? You can visit our website by clicking on the link below:https://grandslamcardsrockhill.square.site/And for those of you who are all about card breaks:https://www.grandslambreaksrockhill.com

This episode starts with the numbers — and they don’t tell a clean story. The guys dig into Cooper vs. Kon Knueppel, what really matters for ROY, and why the hobby may have already crowned its winner regardless of the debate.

Then it’s a deep dive into Topps Royalty WWE, where a 1/1 John Cena match-used patch auto sparks a bigger question: are we chasing greatness… or just the same names over and over?

Bowman Baseball is coming, and as always, it’s not about who’s the best — it’s about who got the 1st Bowman Chrome auto. The guys break down what actually matters before this product hits.

And in Hobby News:

• Two Wolverine cards sell for basically the same price… but shouldn’t
• Dana White drops six figures on a Roman Anthony card — and resets the room
• PSA’s new Allen Iverson autograph program — game changer or just convenient?

This one’s about what collectors say they value… vs what they actually buy.

• Cooper Flagg vs Kon Knueppel ROY debate
• Rookie stats vs narrative vs market value
• Topps Royalty WWE first look (Cena 1/1 patch auto)
• 2026 Bowman Baseball preview (what actually matters)
• Wolverine sales comparison (Chrome vs Finest)
• Dana White buys Roman Anthony for ~$100K
• PSA Allen Iverson autograph submission program
• “This Guy or That Guy” – Rookie of the Year card value debate

Wolverine Sales Comparison:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DXkTiZXD5xq/?igsh=ZzVyYWs4a3N2eGU5

Topps Marvel Chrome:
https://www.topps.com/pages/topps-marvel-studios-chrome

Topps Finest Fantastic Four:
https://www.topps.com/pages/topps-finest-fantastic-four

Dana White / Roman Anthony:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1525072289297246

PSA Allen Iverson Signing:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/947160298207640

Topps Royalty WWE:
https://www.topps.com/pages/topps-royalty-wwe

Bowman Baseball:
https://www.topps.com/pages/bowman-baseball

Because every card has a story.

#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #CardCollecting

Two Topps products. Two completely different bets.This week, we break down Chrome Football vs Bowman Basketball, how collectors actually behave, and whether rarity is starting to slip in the hobby.

Topps Chrome Football breakdown

Bowman Basketball prospect debate

Gold Logoman controversy

Pokémon display

Links: https://www.topps.com/pages/topps-chrome-football https://www.topps.com/pages/bowman-basketball https://www.topps.com/products/roman-reigns-2026-wwe-topps-now%C2%AE-card-51 https://www.topps.com/products/2026-wrestlemania-vegas-set-wwe-topps-now%C2%AE-15-card-set https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10167169402333496&set=gm.1615173826203411&idorvanity=1278729546514509 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXMb34zMEmI/?igsh=MW4waXFnc3hyYTd2eA%3D%3DBecause every card has a story.#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #CardCollectingWelcome to Grand Slam Cards, located in the heart of Rock Hill, South Carolina! If you found something to enjoy in this video, we'd really appreciate it if you could hit that SUBSCRIBE and LIKE button. Also, drop a comment below to let us know what you're interested in seeing next!Visit us at our store at:952 Mt Gallant Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730Our doors are open during the following hours:Monday-Friday: 11am-7pmSaturday: 11am-5pmIf you can't make it to our store? You can visit our website by clicking on the link below:https://grandslamcardsrockhill.square.site/And for those of you who are all about card breaks:https://www.grandslambreaksrockhill.com

Are collectors gaining clarity—or losing control?What happens when everything starts to “make sense”?Topps got on stage and laid out the future of the hobby.Not just products — the system.Parallels are getting standardized. Products are getting cleaner. Fewer surprises. More structure. On paper, it all makes sense.But that’s kind of the question…If everything starts to make sense — does the hobby get better… or just more controlled?This episode is just Michael and Jacob working through it in real time. No segments. No script. Just reacting to what Topps is actually building and what it might mean long-term.Some of it feels overdue.Some of it feels… a little too intentional.What we get into:Why parallels are being standardized (and who it really helps)The return of entry-level basketballBowman crossing into NBA + NILCarbon fiber cards (yeah… really)Why on-card autos are suddenly a bigger deal againGame-used vs “player worn” — does it even matter anymore?And the bigger question: is the hobby being simplified… or engineered?Source discussed in the episode:https://www.ludex.com/blog/trading-card-university/everything-revealed-at-the-2026-topps-industry-conference/If you made it this far — like, subscribe, leave a comment, and let us know where you land on this.Because this one’s not obvious.Because every card has a story.#TalkingShopPodcast #SportsCards #Topps

More stars… less value? Does grading even matter anymore?The hobby says one thing — but does another.This week, Deadpool crashes the hobby, Leaf drops chaos in a box, and two major stories challenge how collectors think about value, grading, and what actually matters.Deadpool cards = fun or future value?Leaf Glory = chaos or the future?Hall of Fame “Who’s on the Bus”PSA vs BGS debateOhtani vs dual auto shockLinks:https://www.beckett.com/news/2025-leaf-glory-of-the-game-basketball-cards/https://www.instagram.com/p/DWhRkwpgdfE/https://www.instagram.com/p/DWMgjYUlBaN/Because every card has a story.#TalkingShopPodcast#SportsCards#CardCollecting