🚨 FAKE PSA SLABS, a $288,000 Fanatics sale, and potential SHILL BIDDING concerns! Is the sports card hobby facing a major trust problem?
In this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, Chris, Jeremy, and Thor dive into the growing controversy surrounding counterfeit PSA graded card holders, including a Pokémon Dragonite reportedly sold for $288,000 through Fanatics Collect.
Could the same thing happen with vintage baseball cards, Ken Griffey Jr. rookies, Michael Jordan cards, or even a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle?
We discuss how convincing fake PSA slabs can be, why certification numbers alone may not be enough, and what collectors should look for before buying expensive graded cards.
🔥 ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
🔴 Fanatics FanCash & Shill Bidding Concerns – Could Fanatics' 0% selling commission option create opportunities for auction manipulation? We discuss the potential loophole and its impact on collector confidence.
⚾ 16 MILLION Sports Cards! – Jeremy shares details of a massive collection containing approximately 25,000 graded cards and thousands of vintage cards. Is it even worth buying?
💰 The Sports Card Market Is Softening – Are dealers offering just 75% of comps while sellers expect 125%? We break down changing buying strategies, market trends, and the widening gap between buyers and sellers.
🏆 How to Value Vintage Baseball Card Sets – Learn how experienced dealers evaluate complete Topps sets from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
🏝️ Desert Island Card Challenge – If you could only have one case of trading cards for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Do you trust PSA graded cards as much as you used to? Should Fanatics reconsider its FanCash promotion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
🔗 Collector Investor Auctions: https://collectorinvestorauctions.com Check out our upcoming auctions, consign your collection, and discover vintage and modern sports cards.
👍 LIKE this video if you enjoy honest discussions about the sports card hobby.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to the Collector Investor Podcast for sports card market news, collecting insights, auction analysis, and hobby conversations.
Featured discussions and commentary reference reporting from Rattle Pokémon and Spitballin' Cards.
Allegations and suspected fraud discussed in this episode may remain under investigation and are not presented as independently verified findings.
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
39:26 How to Value Complete Vintage Topps Sets 45:44 Desert Island Sports Card Challenge
50:08 Final Thoughts & November Auction Preview
Is the Sports Card Hobby Becoming a CASINO? $15M in Repacks!
Épisode 41
mardi 27 octobre 2026 • Durée 57:28
Is the sports card hobby becoming a CASINO? With approximately $15 MILLION spent on three massive NBA debut patch cards connected to the repack market, collectors are asking serious questions about the future of sports card collecting!
On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, Chris, Texas Snowman, and the crew dive into the explosion of digital mystery packs, the impact of repackers on sports card prices, and whether the hobby is heading toward another major market correction.
🏀 THE $15 MILLION REPACK CONTROVERSY The Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Kon Knueppel NBA debut patch cards have sparked a massive debate. What happens when multimillion-dollar sports cards become prizes in digital mystery packs? Are these legitimate market values, or are repack companies driving prices higher?
📉 IS ANOTHER SPORTS CARD MARKET CRASH COMING?
We look back at the 2022 sports card market downturn and discuss whether Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Shohei Ohtani, and modern sports cards could experience another major correction. Is vintage safer than modern?
📦 SHIPPING & INSURING EXPENSIVE SPORTS CARDS What's the safest way to ship valuable cards? We compare USPS Registered Mail, UPS, FedEx, private shipping insurance, and high-value courier services. We also discuss PSA declared values and what collectors should consider when submitting expensive cards for grading.
🏆 PSA vs. SGC vs. BGS vs. CGC Why do so many dealers prefer PSA slabs? We break down resale value, liquidity, grading market dominance, and what could happen if PSA suddenly disappeared.
⚾ VINTAGE CARD INVESTING & MICHAEL JORDAN Are rare O-Pee-Chee, Venezuelan, and Milton Bradley vintage cards undervalued? Plus, which Michael Jordan card would we rather hold for 25 years: the 1986 Fleer Rookie PSA 5 or the 1988 Fleer PSA 10?
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE:
00:43 Welcome to the Collector Investor Podcast
03:14 $15 MILLION NBA Debut Patch Repack Controversy
🚨 $1,000,000+ in PSA graded cards STOLEN, Shohei Ohtani rookie cards dropping in value, and counterfeit PSA slabs showing up at card shows! The sports card hobby has some major stories to discuss this week!
Welcome back to the Collector Investor Podcast! Jeremy (The Texas Snowman), Chris, and Thor break down some of the biggest controversies and questions facing sports card collectors, dealers, and investors.
🔥 IN THIS EPISODE:
🚨 PSA / FedEx Card Theft – A FedEx vehicle transporting PSA submissions was reportedly burglarized, with one collector reporting more than $1,000,000 in stolen cards. Who is responsible, how will collectors be compensated, and should high-value graded cards receive better shipping security?
📉 Shohei Ohtani Card Market CRASH? – Some popular Ohtani rookie cards have dropped roughly 25–33% in the charts discussed. Is this the time to buy the dip, sell before prices fall further, or hold until baseball season returns? We discuss PSA populations, supply, demand, and long-term investment strategies.
⚠️ FAKE PSA SLABS at Card Shows! – Counterfeit-style PSA holders and proxy cards are appearing at dealer tables. Even when disclosed, should these products be allowed at shows? We discuss the risks to collectors and the importance of protecting the hobby.
⚾ $100,000 MICKEY MANTLE DRAFT! – Jeremy and Chris go head-to-head building their ultimate $100K Mickey Mantle collections! With vintage rookies, rare food issues, high-grade cards, and autographs available, who makes the smarter investment picks?
💰 COLLECTOR INVESTOR AUCTIONS UPDATE: We also discuss major upcoming consignments, including an impressive 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan sticker PSA 10, a potential 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle consignment, and our expanded auction facility.
👇 JOIN THE CONVERSATION!
• Would you BUY, SELL, or HOLD Shohei Ohtani rookie cards right now?
• Should card shows ban fake PSA slabs, even when they're labeled as replicas?
Can PSA Take Away Your Grade? Plus Our $100K Babe Ruth Draft!
Épisode 39
mardi 13 octobre 2026 • Durée 54:34
Can PSA really decertify a graded sports card without ever inspecting it in person? In this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, we dive into a controversial PSA grading decision involving an older PSA 10 Barry Bonds card that reportedly had its certification deactivated after photos surfaced on X.
Should PSA have the power to invalidate a card's grade based on photos submitted by someone other than the owner? What happens to the collector who owns that card? And where does PSA's grading guarantee come into play?
Jeremy, Chris, and Thor debate the implications for vintage card collectors, grading standards, population reports, and the future of PSA-certified cards.
But that's not all! We also break down the latest Collector Investor Auctions results, including a surprising PSA 10 vs. SGC 10 price difference on a Robert Parish rookie card, the booming Kobe Bryant market, and some incredible vintage baseball cards.
Chapters
01:39 New Collector Investor Auctions Headquarters
03:08 Six-Figure Collection & Auction Results
08:08 Why Buy Kobe Bryant Chrome Right Now?
10:54 PSA Deactivates a Barry Bonds PSA 10 Certification
27:06 How to Price Half-Grade Vintage Cards
31:10 Rookie Cards vs. Rare Autographs – Which Is Better?
37:17 Do Influencers Affect Sports Card Prices?
38:12 Are Modern Autographs Overproduced?
40:06 The Most Undervalued Junk Wax Era Players
43:25 The $100,000 Babe Ruth Investment Draft
53:03 Auction Updates & Closing Thoughts
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Would you be comfortable owning an expensive PSA 10 if PSA could deactivate its certification without physically examining the card?
90s Basketball Cards Are EXPLODING…Is Non-Sport About to CRASH?
Épisode 38
mardi 6 octobre 2026 • Durée 56:42
The sports card market is moving FAST — and this week we're seeing two completely different stories.
🔥 90s basketball legends are taking off. Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and other stars are seeing major movement as collectors begin looking beyond Michael Jordan and toward what we're calling the “second-tier GOAT” boom. Is this the beginning of a much bigger run for 1990s basketball cards?
📉 Meanwhile, one of the biggest cards in the non-sport boom has taken a stunning hit. The Spider-Man first appearance card has seen some grades fall dramatically in a matter of weeks. Is this simply one overheated card correcting, or could it be an early warning sign for the non-sport card market?
We also break down the massive Pete Crow-Armstrong MLB Debut Patch sale and compare it with the multimillion-dollar debut patch market. Did PCA's card sell too low — and are collectors paying too much for modern 1/1 debut patches?
Plus, we tackle your questions about altered and trimmed vintage cards, crossover grading, SGC, COMC, eye appeal premiums, and more.
💬 QUESTION OF THE DAY: Which market would you rather buy RIGHT NOW: 90s basketball stars or non-sport cards? Drop your answer in the comments!
👍 Like the video, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more sports card market discussion, collecting news, auctions and hobby talk from the Collector Investor Podcast.
Chapters
00:00 – Intro & Where Is Snowman?
02:44 – Collector Investor October Auction
04:30 – The Explosion of Card Shows & Dealers
10:39 – Pete Crow-Armstrong’s $1M+ Debut Patch
19:42 – Are Huge 1/1 Cards Really Randomly Distributed?
22:09 – The “Second-Tier GOAT” Card BOOM
28:57 – Is the Non-Sport Card Market Starting to Fall?
Do NOT Buy the 1986 Fleer Jordan?! + eBay Just KILLED Sniping
Épisode 37
mardi 29 septembre 2026 • Durée 54:48
Should collectors really AVOID the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan right now?
On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, we react to the argument that collectors should stay away from the iconic 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan and buy the much scarcer 1984 Star 101 Jordan instead. We break down population, historical prices, the massive COVID-era rise and crash, and whether the Fleer and Star Jordans are actually more connected than people think.
Then we tackle a HUGE change coming to eBay auctions: extended bidding. What happens to last-second sniping? Is this better for sellers? Will cards start selling for more money? And could this fundamentally change how collectors bid on eBay?
We also recap the Philly Card Show, including some hilarious deals and stories from the weekend, before answering viewer questions about when to sell cards from your PC, whether to dual-grade autographed cards, grading inconsistencies, and the massive import costs some international collectors are facing.
Whether you're a vintage collector, modern collector, investor, dealer, or just love talking sports cards, there's a LOT to unpack in this one.
COMMENT BELOW: Would you rather own the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan or the 1984 Star Michael Jordan #101? And what do you think about eBay eliminating traditional last-second sniping?
👍 Like the video
💬 Join the conversation below
🔔 Subscribe for more sports card market discussion, collecting stories, auctions, vintage cards and hobby news!
Chapters
3:10 How Collector Investor Did at Philly
6:23 An 8-Year-Old Makes a Card Deal 😂
9:15 The Babe Ruth Deal That Almost Happened
12:38 A 1910 Drum Tobacco Find
15:48 Should You Avoid the 1986 Fleer Jordan?
27:33 eBay Introduces Extended Bidding
This PSA Grade Makes NO SENSE… Is AI the Future of Card Grading?
Épisode 36
mardi 22 septembre 2026 • Durée 51:47
PSA gave Chris’s 1933 World Wide Gum Babe Ruth a grade that left the guys completely baffled. Is it time to crack it out and submit it again—or is this exactly why sports card grading needs AI?
On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, Chris, Jeremy and the crew break down the Babe Ruth card, compare it to other PSA-graded examples, and debate what Chris should do next. The conversation then turns to the bigger question: Could AI grading finally bring more consistency to the sports card hobby?
We also tackle a bunch of viewer questions, including whether PSA will remain the dominant grading company, whether population control exists, TAG and other grading companies, vintage Panini World Cup stickers, grading 1970s baseball sets, the difference between inserts and parallels, and whether discounted card sales should actually count as comps.
Plus, we talk about our favorite players to collect from the 1990s and preview our trip to the Philly Show!
👇 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
What grade would YOU give the Babe Ruth? Would you crack it and resubmit it? And do you think AI will eventually become the standard for sports card grading? If you enjoy vintage sports cards, grading discussions, hobby news, collecting and investing, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT!
⏱️ Chapters
00:24 Welcome to the Show
03:41 Chris Reveals the 1933 Babe Ruth
09:45 Should Chris Crack & Resubmit It?
17:35 Will PSA Still Dominate in 5, 10 or 20 Years?
21:00 Could AI Create a Problem for PSA?
26:21 Does PSA Control Populations?
28:28 Why Don’t Other Grading Companies Get More Attention?
31:20 Vintage Panini World Cup Stickers
Another PSA Grading Tier!?!? + Non-Sport Backlash & the ’90s Insert BOOM
Épisode 35
mardi 15 septembre 2026 • Durée 56:26
PSA just opened a new $59.99 grading tier — but is this actually good news for collectors?
On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, Thor and Texas Snowman break down PSA’s latest grading option, the massive backlog, turnaround times, and whether PSA is slowly working its way down through pricing tiers instead of bringing affordable grading back to collectors.
We also recap a HUGE weekend in the hobby, including the Dallas Card Show and Northeast Sports Card Expo, discuss whether collectors are starting to experience card show fatigue, and show off some incredible cards headed toward Collector Investor Auctions.
Plus, we dive into the massive price difference between PSA 10 and SGC 10 cards, the explosion of ’90s inserts, Michael Jordan cards, Disney and other non-sports cards, vintage football, and where we think the sports card market could be heading next.
And we answer collector questions about whether you should grade Jordan inserts now or wait for cheaper PSA tiers — plus what to do when junk wax cards are “bricked” together inside packs.
Chapters
00:25 September Auction Recap
03:05 Northeast Sports Card Expo Recap
05:59 Dallas Card Show — Is 4 Days Too Much?
08:44 Are Collectors Getting Card Show Fatigue?
10:53 Big Card Show Pickups
12:09 Rare 1986 Michael Jordan Card
14:08 Vintage Cards & Upcoming Auction Preview
15:29 INSANE PSA 10 vs SGC 10 Price Difference
20:10 PSA’s NEW $59.99 Grading Tier
21:06 Is PSA’s Turnaround Time Realistic?
22:08 Is $60 Grading Worth It?
24:03 PSA Grading Rant — Are Collectors Being Milked?
SGC’s INSANE Price Increase + Are Vintage Non-Sports Cards About to CRASH?
Épisode 34
mardi 8 septembre 2026 • Durée 44:15
The sports card hobby is getting WILD.
SGC has made a massive grading price increase, and collectors are asking a simple question: Does it still make sense to grade with SGC?
We break down the SGC price hike, turnaround times, the current grading backlog, how SGC compares with PSA, and whether this move could cause longtime SGC collectors to walk away.
Then we dive into another market that has absolutely EXPLODED — vintage non-sports cards.
Batman, Marvel, Mickey Mouse and other vintage non-sports cards have seen incredible price movement, with some cards skyrocketing in just a matter of months. Is this a legitimate market correction for an undervalued category, or are prices moving too far, too fast?
PLUS:
🔥 What actually qualifies as a “vintage” sports card?
🔥 Collector Investor Auctions September Auction preview
🔥 SGC vs. PSA at today’s grading prices
🔥 Batman, Marvel & Disney card market explosion
🔥 Could ungraded cards eventually flood the market?
🔥 $1,000 Collector Investor Auctions giveaway
🔥 Should you grade a Roberto Clemente 1/1 patch?
🔥 Is collecting raw cards dead?
🔥 Viewer questions & plenty of hobby debate
Chapters
00:31 What Year Is Actually “Vintage”?
04:45 Collector Investor September Auction
08:02 SGC’s Massive Price Increase
18:00 Are Vintage Non-Sports Cards About to Crash?
27:16 $1,000 Collector Investor Auctions Giveaway
PSA Pop Control?! Fanatics’ HUGE Conflict of Interest + Affordable GOAT Cards
Épisode 33
mardi 1 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:04:17
Is PSA intentionally controlling card populations? And does Fanatics have a conflict of interest when it manufactures the biggest chase cards in the hobby AND operates a marketplace that can sell them?
On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, we dive into two major sports card hobby debates.
First, we discuss Fanatics and the massive Cooper Flagg chase card. When a huge card is pulled as a redemption, Fanatics is involved in getting that card to the collector — but it also has its own selling platform. Does that give Fanatics an unfair advantage when it comes to landing some of the biggest cards in the hobby?
Then we get into PSA grading.
Has PSA become significantly tougher on cards from the 1980s and 1990s? Are newer graders judging older card stock against modern and ultra-modern standards? And the biggest question of all: could PSA be intentionally controlling populations on valuable cards?
We also discuss:
🔥 Fanatics and the Cooper Flagg chase card
🔥 Fanatics Collect and potential conflicts of interest
🔥 Why PSA seems tougher on 1980s & 1990s cards
🔥 PSA grading consistency
🔥 The theory of PSA "pop control"
🔥 Why high-value cards may receive more scrutiny
🔥 The lack of transparency in card grading
🔥 Old-label PSA slabs vs. newer PSA slabs
🔥 How we evaluate vintage cards in older PSA holders
🔥 Whether a new grading company could challenge PSA
🔥 Affordable cards of some of the greatest athletes of all time
PLUS — we pick affordable or undervalued cards for hobby GOATs including:
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14:44 The Snowman Gets Compared to a Simpsons Character!
17:16 Is Another Sports Card Market Crash Coming?
19:33 Vintage vs. Modern Card Investing
22:46 Are 90s Inserts Getting Overvalued?
24:46 Safest Ways to Ship Expensive Sports Cards
29:24 Private Couriers and High-Value Card Shipping
31:12 PSA Declared Values and Shipping Insurance
36:38 PSA vs. BGS vs. SGC vs. CGC
41:46 Why Other Grading Companies Can't Compete with PSA
45:22 What Happens if PSA Shuts Down?
48:33 Are Vintage O-Pee-Chee Cards Undervalued?
52:59 Michael Jordan Rookie PSA 5 vs. 1988 Fleer PSA 10
💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Are repacks GOOD or BAD for the sports card hobby? Are we watching the future of collecting, or is the hobby becoming too much like a casino? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
👍 LIKE this video if you enjoy honest sports card discussions.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more sports card market analysis, vintage collecting, grading discussions, and hobby news!
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
And if you had $100,000 to invest in Babe Ruth cards, which cards would YOU buy?
Let us know in the comments!
If you're interested in reaching out to Chris and Jeremy to sell your collection, you can email them directly at Chrisandtexassnowman@gmail.com
If you would like to consign your collection or bid in the next CIA auction, you can visit- https://collectorinvestorauctions.com CIA YouTube Channel- @CollectorInvestorAuctions
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
27:54 Comment of the Day 29:45 Why Non-Sports Cards Have Exploded
32:17 Is Vintage Football Next?
32:33 Disney Cards vs Sports Cards
35:22 Presidential Cards — What Has Staying Power?
37:02 Viewer Question: Grade Jordan Inserts Now or Wait?
42:01 The ’90s Insert Revolution
42:49 Can ’90s Insert Prices Keep Rising?
44:29 Where Is the Sports Card Market Headed?
47:53 How Do You Unstick “Bricked” Cards?
Topics include: PSA grading prices and backlog PSA vs. SGC Dallas Card Show Northeast Sports Card Expo Card show fatigue Michael Jordan cards ’90s basketball inserts Vintage sports cards Disney and non-sports cards Sports card market predictions Junk wax and bricked cards Collector Investor Auctions
What do YOU think about PSA’s new $59.99 tier? Would you submit now, or wait for cheaper grading to return? Let us know in the comments!
If you're interested in reaching out to Chris and Jeremy to sell your collection, you can email them directly at Chrisandtexassnowman@gmail.com
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice. Be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications for more sports card market discussion, collecting news, auctions, card shows, grading talk, and hobby opinions.
👉 Are vintage non-sports cards headed even higher — or toward a correction? 👉 What year do YOU consider the cutoff for vintage?
If you enjoy sports card collecting, vintage cards, card grading, hobby news and market discussions, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications for more Collector Investor content!
If you're interested in reaching out to Chris and Jeremy to sell your collection, you can email them directly at Chrisandtexassnowman@gmail.com
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice.
