Happy Hobby Sports Cards Podcast

10 Baseball Cards That Define the 1960s: My Sports Card House of Representatives - Ep. 3.33

David Gonos — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We’ve been told for decades now that the goal of collecting is to get bigger cards, higher grades and more expensive slabs. Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade!

Improving the value of your sports card collection isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It’s just not the only thing you should worry about.

Lately, however, I’ve realized that’s not the kind of card collection I actually want.

Instead of just spending my money on the biggest cards i can afford, I began to pivot how I collect, and I started buying more cards that mean more to me personally.

Some might call it “downgrading” (selling bigger cards for more smaller ones), and I’m OK with that. But I believe it’s actually an upgrade to my collection, as I focus more on what I want.

“Downgrading” My 1958 Topps Hank Aaron

I’m selling my 1958 Topps Hank Aaron #30 PSA 5, so I can eventually buy a 1957 Topps Hank Aaron in an SGC 3.

1958 Topps Hank Aaron #30

On paper, I’m gaining one year in card age, but I’m losing two grades and dropping to a perceived lesser grading service, not to mention the eBay fees from my sale.

1957 Topps Hank Aaron #20

In reality, though, I’m gaining my favorite Hank Aaron card ever — the reverse-negative photo, Topps’ first cards with color photographs, and one of the most beautiful cards Hank Aaron cards ever.

It’s a downgrade on the label, but a huge upgrade in my enjoyment.

7 Benefits of Downgrading Your Sports Card Collection

Here’s why selling my big sports cards makes sense for me right now.

1. Taking Advantage of a Strong Market

The sports card market is unpredictable, but what we do know is we’re in one of the strongest periods the hobby has ever seen. Look at the monthly volume of card sales on Card Ladder dating back to 2010 into the first half of this year.

Courtesy of CardLadder.com

If collectors are paying these premium prices for sports cards you own — why not let today’s market help finance tomorrow’s collection? You’ll simply move money out of sports cards you like into sports cards you’ll appreciate even more.

2. Enjoy More Cards

Remember that your sports card collection isn’t/shouldn’t be your retirement account — it’s something you’re supposed to enjoy. (It might end up being both, but it’s unlikely.)

Personally, I’d rather own vintage cards of five Hall of Famers that each tell a different story than have all of that value tied up in a single slab sitting in a safe.

Experience more of the hobby instead of concentrating all your enjoyment into one expensive card.

Yes, you can sell some cards you don’t love and buy an expensive card you do love, but you can also sell cards you “like.”

It also gives collectors permission to stop chasing someone else’s definition of the “right” card. Maybe you’ll never own a 1952 Topps Willie Mays, and that’s perfectly all right.

If the 1961 Topps Willie Mays is the card that makes you smile every time you see it, let that be your Willie Mays representative. The same goes for card condition. Your collection doesn’t have to be filled with PSA 10s to be meaningful collection. A PSA 3, an SGC 4, or even a beautiful raw card can tell some great stories.

Colored Toploader Binders I Buy

3. Less Financial Stress

Every collector has a dollar amount where a card stops being fun, and starts becoming stressful. Instead of thinking, “I can’t wait to show someone this card,” you start thinking, “I really hope nothing ever happens to this card.”

That’s not a fun feeling.

By selling my most expensive cards, I can still own pieces of hobby history without constantly worrying about whether they’re properly insured, safely stored, or protected from every possible disaster.

4. Greater Peace of Mind

The more valuable your collection becomes, the more responsibilities come with it, meaning you’ll have to worry about insurance policies, home security, shipping concerns, storage, and showing caution when displaying your cards online.

Three short years ago, showing my cards behind me in a video didn’t mean much. But now, I’d rather move on from those cards, and show good cards behind me, that won’t endanger my house or family.

While you might not have a YouTube channel, you still have people that likely come through your house at different moments, and you don’t want to become a target.

Collecting should be relaxing, not stressful.

Check Out MagPro Holders on Amazon!

5. Every Card Tells Another Story

One of the main reasons I’ve pivoted to this new philosophy is because I’m a type collector. I don’t need 10 copies of the same rookie card. I’d much rather own one representative card from every year, every Hall of Famer, or every iconic Topps set.

Every new card becomes another story to tell.

Instead of buying doubles, I explore other players, other sets, other eras, or other piece of baseball history. To me, that’s far more rewarding than simply increasing the grade on a card I already own.

6. Your Collection Becomes More Personal

Once you stop worrying about investment value, you start asking different questions. Which player photo do I love the most? Which baseball card design brings back the best memories? Which card perfectly captures that era?

Nobody else gets to answer those questions for you.

Understand that the goal isn’t to own the “best” card according to the market. The goal is to own your best card. Basically, you want to own the card that means the most to you every time you look in your display or open your binder.

7. You Remember Why You Started Collecting

Most “Comeback Collectors” didn’t return to the this awesome hobby because they wanted to compete in a PSA registry. We came back because we remembered opening wax packs on our beds, flipping through our binders, trading cards with friends, and discovering cards we’d never seen before.

That’s the feeling I’m chasing now.

Subscribe now

Holding Elections Now!

Instead of owning fewer and fewer cards that cost more and more money, I’d rather own more cards that tell more stories. That’s ultimately what led me to create what I’m calling my Sports Card House of Representatives! Just one baseball card from every year that best represents that season in my collection.

I’m excited to share this journey with you over the next few weeks! I’ll share who got elected, which elections were landslide wins (1956 Topps Jackie Robinson!), and which seats are still open. Get ready — because I’ll ask for your Representatives, too!

Have you ever improved your baseball card collection by selling a card to buy a lesser one?

I’d love to hear about it! Drop it in the comments below!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best WNBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NHL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

📺 YouTube: 9.2K Subscribers

📬 Newsletter: 1.7K readers

🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Our podcasts were ranked by MillionPodcasts.com as one of the Top 10 Basketball Card Podcasts, Top 10 Football Card Podcasts and Top 10 Hockey Card Podcasts! And we’re aiming to get ranked among the Top 10 Baseball Card Podcasts!

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

12 Best NBA Rookie Cards To Collect Since 2020 - Ep. 3.32

David Gonos — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:30:00 GMT

From Victor Wembanyama’s generational hype to Anthony Edwards becoming one of the faces of the league, and now Cooper Flagg ushering in the new Topps era of NBA cards, there’s no shortage of incredible rookie cards to chase from the past six years!

But here’s the question: Which rookie cards actually belong at the top of your want list?

Our list is not based solely on who the best players are today, but on which chromium base rookie cards will collectors still be chasing years from now?

Grab your binder, pull up your eBay watch list, and let’s count down the 12 most collectible NBA rookie cards of the 2020s!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases through the links on this article. Thank you!

The Best of the Rest

13. 2021 Prizm Scottie Barnes - Card No. 320 - View on eBay!

14. 2023 Prizm Brandon Miller - Card No. 152 - View on eBay!

15. 2022 Prizm Chet Holmgren - Card No. 266 - View on eBay!

16. 2021 Prizm Franz Wagner - Card No. 310 - View on eBay!

17. 2023 Prizm Amen Thompson - Card No. 150 - View on eBay!

18. 2021 Prizm Alperen Sengun – Card No. 318 - View on eBay!

19. 2021 Prizm Austin Reaves - Card No. 165 - View on eBay!

20. 2024 Prizm Zaccharie Risacher – Card No. 265 - View on eBay!

21. 2024 Prizm Matas Buzelis - Card No. 252 - View on eBay!

Strong-Term Long-Term Holds!

12. Stephon Castle — 2024 Panini Prizm #234

View on eBay!

Castle has all the tools to become one of the NBA's premier two-way guards, combining elite perimeter defense, playmaking ability, and the size to guard multiple positions. If his outside shot continues to improve, his rookie card could become one of the biggest bargains from the 2024 draft class as collectors recognize his All-Star potential.

11. LaMelo Ball — 2020 Panini Prizm #278

View on eBay!

Ball won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021 and quickly became one of basketball’s most entertaining playmakers with his flashy passing and deep shooting range. Despite battling injuries, his Prizm rookie card remains one of the hobby’s most recognizable modern basketball cards. His move to Minnesota could finally bring him some playoff success and a higher profile than he has had in the past.

10. V.J. Edgecombe — 2025 Topps Chrome #253

View on eBay!

The Baylor product is one of the most explosive athletes in the 2025 rookie class, drawing attention for his highlight-reel dunks and defensive intensity. His Topps rookie card offers collectors plenty of upside as he continues to develop at the NBA level. But playing on the 76ers, it’s going to be tough to find shots in his second year, with Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joining the team.

9. Tyrese Maxey — 2020 Panini Prizm #256

View on eBay!

Speaking of Philly, Maxey has gone from a late first-round draft pick to one of the NBA’s most exciting scoring guards through relentless improvement. While his chances of going deep into the playoffs have improved with offseason additions to the 76ers, Maxey will have to get camera time while fighting many other personalities than he has in recent years.

Maxey’s Prizm rookie card has rewarded collectors who recognized his upside before he became an All-Star.

Tier 2 Future Cornerstones

8. Dylan Harper — 2025 Topps Chrome #252

View on eBay!

The son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan Harper entered the NBA carrying both elite pedigree and enormous expectations. His Topps Chrome rookie card still has great upside as the Spurs have to figure out if Harper is going to overtake De’Aaron Fox in the starting lineup.

7. Kon Knueppel — 2025 Topps Chrome #254

View on eBay!

One of the top rookies from the 2025 draft class, Knueppel quickly earned praise for his elite shooting touch and polished offensive game. He set the all-time NBA rookie record by making 207 three-pointers in a single season, and his stats compare favorably with Larry Bird at this stage in their careers. Knueppel’s Topps Chrome rookie card is viewed as one of the better long-term pickups.

6. Paolo Banchero — 2022 Panini Prizm #249

View on eBay!

Banchero made an immediate impact by winning NBA Rookie of the Year after being selected first overall in 2022. His Magic team just hasn’t been able to put together a nice playoff run, which would help his exposure considerably. Banchero’s Prizm rookie card anchors a talented draft class and remains one of the hobby’s favorite modern base rookies.

5. Jalen Williams — 2022 Panini Prizm #246

View on eBay!

Nicknamed “J-Dub,” Williams has become one of basketball’s fastest-rising young stars thanks to his efficient scoring and versatile game. He might play Scottie Pippen to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Michael Jordan, but that could be enough to earn him a handful of rings. Williams’ Prizm rookie card has gained significant momentum as Oklahoma City has emerged as a championship contender.

4. Cade Cunningham — 2021 Panini Prizm #282

View on eBay!

The first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cunningham has developed into one of the league’s premier all-around guards. He’s built like a vending machine, with great touch, a fierce penchant for driving the lane, and good looks that garner attention from cameras. His Prizm rookie remains the key card from one of the hobby’s strongest modern rookie classes.

Tier 1 — The Franchise Rookie Cards

3. Anthony Edwards — 2020 Panini Prizm #258

View on eBay!

Ant-Man has become one of the NBA’s biggest highlight-makers, known for his explosive dunks and fearless personality. His Prizm rookie card has steadily climbed as collectors increasingly view him as one of the faces of the league’s next generation.

2. Victor Wembanyama — 2023 Panini Prizm #136

View on eBay!

Wemby’s Prizm rookie card is already considered one of the most important basketball cards of the decade thanks to his unprecedented combination of size, skill, and global popularity. Many collectors compare the demand for his rookie cards to the excitement surrounding LeBron James’ debut over 20 years ago.

1. Cooper Flagg — 2025 Topps Chrome #251

View on eBay!

As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg entered the league with as much hobby hype as Wemby — but with a domestic flavor. Flagg’s arrival coincided with Fanatics getting the NBA license, which makes his Topps rookie card one of the defining modern basketball cards of the past 20 years — especially if he develops into the franchise superstar many project.

Which NBA rookie cards do you think deserve to be ranked higher — or lower! Which guys did I forget about altogether!?!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best WNBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NHL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

📺 YouTube: 9.7K Subscribers

📬 Newsletter: 1.7K readers

🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

The 1950s Ballot For My Sports Cards House of Representatives - Ep. 3.31

David Gonos — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:30:00 GMT

We’ve been told for decades now that the goal of collecting is to get bigger cards, higher grades and more expensive slabs. Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade!

Improving the value of your sports card collection isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It’s just not the only thing you should worry about.

Lately, however, I’ve realized that’s not the kind of card collection I actually want.

Instead of just spending my money on the biggest cards i can afford, I began to pivot how I collect, and I started buying more cards that mean more to me personally.

Some might call it “downgrading” (selling bigger cards for more smaller ones), and I’m OK with that. But I believe it’s actually an upgrade to my collection, as I focus more on what I want.

“Downgrading” My 1958 Topps Hank Aaron

I’m selling my 1958 Topps Hank Aaron #30 PSA 5, so I can eventually buy a 1957 Topps Hank Aaron in an SGC 3.

1958 Topps Hank Aaron #30

On paper, I’m gaining one year in card age, but I’m losing two grades and dropping to a perceived lesser grading service, not to mention the eBay fees from my sale.

1957 Topps Hank Aaron #20

It’s a downgrade on the label, but a huge upgrade in my enjoyment.

7 Benefits of Downgrading Your Sports Card Collection

Here’s why selling my big sports cards makes sense for me right now.

1. Taking Advantage of a Strong Market

Courtesy of CardLadder.com

2. Enjoy More Cards

Remember that your sports card collection isn’t/shouldn’t be your retirement account — it’s something you’re supposed to enjoy. (It might end up being both, but it’s unlikely.)

Personally, I’d rather own vintage cards of five Hall of Famers that each tell a different story than have all of that value tied up in a single slab sitting in a safe.

Experience more of the hobby instead of concentrating all your enjoyment into one expensive card.

Yes, you can sell some cards you don’t love and buy an expensive card you do love, but you can also sell cards you “like.”

It also gives collectors permission to stop chasing someone else’s definition of the “right” card. Maybe you’ll never own a 1952 Topps Willie Mays, and that’s perfectly all right.

Colored Toploader Binders I Buy

3. Less Financial Stress

That’s not a fun feeling.

4. Greater Peace of Mind

While you might not have a YouTube channel, you still have people that likely come through your house at different moments, and you don’t want to become a target.

Collecting should be relaxing, not stressful.

Check Out MagPro Holders on Amazon!

5. Every Card Tells Another Story

Every new card becomes another story to tell.

6. Your Collection Becomes More Personal

Nobody else gets to answer those questions for you.

7. You Remember Why You Started Collecting

That’s the feeling I’m chasing now.

Subscribe now

Holding Elections Now!

Have you ever improved your baseball card collection by selling a card to buy a lesser one?

I’d love to hear about it! Drop it in the comments below!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best WNBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NHL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

📺 YouTube: 9.2K Subscribers

📬 Newsletter: 1.7K readers

🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Why I'm Selling My Best Sports Cards (And I'm Happy About It) - Ep. 3.30

David Gonos — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We’ve been told for decades now that the goal of collecting is to get bigger cards, higher grades and more expensive slabs. Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade!

Improving the value of your sports card collection isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It’s just not the only thing you should worry about.

Lately, however, I’ve realized that’s not the kind of card collection I actually want.

Instead of just spending my money on the biggest cards i can afford, I began to pivot how I collect, and I started buying more cards that mean more to me personally.

Some might call it “downgrading” (selling bigger cards for more smaller ones), and I’m OK with that. But I believe it’s actually an upgrade to my collection, as I focus more on what I want.

“Downgrading” My 1958 Topps Hank Aaron

I’m selling my 1958 Topps Hank Aaron #30 PSA 5, so I can eventually buy a 1957 Topps Hank Aaron in an SGC 3.

1958 Topps Hank Aaron #30

On paper, I’m gaining one year in card age, but I’m losing two grades and dropping to a perceived lesser grading service, not to mention the eBay fees from my sale.

1957 Topps Hank Aaron #20

It’s a downgrade on the label, but a huge upgrade in my enjoyment.

7 Benefits of Downgrading Your Sports Card Collection

Here’s why selling my big sports cards makes sense for me right now.

1. Taking Advantage of a Strong Market

Courtesy of CardLadder.com

2. Enjoy More Cards

Remember that your sports card collection isn’t/shouldn’t be your retirement account — it’s something you’re supposed to enjoy. (It might end up being both, but it’s unlikely.)

Personally, I’d rather own vintage cards of five Hall of Famers that each tell a different story than have all of that value tied up in a single slab sitting in a safe.

Experience more of the hobby instead of concentrating all your enjoyment into one expensive card.

Yes, you can sell some cards you don’t love and buy an expensive card you do love, but you can also sell cards you “like.”

It also gives collectors permission to stop chasing someone else’s definition of the “right” card. Maybe you’ll never own a 1952 Topps Willie Mays, and that’s perfectly all right.

Colored Toploader Binders I Buy

3. Less Financial Stress

That’s not a fun feeling.

4. Greater Peace of Mind

While you might not have a YouTube channel, you still have people that likely come through your house at different moments, and you don’t want to become a target.

Collecting should be relaxing, not stressful.

Check Out MagPro Holders on Amazon!

5. Every Card Tells Another Story

Every new card becomes another story to tell.

6. Your Collection Becomes More Personal

Nobody else gets to answer those questions for you.

7. You Remember Why You Started Collecting

That’s the feeling I’m chasing now.

Subscribe now

Holding Elections Now!

Have you ever improved your baseball card collection by selling a card to buy a lesser one?

I’d love to hear about it! Drop it in the comments below!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best WNBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NHL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

📺 YouTube: 9.2K Subscribers

📬 Newsletter: 1.7K readers

🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

The Best Ways to Organize Your Sports Card Collection (Without Spending a Fortune!) - Ep. 3.29

David Gonos — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:23:13 GMT

What's the best way to organize a sports card collection?The answer depends on how you collect.In this podcast, I break down the best organization systems for budget collectors, set builders, sports card investors, and sports card flippers, so you can spend less time digging through boxes and more time enjoying the hobby.

I'll also share one of my favorite card-sorting tricks—a method based on a computer science algorithm called Radix Sort that helps organize hundreds of cards with less handling and surprisingly little effort. It might just change the way you sort sports cards forever!Whether you're just getting back into collecting or you've been in the hobby for decades, these practical tips will help you build a collection that's easier to manage, protect, and enjoy.

⏰ Chapters00:00 – Intro: Why Organization Matters

01:35 – There's No "Perfect" Organization System

03:40 – The Best System for Budget Collectors

08:10 – Organizing by Sport, Year & Set

11:15 – Tips for Set Builders & Player Collectors

15:05 – The Best Organization System for Sports Card Investors

20:05 – How Sports Card Flippers Should Organize Inventory

24:45 – Mixing Systems for Your Own Collection

28:10 – My Favorite Card-Sorting Trick (Radix Sort)

35:40 – How Radix Sort Works Step-by-Step

45:15 – Final Organization Tips & Closing ThoughtsSort Cards Smarter, Not Harder Video with Radix Sort method:

• ✨Great Card Trick!✨How to Sort Cards Easier!✨

Rayvol's Toploader Binders on Amazon: https://amzn.to/46PXSmO

Amazon's Card-Sorting Trays: https://amzn.to/41kD1Wu

👍 If you found this helpful, please Like, Subscribe, and leave a comment letting me know how YOU organize your sports cards!📰 Subscribe to free Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter: ttps://gonos.substack.com

==============================================

If you are a sports card collector working with a limited budget, that’s what we focus our attention on with all of our content. From YouTube videos to podcasts to newsletters and our website, we share tips, history and humor with fellow card collectors, hoping to help improve their collections with less money!

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*Ways to Contact David Gonos*

Visit my website for more sports card stories: https://davidgonos.com/

Connect with me on:

-Twitter/X @DavidGonos / davidgonos

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Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Mail me:

DavidGonos.com

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#HappyHobby

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best WNBA Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Best NHL Rookie Cards From Every Year!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

📺 YouTube: 9.2K Subscribers

📬 Newsletter: 1.7K readers

🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

7 Sports Card Logos We’d Love to See! - Ep. 3.28

David Gonos — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:23:09 GMT

One of the little things that can make a sports card feel special is a great logo.

In a previous article, we talked about some of the greatest sports card logos that changed the hobby forever. , including: The Rookie Card logo, Future Stars banner and the Topps All-Star Rookie Cup. They’re tiny design elements, but they instantly tell a story about a player.

That got me thinking... What logos haven’t been invented yet?

If I somehow became Commissioner of Sports Cards for a day (which sounds like an awesome job), here are a few logos I’d introduce immediately.

Don’t get me wrong, our resident Happy Hobbyist sports card designers and photographers (Alan Camuto, Whipstache and Randy Litzinger) probably think I’m crazy for ruining the card landscape. But what the heck do I know about card design!?!

🏆 MVP / Cy Young Winner

This one seems like a no-brainer.

If a player wins the MVP or Cy Young Award, every card they receive the following season should include a small MVP or Cy Young logo.

Even better, if they’ve won multiple awards during their career, stack the logos.

Imagine looking at a Shohei Ohtani card someday and seeing multiple MVP logos lined up beside his name. And if he ever wins a Cy Young Award, add that one to the collection, too! Without reading the back of the card, you’d instantly know you’re looking at one of the greatest players of his generation.

⭐ All-Star

Technically, card companies already do this. When players make the All-Star team, many cards include that season’s All-Star Game logo. That’s fine... but I’d rather see something timeless.

Bring back the oversized stars from the 1970s, like the ones on the 1976 Topps set. Then add a number beside it showing how many All-Star teams they’ve made.

8x⭐

Simple. Clean. Instantly recognizable.

Every baseball fan has a home run they still see when they close their eyes. For Matt Musico? It was Edgardo Alfonzo on July 4, 1999, when he gave the Mets a late lead over the Braves.

That was a big inspiration behind “MLB Daily Dingers,” which includes the release of Matt’s new book, The Power Kings. It’s a stat-filled look at each MLB team’s all-time sluggers and the most powerful single-season performances. Click here to get your copy today!

#1 Overall Pick

Some accomplishments deserve to follow a player forever.

If someone was selected first overall in the draft, every card they ever have should proudly display a “No. 1 Pick” logo.

It doesn’t matter if it’s baseball, football, basketball or hockey. Being the top pick in your entire draft class is a huge accomplishment, and it deserves to be celebrated long after draft day.

🏈 Heisman Trophy Winner

Along those same lines, every football card of a Heisman Trophy winner should include a Heisman logo.

It’s one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports.

Just like the No. 1 Pick logo, this accomplishment doesn’t disappear after a player’s rookie season. It becomes part of who they are.

Wouldn’t it be cool to get a 2026 Topps Fernando Mendoza RC with BOTH of card logos of being the No. 1 Pick and a Heisman Winner?

🚀 Rookie Sensation

I absolutely love the old Fleer “Rookie Sensation” logo from the early 1990s, so I’d bring it back, but with a modern twist.

Unlike the Topps All-Star Rookie Cup, which only recognizes one player at each position, Rookie Sensation would celebrate all of the standout rookies from the previous season.

You could even stretch the definition a little..

Maybe a few highly anticipated young stars earn it before they truly break out, similar to how Rated Rookie cards often predict future greatness instead of simply rewarding past performance.

Sometimes the hobby is about celebrating potential just as much as production.

Check Out MagPro Holders on Amazon!

🏈⚾🏀 Fantasy Scoring Champion

Whichever player produced the most fantasy points the previous year gets a special logo on all of his cards the following season.

Would it be a little subjective? Sure.

Would fantasy managers argue about scoring formats? Absolutely.

But Fantasy Sports and card collecting have so much overlap that I’d love to see the two hobbies collide like this in a fun way.

👋 Final Card

One great hobby niche is how many people collect a player’s final card.

There’s something poetic about it. We spend so much time chasing rookie cards that we sometimes forget the card that closes the book on a legendary career.

Whenever a player retires after a season, his first card the following year should include a Final Card logo. It would instantly let collectors know, “This is the last regular card you’ll see of this player.”

Can you imagine if Mickey Mantle’s final regular-issue card in 1969 included a “Final Card” designation?

One of the best parts is that Final Cards are often far more affordable than rookie cards. Not everyone can own a Hall of Famer’s rookie card, but almost anyone can pick up the last card from a legendary career without blowing their collecting budget.

For budget collectors like me, that’s a fun and meaningful way to own a little piece of sports history.

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Too Many Logos?

Okay... I agree, there has to be a limit.

Imagine a card with Rookie Sensation, No. 1 Pick, Heisman Trophy, MVP, All-Star, Fantasy Champion and who knows what else. At some point, it starts looking like a NASCAR race car.

So we’d create a ranking system, with only the biggest accomplishments making it onto the cardboard.

Maybe a player’s card could display only the top two or three logos, something like:

No. 1 Overall Pick

Heisman Trophy Winner

MVP

That keeps the cards clean while still highlighting the accomplishments that define a player’s career.

What Logos Would You Add?

Sports cards tell stories. Statistics tell part of that story, and photography tells another part. But cool sports card logos can tell the rest.

Whether it’s highlighting awards, milestones, Fantasy dominance or something nobody has thought of yet, I think there are plenty of ways sports card companies could make modern cards even more fun to collect.

What sports card logo would you create if you were in charge?

I’d love to hear your ideas! Drop some suggestions in the comments below. Who knows? Maybe one of the card companies is paying attention.

Top 101 Junk Wax Baseball Cards To Collect! - Ep. 3.27

Scott H and David Gonos — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Junk wax extraordinaire and Happy Hobby Chrome Member Scott H wrote this article and chose the 101 best baseball cards from the ‘80s and ‘90s that budget-minded sports card collectors can happily chase!

When our esteemed friend, Mr. Gonos, mentioned he was looking at putting together some Top 101 lists, amongst them Top 101 Junk Wax baseball cards, I felt compelled to offer my service in compiling the list.

You see, I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur. In fact, the main reason I got back into the cherished hobby of my youth in 2009 was specifically to pull all of the awesome junk wax rookie cards out of packs. Especially baseball, and especially those that were out of reach for me at the time (mowing a couple lawns per week did not allow a kid near enough bread to get all the candy and soda one wanted, and the red-hot Don Mattingly rookie card du jour).

To this end, I’ve been ripping assorted junk wax basically the majority of my weekends ever since. Many will not totally agree with my list, but I tried to do my best to arrange this list in order of importance from my recollections as a child of the “Beckett Era.”

Some Notes Before the List!

You might notice a couple of infamous cards missing from the list (1990 Topps Frank Thomas "No Name on Front" and Finest refractors come to mind), but I tried to provide a complete list of cards that were still within reach for the Happy Hobbyist, with a little budgeting, anyway.

I outright did not include O-Pee-Chee, Topps Tiffany, or Fleer Glossy or Score Glossy cards on the list.

Some choices are just as much about the importance of the set in the context of the junk wax era, as it is for the actual player.

Baseball cards from the years that I personally consider to be from the “Junk Wax Era: 1981-1995.”

Gonos linked a couple handfuls of cards to eBay — these are affiliate links that will help support this newsletter. (Thank you!)

Also, there are TWO players who are tied with the lead with EIGHT cards on this top 101 list — can you think of who they are?

101 Greatest Junk Wax Baseball Cards To Collect!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

1. 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr RC - View on eBay!2. 1984 Donruss #248 Don Mattingly RC - View on eBay!3. 1986 Donruss #39 Jose Canseco RC - View on eBay!4. 1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire OLY RC - View on eBay!

⚾ 1985 Topps Mark McGwire #401 Team USA ⚾ CTMUH No. 8

Jan 14

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5. 1982 Topps Traded #98T Cal Ripken Jr - View on eBay!6. 1986 Topps Traded #11T Barry Bonds XRC - View on eBay!7. 1989 Topps Traded #41T Ken Griffey Jr RC - View on eBay!8. 1993 Upper Deck SP #279 Derek Jeter RC - View on eBay!9. 1983 Topps #482 Tony Gwynn RC - View on eBay!10. 1989 Fleer #616 Bill Ripken F Face Error11. 1984 Fleer Update #U27 Roger Clemens XRC12. 1986 Topps Traded #50T Bo Jackson XRC - View on eBay!13. 1984 Fleer Update #U93 Kirby Puckett XRC14. 1982 Topps #21 Cal Ripken RC - View on eBay!15. 1984 Topps #8 Don Mattingly RC - View on eBay!16. 1983 Topps Traded #108T Darryl Strawberry XRC17. 1983 Topps #83 Ryne Sandberg RC - View on eBay!18. 1983 Topps #498 Wade Boggs RC - View on eBay!19. 1986 Topps Traded #20T Jose Canseco RC20. 1987 Fleer #604 Barry Bonds RC21. 1990 Leaf #57 Frank Thomas RC 22. 1993 Topps Stadium Club Murphy #117 Derek Jeter RC - View on eBay!23. 1989 Donruss #33 Ken Griffey Jr RC24. 1984 Fleer #131 Don Mattingly RC25. 1982 Fleer #176 Cal Ripken Jr RC26. 1987 Donruss Opening Day #163 Barry Bonds RC error27. 1985 Topps #181 Roger Clemens RC - View on eBay!28.1985 Topps #536 Kirby Puckett RC29. 1986 Fleer #649 Jose Canseco RC30. 1987 Donruss #46 Mark McGwire31. 1987 Fleer #369 Bo Jackson RC32. 1984 Donruss #68 Darryl Strawberry RC33. 1990 Leaf #220 Sammy Sosa RC34. 1989 Fleer #548 Ken Griffey Jr RC35. 1993 Topps #98 Derek Jeter RC - View on eBay!36. 1983 Fleer #360 Tony Gwynn RC37. 1981 Topps #302 Fernando Valenzuela RC38. 1984 Fleer Update #U43 Dwight Gooden RC39. 1983 Fleer #507 Ryne Sandberg RC40. 1983 Fleer #179 Wade Boggs RC41. 1986 Fleer Update #U14 Barry Bonds XRC42. 1986 Donruss The Rookies #11 Barry Bonds XRC43. 1989 Score Traded #100T Ken Griffey Jr RC - View on eBay!44. 1982 Donruss #405 Cal Ripken Jr RC45. 1983 Donruss #598 Tony Gwynn RC46. 1985 Fleer #155 Roger Clemens RC47. 1985 Fleer #286 Kirby Puckett RC48. 1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds RC49. 1986 Donruss Rookies #38 Bo Jackson XRC50. 1983 Donruss #277 Ryne Sandberg RC51. 1983 Donruss #586 Wade Boggs RC52. 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas RC - View on eBay!53. 1990 Score #697 Bo Jackson Baseball/Football 54. 1987 Topps #366 Mark McGwire55. 1987 Topps #170 Bo Jackson RC

🏈1987 Topps Bo Jackson "Future Stars" #170⚾CTMUH No. 2

David Gonos

December 3, 2025

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56. 1991 Upper Deck #SP1 Michael Jordan - View on eBay!

🏀1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan SP1🏀CTMUH No. 4

December 17, 2025

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57. 1992 Bowman #461 Mike Piazza RC58. 1985 Donruss #273 Roger Clemens RC59. 1985 Donruss #438 Kirby Puckett RC60. 1994 Upper Deck SP #15 Alex Rodriguez RC - View on eBay!61. 1987 Donruss #361 Barry Bonds RC62. 1987 Donruss #35 Bo Jackson RC63. 1993 Bowman #511 Derek Jeter RC64. 1992 Bowman #302 Mariano Rivera RC65. 1989 Upper Deck #25 Randy Johnson RC66. 1992 Fleer Rookie Sensations #1 Frank Thomas67. 1991 Donruss Elite #1 Barry Bonds68. 1987 Donruss #36 Greg Maddux RC69. 1989 Bowman #220 Ken Griffey Jr RC70. 1989 Fleer #381 Randy Johnson RC71. 1989 Upper Deck #357 Dale Murphy rev neg error - View on eBay!72. 1993 Upper Deck #449 Derek Jeter RC73. 1986 Topps Traded #24T Will Clark XRC74.1993 Pinnacle #457 Derek Jeter RC75. 1992 Fleer Update #U92 Mike Piazza RC76. 1987 Fleer #204 Barry Larkin RC77. 1989 Topps #647 Randy Johnson RC78.1985 Topps #627 Eric Davis RC79. 1988 Topps Traded #1T Jim Abbott USA RC80. 1985 Topps #493 Orel Hershiser RC81 1993 Select #360 Derek Jeter RC82. 1989 Donruss #42 Randy Johnson RC83. 1987 Fleer Update #U68 Greg Maddux RC84. 1991 Fleer Ultra Update #U58 Ivan Rodriguez RC85. 1993 Topps Finest #107 Nolan Ryan86. 1993 Score #489 Derek Jeter RC87. 1989 Score #645 Randy Johnson RC88. 1987 Topps Traded #70T Greg Maddux RC - View on eBay!89. 1981 Topps #261 Ricky Henderson90. 1994 Upper Deck #19 Michael Jordan RC91. 1987 Fleer Update #U76 Mark McGwire92. 1991 Topps #333 Chipper Jones RC93. 1981 Donruss #538 Tim Raines RC94. 1988 Fleer Update #U74 John Smoltz XRC95 1988 Score Traded #103T Craig Biggio XRC96. 1992 Bowman #532 Manny Ramirez RC97. 1991 Topps Stadium Club #388 Jeff Bagwell RC98. 1981 Fleer #346 Harold Baines RC99. 1991 Bowman #68 Jim Thome RC100. 1988 Topps #779 Tom Glavine RC101. 1988 Score #645 Gregg Jefferies RC

How many of these 101 great junk wax baseball cards do you have in your collection? Drop it in the comments!

The two players with eight cards on this list? Barry Bonds and Derek Jeter! (That should make Sooz over at “Card Chat” happy!)

From Rookie to Farewell: Every Mickey Mantle Base Card Has a Story! - Ep. 3.26

David Gonos — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

The Complete Mickey Mantle Base Card Story: Looking at All 21 Base Cards Over 19 Seasons!

Mickey Mantle had 21 base cards across an 18-year career. Twenty-one little rectangles of cardboard that tell the story of the greatest switch-hitter who ever lived — from a wide-eyed rookie in 1951 to a legend saying goodbye in 1969.

Today we’re going card by card through all of them. Bowman, Topps, oil paintings, TV-set borders, wood grain, ocean-dumped rarities — it’s all here. And every single one has a story worth knowing.

1951 Bowman — The True Rookie

This is the last card depicting a fully healthy Mickey Mantle. He tore his ACL in Game 2 of the 1951 World Series and played the remaining 17 years of his career without a fully intact ACL — and still became one of the greatest players who ever lived.

1952 Topps — The Mona Lisa

Legend has it that Topps couldn’t sell the high-number series, so they loaded boxes onto a barge and dumped them into the ocean — taking cards of Mantle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and the Eddie Mathews rookie card down with them. The scarcity that created is a big reason this card is worth more than Mantle’s actual rookie.

1952 Bowman — The Consolation Prize

Imagine cracking a pack, pulling a 1952 Mickey Mantle — and realizing it’s not the Topps. That’s the collector’s equivalent of pulling a Griffey Jr. rookie and finding out it’s the Topps Traded instead of the Upper Deck. Times a million.

1953 Topps — The $25 Masterpiece

Many collectors consider this Mantle’s best-looking card. Every image in this set was an individual oil painting commissioned from New Jersey artist Gerry Dvorak — who charged Topps just $25 per painting.

1953 Bowman — Color Comes First

Contrary to popular belief, the first color photographs on baseball cards didn’t appear in 1957 Topps. They were right here, in 1953 Bowman — four full years earlier. PSA considers it among the most beautiful sets of the modern era.

1954 Bowman — The Contract Year

Mantle was locked into a Bowman-only contract, meaning if you wanted a Mantle card in 1953 or 1954, Bowman was your only option. Topps fans had to wait.

1955 Bowman — The TV Set

Bowman framed this card to look like a television set — and if you look closely at the bottom of the frame, it says “Color TV.” Interesting, given that color TVs had only just reached consumer markets in 1954 and wouldn’t go mainstream for another decade.

1956 Topps — Topps Takes Over

Topps purchased Bowman in January 1956, ending the card wars for good. This is Mantle’s first Topps card in three years — and the first Topps card where he’s actually smiling.

1957 Topps — The Card That Set the Standard

This set standardized the 2½” × 3½” card size. The same dimensions every trading card still uses today, more than 65 years later.

1958 Topps — The Only Time It Happened

This is the only year that Mantle, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial all appeared in the same Topps set together. It never happened before, and it never happened again.

1959 Topps — The Red Border

Sometimes the fact is simple: that red border just works. Compared to the yellow background on the 1958 card, this one pops in a way that makes it one of the most visually satisfying Mantle cards of the decade.

1960 Topps — Circus Tent

Mantle’s last landscape-format card features a beautiful main photo — and then an inset that cuts off the top of his bat and hides his feet behind the Yankees logo, all against a coral background. It’s a lot.

1961 Topps — Six Cards Deep

The 1961 Topps set contains more Mickey Mantle cards than any other — six in total, including base, league leader, All-Star, and two separate home run highlight cards. Topps knew what they had.

1962 Topps — The Wood Grain

The iconic wood-grain border became so beloved that Topps brought it back exactly 25 years later in 1987 — creating another iconic set for a whole new generation of collectors. We’re still waiting on 2012.

1963 Topps — Already a Legend

The back of this card notes that Mantle already ranked seventh all-time in home runs. He was 31 years old. He had six seasons left to play. Worth thinking about the next time you watch Shohei Ohtani, who is that same age right now in 2026.

1964 Topps — The Accessible One

The bold team names across the top divide collectors, but there’s an upside: this set isn’t particularly condition-sensitive, making it one of the more budget-friendly ways to land a Mantle card in solid shape.

1965 Topps — First Homer in the Dome

Mantle played in the exhibition game that inaugurated the Astrodome — the world’s first domed stadium — and hit the very first home run ever struck inside that building, on April 9, 1965.

1966 Topps — Just the One

This was the first time since 1956 that Mantle appeared on just a single card in an entire Topps set. No All-Star card, no league leaders, no combo. Just this one.

1967 Topps — Wrong Position, Right Story

The card lists him as “Outfield” — but Mantle played first base the entire 1967 season because his body was too worn down for the outfield. The DH rule was still six years away. One has to wonder how many more seasons it might have bought him.

1968 Topps — Limited Stats

The vertical card back returned for the second straight year, limiting how much of Mantle’s career stats collectors could see. Topps fixed it the following year — just in time for the farewell.

1969 Topps — The Last One

Mantle announced his retirement on March 1, 1969 — and it’s noted right on the back of this card. His final stat line: 536 career home runs, third all-time behind only Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. This card also shares a set with Reggie Jackson’s rookie card — the passing of one Yankee legend, the arrival of another.

Which Mickey Mantle base card is your favorite? Reply and let me know — or drop it in the comments!

If you enjoyed this post about great baseball rookie cards, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 9.1K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.6K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Sports Card Collection Pillars: How to Define, Refine, and Avoid Common Mistakes - Ep. 3.25

David Gonos — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:23:29 GMT

How to define your collecting focus, avoid random buys, and build a collection with real identity.

What Are the Pillars of Your Sports Card Collection?

Every sports card collection needs a backbone.

Without one, it’s easy to drift into impulse buys, chase hype, and end up with a stack of cards that doesn’t really tell a story. That’s why understanding the pillars of your collection matters so much: they give your hobby purpose, focus, and staying power.

The good news is that pillars are not complicated. They’re simply the main themes, standards, and goals that define what belongs in your collection and what doesn’t.

What are “Collection Pillars?

Your pillars are the core lanes of your collection. They might be built around players, teams, eras, sets, grades, card types, or a combination of those things.

For example, a collector might focus on:

* Favorite players from childhood.

* Hall of Famers from the 1980s.

* Rookie cards only.

* Graded cards in strong condition.

* A specific team or franchise.

A pillar becomes more powerful when it includes a standard, not just a subject. “Michael Jordan cards” is a theme. “Michael Jordan cards from key sets in PSA 8 or better” is a pillar.

Why Pillars Matter

Pillars make your collection easier to manage because they act as a filter. When a card comes up for sale, you can quickly ask whether it fits your lane or whether it’s just an attractive distraction.

They also help with budgeting. Instead of spreading your money across random cards, you can concentrate on the cards that matter most to your goals.

And just as important, pillars make your sports card collection more satisfying. A focused collection feels intentional, while a scattered one can feel like a pile of unrelated purchases. If you ever want to explain your collection to another collector, or even to yourself a year from now, having clear pillars makes that much easier.

How to Choose Your Pillars

The best place to start is with your why.

Ask yourself what you actually enjoy most in the hobby:

* Nostalgia.

* A favorite team.

* A favorite era.

* Rookie cards.

* Vintage cards.

* Graded cards.

* Rare inserts or parallels.

* Autographs.

* A specific set build.

Then narrow that into a few lanes you can realistically sustain. Most collectors do better with three to five pillars than with a dozen loosely connected ideas.

A simple formula helps:

I collect subject in format/standard from era or set because reason.

* Example: I collect graded rookie cards of my favorite players from the 1980s and 1990s because that era brings back the best memories.

That kind of statement gives your collection direction.

How to Improve Your Pillars

Once you have them, the next step is refining them.

You improve collection pillars by making them:

* More specific.

* More realistic.

* More aligned with your budget.

* More consistent with your taste.

* Easier to buy for over time.

If your focus is too broad, narrow it down. If your standards are too loose, define them more clearly. If your budget keeps getting stretched, adjust the lane so it fits your actual collecting life instead of your fantasy collecting life.

A good pillar should feel both exciting and sustainable. If it only works when the market is hot or your wallet is full, it probably needs refinement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest mistake is making your collection too broad.

Collectors often start with a vague idea, then keep expanding until the original focus disappears. That’s how “collecting my favorite team” turns into buying anything that looks cool.

Other common mistakes include:

* Copying someone else’s collection instead of building your own.

* Chasing hype instead of staying true to your goals.

* Setting too many rules and making the hobby feel like homework.

* Changing direction so often that the collection never develops an identity.

Refining your collection should make it stronger, not more confusing.

A Simple Decision Test

Before you buy a card, ask:

* Does it fit one of my pillars?

* Does it meet my standards?

* Would I still want it if the price did not move?

If the answer is yes to all three, it probably deserves a place in your collection. If not, it may just be a distraction.

That little check can save you a lot of money and a lot of regret.

Build Your Story

The best collections are not just piles of cards. They’re stories.

Your pillars are what give that story shape. They tell you what to chase, what to pass on, and how to keep the hobby fun without losing focus.

So if your collection feels scattered, don’t just buy more cards. Step back and define the backbone first. Once the pillars are clear, everything else gets easier.

The strongest card collections are not the biggest ones — they’re the ones with the clearest identity.

I want to know — what are the pillars of your sports card collection! Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post about great baseball rookie cards, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 9.1K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.6K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

What Two Weeks of Getting Hacked Taught Me About This Hobby (and Myself!) - Ep. 3.24

David Gonos — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT

After two weeks of going dark because a hacker hijacked our YouTube channel and Gmail account, we finally regained control and our brains are clearer because of it!

Well, I’m back.

Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget — that’s what this whole Happy Hobby world is about, and for two weeks, I genuinely didn’t know if I’d get to keep doing it.

If you missed it: my YouTube channel got hacked. Not just the channel — my Gmail too. When those two things go down at once, your entire digital life goes down with them. For a few days, somebody else was me. It took almost two weeks to untangle it.

Here’s the story, what it cost me, and what’s changing going forward for the channel, the podcast, and this newsletter.

How It Happened!

It was 3:30am on a Friday — June 12th, a date that’s now burned into my brain. I have trouble sleeping sometimes, so I got up, sat down at my computer, and started going through email. There was a message from someone wanting me to join their advertiser network — connect your YouTube, they match you with sponsors, that kind of thing.

This wasn’t unusual. As the channel grew past 9,000 subscribers, I’d been getting more outreach like this. I’d used legit tools before — VidIQ, Opus Clip — that ask for the same kind of YouTube access. So I Googled the company, found a real-looking website, started signing up, and connected my YouTube.

Within 60 seconds, I was locked out of everything. Gmail, YouTube, gone. It was instant, and I knew immediately I’d made a mistake.

Whoever did this didn’t just lock me out — they changed my recovery email, my recovery phone number, everything. Fast, practiced, methodical.

This wasn’t his first time.

This wasn’t just a stolen email — it was stolen identity. A police report had to be filed, in case further issues develop with our credit, bank accounts or tax information.

It was a nightmare!

What I Lost

Almost everything tied to that Google account, which I’d had since 2011:

* 15 years of Gmail and contacts

* Google Keep — where I kept 100+ video and article ideas, years of sports card history research, website plans, podcast season plans

* Google Sheets — every spreadsheet I had (and I love my spreadsheets!)

* Every account I’d ever signed into with “Continue with Google”

* The backup codes I’d saved for account recovery — which, ironically, I’d also stored in Google Keep

That last one still makes me laugh. Write your passwords down somewhere safe that isn’t tied to the account that just got stolen. Use different passwords for different things. I know how obvious that sounds. I learned it the expensive way anyway.

My YouTube channel got fully shut down a couple of days later for “violations,” which actually turned out to be a small blessing — the hacker could no longer use my channel, and he’d already posted a live stream of an Elon Musk SpaceX video with a sketchy QR code in the corner. If you ever see something like that: don’t scan it. Apparently that’s exactly how this kind of thing spreads further.

Give Me Back My Channel!

After days of thinking I was done with sports card content creation (I wasn’t going to start over!), I got some hope via X/Twitter!

I tweeted @TeamYouTube, explained what happened, and they walked me through a recovery form — though even finding my own YouTube ID (different from my handle) took digging through old emails I could barely access.

Our buddy Patrick Imhoff — the VP of the Happy Hobby world, and someone I’d given limited posting access to once while I was traveling — posted a video for me explaining the situation to you all, then deleted his own access afterward so the hacker couldn’t use him as a backdoor. That was a genuinely selfless move and I owe him for it.

Slowly, things came back. Gmail first, which was the biggest relief because it unlocked Keep and Sheets and everything else. Then, a few days later, YouTube flipped back on — at 11pm on a Friday night, of all times, which meant two videos I’d spent a long time on got auto-posted back-to-back and basically wasted (see The Dandy Dozen Vintage Baseball video below!).

You can’t plan for everything.

The Community Made This Bearable

While all this was happening, I told the Substack readers in the chat what was going on as soon as I could. The response was honestly overwhelming — people reaching out, people sad to see the channel possibly gone for good, people just being kind.

It felt like writing a eulogy for something that wasn’t dead yet, and that’s a weird feeling. But it also reminded me why this whole thing is worth doing. This is a genuinely good community. People are kind to each other here. That’s not nothing.

This is a genuinely good community. People are kind to each other here. That’s not nothing.

What This Forced Me to Notice

For the first time since the late ‘90s, I wasn’t creating something every single week. No video, no podcast, no newsletter to get out the door. That’s been my rhythm since I wrote fantasy sports newsletters for my league, fantasy articles for CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, and now 5-plus years of creating Happy Hobby card-collecting content.

With that pressure gone for two weeks, I unwound. I read more physical books. I spent more quality time with my wife Shelby. I connected more with my mom, who recently moved in with us.

It was a rough way to get there, but it was a real reminder that all this content creation — which I love — takes a lot out of the week.

What’s Changing Going Forward

I’m not starting over, and I’m not stopping. But it’s going to look a little different:

* Fewer, less-produced videos. Less of the heavily edited, cards-flying-in style videos, more of me just talking with you — sharing what I’ve learned, rankings, research. The podcast, video, and newsletter are converging into one combined post, which I was already moving toward.

* A rebrand. The YouTube channel is moving from “David Gonos” branding to Happy Hobby Sports Cards as the primary identity going forward. I’d wanted to do this for a while but worried about disrupting the algorithm. Well — starting from near zero now, there’s no better time.

* More tools for paid subscribers. I’m leaning into the apps and tools I’ve been building for budget collectors — things that stay valuable long after they’re published, unlike a video that has a short shelf life before people stop searching for it. Paid subscribers will start seeing more of these.

* Buddy breaks continue. We just posted one on the 2026 Topps Series 2 Hobby Box, and that’s not going anywhere.

* Selling off some of the collection. Partly a security decision — I’ve shown enough of what I own on camera, and I don’t want to be more of a target than I already am. (For what it’s worth: I sold my 1992 Stadium Club Michael Jordan Beam Team for the most I’ve ever sold a card for, which softened the blow considerably.) Keep an eye out — more is coming up for sale.

One Ask From You!

I’d like to bring in some other voices for the newsletter. If you’ve ever wanted to write something for the Happy Hobby Sports Cards Substack, let me know — email me at gonoscards@gmail.com. Pitch me an idea. Show me you can put some sentences together! Do you already have a Substack about sports cards? Pitch me an idea for an article where we all benefit — you, me and the Happy Hobby readers!

Finally, Thank You!

Thank you for sticking around, for the kindness while this was falling apart, and for wanting this thing to come back. It’s not really about me — it’s about the community we’ve built here. I’m just glad I get to keep being part of it.

I’m back. Thank you, Happy Hobby.

Have you ever been hacked or had something you love hijacked or stolen for a period of time? How did you handle it?

If you enjoyed this post about great baseball rookie cards, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 9.1K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.6K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

12 Best 2026 Topps Series 2 Baseball Rookie Cards To Target! - Ep. 3.23

David Gonos — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT

While most Series 2 flagship releases seem to pale against their Series 1 and Update counterparts, this year’s 2026 crop appears to be solid!

If you want to find all the great rookie cards over the past 70-plus years, check out our article here, listing the Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

12 Best 2026 Topps Series 2 Baseball Rookie Cards To Target!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases through the links on this article. Thank you!

It’s certainly a nice crop of 2026 Topps Series 2 rookie cards coming in, which I have detailed over at my website DavidGonos.com. But reading about it isn’t as fun as talking about it, so I turned it into this week’s podcast episode!

We want to hear from you — which 2026 Topps Series 2 rookie cards are you chasing?

If you enjoyed this post about great baseball rookie cards, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 9K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.6K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

11 Best MLB Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! - Ep. 3.22

Randy Litzinger and David Gonos — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Baseball cards are the heart of any great sports card collection – and we’re looking at about a dozen great rookie cards with upside to spare.

If you want to find all the great rookie cards over the past 70-plus years, check out our article here, listing the Best MLB Rookie Cards From Every Year!

Counting Down the 11 Best MLB Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases through the links on this article. Thank you!

Just Missed the Top 11!

* 21. Cam Schlittler, SP, N.Y. Yankees (Age 25) – 2026 Topps Card No. 111

* 20. Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Milwaukee Brewers (Age 24) – 2026 Topps Card No. 10

* 19. Cal Raleigh, C, Seattle Mariners (Age 29) – 2022 Topps Card No. 277

* 18. Michael Harris II, OF, Atlanta Braves (Age 25) – 2023 Topps Card No. 226

* 17. Jackson Merrill, OF, San Diego Padres (Age 23) – 2024 Topps Update Card No. US210

* 16. Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Chicago Cubs (Age 24) – 2024 Topps Card No. 407

* 15. Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers (Age 24) – 2024 Topps Update Card No. US151

* 14. Riley Greene, OF, Detroit Tigers (Age 25) – 2023 Topps Card No. 31

* 13. Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (Age 22) – 2024 Topps Update Card No. US240

* 12. Tarik Skubal, SP, Detroit Tigers (Age 29) – 2021 Topps Card No. 92

11 Best Baseball Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020!

The teams listed are their CURRENT MLB teams.

11. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (Age 23)

* 2025 Topps Update No. US201 - View current prices on eBay!

Kurtz took the American League by storm in his rookie year, batting .290 with 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and a 1.002 OPS in just 117 games. The A’s scouting director compared him to Matt Olson even before the draft, and scouts envision a Jim Thome-type ceiling if he reaches his peak. At only 23 and coming off a unanimous AL Rookie of the Year award, a parallel of Kurtz’s RC is a legitimate highlight for any collection on the rise.

10. James Wood, OF, Nationals (23)

* 2025 Topps No. 181 - View current prices on eBay!

At just 22, Wood set a new Nationals/Expos franchise record for a rookie with 31 home runs, drove in 94 runs, and swiped 15 bases across 157 games, earning his first All-Star selection. He could go down as the best player Washington received in the Juan Soto trade, and with his massive 6-foot-7 frame still filling out, the power ceiling on his rookie card is enormous.

9. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros (28)

* 2020 Topps No. 276 - View current prices on eBay!

Since his debut, Alvarez has posted the second-highest wRC+ (164) of any hitter in baseball, trailing only Aaron Judge. He’s a career .297 hitter with 185 home runs, 532 RBI, and a .578 slugging percentage. His 2020 Topps rookie card was printed in the early days of what’s looking more and more like a Hall-of-Fame career, and it only gets more valuable with time.

8. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays (22)

* 2024 Topps No. 628 - View current prices on eBay!

No one could have predicted Caminero clubbing 45 homers in 2025 during his first full MLB campaign. Baseball America rated his raw power at 80, making him the only player in the minors at the time to receive the top-level power grade. At just 22 years old with that kind of pop already on display, this rookie card is getting hotter by the month.

7. C.J. Abrams, SS, Nationals (25)

* 2022 Topps Update No. US34 - View current prices on eBay!

Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 2025, his second consecutive near-20/30 season, and remains under team control through 2028. Alongside James Wood in Washington’s young core, he represents one of the most exciting power-speed combinations in the National League. He’s exactly the kind of player whose card collectors love to hold onto for the long haul.

6. Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (25)

* 2023 Topps No. 401 - View current prices on eBay!

Carroll had a breakout 2025, hitting .259 with 31 homers, 17 triples, and 32 stolen bases, becoming just the 10th player in MLB history to reach 30+ doubles, 15+ triples, and 30+ home runs in a single season (the third player to do it since 1947 — Jimmy Rollins and Stan Musial).

With Carroll’s barrel rate doubling to 14.5% and his hard-hit rate jumping nine points, the power surge appears to be here to stay. This card belongs in the conversation with any young superstar in the hobby right now.

5. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds (24)

* 2024 Topps No. 141 - View current prices on eBay!

De La Cruz hit .264 with 22 homers, 86 RBI, and 37 steals across a full 162-game season in 2025. Still just 24 years old, the potential for a true 30/50 season someday is very much alive, and collectors who believe in that upside have every reason to hold. He’s a blast to watch play, which helps his cardboard upside, too!

4. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Orioles (24)

* 2023 Topps No. 206 - View current prices on eBay!

Henderson’s MVP-caliber 2024 saw him bat .281/.364/.529 with 37 home runs, 118 runs scored, and 92 RBI, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting. While 2025 was a step back, he still posted a 121 OPS+, stole 30 bases, and was worth 5.3 bWAR, numbers that only feel disappointing against the sky-high standard he set himself. At 24, with his best years clearly ahead, this rookie card is a long-term hold.

3. Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners (25)

* 2022 Topps Update No. US44 - View current prices on eBay!

J-Rod hit .267 with 32 home runs, 95 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 2025, led all center fielders with 6.8 bWAR, and earned a third All-Star selection, all while helping Seattle win its first AL West title since 2001. He’s locked in through at least 2029 on a club-friendly deal, with player options potentially keeping him a Mariner through 2034. That kind of stability makes this card easy to hold with confidence.

2. Paul Skenes, SP, Pirates (24)

* 2024 Topps Update No. US100 - View current prices on eBay!

Skenes posted a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 216 strikeouts across 32 starts in 2025, leading the NL in ERA and winning the Cy Young Award unanimously. He became only the second pitcher ever to win Rookie of the Year one year and Cy Young the next, duplicating Dwight Gooden’s 1984-85 feat. Through just 55 career starts, he owns a 1.96 ERA. The player makes parallels of this rookie card one to chase, but the photo and card design make it a modern classic.

1. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (25)

* 2022 Topps Update No. US100 - View current prices on eBay!

Witt has won back-to-back Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, been named to the All-MLB First Team twice, and is a career .290 hitter with 107 home runs and 158 stolen bases through age 25. He led the league in hits (184) and doubles (47) in 2025 and has finished in the top seven of AL MVP voting in three straight seasons.

The scary part for those not collecting BWJ? The best of Bobby Witt Jr. may genuinely still be ahead of us.

We want to hear from you — which great baseball player’s rookie card (from 2020 on) should’ve been on this list?

If you enjoyed this post about great baseball rookie cards, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 9K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.6K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

5 Steps To Building a Great Sports Card Collection! - Ep. 3.21

David Gonos — Tue, 26 May 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Everyone wants a great sports card collection… but “great” means something different to every collector. In this episode of the Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast, David Gonos breaks down five simple steps to build a collection you’re actually proud of – even if you’re working with a limited budget.

Whether you’re just getting started, coming back to the hobby after a long break, or trying to upgrade a box full of random cardboard into a focused PC, this episode will help you think more clearly about what you buy and why you buy it. We’ll talk about defining what “great” means for you, setting a real-world budget, choosing the right players and lanes, and building a collection that feels intentional instead of impulsive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* Why “great” is subjective – and how to define your own version of a great collection

* Five simple, repeatable steps for building a focused collection on a budget

* How to make smarter buying decisions that fit your goals, not just the latest hype

If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card newsletter at gonos.substack.com and keep building a better collection with a real-world budget.

Hit reply and tell me which of these 5 tips to building a great sports card collection resonated with you!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list out the very best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.9K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.6K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

✨7 Sports Card Logos That Changed the Hobby Forever! - Ep. 3.20

David Gonos and Alan Camuto — Tue, 19 May 2026 09:30:00 GMT

There are certain logos you never forget pulling.

You didn’t need to understand the checklist. You didn’t need to know the player. The second you saw that symbol on a card, you just knew it mattered.

For a lot of us, these logos helped us figure out what to sleeve, what to trade, and what to hold onto just a little longer — just in case.

7 Sports Card Logos That Changed the Hobby Forever!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases through the links on this article. Thank you!

Sports card designer and Happy Hobbyist Alan Camuto joins me as we look back at some of the most iconic logos in the hobby — the ones that didn’t just mark cards, but helped shape how we collected them.

1. 1st Bowman Logo

The “1st Bowman” logo marks the beginning — a player’s first real entry into the hobby and the starting point for prospect collectors.

It’s a simple badge, usually tucked into a card’s upper corner, but it represents something different than most logos. This isn’t about what a player has done. It’s about what they could become.

Imagine: How cool would a 1949 Bowman 1st Mickey Mantle card have been?

2. Rookie Card (RC) Logo

By David Gonos

The simple “RC” shield might be the smallest logo on a card, but it carries some of the biggest weight in the entire hobby. Introduced across Topps products in the mid-2000s as part of MLB’s effort to standardize rookie card definitions, it brought clarity to what had become a confusing landscape of first-year issues, call-ups, and prospect cards.

For collectors, especially newer ones, the RC logo removed the guesswork. You didn’t need a checklist or a deep hobby history lesson to know you were holding a player’s true rookie card. But for longtime collectors, it also marked a shift, from the Wild West days of chasing “first cards” to a more structured era.

Imagine: I’d enjoy seeing a RC logo on the revered 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson card.

3. Topps All-Star Rookie Cup

By Alan Camuto

The Topps All-Star Rookie Cup logo was more than a graphic, it was the official stamp of the Topps All-Star Rookie Team, dating back to 1960s, with the first nod to that rookie team in 1960.

It was the reason certain rookie cards instantly felt special. The original cup design had a chunkier, more literal trophy feel, while the current version’s bowl feels more like a badge.

Rookie cards with that little gold trophy became must-haves because they were exclusive to just a handful of players in the base set.

The Cup was gone for several years in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but Topps brought the cup back in 1987, and it changed collecting for me and my friends. And the second we pulled one from a wax pack as kids, it went straight into a plastic three-ring binder page, because in our minds that player might just be the next Mickey Mantle or Sandy Koufax.

Imagine: What if Topps still had the Rookie Cup on cards (1982 and 1983) for both years (1981 and 1982) that Cal Ripken Jr. was on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team?

4. Donruss Rated Rookie

By Alan Camuto

The Donruss Rated Rookie logo became one of the most iconic marks in the hobby, a clean, modern badge that instantly highlighted young players worth watching.

Its sharp angles and bold, slanted lettering, with extended connecting tails on the letters, gave it a sleek, futuristic look that stood out from the more traditional look of Topps All-Star Rookie Cup.

For collectors, that angled text created an immediate sense of importance. If a card had the Rated Rookie logo, it felt like you were holding a breakout star before everyone else knew.

Over time, the logo evolved in color and style, but the iconic blue version, the most memorable, is what still lives on today in Panini’s hands.

Even after Donruss became a property of Panini, the Rated Rookie mark remained a staple across basketball and football products (and unlicensed baseball cards). It’s one of the most recognizable and trusted rookie designations in modern card collecting.

Imagine: The 1981 Donruss Rickey Henderson card with a Rated Rookie logo!

5. Upper Deck Young Guns

By David Gonos

The Young Guns logo didn’t just identify rookies, it defined an entire chase. Since its debut in Upper Deck hockey in 1990-91, it became the standard for what a premium rookie card should feel like: limited, desirable, and just tough enough to pull that it meant something.

More common than an autograph, but less common than a base card.

Even today, Young Guns remains one of the most trusted rookie brands in the hobby. It’s not just a logo, it’s a standard.

Imagine: The 1979 Topps Wayne Gretzky card with a Young Guns foil stamp on it!

6. Topps Future Stars

By David Gonos

Few logos capture optimism quite like the Topps Future Stars rainbow banner. While it initially was scrawled across a multi-player rookie card, the logo eventually landed on single cards in its 1987 resurrection.

The design had a forward-looking energy that stood out in otherwise traditional sets. It felt less official than the Rookie Cup, but more hopeful.

For collectors, these cards were a mix of excitement and mystery. Sometimes they featured future legends (Bo Knows Future Stars). Other times… not so much ::sneeze “greggjefferies”::

Imagine: 1956 Topps Sandy Koufax “Future Stars” card!

7. Topps All-Star Logo

By David Gonos

Before inserts, parallels, and serial numbers took over, the Topps All-Star logo was one of the earliest ways to separate the game’s elite from the rest of the set. These cards highlighted players who had reached the top of the sport, often featuring a ribbon, starburst, or bold badge that instantly caught your eye.

The designs changed from year to year, sometimes subtle, sometimes loud, but they always carried that same meaning: this player is among the best.

For collectors, especially kids building sets, these were the cards you flipped to first. They weren’t rarer in most cases, but they felt more important. They gave you a shortcut to the stars without needing stats or context.

Imagine: Hank Aaron’s 25 All-Star game selections marked across his entire base card catalog!

BONUS: Serial Numbered Stamp

The introduction of serial-numbered cards changed collecting forever. When a card is stamped “/500” or “/25,” it instantly shifts from something mass-produced to something finite, something you can quantify and chase.

For collectors, this was a turning point. Scarcity was no longer a mystery, it was printed right on the card. You knew exactly how rare your pull was, and so did everyone else.

Imagine: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Topps Gold cards numbered to #/1,952!

The funny thing is, none of these logos are very big.

That’s the power of a great logo in this hobby. It doesn’t just decorate. It defines.

And it also makes you wonder… What if we had more of them?

Next week, we’re going to have some fun with that idea — breaking down 7 Sports Card Logos We’d Love To See in the future, and how they could actually make collecting clearer, smarter, and even more fun!

What are your favorite sports card logos? Drop an answer in the comments below – which ones do you love the most!?!

If you enjoyed this post, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.9K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.5K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

11 Best NHL Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! - Ep. 3.19

Randy Litzinger and David Gonos — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:33:00 GMT

Happy Hobbyist Randy Litzinger shares the top young hockey players to come into the league since the pandemic, helping you improve your sports card collection.

If you want to find all the great rookie cards over the past 70-plus years, check out our article here, listing the Best NHL Rookie Cards Ever!

Counting Down the 11 Best NHL Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases through the links on this article. Thank you!

Just Missed the Top 11!

* 21. Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus (Canadian, Age: 21): (Canadian) 2023 Extended

* 20. Ilya Sorokin, G, N.Y. Islanders (Russian, 30) 2020 Series 2 Goalies are rarely as collectible as other positions, but Sorokin continues to be a top-5 netminder, and he led the league with seven shutouts this past year.

* 19. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit (German, 25): 2021 Series 2

* 18. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal (Russian, 20): 2025 Series 1

* 17. Jackson Blake, RW, Carolina (Canadian, 22): (Canadian) 2024 Series 2

* 16. Will Smith, C, San Jose (Canadian, 21): 2024 Extended

* 15. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, Montreal (Slovak, 22): 2022 Series 2

* 14. Porter Martone, LW, Philadelphia (Canadian, 19): 2025 Extended Martone only played near the end of the NHL season, but he registered tons of shots every game and had 4 goals and 10 points in 9 games. As a big power forward in Philly, he reminds you of Flyers power forwards of the past, like Eric Lindros, Rick Tochett, and John LeClair.

* 13. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim (Canadian, 20): 2025 Extended

* 12. Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim (Swiss, 21): 2023 Series 2

Here are Randy Litzinger‘s top NHL Young Guns from the past six years. The teams listed are their CURRENT NHL teams.

11. Tim Stutzle, C, Ottawa Senators (German, 24)

* 2020 Upper Deck Series 2 #482 - View prices on eBay!

Stutzle is underrated and goes unnoticed a lot since he plays for Ottawa in the NHL, and Germany in the Olympics and internationals play, but he’s a high-energy top young player and also throws lots of hits. In 2025-26, he had 34 goals and 83 points, and threw 126 hits, which is a lot for a skilled forward of average size (6-foot-0, 187 lbs.). He has 40-goal potential, with a chance of 100-pt/100-hit seasons.

10. Cutter Gauthier, LW, Anaheim Ducks (Swiss/American, Age 22)

* 2024 Upper Deck Series 1 #212 - View prices on eBay!

Gauthier shoots a lot, but he also scores a lot, à la Brett Hull and Alex Ovechkin. In 2025-26, Gauthier had 41 goals and 69 points in the regular season. Anaheim is loaded with young talent and could be a playoff fixture for the next 5-8 years, which gives Gauthier even more visibility.

9. Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars (Canadian, 22)

* 2022 Upper Deck Series 2 #459 - View prices on eBay!

Playing for Dallas, Johnston goes under the radar a bit on a national level, but he put up 45 goals and 86 points in 2025-26, and is following that up with solid playoff play. He followed that up with 4 goals and 6 points in six first-round playoff games this year.

8. Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens (American, 22)

* 2024 Upper Deck Series 1 #229 - View prices on eBay!

One of the four or five best offensive defensemen in the NHL right now. He’s only 5-foot-9 and 162 lbs., but his skating ability, passing, and decision making make up for his lack of size. In 2025-26 he scored 12 goals, and assisted on 66, for a total of 78 points.

Hutson helped Montreal pull off a first-round upset of Tampa Bay to move on. He plays for Montreal, an Original, large market Canadian team, which has a great core of talented young players right now. Even though he’s a defenseman, he’s an elite, offensive one and plays for a great hockey market.

7. Cole Caufield, LW, Montreal Canadiens (American, 25)

* 2021 Upper Deck Series 1 #201 - View prices on eBay!

Caufield is only 5-foot-8 and 175 lbs., but he’s a great goal scorer, potting 51 goals and 88 points this season. Plus, he’s clutch, always coming up big when the team needs him, scoring 12 game-winning goals in 2025-26.

Caufield’s 0.84 PPG will likely climb a little higher as he plays more years, but he’s more of a goal scorer than assists machine. If Auston Matthews or Jason Robertson don’t eventually break the U.S.-born goals scored record, Caufield or Jack Hughes will get close with long and healthy careers.

6. Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild (Russian, 29)

* 2020 Upper Deck Series 2 #451 - View prices on eBay!

Elite skater, elite hands, elite scorer. If he can keep his elite career points per game at 1.20 or higher, that will put him in the top-15 all-time for PPG.

Minnesota’s addition of a top offensive defenseman in Quinn Hughes could make Kaprizov’s PPG total climb higher, which could mean the Wild will be in the playoffs for the next 5 years as well.

On the other hand, he’s now 29 years old and could start to lose some speed and production in the coming years. He hasn’t slowed yet, however, as evidenced by his red-hot 2026 playoff production, with four goals and 14 points in his first nine playoff games this year.

5. Jason Robertson, LW, Dallas Stars (American, 26)

* 2020 Upper Deck Series 1 #235 - View prices on eBay!

Robertson and Caufield not getting picked for the USA Olympic team this year will give them both extra “fire in the belly” and drive them both for the rest of their careers.

The U.S. born player career goals and points records are really big deals, and with Auston Matthews’ falloff and durability issues, the next most likely player to break both in the future is Robertson.

Robertson’s elite 1.07 PPG for his career already puts him on track as a top U.S.-born player, higher than Mike Modano’s 0.92 PPG, Joey Mullen’s 1.00 PPG, and current U.S.-born points record holder Patrick Kane’s 1.02 career PPG.

4. Matt Boldy, LW, Minnesota Wild (American, 25)

* 2022 Upper Deck Series 1 #201 - View prices on eBay!

Anyone who didn’t know him, saw him on display during the 2026 Olympics where he scored a highlight goal in the Gold Medal Game for Team USA. Boldy has already won a Gold Medal at 25 years old, and in 2025-26, he scored 42 goals and 85 points. His regular season .091 PPG is likely to go up closer to a point per game, over the next several years. His 7 goals in 9 playoff games is tied for best this postseason.

3. Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks (Canadian, 20)

* 2023 Upper Deck Series 2 #451 - View prices on eBay!

With one of the quickest shots in the NHL, Bedard is a great goal scorer. He plays for an Original 6 Team in Chicago, one of the best hockey market in the U.S.

He’s a couple inches shorter than Macklin Celebrini, isn’t as physical, and lacks several of the intangibles that the Sharks superstar has. Bedard’s smaller frame has given him durability issues (he has missed 26 games due to a broken jaw and shoulder labrum tear).

The pressure on Bedard to be great was a lot more than what was placed on Celebrini, and it appears to have weighed heavily on his shoulders.

BONUS: 2.5. Gavin McKenna 18 yrs (Canadian) TOR? - C (2026 Series 2?)

2. Matthew Schaefer, D, N.Y. Islanders (Canadian, 18)

* 2025 Upper Deck Series 2 #451 - View prices on eBay!

Already one of the best skaters in the NHL as an 18 year old, Schaefer will likely be one of the top-three offensive defensemen for many years to come along with Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. Schaefer could pass Hughes eventually and be on just Makar’s level.

In 2025-26, as an 18 year old, Schaefer broke the NHL records for most goals and points by an 18- or 19-year-old defensemen with 23 goals and 59 points, passing names like Ray Bourque, Rasmus Dahlin, Phil Housely, and Bobby Orr.

Let that sink in.

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks (Canadian, 19)

* 2024 Upper Deck Series 2 #451 - View prices on eBay!

Celebrini’s got the smile and personality, along with the drive to win loose pucks all over the ice. He has a lightning quick shot, and he shows great decision making. His drive and determination have resembled a young Sidney Crosby during his first two seasons.

Celebrini’s 45 goals and 115 points as only a 19-year-old skater, ranks third all-time in the NHL, with only Crosby (120) and Wayne Gretzky (137) higher!

We can already call Celebrini a generational player right now. He will be one of the faces of the NHL for years to come after Sid and Ovi retire.

We want to hear from you — which great NHL player’s rookie card (from 2020 on) should’ve been on this list?

If you enjoyed this post about great hockey cards, check out these posts you might have missed:

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.8K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.5K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

11 Best WNBA Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! - Ep. 3.18

David Gonos and Alan Camuto — Tue, 05 May 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Happy Hobbyist Alan Camuto walks you through the WNBA card-collecting world, helping you choose some great players whose rookie cards worth collecting!

If you want to find great rookie cards from all 30 WNBA seasons, check out our article here, listing the Best WNBA Rookie Cards Ever!

Counting Down the 11 Best WNBA Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020!

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Just Missed the Top 11!

Cameron Brink, F, Los Angeles Sparks

* 2024 Panini Prizm #143 VC - View prices on eBay!

I’m hoping Brink finally has a full healthy season in the WNBA. She has all the makings of a star on the court and off.

Veronica Burton, G, Golden State Valkyries

* 2022 Panini Prizm #187 - View prices on eBay!

The WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2025, Burton finished ninth in MVP voting, and is still only 24 years old!

Rickea Jackson, F, Chicago Sky

* 2024 Panini Prizm #60 - View prices on eBay!

Looking forward to her thriving in a bigger role with Chicago. Her first two seasons in L.A. were solid, and I’m excited to see her get more time in the spotlight.

Here are Alan Camuto’s top WNBA rookie cards from the past six years, dating back to 2020 Prizm WNBA, when WNBA cards really got on the map! The teams listed are their CURRENT WNBA teams.

11. Dominique Malonga, C, Seattle Storm

* 2025 Panini Prizm #116 - View prices on eBay!

Malonga made an immediate impact for the Seattle Storm in 2025 after being drafted No. 2 overall. The 6-foot-6 French center averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, earning WNBA All-Rookie Team honors. At just 19, Malonga became the youngest player in league history to score 100 career points, flashing superstar potential early.

10. Kamilla Cardoso, C, Chicago Sky

* 2024 Panini Prizm #93 - View prices on eBay!

Kamilla Cardoso, a 6-foot-7 center from Montes Claros, Brazil, anchors the Sky’s young core.

In 2025, she built on a strong rookie season, emerging as an elite defender, averaging 8.5 rebounds, and boosting her scoring by 3.8 points per game. With Angel Reese now on the Dream, Cardoso has a clear opportunity to step up as the Sky’s defensive leader.

9. Angel Reese, F, Atlanta Dream

* 2024 Panini Prizm #10 - View prices on eBay!

Reese, a 2x All-Star and 2024 Rookie of the Year runner-up, once dubbed “Chi-Town Barbie,” heads to the Atlanta Dream in 2026 looking to build on a dominant start to her career.

In 2024, she grabbed 446 rebounds, just five shy of A’ja Wilson’s record-setting 451, and followed it up in 2025 with a league-high-tying 23 double-doubles despite playing only 30 games.

8. Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta Dream

* 2022 Panini Prizm #181 - View prices on eBay!

The 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year and former No. 1 pick out of Kentucky is a 3-time All-Star, averaging an impressive 17.1 points per game for her career.

In 2025, Howard became the fastest player in league history to reach 300 three-pointers, hitting the mark in just 114 games. In her second season with Atlanta, during her first playoff appearance, she erupted for 36 points, setting both league and franchise records.

7. Kiki Iriafen, F, Washington Mystics

* 2025 Panini Prizm #72 - View prices on eBay!

Drafted fourth overall by the Mystics in the 2025 WNBA draft, Iriafen earned Rookie of the Month honors for May after averaging 13.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 47.4% from the field.

On September 4, 2025, she posted 18 points and 13 rebounds, setting the franchise record with her 16th double-double of the season. Alongside Sonia Citron, Iriafen is part of the young core poised to propel the Mystics into contention for years to come.

6. Sonia Citron, G, Washington Mystics

* 2025 Panini Prizm #122 - View prices on eBay!

Citron wasted no time making her mark, scoring 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting in just 24 minutes during her professional debut on May 16 against the Atlanta Dream. She followed that up on June 22 with a dominant 27-point, 11-rebound performance in overtime against the Dallas Wings, becoming the first rookie in Mystics history to record 25+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game.

The 2025 first-rounder was runner up to Bueckers’ nearly unanimous rookie-of-the-year sweep.

5. Satou Sabally, F, N.Y. Liberty

* 2020 Panini Prizm #90 - View prices on eBay!

The German-American forward is a three-time WNBA All-Star known for elite two-way play. She has averaged 15.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game in her career, and led the Phoenix Mercury to the 2025 WNBA Finals.

In 2026, she reunites with former Oregon Ducks women’s basketball teammate Sabrina Ionescu to chase a title in New York City.

4. Aliyah Boston, F/C, Indiana Fever

* 2023 Panini Prizm #133 - View prices on eBay!

The three-time All-Star for the Indiana Fever, Aliyah Boston burst onto the scene in 2023, winning Rookie of the Year after averaging 8.4 rebounds and shooting a rookie-record 57.8% from the field. At 6’5”, Boston has established herself as an elite defensive anchor at center, with her popularity soaring among Fever fans and across the league.

3. Sabrina Ionescu, G, N.Y. Liberty

* 2020 Panini Prizm #89 - View prices on eBay!

Ionescu is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in WNBA history. She is the fastest to record a triple-double in under three quarters, and was the first player ever to post 500+ points, 200+ rebounds, and 200+ assists in a single season. A four-time All-Star, the Liberty star is still in her prime at 28 years old, and showing no signs of slowing down.

2. Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever

* 2024 Panini Prizm #22 - View prices on eBay!I prefer the photo on her variant card #145.

How did the Indiana Fever follow up drafting Aliyah Boston, the 2023 Rookie of the Year? They landed Clark, the all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader and 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Clark delivered immediately in her first year, setting the rookie single-season assist record with 337. She capped a historic debut season by earning All-Star honors, First-Team All-WNBA, and a top-five MVP finish.

1. Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Wings

* 2025 Panini Prizm #5 - View prices on eBay!I prefer her 2025 Panini Prizm #147 VC, which has a better photo.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2025 and WNBA Rookie of the Year wasted no time making history. She became the fastest player ever to reach 200 points, 50 rebounds, and 50 assists, and earned a spot as a 2025 All-Star starter, just the eighth rookie to do so.

On June 30, 2025, she dropped 44 points in an 81–80 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, setting the rookie scoring record and posting the 10th-highest single-game total in league history.

We want to hear from you — which great WNBA player’s rookie card (from 2020 on) should’ve been on this list?

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.8K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.5K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

WNBA Cards Are Still Cheap — And That Won’t Last Forever! - Ep. 3.17

David Gonos — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:30:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

If you’ve been thinking about getting into collecting WNBA cards, this is your sign to start.

Because despite all the hype, growth, and headlines… you’re still early.

You’re Not Too Late To Collect WNBA Cards!

The ultra-modern WNBA card market is barely getting started.

While the league launched in 1997, it wasn’t until 2020 that Panini Prizm really brought WNBA cards into the mainstream hobby. Before that, Rittenhouse handled many of the releases that never fully crossed over to the broader collecting audience.

So in many ways, we’re only about five years into the true WNBA card era.

Even better? Rookie cards of today’s stars are still affordable — yes, even Caitlin Clark.

And with the WNBA owning the summer spotlight alongside baseball, the visibility (and demand) is only going to keep growing year after year. The WNBA has the shortest season and the longest offseason of any of the major sports, and that means there are long periods that are great buying opportunities.

Why the Sweet Spot is Right Now!

There are some unique advantages to collecting WNBA cards right now that you just don’t get in other sports.

* The league is about 30 years old, meaning fewer total cards and less historical clutter.

* Panini has extra incentive to elevate WNBA products after losing NBA/NFL licenses.

* Women’s college basketball is exploding in popularity and coverage.

* Top players stay in college 3–4 years, giving collectors time to follow and prepare.

* Bowman U cards now act as legit prospect cards.

This creates something rare in the hobby: you actually know who’s coming next.

We followed Paige Bueckers for years. We’ve been watching JuJu Watkins develop in real time. Compare that to the NBA, where you often need to scout high school players to stay ahead.

Smaller League = Bigger Opportunity

Even after expansion to 15 teams (Golden State, Toronto, Portland in the past couple years), the WNBA still only has about half as many franchises as the NBA.

That matters more than you think.

* Smaller checklists

* Better odds of pulling top players

* Easier set building

It’s a bit like early-era baseball — talent concentrated across fewer teams, making stars easier to collect and recognize.

For a full breakdown of key WNBA rookie cards across the league’s history, we’ve already tracked them all down, with links directly to their cards on eBay!

The Caitlin Clark Effect

Caitlin Clark didn’t just boost the WNBA — she changed the hobby overnight.

Her rookie cards are in high demand, but still relatively affordable compared to other generational talents in other sports.

Key base Caitlin Clark rookie cards include:

* 2024 Prizm WNBA Caitlin Clark #22 RC - View prices on eBay!

* 2024 Select WNBA Caitlin Clark #72 RC - View prices on eBay!

* 2024 Panini Instant WNBA Draft Night Caitlin Clark RC #DN-1 - View prices on eBay!

But here’s where it gets interesting…

There’s a ripple effect happening.

Katelyn from The WNBA Card Podcast calls it the “Caitlin Clark Inner Circle.” Teammates and rivals are seeing increased attention — and rising card values.

That includes:

* Aliyah Boston - View RC Prices on eBay!

* Kelsey Mitchell - View RC Prices on eBay!

* Lexie Hull - View RC Prices on eBay!

* Sophie Cunningham - View RC Prices on eBay!

* Angel Reese (yes, even rivals benefit!) - View RC Prices on eBay!

Not into the Clark spotlight? Dallas Wings G Paige Bueckers — the No. 1 pick in 2025 — is already a hobby favorite and gives collectors another lane to explore.

The UConn Pipeline

If you’re looking for a program that consistently produces WNBA stars, start with UConn.

* Sue Bird

* Tina Charles

* Napheesa Collier

* Maya Moore

* Breanna Stewart

* Diana Taurasi

Recognizing pipelines like this can give you a long-term edge as a collector.

The Next Wave Is Loaded!

One of the biggest advantages in WNBA collecting is visibility into future stars.

2026 WNBA Rookie Class

* Azzi Fudd

* Lauren Betts

* Olivia Miles

* Kiki Rice

* Awa Fam

2027 WNBA Rookie Class

* JuJu Watkins

* Hannah Hidalgo

* Mikaylah Williams

* Madison Booker

* Chloe Kitts

* Audi Crooks

2028 WNBA Rookie Class

* Sarah Strong

* Mikayla Blakes

* Syla Swords

These aren’t unknown prospects — you’ve likely seen many of them already. JuJu has been doing State Farm and Nike commercials already!

Don’t Ignore International Players

While college stars get most of the attention, international players can enter the WNBA earlier — and often already have pro experience. That creates opportunity.

Players like:

* Dominique Malonga

* Awa Fam

* Iyana Martin

You can collect them this year (Fam and Martin’s RCs coming soon), before they fully develop and break into the U.S. spotlight.

Want to Learn More?

If you really want to understand the history and evolution of WNBA cards, check out The WNBA Card Podcast from Stacking Slabs. It’s one of the best resources out there right now.

And next week, we’ll keep this going. Happy Hobbyist and WNBA fan Alan Camuto will share his 11 Best WNBA Rookies to Collect Since 2020 — a perfect follow-up if you’re just getting started.

Are you ready for the WNBA season? Have you started collecting WNBA cards yet? Let’s hear in the comments below who your favorite teams or players are!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.7K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.5K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

7 Fun Card-Collecting Ways to Enjoy the NFL Draft! - Ep. 3.16

David Gonos — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:30:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

The NFL Draft is one of the best nights of the year for football card collectors. It’s not just about hearing your favorite NFL team add their next building block for a Super Bowl run, but it’s also a chance to turn the event into a fun hobby night! Whether you’re ripping cheap packs, updating your want list, or tracking down the next breakout card before the market catches up, you can turn the weekend into a Happy Hobby happening!

Budget-minded collectors do not need to spend big to make the NFL Draft weekend feel special. In fact, some of the most enjoyable parts of the night cost very little: sorting old cards, opening a few low-cost packs, building a fresh binder page, or making a list of players you want to chase once their pro-uniform rookie cards start hitting the market.

7 Fun Card-Collecting Ways to Enjoy the NFL Draft: And With the 1st Pick…

Here are some ways you can increase your NFL Draft weekend fun without blowing up your hobby budget.

1. Prepare Your Top 10 NFL Rookie Chase List

Before the draft begins, make note of which players’ rookie cards you believe will be among your top 10 chases once product starts rolling out later this summer. Then, as the draft unfolds, adjust that list based on what you learn about the players, where they land, and what kind of opportunity they walk into.

You may find a few sleepers you didn’t even have on your radar until draft night changed everything. That’s part of the fun — the NFL Draft can reshape your “hobby draft board” in real time.

2. Pull the ‘Buy It Now’ Trigger on Surprise Picks

Back in the day, you couldn’t really buy football cards of many draft picks until months after the event. With Bowman U cards in the mix now, you can move fast when a surprise pick gets the kind of landing spot that changes everything.

That could mean buying a Bowman 1st of a quarterback who slides into Round 2 but lands in a great situation. Or it could mean grabbing a Bowman U parallel or auto of a wide receiver who suddenly ends up attached to a premium offense with a strong quarterback (See 2025’s Emeka Egbuka!).

Sometimes the best move is acting before the crowd realizes what happened — and before the seller adjusts the “Buy It Now” price.

3. Rip Something While Watching the Draft

One of the easiest ways to make draft night feel more like a hobby event is to open something while the picks are rolling in. You do not need to go big to have fun.

* Cheap: A blaster of 2025 Prizm Draft Picks — View on eBay!

* Moderate: A blaster of 2025 Topps Chrome Football — View on eBay!

* Expensive: Two Mega Boxes of 2024 Prizm Football — View on eBay!

Prizm Draft Picks or Score Football is always a fun rip because you can pull affordable stars and rookies, but what makes it especially cool for draft night is that many rookie cards show players in their college uniforms. For instance, if you are a big fan of the Colorado Buffaloes and Head Coach Deion Sanders, then getting a Prizm Draft Picks card of Shedeur Sanders in a Buffs jersey can be pretty cool!

4. Fill a New Binder

A fresh binder can make the entire draft-weekend experience feel more intentional. One thing that has changed collecting for me is using top-loader binders from Amazon, which make it easy to flip through cards without locking everything away in a box.

That means you can actually enjoy your collection, even if the cards aren’t expensive enough to grade. NFL Draft week is a great time to start a new binder focused on rookies, PC cards, team collections, or favorite players you want to keep close at hand.

5. Rotate Your Display

If you keep cards in a display case, the draft is a perfect excuse to switch things up. You could move out your biggest NFL slabs and replace them with cards from your childhood, or bring in vintage football cards for the summer.

Then, when the season gets closer in a few months, you can rotate your stars back into the display. Small changes like that can make your collection feel fresh again without buying anything new.

6. Sort Your NFL Cards

Sometimes we get so caught up in chasing the next pack that we forget to look at the cards we already own. The NFL Draft gives collectors a natural pause — a chance to pull out old card boxes and organize things with purpose.

Sort cards by team, player, and year so they’re easier to find later. Even more important, separate them into categories like:

* PC (Personal Collection)

* Sell

* Hold for now

* Donate

That last category matters. If you have cards that no longer fit your collection, set them aside for Goodwill or pass them along at a Little League game. Hobby enjoyment is easier when your space is cleaner and your collection has a clearer purpose.

7. Create a Want List for Future Cards

Watching the NFL Draft also gives you a chance to think about the holes in your collection. As commentators compare prospects to past stars, you may be reminded of cards you’ve always wanted or players whose rookie cards have somehow stayed out of reach.

Look through our list of the Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year to find some RCs you forgot about!

Write those names down and add the prices you’d like to pay. Then set up saved eBay searches so you can jump when the market gets right. That way, NFL Draft weekend becomes even more than entertainment — it becomes a planning session for your next great hobby move.

The NFL Draft is supposed to be about anticipation, and that makes it perfect for collectors. Whether you’re ripping a cheap blaster, rearranging your display, or building your next want list, the night gives you a reason to slow down and enjoy the hobby in a different way. The rookies will eventually take over the football card market, but for one night, you get to enjoy the buildup and make the draft part of your collecting routine.

Are you doing anything special for the NFL Draft weekend? Let’s hear in the comments below which one of these items you liked — or if you came up with something even better!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.7K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.5K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

6 Things We Love/Hate About 2025 Topps Chrome Football! - Ep. 3.15

David Gonos — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:30:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

April 15 is Tax Day for most people… but for us cardheads, it’s Topps Chrome Football Day!

For the first time since 2015, we’re getting a fully NFL-licensed Chrome set — and it has been a long ten years of waiting (especially for Topps fan boys, such as myself). This one uses the 2025 Topps Baseball design (not the 2026 version you’ve seen teased already), so you’ll recognize the look right away.

Hobby and Jumbo boxes are priced like they’re chasing Patrick Mahomes autographs, which puts them out of range for most of us budget collectors. But your local card shop should still have single packs if you just need a quick Chrome fix.

When Fanatics officially got the NFL license on April 1, nobody knew if we’d see a football release this season. There was even talk of waiting until after the 2026 draft. But come on — did anyone really think Fanatics was gonna pass up the chance to double up and cash in on two rookie classes in one year?

While everyone else is talking about the 1-of-1 Topps Rookie PREMIERE Patch Autographed cards that are possible pulls in this set, budget-minded collectors know they’ll likely never come close to pulling one.

But there are other awesome cards in this set, and other great features we’re excited about!

3 Things We Love About 2025 Topps Chrome Football

1. Future Stars

Some might shrug at the thought of pulling mediocre players among the Best 2025 Topps Chrome Football Rookie Cards, which includes not-yet-great quarterbacks, and injured stars like Travis Hunter and Cam Skattebo.

Thankfully, Topps Chrome will give the “Future Stars” treatment to the 2024 NFL Draft stars! From second-year star quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels to non-QB studs, like Jahmyr Gibbs, Rome Odunze, Malik Nabers, and Brock Bowers, we get NFL-licensed Topps cards.

But as an extra bonus, Topps is even throwing in 2023 NFL Draft players, like C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, J.J. McCarthy, and Michael Penix Jr. (I feel like those cards should have a question mark at the end, like “Future Stars?”)

2. Tecmo Bowl Cards!

It’s time to dust off your Nintendo games, blow out the cartridge of Tecmo Bowl, and appreciate the newest Tecmo Bowl inserts! Some believe this will be a Downtown-type chase card, as far as rarity and specialness. I love this – but I’m hoping they’re not quite as rare as Downtowns. (Can we just have Home Field Advantage-type rarity?)

This checklist is a mix of NFL legends, like Bo Jackson, Walter Payton, Dan Marino, and Lawrence Taylor, along with rookie stars we expect to see, like Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart and Ashton Jeanty. We’ll also see five current non-rookie stars, like Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts.

It’s a great mix, in my opinion, but I’m telling you right now, I’m going to be mad if I pull one, and it’s Tim Brown or Randy White. (I’ll be jacked, however, if I pull Brian Bosworth!)

3. 1975 Topps Throwback Cards – 50th Anniversary

You know I love me some throwback cards! While Topps Baseball celebrates their designs from 35 years ago, and Topps Basketball went back 45 years to celebrate the 1980 Topps set, it’s interesting Topps landed on the 1975 set. It upsets me we’ll miss out on the standout 1969, 1970, 1971 and even 1973 sets, but I am grateful they wasted the 1974 Throwbacks on the unlicensed 2024 Topps Chrome cards.

Meanwhile, the upcoming years we should be excited about, when considering throwback designs:

* 2027: 1976 Topps design for Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Jeremiah Smith possibly? I love it!

* 2030: 1979 Topps design

* 2035: 1984 Topps design for Marshall Manning’s arrival?

* 2037: 1986 Topps design for Caesar Newton, Cam’s son!

Some other random nuggets I’m looking forward to:

* Mysterious Image Variations: Tom Brady, Walter Payton, Peyton Manning, Barry Sanders and Randy Moss all have cards listed (numbered 401 to 405) on the Topps checklist as Base Cards Image Variations. The base checklist ends at 400, so these are bonus cards somehow, and I’m here for it! Brady, Manning and Moss are all listed with the team that drafted them, in case you are break-curious.

* 1990 Topps Football Autographs: Not a great looking design, but it actually resembles the 2026 Topps design, with the stripes down the left side.

* Rookie Prem1ere Patch Autographs: These are the gridiron version of the Rookie Debut Patch Autographs in baseball and basketball. We’ll never pull one, but we can root for the millionaires and the breakers!

3 Things We Hate About 2025 Topps Chrome Football

1. One Hundred Rookie Cards in a 400-Card Set

Yes, there is no Series 2, or Topps Chrome Update, or anything like that – Topps gets one shot at delivering a checklist with all the best football players from the past year, and the best expected players of the upcoming year.

Unlike baseball, where middle relievers and backup catchers get carboard in a combined checklist that goes over 1,000 cards deep, football is limited. Sure, you’ll see some superstar linemen or defensive backs occasionally, but for the most part, it’s all skill positions and defensive stars.

We’re only getting 400 cards in this set, and since most people want the rookie cards, Topps is loading it with 100 rookies. Math majors will tell you – that’s 1 of every 4 cards in the checklist.

What stinks is – according to the box breakdown on Beckett, there are just three rookie cards in each value box (blaster). WHAT!?! They’re following the Panini path of spreading out the rookies, as opposed to Topps’ normal collation, where you’ll get rookie cards just as randomly as other cards.

That means for each value box purchase, you have about a 3% chance at hitting one of the rookie cards you are chasing.

That’s for a BASE card! Not cool, man.

2. It’s Expensive – and It’s a Mediocre Class

It’s not anything we didn’t expect, but yes, these cards, just like Topps Chrome Basketball, are expensive.

One interesting note, though, is that we already know how good these players are. What I mean by that, though, is with Topps Chrome Basketball, when it came out in December, we still weren’t sure how great this 2025 NBA Draft class would be, outside of Cooper Flagg. Now we know – it’s a great class!

We already know that the 2025 NFL Draft class isn’t great, so I expect we’ll see these blasters and hangers to sit at Target and Walmart for a while, once we get past the initial excitement of the new release.

3. The World of Football Card Collecting

Unlike baseball card collectors, which marvels at history, great shortstops, superstar pitchers, home run hitters, and possible Hall of Famers, football card collectors are much more finicky.

It’s quarterback or bust. And really, it’s “rookie quarterback” or bust.

Running backs and tight ends barely make a blip anymore, and while wide receivers are big now, take a look at how cheap Larry Fitzgerald rookie cards are – and he’s a top-five WR ever!

The lesson learned is probably that buying singles of the rookie quarterbacks is the smart move. Then again, maybe the lesson is going back a few years and buying RC singles of proven star QBs ready to rebound, like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. You can even go back and buy some great rookie cards of Hall of Famers like Dan Marino, Troy Aikman and Drew Brees (future HOF) in PSA 9 for under $100!

What’s your play for 2025 Topps Chrome Football? Are you buying – waiting – or passing?

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.7K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.5K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 500+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Sports Cards That Changed YOUR Lives… For the Good and Bad! - Ep. 3.14

David Gonos — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:30:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Several people replied to my original video about the 5 cards that changed my life. They shared the cards that changed their lives – and now I’m going to share them with you!

There were many duplicate cards that changed many of our viewer’s lives, including rookie cards of Jose Canseco, Ken Griffey Jr., Rickey Henderson, Bo Jackson, Don Mattingly and Cal Ripken Jr.

We’re relaying some of the comments on why these cards changed your lives.

Please enjoy both the good and the bad stories of how little pieces of cardboard affected so many of us during our formative years!

Sports Cards That Changed YOUR Lives… For the Good and Bad!

Some of these comments came from our Substack article, some from our podcast, and some from our YouTube video on the subject.

Super Substack Happy Hobbyist JB80 said a card that changed his life came just this past summer, as he pulled a 2025 Panini Luminance Patrick Mahomes auto #/10 card!

“I had to get in a bidding war just to get the Chiefs in a case break,” he said. “I had to do that while explaining to my wife why I wasn’t paying attention. She was a little frustrated that I entered the break, but when they pulled that card -- she became a believer.”

Our spouses like the “Happy Hobby” stories much more than the “Wallet Breaker” stories.

Well done, JB80!!!

Matt Musico, author of the MLB Daily Dingers Substack, shares one of his favorite memories.

“I remember getting a Michael Jordan Rookie of the Year card at a Mall card show in the 1990s, and I was sooo stoked.”

My guess is one from 1995 Upper Deck, or maybe 1996?

@Audwillsdad mentioned several junk wax cards we all loved, but his fifth card jumped out at me:

* 2025 Topps Platinum Holofoil Signed and Sealed Drake Powell

You might be wondering, “You mean, the Tar Heels guard that the Hawks drafted with the 22nd pick in 2025 before sending his rights to Brooklyn?”

Our commenter went on to explain why this card changed his life.

“My 8-year-old son pulled his first 1/1 card!”

Yeah, that’s a life-changer right there – this Dad is going to be talking about that pull for the next 10 years, and his son will now connect that with great memories – and he’ll be a collector for life.

Orioles fan @stevederw5 shared his five life-changing cards, which included mostly cards from the 1970s, including a 1972 Topps Willie Mays he bought 40 years ago for $5, and a 1975 Topps George Brett rookie card his girlfriend bought him as a gift because he pointed it out in an antique store.

(She’s now his wife, which makes good sense to me!)

But he also mentioned what he called, a “Boneheaded choice.”

He said when he was a kid, he had pulled from packs, TWO of the 1980 Topps Larry Bird/Magic Johnson rookie cards. He sadly ended up separating the perforated cards from each other into six pieces, and he stored them in an old Kool-Aid can.

That hurts my heart a little bit.

One of my favorite 5-card lists came from @RussellThornton-f9z, where he listed off his Driver’s License, Social Security card, Selective Service card, Voter ID and Mastercard as his life-changing cards!

Brilliant!

Russell also went on to list his real top-five cards, which included 1955 Topps Jackie Robinson, 1954 Topps Larry Doby, and 1986 Topps Patrick Roy.

Like many other Comeback Collectors, user @drawstraw4483 jumped back into the hobby in 2022 after not collecting for 20 years. In that first year back, he grabbed seven out of the 11 Shohei Ohtani rookie cards that were numbered, when many people were sleeping on the Japanese giant. Awesome!

Then he said one card he had changed his life TWICE!

He happened to pull a redemption card from 2022 Topps Heritage for a red-ink auto of Wander Franco #/73.

Obviously, the second time it changed was when Franco ruined his life with huge legal troubles. He said it’s a beautiful card that he still holds onto, but yeah, that’s quite the Wander-ing rollercoaster ride, for sure!

Another Comeback Collector named @petertseperkas1343 shared the top-five cards that changed his life, including the 1989 Upper Deck Griffey, of course, along with a 1972 Topps Roberto Clemente In-Action card. He said it was the first vintage card he ever traded for – and he had to give up a 1989 Rated Rookie lot of the same stud player to get it. Can you guess which Rated Rookie? If you guessed Ken Griffey Jr. – you’d be wrong. It was a bunch of Gregg Jefferies cards. Good deal, Peter!

He also said the 1990 Score Bo Jackson was one of his favorite pulls, too, but that he had to give that to his brother. You see, his brother “owned” the rights to all Bo Jackson cards in his family!

I absolutely love the concept of two brothers getting the all the cards pulled of the players they liked! My brothers were kinda similar. My brother Mike loved Ron Guidry and Thurman Munson, and I was the Bucky Dent fan. Looking back, I want to yell at 5-year-old David for not being more of a Benjamin Franklin fan! 💵💵💵

Side note, Peter said he just got back into cards this summer, and he bought his FIRST Mickey Mantle card – a 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle SGC 2. “I love it,” Peter said. “I always dreamed of owning a Mantle as a kid.”

Congrats, man!

One of our old school Happy Hobbyists on YouTube, @eddywil commented,

“The one card that changed my life is the 1993 Bowman Drew Bledsoe Gold Foil rookie card!”

Eddy said he used to go to flea markets with his friend Dennis to buy cards, and they happened to go in on a wax box together and split the packs. Eddy pulled TWO Drews – and he was kind enough to give one of them to Dennis. That’s why you get friends in the hobby, folks. Be nice to each other.

Sadly, Eddy said he still thinks about his friend Dennis, who passed away, every time he sees that Drew Bledsoe card.

My man @BayouBets shared five pretty sick cards that changed his life. From a Josh Allen Optic Uptown card, to a J.J. McCarthy Optic Downtown, to a 2024 Topps Elly De La Cruz Gold RC # /2024!

But No. 1 was a 1998 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Instant Winner card! He found out years later you were supposed to mail the card in to get the actual prize card and he never did. Ugh!

Commenter @mikemorrissey7928 shared some cards that he said seemed like “milestone cards from my life,” including the 1992 Upper Deck Shaquille O’Neal Trade Card 1b, with the time-lapse photography of Shaq dunking. He said that card specifically changed his method of collecting, so he would start investing in cards as a collector, rather than just buying wax.

Mike also said his 1974 Topps Pete Rose #300 card was pulled from the very first pack his father ever bought him. It’s still his favorite all-time card, even though it’s pretty beat up, and he’ll never get rid of it.

That just means it’s a well-loved card, and that’s OK.

After 20 years of not collecting, Mike was part of the same Comeback Collector wave most of us rode in on during the pandemic. He watched a Chris Sewall video from the Baseball Card Investor Collector Dealer YouTube channel.

“One of my first purchases coming back into collecting was a 20 card lot of Shohei Ohtani’s rookie debut (batting) card. I’ve graded them all -- and 18 of the 20 graded an SGC 10! This lot introduced me to grading, which I find both fascinating and frustrating at the same time!”

Preach, brother, preach!

Who doesn’t love Sandy Koufax, right? Commenter @notarealastronaut did a deep dive into why Koufax is one of his favorite players, and how his 1965 Topps card is a big deal for him.

“Rewind to 1992, when 11- year-old me found my uncle’s cards rubber-banded up in my grandparent’s basement. This stack included a 1953 Topps Jackie Robinson, 1956 Topps Willie Mays, and a slew of 1955 Bowman cards.”

Apparently, he absconded with his uncle’s cards. I’m not sure if the uncle knew or not, but we’ll move on.

“I knew that quite a few like the Robinson and Mays were ones to hang onto, but there were others in there, like a 55’s-ish Yogi Berra and Pee Wee Reese. My guy, however, was Koufax.”

“One day in 4th grade, a classmate of mine brought in his collection, which included a 1990 Topps Turn Back the Clock Sandy Koufax!”

“Well, I went wild over that Koufax and didn’t even think twice about trading him the Berra and Reese for the it. It was a very foolish trade, but I loved Koufax!... One day I’ll tell the story of me losing the ‘53 Robinson and ‘56 Mays, but that’s for another day!”

I don’t know if my heart can take hearing that story!

User @brandonhenry said the 1985 Topps Mark McGwire Team USA card got him into cards when he was just 5 years old. He also got a 1984 Topps Don Mattingly card as a gift when he was 10.

Amazingly, he bought a 1980 Topps Basketball pack on eBay for $25 – and pulled a Magic/Bird rookie card!

Note to Brandon: Don’t separate those panels!

Our buddy @neworleanssaints3743 listed his 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle All-Star card as his prized possession, while also mentioning the 1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan SP1 and the 1990 Topps Frank Thomas rookie card as his favorites.

Finally, one of our favorite Happy Hobbyists, Scott Hedrick, shared his five life-changing pieces of cardboard. Understand that this guy is a junk-wax ripping maniac, with boxes and boxes of stuff that he and his brother have been ripping every weekend over the past several years.

Scott mentioned Jose Canseco and Don Mattingly rookies, as many of our commenters did, from their respective Donruss rookie years. Those two cards, along with the ’89 Upper Deck Griffey, were iconic in the ‘80s. Scott said, “Anyone kid who managed to get one walked around school like a god amongst mortals.”

Interestingly, the 1981 Topps Joe Montana rookie card was a huge reason Scott returned to the hobby in 2009 – a virtual grizzled Comeback Collecting veteran compared to most of us!

“I had always wanted the rookie card of whom I considered the greatest QB of all time (Joe Montana), and since my Dad was more into baseball than football, we didn’t get many football packs as kids. So, this was another iconic card whose image I would stare out longingly in Beckett.”

“Well, fast forward to having a little disposable income and no one yet relying on me, I ran across a Baseball Card Exchange recap video from The National one day, and it got my brain working about having a chance to pull all these iconic cards from my youth that we couldn’t afford.”

“Maybe a year after buying packs (and figuring out rack packs might be easier for others to sequence search), I pulled one, and then a couple more after that. The last one I hit was probably 10 years ago when I split a box with my brother. We’ve graded all of them, with one getting a PSA 8, and the others getting 7s.”

You can read more about Scott’s return to the hobby and how you can also become a junk wax junkie here. He was also kind enough to list out the Top 10 Junk Wax Boxes Under $100 (more like under $150 these days). It’s one of our most popular newsletter posts ever!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list the best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports since the 1950s.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.5K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

New Faces, New Chases: 2026 Rookie Cards Fueled By MLB Opening Day! - Ep. 3.13

David Gonos — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:46:53 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from links on this page to qualifying purchases.

New Faces, New Chases: 2026 Rookie Cards Fueled By MLB Opening Day Boom

Baseball card collectors are all about rookie cards — which means 2026 is lining up to be a cardboard carnival! The 2026 MLB season began with more Top 100 prospects in the big leagues than any season since MLB Pipeline released its first Top 100 Prospects list back in 2012.

There were seven prospects from the Top 20 of MLB’s Top 100 list on Opening Day rosters, and we’ve already seen the rookie cards of three of these fellas in 2026 Topps Series 1.

This is the rare year where prospect lists, box scores, and checklists are all colliding at the same time, and you don’t need to be a prospector nerd to care.

Top Prospects Who Already Have RCs: Series 1 Guys

These are the “you can buy them today” names:

Prospect #6 Nolan McLean, SP, N.Y. Mets: 2026 Topps Series 1 RC #214 - View on eBay!

* Superb pitching prospect with power and command, slotting in the new-and-improved Mets roster as their SP3 for now, but with future ace potential.

Prospect #8 Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles: 2026 Topps Series 1 RC #104 - View on eBay!

* Basallo has pop with batting average potential, lining him up as a middle-of-the-order bat at some point for a lineup riddled with upside.

Prospect #11 Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates: 2026 Topps Series 1 RC #283 - View on eBay!

* Another electric pitcher, but this one is learning from teammate ROY/Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.

Target: Low-numbered flagship parallels, on-card autos, and maybe one nice parallel you’re comfortable tucking away for 3–5 years. (I’m always a fan of Topps Gold #/2026!)

These are three names you are chasing in Series 1, with the cards you end up getting and their prices helping you decide whether you’re someone looking to collect long-term or if you are someone ready to buy and flip quickly.

Likely Series 2 RCs: The Incoming Wave

These are your “new faces, new chases” for when 2026 Topps Series 2 drops in June (we shared their Bowman 1st cards that are available now).

Prospect #2 Kevin McGonigle, 3B, Detroit Tigers: 2025 Bowman Chrome BCP-70 – View on eBay!

* McG has an advanced bat, with the kind of “hit-first, power-later” profile that can sneak up on casual collectors.

Prospect #5 JJ Wetherholt, SS, St. Louis Cardinals: 2025 Bowman Chrome BCP-22 – View on eBay!

* Another “professional” hitter, the 7th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt has 20/20 potential and all-over-the-infield versatility.

Prospect #16 Carson Benge, OF, N.Y. Mets: 2024 Bowman Chrome BDC-28 - View on eBay!

* Also drafted in Round 1 of 2024, Benge homered in his MLB debut last week, and this corner infielder boasts nice exit velocities.

Prospect #18 Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals: 2021 Bowman Draft BDC-106 – View on eBay!

* Drafted in 2021 out of high school, Jensen is still just 22 years old, which is mighty young for a big league catcher. The Athletic’s Keith Law tabbed him as the prospect who could impact his MLB team the most in 2026. Be patient here.

These guys already in the big leagues, but their true rookie cards are still in the on-deck circle.

The Two-Track Timeline

Once again, we consider the two different timelines that affect baseball players more than other sports: Their prospect life and their arrival to the majors.

* Track 1: Prospect / 1st Bowman: This market often peaks before Opening Day, when everything is hope and projection.

* Track 2: Flagship RC: This market builds around actual MLB performance, highlights, and awards.

How a baseball card can view the players discussed:

* Basallo & Jensen: Catchers with cardboard — that means defense and handling pitchers might matter more early on with their their offensive abilities not as important right away. Collectors are in like with backstops usually, not in love.

* Wetherholt & McGonigle: Two high-floor bats who might not have a 40-HR ceiling, but they are exactly the type who become “Oh wow, why didn’t I buy more of him?” in a few years.

* McLean & Chandler: The “fun to watch, high variance” pitchers who can create great flip windows, but are dangerous as long-term holds.

Just remember: If a player’s appeal is highlight-based (high velocity, high K-pitching, big home runs), think more like a flipper. But if a player’s appeal is boring excellence (OBP, consistency, middle-of-the-order potential, no platoon), think more like a long-term investor.

A Simple Collector Checklist

Here are some action items to consider for your sports card collection:

* Pick 2 of the Series 1 guys as your ‘already have RCs’ watch list. Set a mental sell price if they spike in April. (For me, I think it will be the pitchers.)

* Pick 2 of the likely Series 2 guys to target for picking up one RC parallel. (McGonigle and Wetherholt for me.)

* Pick 1 player you like as a fan, even if the ‘math’ says he’s not the best investment, and give yourself permission to just collect. (Bubba!)

Let us know in the comments below which players land in which of those three groups!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list out the very best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.5K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

7 Ways Budget Collectors Can Celebrate 2026 MLB Opening Day Right! - Ep. 3.12

David Gonos — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:30:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from links on this page to qualifying purchases.

Baseball’s back, baby.

For a lot of us, MLB Opening Day isn’t just about box scores and first pitches — it’s the second period of “card-collecting season,” too. But if you’re a new baseball card collector or a Comeback Collector on a budget, it can feel like everyone else is breaking cases while you’re wondering if you should even grab a blaster.

This issue is for you.

Here are some great ways you can make 2026 MLB Opening Day a celebration — without wrecking your wallet, your mood, or your love for the hobby.

1. Build a $25 Opening Day Starter PC

Let’s start with a fun challenge: give yourself a hard cap — let’s say, $25–$30 — and build a tiny Opening Day PC.

Use that small budget to build a mini collection that feels complete enough to be satisfying, but small enough to stay affordable.

A few build ideas (with examples of each):

* Team Fan Build: Grab cards of players on your team’s, along with one or two cheap inserts or parallels of your favorite team’s star, and one rookie.Example: My Rays 2026 cards, 2026 Topps Series 1 Junior Caminero Crackleboard, and a 2026 Topps Series 1 Carson Williams Topps Gold /2026.

* One-Player Build: Pick up a base rookie, 2–3 different base cards (different years/sets), and one parallel or insert for that guy that just looks cool.Example: 2008 Topps Heritage Evan Longoria Rookie Stars #650, 2009 Topps Evan Longoria All-Star Rookie Cup, and 2018 Topps Evan Longoria Gold /2018.

* Nostalgia Build: Buy a couple of vintage or junk-wax-era cards of your childhood hero, plus one modern card of that player for contrast.

Once you hit your budget number, you’re done. The cap is part of the fun. It forces you to make decisions, get creative, and feel like you completed something instead of endlessly chasing more.

2. Create an “Opening Day Tradition Box”

You don’t need a case break to feel like a collector on Opening Day.

Instead, pick one affordable product and make it your yearly tradition. That might be:

* Topps Flagship

* Topps Heritage

* Junk Wax

* Topps Archives

* Topps Allen & Ginter

The tradition is the point, not the hit. Make it a ritual:

* You only open it on Opening Day (or that night).

* You sort the cards while watching your team.

* You pull out one or two cards to represent “this year’s Opening Day,” top-load ‘em up, then share in our Happy Hobby Sports Cards Chat!

Over time, that tradition box becomes a little time capsule:

“Here’s the Opening Day blaster I opened in 2026… Remember that rookie we were all wrong about?”

3. Run a “Shoebox Lineup” Challenge

You don’t need new cards to have fun on Opening Day — you just need a shoebox (or regular card box) and a theme.

Challenge: Build a starting lineup using only cards you already own, based around a theme:

* All-time lineup for your team

* All-current MLB lineup

* Your Fantasy Baseball team lineup

* “Favorite weird players” lineup

* “Guys I thought would be stars — who didn’t quite get there” lineup

Pull those cards out and lay them out like a lineup card. Snap a photo and post it in our chat! That’s a fun Instagram post, that’s nostalgia, and it costs you nothing.

4. Trade, Don’t Buy (At Least Once)

One of the best ways to celebrate Opening Day without spending more cash? Make at least one trade instead of one more purchase.

Think about it:

* You probably have duplicates, extra inserts, or players you’re no longer collecting.

* Someone else out there has exactly the opposite.

Opening Day is the perfect excuse to:

* Hit a local show or shop and ask if there’s a trade night coming up.

* Do a small, low-risk PWE (plain white envelope) swap with another collector.

* Trade with a friend or family member who collects a different team.

Set a simple mini-goal:

“On Opening Day, I will make one trade that gets me at least one card that actually fits my collection better.”

This shifts your mindset from “spend more” to “improve what I already have.”

5. Start a One-Season Player PC

This one is perfect for Comeback Collectors who want to reconnect with the season and not just the stats:

Pick one under-the-radar player and commit to a tiny “2026-only” PC.

How it works:

* Before first pitch, choose your guy: a breakout candidate, a hometown kid, or even a quirky reliever.

* Set tight rules:

* Max budget (for example, $20 for the whole season).

* Types of cards allowed (base, parallels, maybe one autograph if you you get a deal).

* You stop buying at the All-Star break or when you hit your budget, whichever comes first.

As the season goes on:

* You check box scores, watch highlights, and… oh look, you care about that player now.

* Your small PC becomes a story of the season — whether they broke out or totally flopped.

Either way, you win:

* If they play well: you’ve got a sweet little PC of a guy you believed in early.

* If they don’t: you’ve got a funny story and a reminder not to overspend on hype.

6. Clean Up One Small Corner of Your Collection

Not the whole room. Not the entire closet. Not all 12 monster boxes. Just one box, one binder, or one drawer.

Make Opening Day your annual “mini-organize” day:

* Sort one box by player, team, or sport.

* Pull out any cards that obviously don’t fit your collecting focus anymore.

* Create a small stack for:

* Future trades

* Giveaways

* “Why do I own this?” cards?

Why this matters for budget collectors:

* You rediscover cards you forgot you had.

* You avoid buying duplicates or cards that don’t fit your current lane.

* You often find “new projects” sitting in boxes you haven’t opened in years.

If you’ve been away from the hobby for a while, this is also a gentle way back in. You’re touching your cards, not your bank account.

7. Go $1/$2 Bin Shopping on COMC

While everyone else is buying cards on eBay, and paying for shipping for each $1 and $2 card they buy, you will be a smarter collector, buying cards on COMC and paying just ONE shipping fee, even if you buy from different sellers.

I first like to first type in a player’s name into BuySportsCards.com, then look through all the different cards for that player that I didn’t even know existed. Usually, you’ll find some great inserts or Throwback cards you missed.

Then, I either buy it there, or I go over to COMC.com, and I search for that card over there, where I can see the conditions of the cards. (I usually put $25-$50 in my COMC account, then just pay out of that for $1 or $2 cards, etc.)

BONUS IDEA No. 1: Back To Bowman

Get out all of your Bowman 1st cards and search through them for late-blooming stars you might have missed when you first opened those packs! Quite often, you’ll find a player or two who might hit the majors like a meteor, but weren’t highly touted in the minors.

BONUS IDEA No. 2: Create a “3-Year Rewind” Tradition!

Get out your card collection, and go back three years to check out your rookie cards of 2023 Topps Baseball! Once again, you could find some cards of players you didn’t know you had, maybe some rookie cards of players who are now developing into bigger players.

Think of how Cal Raleigh blew up last year (first catcher to ever hit more than 50 home runs!), and yet, when you pulled his rookie cards in 2022, you probably shrugged your shoulders.

What about rookie cards of guys like Hunter Brown, Riley Greene, Mason Miller and Maikel Garcia? All four of whom were ranked among the top 65 baseball players on MLB Network’s list of the Top 100 MLB Players Right Now!

Celebrate the Day, Not the Dollars

If you’re a budget collector—or someone coming back to the hobby after years away—it’s easy to feel like you’re “doing it wrong” because you’re not ripping cases or chasing $1,000 singles.

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re doing it on your terms.

On 2026 MLB Opening Day, you can:

* Build a fun little $25 PC.

* Make one affordable tradition.

* Play lineup games with the cards you already own.

* Trade instead of buying.

* Follow one player’s season with a tiny PC.

* Tame one box of cardboard chaos.

* And add a nice little collection of cheap cards to your collection.

* Find some late-blooming gems from your boxes of commons!

That sounds like a pretty great way to keep you smiling in our #HappyHobby.

Hit reply and tell me which of these 7 ideas you’re doing this year—or send a photo of your Opening Day setup in our chat, your $25 PC, or your shoebox lineup. I’ll feature some of my favorites in an upcoming issue.

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list out the very best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.5K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Celebrating 2026 Topps Heritage: 'Turn Back the Clock' to 1977 - Ep. 3.11

David Gonos and Alan Camuto — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:30:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from links on this page to qualifying purchases.

There are some years in this hobby where a release just feels like an event, and 2026 Topps Heritage Baseball is absolutely one of those sets. This year’s product throws it back to the classic 1977 Topps design, and for set collectors, rookie-card chasers, and nostalgia addicts, it’s a perfect storm of cardboard goodness.

We’re sharing why we’re excited about it, why we’re upset about it, and why we can’t wait to rip our hobby box open this week!

Why the 1977 Topps Design Still Hits

The 1977 Topps Baseball design is one of those templates that looks simple at first glance but never feels outdated.

Team names in bold, clean photography, and that era-perfect vibe make it instantly recognizable. Heritage borrowing that look in 2026 means we get:

* A retro aesthetic that still pops in a modern collection.

* Great nameplates that showcase rookie names really well.

* A design that looks fantastic in team sets and nine-pocket pages.

Our resident sports card designer, Alan Camuto, shared his thoughts on that old school design that was embedded deep in the disco era:

I wasn’t a big fan of the 1977 Topps design when I was a kid. It felt a little awkward and bland compared to some earlier sets. Over time, though, it grew on me.

Now I can appreciate how Topps was trying to be innovative with its design elements. The blocky italic team name was something new. It was the first time Topps used italics on the front of a flagship base card.

Card backs stood out too—stats and bios in an illustrated billboard gave them character, not just filler.

The debut ‘Turn Back the Clock’ cards were fresh fun, later a mid-’80s staple.

What really works for me is the white space. It gives the photos room to breathe and lets the design elements stand out more than you might expect.

Looking back, the 1977 Topps Baseball set has grown on me because of its willingness to experiment. It wasn’t perfect. Some details were off and parts of the design feel dated, but it is a set that has character. It captures a moment in time when Topps was trying new things, and I think that is what makes it memorable.

For funsies, I went back and ranked my five favorite cards from the 1977 Topps set:

* Mark Fidrych: “The Bird” had the big smile, the crazy personality and the Topps All-Star Rookie Cup celebrating his 1976 American League Rookie of the Year award. But he was a shooting star, whose career fizzled after tearing his rotator cuff.

* Andre Dawson Quad Rookie: “Hawk’s” first card isn’t a beautiful one, but it’s better than Dale Murphy, who got double-quadded in 1977 and ‘78. This Dawson card set us up for a great first solo card for Dawson in ‘78.

* Nolan Ryan: It’s an intimidating image, like the photographer wanted us to feel what looking down the rails at the Ryan Express would feel like.

A Monster 2026 Rookie Class

Heritage is always more fun when the rookie crop is loaded, and this checklist is stacked with big names and big upside. Some of the key rookies we’re fired up about in 2026 Topps Heritage include:

* Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

* Samuel Basallo, C, Baltimore Orioles

* Chase Burns, SP, Cincinnati Reds

* Jac Caglianone, 1B, Kansas City Royals

* Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

* Nolan McLean, SP, N.Y. Mets

* Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

* Cam Schlittler, SP, N.Y. Yankees

* Carson Williams, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

That’s a ridiculous group for one year’s Heritage run. It’s the kind of rookie class that makes sealed boxes interesting long-term and gives player collectors a true “first Heritage” chase they’ll care about down the road.

Rookie Cards We Haven’t Seen in Flagship Yet

One of the sneaky best parts of this year’s product is that Heritage is giving us 2026 rookie cards of some players who haven’t even appeared in Topps flagship yet. That creates a fun little wrinkle for collectors who like being early, and for flagship collectors who are already looking forward to Series 2. Some notable names:

* Bryce Eldridge, 1B, San Francisco Giants

* Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals

* Trey Yesavage, SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Jensen is especially interesting because The Athletic’s Keith Law tabbed him as the rookie who could help his team the most this season, which adds a layer of hobby heat and real-baseball relevance to his first big-league cardboard. When a player has both prospect buzz and immediate impact potential, that rookie card can move quickly from “nice pull” to “centerpiece.” He’ll still need to get playing time and at-bats in spite of future Hall-of-Fame backstop Salvador Perez still hanging around.

The Return of the Quad Rookie Cards

Few card types polarize collectors like the multi-player rookie. The 1977 design instantly reminds us of those classic Andre Dawson and Dale Murphy rookie cards, and 2026 Topps Heritage leans hard into that history by bringing back the Quad Rookie format.

Love them or hate them, these cards are conversation pieces. This year, one of the big ones will feature White Sox SS Colson Montgomery in one of the corners. He’s coming off a 21-homer season and just landed on MLB’s Top 100 Players Right Now list, which means his presence on a multi-player rookie turns that card into more than just a novelty. If the other three players on that quad perform, you’ve suddenly got a Heritage card that looks a lot like the multi-rookie classics we already revere.

Another fun item is that they’re celebrating the 1977 expansion of the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, which sounds like an awesome ALCS, right? They’ll insert cards with autographs of members of those teams from 50 years ago.

“Turn Back the Clock” Is Back

Heritage always shines brightest when it leans into baseball history, and 2026 does that beautifully by reviving the “Turn Back the Clock” cards that originally debuted in the 1977 Topps set. Back then, guys like Ralph Kiner, Maury Wills, and Carl Yastrzemski had some career highlights commemorated.

In 2026 Heritage, we get a modern legend treatment with stars like:

* Ichiro

* Derek Jeter

* Miguel Cabrera

These cards bridge the gap between eras perfectly: a 1977-style design celebrating 21st-century icons.

The Tough Part: Value vs. Box Construction

Not everything about 2026 Topps Heritage is perfect, though.

For one thing, the checklist no longer has 100 short prints on it. Some consider this a good thing, as it will be easier to complete the set, but others will see it as a bummer since the chase will be less exciting.

Also, while the pre-order price for hobby boxes stayed the same as last year, the product quietly dropped four packs per box. Fewer packs at the same price means:

* Higher cost per card.

* Less total “rip time” for the same money.

* Fewer shots at that key rookie or hit in a single box.

For collectors on a budget, that stings. It doesn’t ruin the product — the design, rookies, and red-ink autograph possibilities are strong enough to keep this release relevant — but it does change the purchase strategy. This might be one of those years where:

* Singles and team sets make more sense for some collectors.

* Group breaks become more appealing to chase specific players or teams.

* Sealed wax decisions lean more toward long-term hold than heavy ripping.

2026 Topps Heritage Baseball checks just about every box you want in a nostalgia-driven modern release: iconic design, a loaded rookie class, historically themed subsets and inserts, and some wonderfully divisive Quad Rookies to argue about. The only misstep is the box configuration — but for collectors who plan smart, this is the kind of set that’s going to look fantastic for the next 50 years to come.

Are you excited about 2026 Topps Heritage, or are you already preparing for Topps Football or 2026 Topps Series 2 Baseball?

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list out the very best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.4K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

11 Smart Rookie Card Alternatives For Budget Collectors! - Ep. 3.10

David Gonos — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

As a member of the eBay Partner Network, I earn commissions from links on this page to qualifying purchases.

When Rookie Cards Cost Too Much: 11 Smart Alternatives for the Budget Collector!

Here’s the truth: not every collector’s wallet can handle a flashy 2018 Topps Chrome Shohei Ohtani rookie card or that 2018 Prizm Silver Luka Doncic RC. But that doesn’t mean your collection has to sit on the sidelines. You can absolutely add your favorite players’ first-year cards in your binder, display case, or slab box — without draining your savings.

If you can’t afford that player’s true rookie card, your goal then switches to getting just a rookie card of that player. This way, you’re still in the rookie card business, at a much lower cost.

What do you do when the hobby gods place a $300 price tag on your dream RC? You get creative! Here are 10 great alternatives that’ll still scratch that collector itch — plus a couple bonus ideas to keep things fun.

1. Try “Alternative” Rookie Cards

You can stay close to the RC era by hunting rookie cards in other brands, like Donruss and NBA Hoops for NBA/NFL, or Topps Allen & Ginter, Topps Archives, Topps Heritage for baseball.

* Examples: You can find much cheaper slabs of rookie cards for Ronald Acuña Jr., Ohtani and Juan Soto in 2018 Topps Archives. Clayton Kershaw’s 2008 Topps Heritage “1959 Rookie Stars” insert is gorgeous, and his 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter mini rookie card is a beauty, as well. They are all fun and affordable pickups that still capture that rookie-year vibe.

2. Grab a Rookie-Year Insert

Look for inserts from the same year as their true RCs — like those 35th Anniversary throwbacks Topps. They’re usually undervalued but share the same nostalgia.

3. Rookie Debut Cards

Disappointment often sets in when you pull a Rookie Debut card, but when you are looking to buy a first-year card of a modern superstar, RD is the place to be!

Case in point: The 2014 Topps Mookie Betts Rookie Debut #US-301 is a fabulous landscape card as he takes the field at Fenway Park. It’s still a Mookie rookie-year card, but its way cheaper than his 2014 Topps Update RC.

4. Topps All-Star Rookie Cups

These are just plain fun. After every season, Topps names their Topps All-Star Rookie Cup team (12 players, which includes one player at each fielding position, as well as one LHP, one RHP, one RP and one DH.

Ohtani even had two Rookie Cup cards in 2019 (one for hitting in Series 1 #250 and one for pitching in Series 2 #600!). It’s like a rookie sequel — and collectors love them!

It has the look and feel of a rookie card with the price of a second-year card.

5. Budget Slabs

An SGC 9 or CGC 9.5 can look sharp in your display — and they’re often far off the price of its PSA cousin. Great bang for your buck, especially for modern stars.

6. Future Stars Cards

Topps loves reminding us who they think will be the next big deal, and they use their Future Stars insert set in their Topps Chrome brand. Ohtani’s 2019 Topps Chrome Future Stars card is a great example—cool design, still linked to his early career, much cheaper than a true rookie.

7. Second-Year cards

We already pitched some other second-year cards, like Future Stars inserts and some cards with the Topps All-Star Rookie Cups. But other second-year cards are worth a look, too. Don’t sleep on these. They often highlight the player’s rookie-year accomplishments (check the back of Kershaw’s 2009 Topps for proof). Many collectors consider these the next-best thing to RCs.

8. Draft Picks or Pre-MLB cards

College or minor league cards (like Bowman Draft or early Leaf issues) are fun glimpses of players before they made it big. You can find some sneaky bargains here.

9. Non-Rookie Autograph Cards

Having great rookie cards is ideal, but a nice alternative would be getting modern autograph cards from some Hall-of-Fame junk wax stars!

Buying autographed cards of Hall-of-Famers like Wade Boggs, Greg Maddux, or David Ortiz autos can be found under $100. Even numbered autos of HOFers like Fred McGriff or Scott Rolen often go for under $50. Stick with Topps Certified for authenticity, though.

10. Panini and Leaf Rookie Cards

They may lack logos, but they are real rookie-year issues — and sometimes you’ll find gems for a fraction of MLB-licensed prices. If you’re just collecting, not flipping, these are perfect placeholders or even keepers.

11. Buy Bowman Rookie Cards

Bowman is a Topps product, and its mostly for prospect cards — particularly Bowman 1st cards. But they also create Bowman RC cards! Those are particularly interesting for international players, like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, as those rookie cards often stand in as their Bowman 1st cards! Bonus!

Bonus Ideas!

* Parallels and Short Prints: Non-numbered color parallels (like Topps Rainbow Foil or Heritage Chrome refractors) can look flashy without being pricey.

* Oddball Stuff: Commemorative sets, team set rookie cards, food issues, or National Baseball Card Day promos are fun and unique ways to represent a player, too!

My 3 Favorite “Affordable Rookie Alternatives” Right Now

(Drum roll, please…)

* 2019 Topps Shohei Ohtani All-Star Rookie Cup #50 - $10: It’s such a clean design, cheap, and still screams “rookie.”

* 2025 Topps Fred McGriff #87BBA-FM - $35: Hall of Fame bat + affordable ink = total win.

* 2008 Topps Heritage Clayton Kershaw #595 RC - $30: His HOF-induction clock has begun, and this design is off-the-charts amazing!

So the next time you see that $800 Chrome RC and sigh, remember: the joy of collecting doesn’t rely on owning the card—it’s about finding your card. You can always upgrade later!

What’s your favorite rookie card alternative? Maybe a draft pick card, an All-Star Rookie Cup favorite, or that one sneaky parallel that feels like a steal? Drop a comment and share your own budget-friendly collecting ideas!

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We list out the very best rookie cards from each flagship release in all four major sports.

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.3K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Finding Your Lane as a Comeback Collector: Our Simple Roadmap To Success! - Ep. 3.09

David Gonos — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🎙️Finding Your Lane as a Comeback Collector: Our Simple Roadmap To Success! - Ep. 3.08

Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, collecting cards was a completely different world. Parallels were rare, inserts were fun surprises, and nobody talked about “market value.” The conversations were all about building complete sets, trading with friends, and hunting for cards of the stars we already knew — guys like Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson, and Cal Ripken Jr.

Today’s hobby uses a lot of new terms — one of the biggest being “flagship.” And that can throw a lot of returning collectors off. In baseball, “flagship” still has a clear meaning: Topps’ main base set, split into Series 1 and Series 2 (and often Update). That’s the heart of Topps’ paper line — classic stats on the back, solid photography, and a wide mix of veterans and rookies, just like old times.

Then there’s Topps Chrome — basically the same design, just shinier. Think of it like going from a go‑kart to a dune buggy: same ride, different feel.

When it comes to basketball and football, Panini took over in 2009 and 2016. Their paper sets — Donruss, Score, Hoops — carry the torch of the old Topps and Fleer era. But in the modern collecting scene, Prizm has become their flagship. It’s the glossy, parallel‑heavy line with base rookies, silvers, and rainbows of color variations — which is why those boxes come with higher price tags.

Why Donruss Optic Hits the Sweet Spot

For many collectors coming back to the hobby, Donruss Optic feels familiar and comfortable. It’s like someone took the classic Donruss set from your childhood and gave it a modern chrome makeover. You still get that iconic “Rated Rookie” logo, but on premium stock that feels like Prizm — shiny, thicker, and with parallels to chase if you want a little excitement.

Optic also keeps that big‑set, old‑school checklist vibe, which means it doesn’t feel as overwhelming. Prizm can sometimes feel like jumping into the deep end — tons of parallels, jargon, and pricing tiers to learn. Optic, meanwhile, feels like the bridge between that old‑school binder and the modern display case — familiar, affordable, and still relevant.

Simplicity vs. Specialization

Back in the day, your choices were simple: Topps, Donruss, or Fleer — that was it. You grabbed a few packs, traded with friends, and slowly built your set.

Now, you type “Prizm rookie” into eBay and boom — you’re staring at dozens of variations: Silver, Red Ice, Disco, Laser, Choice, numbered, photo variations — and that’s just one product! Multiply that across Optic, Select, and Mosaic, and it’s easy to see why newer collectors feel overwhelmed.

But this specialization has a purpose.

* There’s something for every budget and collecting style.

* Chrome‑based lines like Prizm or Optic are the new home for “flagship rookies.”

* Paper lines like Donruss or Hoops offer that nostalgic, traditional feel.

* Parallels build in the chase for fans who like the hunt.

It’s not a bad thing — it just means you need a plan before you dive in.

A Simple Roadmap for Comeback Collectors

If you’re jumping back in, here’s an easy framework to get started:

* Pick your sport first.

* Baseball: Start with Topps Series 1 and 2 (and Update if you want rookies from call‑ups and trades).

* Basketball/Football: Choose your lane — go with paper (Hoops or Donruss) if you want a classic vibe, or shiny (Prizm or Optic) if you want the modern flagship experience.

* Hockey: Go with Upper Deck’s Series 1, 2, or Extended — that’s your flagship world.

* Lean into nostalgia.

* Donruss gives you old‑school binder cards and fun inserts.

* Optic lets you step up into chrome and Rated Rookies without getting lost in the chaos.

* Define your rookie strategy.

* Pick one main product for each player — don’t chase them all.

* For example: Caleb Williams in Prizm, Victor Wembanyama in Prizm or Optic, Bobby Witt Jr. in Topps flagship.

* This narrows your focus and keeps things fun instead of stressful.

* Use parallels with purpose.

* Maybe chase your team color or your favorite design.

* Stick with base, silver/holo, or one favorite color if it feels manageable. For context, Silver Prizms are the top non-numbered cards most collectors look for.

* Keep that old‑school spirit alive.

* Build team binders again. Trade with friends or hobby groups.

* Remember, you can always come back to your favorite players — this doesn’t have to be about flipping for profit.

At the end of the day, collecting is supposed to be fun, not a race. You’ve got a lifetime to chase the cards you want — so take your time, stay curious, and enjoy the ride.

Let us know what you are loving or hating about this 2026 Topps Series 1 release! Drop a comment below!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We’ve gone through every year in all four major sports to find the very best rookie cards from each flagship release.

* Best baseball rookie cards from every year since 1941!

* Best football rookie cards from every year since 1956!

* Best basketball rookie cards from every year since 1948!

* Best hockey rookie cards from every year since 1951!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.3K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️26 Rookie Cards We're Excited To Pull in 2026! - Ep. 3.08

David Gonos — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🎙️26 Rookie Cards We’re Excited To Pull in 2026! - Ep. 3.08

As we flip open those brand-new 2026 calendars, sports card collectors everywhere start looking ahead to flagship release season — and the chase for the year’s best rookie cards begins! Baseball, basketball (NBA and WNBA), football, and hockey all have exciting classes on deck.

Here are a few key products and their expected release windows:

* 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball: Late January

* 2026 Topps Football: September (projected)

* 2026 Topps Basketball: October (projected)

* 2025–26 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey: March

* 2026 Donruss WNBA: October (projected)

The 2026 rookie crop across all four major sports looks stacked — from NPB imports and emerging MLB standouts to college QBs and future WNBA stars ready to anchor the next generation.

This year also marks Topps’ 75th anniversary, and Series 1 should bring plenty of creative inserts, special designs, and autograph surprises to celebrate. Plus, Topps plans to roll out its first licensed NFL cards in April, likely focusing on the 2025 rookie class.

In this episode, we’re breaking down our Top 26 Rookie Cards to Watch in 2026, ranked by how excited we are — and yes, by their Hall-of-Fame-ed-ocity. (Totally a word.)

We even got a little help from A.I., offering player comps to help visualize each rookie’s upside path for the hobby.

Special thanks to Patrick Imhoff for his picks on the top hockey rookies to expect from 2025–26 Upper Deck Series 2 and Extended Series.

Let us know what you are loving or hating about this 2026 Topps Series 1 release! Drop a comment below!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

🏆 BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM EVERY YEAR! 🏆

We’ve gone through every year in all four major sports to find the very best rookie cards from each flagship release.

* Best baseball rookie cards from every year since 1941!

* Best football rookie cards from every year since 1956!

* Best basketball rookie cards from every year since 1948!

* Best hockey rookie cards from every year since 1951!

The Happy Hobby Sports Cards World

* 📺 YouTube: 8.3K Subscribers

* 📬 Newsletter: 1.4K readers

* 🎙️ Podcast: 800+ podcast downloads/episode

* 🌐 DavidGonos.com - 1K daily visits

Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection on a real-world budget!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️6 Things We Love/Hate About 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball! - Ep. 3.07

David Gonos — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🎙️6 Things We Love/Hate About 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball! - Ep. 3.07

We’ve waited a couple months to get the latest Topps flagship release, but we’ve waited a full year to see a new design! Finally, we got to get our hands on 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball last week, and we found that there are some things we love — and some things we just flat-out hate about this latest series!

Let us know what you are loving or hating about this 2026 Topps Series 1 release! Drop a comment below!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️How Many Rookie Cards of the Top 100 Baseball Players Do You Have? - Ep. 3.06

David Gonos — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🎙️How Many Rookie Cards of the Top 100 Baseball Players Do You Have? - Ep. 3.06

MLB Network ranked the Top 100 baseball players right now, heading into the 2026 MLB season, and we immediately wanted to know how many great players’ rookie cards we were missing from our collection?

Spoiler alert: It’s a lot.

Over at DavidGonos.com, I wrote up an article that lists each player and their true rookie card from Topps flagship sets, including Topps Series 1, Series 2 and Topps Update!

Let us know which rookie cards you are picking up now that you’ve seen this list! Drop a comment below!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Average Rookie Card Rankings: 2026 Topps Series 1 ARCR! - Ep. 3.05

David Gonos — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🎙️Average Rookie Card Rankings: 2026 Topps Series 1 ARCR! - Ep. 3.05

We love rankings! We love rookie cards! We especially love doing our Average Rookie Card Rankings for each Topps flagship series, so we’re starting off with the 2026 Topps Series 1 ARCR!

We took our rankings (adjusted with the addition of notably absent Nolan McLean), and we combined the rankings of YouTube hobby star Scottie B Cards and the rankings of Dahl , whose rankings posted over on Mantel and Yahoo! Sports, which he based on Base Bowman Chrome Auto prices.

Let us know if you if there are some 2026 Topps Series 1 rookie cards you think should be ranked higher or lower! Drop a comment below!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Cold Card Collecting Chat: Comeback Collectors, Card Grading & More! - Ep. 3.04

David Gonos — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Comeback Collecting and Other Cold Weather Sports Card Collecting Topics! - Ep. 3.04

With Winter Storm Fern keeping us inside all weekend in Central Texas, I had some time to think about card grading, Comeback Collectors, and many other sports card collecting topics!

We’re hoping to get more card collectors to take advantage of our great Happy Hobby Sports Cards chat on this website! You can ask questions, answer questions and ponder which cards you like better than other cards!

Let us know if you if you are a Comeback Collector, an old school collector, or if you are brand new to the game! Drop a comment below!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️2025 Rookie Card Power Rankings! Top 15 Topps Rookie Cards - Ep. 3.03

David Gonos — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

2025 Rookie Card Power Rankings! Top 15 Topps Rookie Cards - Ep. 3.03

With 282 rookie cards produced in 2025 Topps Series 1, Series 2 and Topps Update combined, it’s no wonder baseball card collectors would get dizzy wondering which rookie cards are the best ones!

We settle it for now, ranking the top 15 rookie cards from all those series combined, helping you improve your card collection without chasing everything at once.

Let us know if you like a 2025 Topps rookie card more than I do, or if you think I have a rookie card up too high in our power rankings! Drop a comment below or shoot me an email at gonoscards@gmail.com.

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️7 Fun Hobby Goals For 2026 (For Low-Budget Collectors!) - Ep. 3.02

David Gonos — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

If you’re a sports card collector working with a limited budget, then you are like me — and like most of us that roam around on this newsletter and podcast!

We love sports cards, but we don’t spend thousands of dollars chasing MLB Debut Patches or picking up four-figure vintage cards or insane parallels for baseball prospects who might never see the majors.

So we came up with seven fun goals that a sports card collector can enjoy in 2026, as opposed to the flipper/investor. We don’t look down at those guys — we just don’t relate to them as much.

You can find the written version of this article in our newsletter from last week right here:

Let us know if there are some things you will do differently in 2026 that you did in 2025, or are there some things you did in 2025 that were big improvements to your collection from 2024? Let us know in the comments or shoot me an email at gonoscards@gmail.com.

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️5 Steps For a Successful Year-End Review of Your Cards! Make 2026 Better! - Ep. 3.01

David Gonos — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:33:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

If you’re a sports card collector working with a limited budget, then you know every purchase and every dollar means something good or bad for your collection.

We’ve laid out some steps to help you get a better understanding of what you purchased, trade and sold over the past 12 months.

Project managers often do post-mortems after a project is completed to assess what went well, what went wrong and where they can make some adjustments for future projects.

In the sports card collector’s world, it’s all about learning from last year so you can make next year better!

You can find the written version of this article in our newsletter from last week right here:

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Happy Hobby’s Most Popular Podcasts, Videos, Newsletters & RCs of 2025! - Ep. 2.51

David Gonos — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:49:59 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Did you miss one of our most valuable pieces of sports card content!?!

We’re going to review the most popular rookie cards clicked on, pages, newsletters, videos, and podcasts from the HHSC world.

My goal is to create a little Happy Hobby community, where card friends help card friends. I’m trying to turn my YT viewers into newsletter subscribers, and my newsletter subscribers into podcast listeners.

How the Happy Hobby Sports Cards world works:

* Everything revolves around my rookie card links on DavidGonos.com.

* That’s how readers/viewers/listeners can support our content.

* Evergreen content also goes on DavidGonos.com, which is stuff that will live longer than a week or two, or can be linked to from multiple newsletters, etc.

* An idea becomes a Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter on Substack.

* A newsletter becomes a video on the David Gonos YouTube channel.

* The audio from that video becomes a podcast posted on Apple and Spotify.

Your comments often shape new content in different forms, so keep the comments and ideas coming!

Top 10 Most Popular Happy Hobby Content Pieces!

We share our top-10 lists of which rookie cards are clicked on most at DavidGonos.com, which podcasts were the most downloaded over this past year, which newsletters were the most read, which articles were read the most at DavidGonos.com, and which videos had the most views over at our YouTube channel!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️ARCR! 2025 Topps Update Average Rookie Card Rankings - Ep. 2.50

David Gonos — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

The final flagship product finally got released by Topps this month, and several sports card content creators, including myself, shared their 2025 Topps Update Rookie Card Rankings. What we do each time one of these Topps flagship products comes out is to take everyone’s rankings, mash them together, then average them out to figure out Average Rookie Card Rankings!

If you’ve ever played Fantasy Football, then you’re likely familiar with ADP (Average Draft Position), which averages out where players get drafted across thousands of Fantasy Football leagues. That’s what we’re attempting to do here – give you a wide angle perspective on what the best rookie cards to chase are from this product.

2025 Topps Update Average Card Rankings

Below is the final ranking, but listen to the podcast to understand what we thought about these players.

Note that we used the rookie card rankings from these card content creators:

* DavidGonos.com

* Scottie B Cards YouTube Channel

* Topps Ripped

* Cardlines.com

Let us know if you are a content creator and you’d like to have your sports card rankings added to our Average Rookie Card Rankings (ARCR)! Drop a comment below or shoot me an email at gonoscards@gmail.com.

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

Don’t forget to vote for the 2025 Rookie Card Awards and win a chance at a 2011 Topps Freddie Freeman RC PSA 9 slab! Deadline to vote is midnight, Dec. 22, 2025. Vote here: https://forms.gle/2KnyEtX8NoYob4dy6

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️The Hobby Will Die in 2026, According To Commenters! - Ep. 2.49

David Gonos — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

A few weeks ago, I laid out my reasons on why I believe sports cards will explode in 2026, and many of you agreed with me!

But many of you also thought I was just this side of cuckoo! Commenters laid out their disdain for Fanatics getting three of the four major sports card licenses, and they shared several reasons they thought the hobby was on the precipice of disaster!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Card Confession: That Time I Stole a Roy Campanella Card! - Ep. 2.48

David Gonos — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

My childhood is full of great stories about the beginning of my love of the hobby, but there is one huge black spot that has sullied my conscience for decades. It’s time I share what happened, why I did it, and how it affected me up until this day!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️9 Sports Card Gimmicks We Loved, Liked or Loathed! - Ep. 2.47

David Gonos — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Over the years, there have been some amazing sports card innovations and ideas! Many of them could be called “gimmicks,” if only because they were only around for a short time, and then they went away.

Well, we want some of those gimmicks to come back! And we want the others to go far, far away!

Help us decide on which ones were awesome, which ones were alright, and which ones were awful!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Vote For the 2025 Rookie Card Awards! -- and Win a Freddie Freeman RC PSA 9! - Ep. 2.46

David Gonos — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

It’s the end of the year and that usually means we should look back before we look forward to the new year! We nominate base rookie cards in four different categories for four different main sports that people like to collect, with several releases of Panini, Topps and Upper Deck flagship products!

You can vote here: https://forms.gle/2KnyEtX8NoYob4dy6

By voting, you are eligible to win a 2011 Topps Freddie Freeman RC PSA 9 slab! Voting ends at midnight, Dec. 22, 2025, and the winner will be announced shortly after!

The four categories for each sport (baseball, basketball, football and hockey) we listed are:

* Best Rookie Card!

* Best Rookie Card Comeback!

* Best Sleeper Future Star Rookie Card!

* Biggest Rookie Card Bust!

There are many great rookie cards that came out this year, from Topps Series 1, 2 and Update, as well as Prizm Basketball, Prizm Football, and Upper Deck Hockey Series 1, 2 and Extended! We need your help to discover what the very best rookie cards were in each category!

Got some content ideas for me? Shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️9 Reasons Scoring Great Cards Is So Tough—And 6 Proven Ways You Can Beat The Odds - Ep. 2.45

David Gonos — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

There are many, many factors working against you pulling an awesome card out of a box — and we list just how difficult it really is in this episode.

But we also share several tips on how you can still have fun in this hobby, along with a very special tip on a great PSA 9 card worth picking up today. The PSA 10 version is selling for 9x the PSA 9 slab, and that makes the regular ol’ mint condition card a great value!

Drop your thoughts in the comments below — or shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Ranking the 10 Best Junk Wax Boxes Under $125 Each! - Ep. 2.44

David Gonos and Scott H — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

If you’re not a new sports card collector, you might be an old collector — like many of us Happy Hobbyists! That means the sports cards of the ‘80s and ‘90s, with their gum, bad packaging and collating, and lack of autographs, hold a special place in your heart!

Our Junk Wax Junkie Extraordinaire, Scott Hedrick, shares his 10 favorite junk wax boxes to rip — each for under $125! Many of these boxes can be had for less than $100 — or you can choose to spend that money on a outfield prospect who isn’t old enough buy a beer yet.

We want to know which boxes you would buy from this list if you had $200 to burn! Drop your thoughts in the comments below — or shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Ranking the Best 2025 NBA & WNBA Rookie Cards! - Ep. 2.43

David Gonos — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

With the 2025 NBA season upon us — and the 2025 WNBA season behind us, what better time for us to rank the best 2025 rookie cards!?!

The latest drop of 2025 Topps Basketball cards has everyone incredibly excited, and people have been ready for the release of 2025 Donruss WNBA cards for months!

For our website, we ranked the Top 11 NBA Rookie Cards From 2025 Topps Basketball and we ranked the Top 7 Donruss WNBA Rookie Cards, also!

That’s what we talk about in this week’s podcast episode — the best rookie cards to collect in both leagues!

Let’s hear what you think about Topps Basketball cards in the comments below — or shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Love/Hate Review: 2025 Topps Basketball & Topps NBA Living Set! - Ep. 2.42

David Gonos — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:44:21 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Now that Fanatics and Topps finally has basketball under their control, we saw the release of 2025 Topps Basketball — which was a pretty huge success. And then this week, we saw the release of the new Topps NBA Living Set, which is the cousin to the ultra-successful Topps MLB Living Set!

We talk about the things we love and hate about the new flagship release, and we discuss some rankings for the Topps NBA Living Set cards we are excited to get our hands on!

Let’s hear what you think about Topps Basketball cards in the comments below — or shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Collect vs. Recollect: Why Both are Important to Budget Collectors! - Ep. 2.41

David Gonos — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Collecting awesome sports cards is what we’re all about! Who doesn’t want more great cards!?! But when you’re working with a limited budget, you don’t always have the funds available to buy more cards!

Then what do you do?

It’s important to go back through your collection and consider when and where you got them, maybe there’s a specific story about that player or his team, or that set. This podcast is all about recollecting, and how you need to add it to your collection task list!

Got some interesting stories about your sports card collection? Let’s hear ‘em in the comments below — or shoot me a note at gonoscards@gmail.com !

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️Happy Boxtober! Celebrating Several HUGE Sports Card Releases! - Ep. 2.40

David Gonos — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:59:58 GMT

If you’re a sports fan — or a sports card collector — October has to be the best time of the year!

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

After a long lull in exciting sports card releases that lasted a couple months, October is about to catch fire!

We’re getting new cards for Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, WNBA, Baseball Prospects — it might be time to change the name of this month to Boxtober!

When you think of just how exciting October is from just a sports perspective, with the MLB Playoffs in full swing and entering World Series time, along with the starts of the NBA and NHL seasons, a sports card collectors life is good!

Here’s what’s coming out in chronological order of release, then I dive deeper into each set from what I believe our listeners care about the most in our podcast!

* 2025-26 Upper Deck Hockey Series 1 - Released 10/15/2025

* 2025 Topps Basketball - Release 10/23/2025

* 2025 Donruss WNBA - Release 10/23/2025

* 2025 Topps Update Baseball - Release 10/29/2025

* 2025 Topps Pro Debut Baseball - Release 11/12/2025

Which sports card products are you most excited about in the coming weeks of Boxtober and Cardvember!?! Let us know in the comments below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️15 Best 2025 Topps Update Rookie Cards To Target! - Ep. 2.39

David Gonos — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:24:35 GMT

It’s time, once again, to get jacked up and excited over another big group of awesome rookies getting their 2025 Topps Update rookie cards!

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Every time Topps flagship rolls out a new release, we rank them! On my website, DavidGonos.com, we just finished posting our 2025 Topps Update Rookie Card Rankings, and we’re excited about this final release!

Got some 2025 Topps Update rookie cards you think I missed? Is a player too high — or too low? Let’s hear ‘em!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️7 Smart Tips For Collecting Football Cards For Beginners! - Ep. 2.38

David Gonos — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:30:00 GMT

“The great ones have the ability to focus and tune everything else out and see more than the others.” — Kurt Warner, Hall-of-Fame Quarterback

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

The NFL season is well underway, so we thought now would be a great time to discuss some of the best tips for collecting football cards for beginners, and for card collectors working with a limited budget!

Do you have some great football card collecting tips? Let’s hear ‘em!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: “I dunno“ by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️16 Steps To Selling Sports Cards To Feed Your New Addiction! - Ep. 2.37

David Gonos — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Trading one addiction for another is rarely a good idea — except this time!

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Collecting sports cards, whether it’s baseball cards, basketball cards, football or hockey, often feels like we are stepping into a never-ending hole where no matter how much we collect, we’ll never get everything!

The hobby lends itself to people getting addicted to several different aspects. Whether the rush of adrenaline we get from buying into a break is what gets us going, or ripping through tons of packs in hopes of pulling that elusive rookie card we’ve been hunting, we sometimes feel like there is never enough.

I’ve recently discovered that selling my sports cards can be equally addictive! I’m not talking about selling the cards I love. I’m not even talking about selling the cards I hate!

I shared in this sports card podcast the steps I took (and you can, too) to sell cards, which helps me fund the collecting part of my hobby.

Let us know if we’ve helped motivate you into selling some cards you don’t love/like in the comments below! Let us know what you are selling — and one of our readers might buy it!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️My 9 Biggest Sports Card Regrets! Why am I So Dumb!?!

David Gonos — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Regrets, I've had a few… But then again, too few to mention.

I did what I had to do. And saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course, Each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I [collected cards] my way

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

There are certain moments in our sports card-collecting careers we remember as pivotal to improving our collection. Maybe it was that great card trade you made, or a super prospect whose card you bought early for nothing is now on his way to his 8th MLB All-Star Game.

But quite often, we make those great decisions because we made bad moves earlier in our collecting career, and we learned from them.

I’ve been collecting cards since I was about four years old, and I share all the bad moves I made — from bad trades, to not buying a card when I should have, to not selling a card when I should have. These are my biggest bone-head card-collecting moves!

We’d love to hear what your biggest sports card regrets are! Let’s hear them in the comments below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

🎙️21 True Sports Card Facts That Sound Fake!

David Gonos — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:30:00 GMT

You’re not going to believe half of these sports card facts, I’m telling you right now.

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

You can’t believe everything you hear — unless you hear it in our podcast, and it’s talking about true sports card facts that everyone thinks sounds fake!

We’re talking baseball cards, football cards, vintage, modern, Topps Living and everything in between! On this list, we have Hall of Famers, soon-to-be Hall of Famers, rookie cards and more!

Which of these true sports card facts blew your mind the most? Let’s hear them in the comments below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Is Your Grail Card Closer Than You Think? - Ep. 2.34

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:30:00 GMT

Google AI defines a Grail Card as “a card that is highly sought after due to its rarity, high value, or personal significance to the collector. It represents a pinnacle of the collecting pursuit, often involving a long and dedicated search. The specific card that constitutes a ‘grail’ is subjective and varies from collector to collector.”

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Our Patrick Imhoff shares the steps he took to finally add his grail card to his collection: 2005 Upper Deck Sidney Crosby Young Guns Rookie Card PSA 9!

Here are some of the bigger value cards Patrick sold:

* 2024 Bowman Chrome 1st Auto SGC 9.5 Dylan Crews: $200

* 2020-21 Upper Deck Young Guns Kirill Kaprizov: $40

* 2024 Topps Update Black Gold Black /299 Elly De La Cruz: $64

* 2023 Topps Chrome Image Variation SP SGC 10 Shohei Ohtani: $191

* 2023 Bowman Draft 1st Refractor Blue /150 Luke Keaschall: $28

* 2024-25 Upper Deck Young Guns Macklin Celebrini: $708

* 2021 Bowman Draft 1st Chrome Auto Bubba Chandler: $170

* 2025 Bowman Chrome 1st Refractor Green Shimmer /99 Josue Briceno: $30

* 2022 Bowman Draft 1st paper Green /99 Cole Young: $25

* 2022 Bowman Draft Chrome Mood Ring Superfractor 1/1 Elijah Green: $300

In total, he sold 52 cards between March 24 and June 13 , when he hit his magic number.

We’d love to hear what your grail cards are — and we’re talking about attainable cards, not T206 Honus Wagner! Let’s hear them in the comments below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Substack-Only PSA Display Giveaway For Happy Hobbyists!

David Gonos — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 17:00:00 GMT

We love our Happy Hobby Substack subscribers! We love them so much, we’re giving away a 5-card display for PSA slabs from Bivitre!

Watch the video to figure out what you need to do to be eligible to win this display!

I’ve said it before, but I want our readers/listeners/watchers to know — when a company like Bivitre reaches out to me to do a review, I ask them for a second display so I can give one away to our Happy Hobbyists. That’s you!

As you’ll see, this has an Amazon review video in the middle of the video, so bear with me as I go through some of the specs, and how it works, and all that good stuff.

You can check out the display on Amazon here.

It comes in a 3-card or 5-card display — and you can go to the Bivitre store to find the black version of this same display.

Bivitre does an amazing job with their high-quality displays — and I have some that I paid for!

While this is a giveaway for all subscribers, both free and paid, stay tuned for a Paid Subscriber giveaway I’m doing in September!

Stay tuned for more giveaways — just like our 1,000 subscriber giveaway, which also has a deadline of September 30, 2025!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 31 Great Ideas To Fix Fanatics For Card Collectors!

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Fanatics will have the league and player’s association licenses with all three major sports by next year — but what can they do to make us happy about it?

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

People aren’t to happy with how the hobby has been rolling around here the past couple years since Fanatics bought Topps. Prices are exorbitant, print runs are out of hand, and breakers seem to be the only ones laughing!

Our Patrick Imhoff did some hard thinking to come up with 31 ideas on how he would fix Fanatics, to help both the sports card collectors and the company itself.

Also, we’d love to hear some ideas from you — how can Fanatics make things better? Let’s hear them in the comments below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 Sports Cards That Changed My Life! - Ep. 2.32

David Gonos — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Whether we started collecting as kids or as adults, some cards mean more to us than others.

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

I looked back on my sports card-collecting career and I found five great cards that really did change my life in one manner or another.

This podcast details which cards they were, when they impacted me and why my path changed just a little bit because of them.

Also, I’d love to hear which cards changed your life — whether it’s one, two or five! Let’s hear them in the comments below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] From Card Collector To Seller: Interviewing Emack!

David Gonos — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾From Comeback Collector To eBay Card Seller! Interviewing Emack!

Thousands of sports card collectors from the ‘80s and ‘90s have returned to the hobby in recent years to find a whole different world!

Eric Mack, a former Senior Fantasy Baseball Writer at CBS Sports, talks with his former “teammate” David Gonos about his hobby backstory and his current eBay store Emack’s Get Carded!

Emack shares his lessons learned, what he might do differently, and what he plans to do in the future, helping all collectors everywhere learn from his tale.

Also, don’t forget to check out our Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter giveaway!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 6 Types of Players Whose Rookie Cards You Should Target! - Ep. 2.30

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾6 Types of Players Whose Rookie Cards You Should Target!

A great sports card collection is usually built on the strength of the rookie cards in that collection. But buying great rookie cards can be expensive! Our Patrick Imhoff shares six different types of players you should consider for rookie-card purchases, including some examples!

Let us know if there are some great types of players you like to target when you are thinking about buying rookie cards!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 16 Best 2025 Topps Chrome Rookie Cards & Team Break Rankings!

David Gonos — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Whether you are considering buying a jumbo box, hobby box, blaster or just singles, it’s good to know which rookie cards people think are the best 2025 Topps Chrome RCs to get!

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Here’s the article I wrote detailing all the best 2025 Topps Chrome rookie cards!

Also, here’s the article I wrote about the Best Topps Chrome Rookie Cards From Each Year!

Let me know which rookie cards you’re targeting!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] How “Saved Searches” on eBay Can Save Your Collection!

David Gonos — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

As sports card collectors working on limited budgets, we need every free card-collecting tool we can find. But when they’re as awesome as this one that I use on eBay, you find that it not only saves you money because it’s free — but it saves you a ton of time, too!

I explain why doing saved searches for cards on eBay is a huge benefit for you and your collection. Then, I break down, step by step, how you can do your very own saved searches for the cards you are looking for!

Here’s the original article I wrote months ago on some different eBay Saved Searches you can try!

Let me know which “saved searches” you like to use on your eBay account!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

All-Star Game Starters! Which MLB & WNBA RCs Do You Have? - Ep. 2.27

David Gonos — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾🏀 All-Star Game Starters! Which MLB & WNBA RCs Do You Have?

The summer can be a long, drawn out few months for sports fans, but we do get to enjoy some awesome midsummer All-Star Games! The 2025 MLB All-Star Game comes to us from Atlanta, and the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game lands in Indianapolis this year, hosted by Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever!

With those two (kinda) halftime performances coming this week, I thought — what better time to review the rookie cards of all the starters from each of these games, helping sports card collectors check their lists of haves and needs!

Let us know how many cards you have in your collection, and which ones you plan to add this week!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Listen To 5 Reasons Why Cards Will Explode Again in 2026! - Ep. 2.26

David Gonos — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾🏈🏀 5 REASONS WHY CARDS WILL EXPLODE AGAIN IN 2026!

The sports card-collecting boom during the pandemic brought a lot of new people — and returning people — into the hobby. Some might think the growth would stop around 2023, as the hobby ballooned with over-produced cards and dropping card values.

This podcast episode looks into why that’s a false narrative, and why David Gonos believes the sports card world is about to BOOM again in 2026!

If you’re new to the hobby — you got here just in time!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Learn Who To Buy, Which Cards, and When To Buy Them! - Ep. 2.26

David Gonos — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Both new sports card collectors and returning card collectors need to know whose cards they should buy, along with which cards of theirs they should collect. But they can also learn when they should buy those cards!

We wrap up all three questions in ONE podcast, helping sports card collectors improve their collection while not wasting money on things they likely don’t want.

Don’t forget to check out the great slab shipping kits over at NoCity.co!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay

Bell by Aiwha -- License: Attribution 4.0

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

7 Great Baseball Cards That Never Were! - Ep. 2.24

David Gonos — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

While Topps is currently churning out about 250 rookie cards per year for their three flagship series, it’s unlikely they’ll miss any players. But over the past 75 years or so, there have been some glaring omissions — and we want them rectified! Somehow… I don’t have any instructions on how to do it, but still…

We list off seven of the greatest omissions in the history of baseball cards, including cards of some pretty legendary players, including Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Stan Musial and more! We even throw in a country singer!

Later in this episode, we share our favorite “Comment of the Week!” and we look at one of the all-time greatest cards ever, in “Cards That Make Us Happy!"

Spoiler Alert: It’s the 1985 Topps Mark McGwire Team USA rookie card!

And don’t forget about our shipping kit giveaway for our podcast listeners!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay

Bell by Aiwha -- License: Attribution 4.0

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 11 Sports Card Collectors We All Love! 💖- Ep. 2.23

David Gonos — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card News Podcast For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

💖⚾💖11 Sports Card Collectors We All Love!

There are many people in this Happy Hobby of ours that do bad things and steal some of our joy — and money! But we thought it was time to give props to those who truly make this an enjoyable hobby because of their kindness and thoughtfulness, and sometimes, just because of their oddities!

Check Out NOCT Shipping Supplies!

Tired of worrying about your prized graded cards getting dinged up in the mail? Say hello to NOCT shipping supplies at NoCity.co — the ultimate solution made just for collectors like you (and your eBay customers!).

NOCT’s expertly crafted boxes and bubble mailer envelopes are designed to fit PSA slabs and raw cards snugly, keeping your treasures safe from bumps and bruises, whether you’re shipping to buyers or trading with friends. These products are made by collectors, for collectors!

Ready for a Bonus?

We’re giving away 10 FREE boxes and bubble mailers to one lucky podcast listener! To enter: Email me at gonoscards@gmail.com with “NO CITY Happy Hobby” in the subject line. Deadline to join is June 30!

Don’t risk your slabs. Ship with confidence! Visit NoCity.co and upgrade your shipping game today!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Happy groovy loop by jjwoosh -- License: Creative Commons 0

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 6 Reasons Why We Love/Hate 2025 Topps Series 2 Baseball!

David Gonos — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

We all get excited any time a Topps flagship series gets released, but the cheers are a little quieter when Topps Series 2 rolls around.

Thankfully, there are some saving graces for this series, as we found three pretty awesome reasons to love the latest release from Topps!

Then we bring it all back to earth with a trio of reasons that this series makes us want to punch a wall!

We also share an ultra-fun baseball card trivia contest, where you could win this 1981 Donruss Willie Stargell card!

Make sure you get into our NoCity.Co giveaway! Listen to the podcast to see what you have to do — or watch this YouTube video!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay

Bell by Aiwha -- License: Attribution 4.0

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Battling Parallel Fatigue with a "New" Vintage Project! - Ep. 2.21

David Gonos — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

One of the toughest things for sports card collectors to deal with these days is the ridiculous number of parallels out there for every single card. We all know it’s just a ploy to get us to buy more cards, but it’s annoying!

That’s what got me to start looking at collecting specific pre-war vintage cards, or at least, to start a “Want List” of pre-war vintage cards. You’d be surprised at the prices for T206 cards of Hall-of-Famers might cost you! They’re cheaper than many of these ridiculous parallel cards — and they’re more important!

Also, our guy Patrick Imhoff shares some great tips for collecting rookie cards! Remember a couple weeks ago when he shared some perfect pointers on prospects? He does the same thing here, but with first-year Major Leaguers!

Make sure you get into our NoCity.Co giveaway! Listen to the podcast to see what you have to do — or watch this YouTube video!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay

Bell by Aiwha -- License: Attribution 4.0

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 Smart Reasons To Collect WNBA Cards – Ep. 2.20

David Gonos — Tue, 27 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🏀5 Smart Reasons To Collect WNBA Cards!

The arrival of Caitlin Clark to the WNBA has changed the sports landscape, and the sports card world is no different. If you haven’t jumped onto the WNBA cards bandwagon, we’re sharing a handful of reasons why now is the time to get ahead of the tidal wave.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is just a one-year phenomena because it was Caitlin’s rookie year. The W just added Paige Bueckers, and they have JuJu Watkins, Lauren Betts and Hannah Hidalgo waiting in the wings! (The stage wings, we’re talking about, not the Dallas Wings, who likely won’t be in the lottery again for a while because of Ms. Bueckers!)

We also take a look at five of Caitlin Clark’s rookie cards that are both affordable ($20 and under) and worth picking up for beginner WNBA card collectors.

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Music by Grand_Project from Pixabay

Bell by Aiwha -- License: Attribution 4.0

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 2025 Topps Series 2: Ranking 8 Best Rookie Cards! - Ep. 2.19

David Gonos — Tue, 20 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾8 Best Rookie Cards From 2025 Topps Series 2!

Every time a Topps flagship series is released, we rank the best rookie cards to chase in that set! With 2025 Topps Series 2 coming out in early June, we finally got a peek at the checklist to see which rookie cards look like the most desirable from a collecting standpoint.

Let’s be clear, while it’s not a great checklist full of two dozen awesome rookie cards, there are THREE short print rookies we’re excited to get our hands on!

Also, looking back, you can find our YouTube videos of our previous rookie card rankings from 2025 Topps Series 1, and all the 2024 Topps flagship releases ranked together in one video!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 4 Perfect Prime Prospecting Pointers - Ep. 2.18

David Gonos — Tue, 13 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾4 Perfect Prospecting Pointers For Prognosticators!

This episode looks a little deeper into ways we can pick up some great prospect cards at some not-so-expensive prices! Our Patrick Imhoff shares a handful of great tips for adding great Bowman 1st cards to your sports card portfolio, in hopes of finding values on the rise!

We also share another great sports card trivia question in which you can win a sweet Emmitt Smith card from 1993!

Finally, we look back at one of the “Cards That Makes Us Happy” from the ‘80s, one of the greatest quarterbacks who ever played, from the greatest NFL Draft for quarterbacks ever!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] What Type of Sports Card Collector Are You? – Ep. 2.17

David Gonos — Tue, 06 May 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Smart sports card collectors try to focus on specific things for their collection because it helps their spending budget and it helps improve their collection at the same time!

By understanding the different types of collectors, you can figure out what you like and what you should focus your hobby budget on, rather than spending money on things you don’t really end up liking in the long run.

Patrick Imhoff wrote this article for us a few weeks ago, and we turned it into a podcast!

Also, we look back to the late ‘70s and early ‘80s to find Danny Ainge, who is the subject of “Cards That Make Us Happy!” He has rookie cards in two sports, which makes us twice as happy!

Email me or leave us a comment below to let us know what type of sports card collector you are!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 7 Reasons To Celebrate 2025 Topps Heritage Baseball – Ep. 2.16

David Gonos — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾7 Reasons To Celebrate 2025 Topps Heritage Baseball

While we’re always excited when a new Topps set comes out, whether it’s their flagship releases or Topps Chrome or even Topps Archives, there’s just something especially nostalgic about 2025 Topps Heritage Baseball!

From the great subsets, to the wonderful inserts, to the pretty awesome autographs available, this should be a very fun series to collect this year!

One of our favorite things is the new rookie cards we’ll get for players whose RCs we didn’t get in 2025 Topps Series 1!

We also had Alan Camuto review the 1976 Topps Baseball set design, which is what the 2025 Topps Heritage set is based off!

Let us know what you think about this set in the comments!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 15 Best Football Rookie Cards Since 2015 NFL Draft – Ep. 2.15

David Gonos — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

🏈15 Best Football Rookie Cards Since 2015 NFL Draft🏈

What’s more fun than watching the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft!?! How about ranking the 15-most valuable football rookie cards from the past 10 NFL seasons!?!

Quarterbacks certainly rule the room, but you’ll be surprised by which non-quarterbacks end up ranking high in our list!

Shoot us a note at mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com with who you think will be on this list that come from this year’s NFL draft!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Asking a Vintage Card Expert For 12 Vintage Picks Under $100! – Ep. 2.14

David Gonos — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾🏈🏀 Interviewing Vintage Sports Cards Expert, Michael Salfino!

It’s tough to get all the questions out in just an hour with a vintage sports cards expert, like Michael Salfino from The Athletic, but we do our best!

At first, we discuss his background and how we connected, including our time together writing about baseball cards over at The Athletic. But we also knew each other from competing in Tout Wars before that, which is one of the most competitive Fantasy Baseball leagues in the world!

We also discuss Salfino’s picks for his “Elite 8” vintage players and his rankings of who he believes are the eight greatest Topps-era vintage players whose cards we should be collecting. (The origin of this discussion was because he found my video on “The Dandy Dozen,” where I ranked my 12 favorite players whose cards people should collect.)

The podcast stays true to helping out sports card collectors who are working with a limited budget! Michael shares the guts of an upcoming article, where he lists one card for 12 superstar vintage players (seven baseball players, three football players and two basketball players) valued around $100 that we should pick up.

You can read Michael’s articles on The Athletic, and you can check out his socials:

* X.com: @MichaelSalfino

* Bluesky: @MichaelSalfino

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] The 5 Faces/Phases of Card Collecting! - Ep. 2.13

David Gonos — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾🏈🏀 The 5 Faces/Phases of Card Collecting!

You don’t have to be a sports card shop owner to be successful in card collecting, but there are different phases we all seem to go through, as we try to build our collection.

First, we’re new to the game, so we make many mistakes we hope to iron out before too long. Then we figure it out — but maybe we leave the game for a bit, only to return years later, as a re-newbie!

Whether you consider yourself an investor, a value collector, a flipper, or a focused card collector, there are pitfalls to avoid and tips to enjoy!

Also, we have our resident Happy Hobbyist sports card designer, Alan Camuto come in and share his thoughts on the awesome 1962 Topps Baseball card design! From the wood design, to the curled poster, to the orange and black card back — he covers it all!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Shhh... 9 Secrets to Becoming a Low-Budget Happy Hobbyist! - Ep. 2.12

David Gonos — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾🏈🏀 Shhh... 9 Secrets to Becoming a Low-Budget Happy Hobbyist!

Collecting sports cards would be easy if we all had a ton of money and an unlimited amount of resources! But we don’t, so we have to be careful about which cards we buy, which cards we sell, and which types of cards we put on our “Want” list.

I share a couple handfuls of things you can do to optimize your chances of improving your sports card collection, while also not doing great damage to your bank account!

Then Patrick Imhoff shares another one of “Patrick’s Prime Prospect Picks” for your Bowman 1st amusement! This prospect plays shortstop, one of the most collectable positions possible, and he’s not far from joining his major league counterparts!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] How To Build Card Sets on a Limited Budget! - Ep. 2.11

David Gonos — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast episode has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

⚾🏈🏀 HOW TO BUILD CARD SETS ON A LIMITED BUDGET!

Josh Scarberry of MJ Family Time Cards was kind enough to share some set-building tips for sports card collectors of all types, including baseball, basketball, football and hockey!

Then Patrick Imhoff shares another one of “Patrick’s Prime Prospect Picks” for your Bowman 1st amusement! This prospect has a great name, and he plays for one of the biggest teams in the biggest media market in the world!

Finally, going back to talking about building sets of cards, I share which set I would like to build from every decade in which Topps made baseball cards!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] How To Collect Hockey Cards! - With Patrick Imhoff! - Ep. 2.10

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Our resident hockey guy, Patrick Imhoff, takes us into a world relatively foreign to many of us — hockey card collecting!

He shares what he knows about all the different products, including which ones he considers premium, flagship and on the cheap side.

Patrick goes through everything from the Topps / O-Pee-Chee days to Upper Deck and their magnificent Young Guns rookie cards!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 9 Amazing Things You Didn't Know About 2025 Topps Series 1 Baseball! - Ep. 2.09

David Gonos — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Our “9 Amazing Things” series rolls on, as we look into the newest baseball card release from Topps — 2025 Topps Series 1!

There are several new things sports card collectors should be aware of, including new chases, new autographs from famous people, new parallels, which products are the best buys, and more!

Let us know if you already knew ALL of these nuggets — or if you hadn’t heard about any of them — or anything in between!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Collect Rookie Cards of These 10 Baseball Veterans! - Ep. 2.08

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Our Happy Hobby Vice-President, Patrick Imhoff, shares a couple handfuls of non-rookies whose rookie cards you should consider picking up right now!

With the recent release of 2025 Topps Series 1 and the start of Spring Training, most collectors are focusing on current rookie cards and how those players are looking. As sports card collectors on a budget, we want to take a look at 10 non-rookies who are worth taking a look at in 2025. These guys are lumped into three categories: New team, new position, and returning from injury.

We also hear from Jason McGuire, one of our Happy Hobby Founding Members, who recently returned to the hobby with an all too familiar story about how he returned to collecting cards after 25 years.

Finally, we shared another awesome sports card trivia question, offering up yet another great rookie card — this time, 2020-21 Panini Chronicles Marquee Tyrese Haliburton!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] The 2025 Hall-of-Fame Issue! Collecting HOFers! – Ep. 2.07

David Gonos — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Everyone loves to get rookie cards of players before they must pay the “Hall-of-Famer” tax, so we listed three players from the four main sports that we like for Future HOFers.

From the world of baseball, there are some recent and some not-so-recent players we think are set for joining the elite in Cooperstown. For football, we had to concentrate on current players that have Canton-bound in their resumes. We found another trio for basketball, and for hockey, we chose two guys from the past 20 years – and one player whose rookie card came out in 1990!

We also had our friend, D.A., from "The Rising Fastball" newsletter, share his insights on Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, who signed with the Dodgers this offseason!

Finally, our Sports Card Trivia question touches on production runs from Topps for their flagship series in the past 25 years.

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1941

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 4 Smarter Steps For Collecting Cards! - Ep. 2.06

David Gonos and Mr. Collect — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

One of my favorite sports card collecting newsletters, Mr. Collect , wrote last week’s newsletter for us, sharing some of his favorite tips on getting more bang for your collecting buck!

This great article made for a great podcast! Enjoy!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Blimey! A Card Collector’s Story From Across the Pond! - Ep. 2.05

David Gonos — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:25:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

One of the winners from one of our Sports Card Trivia contests hails from England, so we asked Lewis to share his story about how he came into this baseball card-collecting hobby of ours!

It turns out that it’s not easy at all to collect baseball cards in Europe, as there are difficulties getting products, being awake for the ends of auctions on eBay, and just getting people to properly ship your cards to you!

Don’t forget our “The Griffey Grand Slam Giveaway!” We’re celebrating reaching 5,000 YouTube subscribers by giving away Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 rookie cards from four different card companies: Donruss, Fleer, Topps and Upper Deck!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Talking Bowman 1st Cards of MLB's Top 100 Baseball Prospects! - Ep. 2.04

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Last week, MLB.com shared their updated Top 100 Baseball Prospects list, with Japanese import Roki Sasaki leading the list! Patrick Imhoff joins me for our latest podcast, discussing the Bowman 1st cards of some of the big names on this list!

I recently wrote an article that shared what the Bowman 1st cards are of each of those prospects — and which ones we’re still waiting on in upcoming Bowman releases!

Imhoff also looks a little farther down to find some decent sleepers of prospects whose 1st Bowman cards you should consider picking up!

We even use TheDynastyDugout.com’s list of the Top 25 Prospects For 2026 to get an idea of some great Bowman 1st card investment ideas! Thanks, Chris Clegg !

Also, don’t forget about our upcoming Ken Griffey Jr. cards giveaway! Four slabs from 1989 are headed to ONE YouTube subscriber! Will it be you!?! Watch the video to see what you’ll need to do to be eligible!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 3 Cool Products We Want Topps To Make Right Now! - Ep. 2.03

David Gonos — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Topps already makes a ton of awesome products that we all love to buy and rip, but we came up with three new products we think they should make.

These products are for the budget-friendly collectors who love Topps Baseball cards!

From a Topps branded repack, where buyers would get two slabs in each box — one with a card from the past three years (PSA 9 or better!) and one with a card from before the past three years. They might be some vintage cards slabbed up from the ‘50s or ‘60s, or they could be some nice cards of All-Stars from the ‘80s. There would be a nice ceiling and a decent floor that would make this a fun product!

That’s just one of the three new products we came up with!

We also ask another brand new sports card trivia question, with an awesome 1970 Kellogg’s 3-D Joe Morgan card — from back when he was with the Astros!

Also, we talk about some great Rayvol Toploader Binders you can buy at Amazon! Holy cow, I have FIVE of these — one for each sport, and then a second one for vintage baseball. They are gamechangers! Here’s the link to buy them on Amazon! They come in five colors, too! (I have four colors, with two black ones — I feel like the white ones might get dirty.)

Finally, we announce our latest — and greatest — sports card giveaway yet! This time, it’s celebrating our YouTube channel getting its 5,000th subscriber! We’re giving away what we’re calling “The Griffey Grand Slam!” That means we’re giving away Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 rookie cards from four different card companies: Donruss, Fleer, Topps and Upper Deck!

Do you love the new Topps design? Do you hate it? Are you ambivalent? Let us know!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 7 Lessons Learned From Collecting Cards in 2024! - Ep. 2.02

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Happy Hobbyist Patrick Imhoff takes the wheel for this week’s newsletter, sharing all the smart decisions he’s planning to make with his sports card collection in 2025 based on what happened in 2024.

Specifically, Patrick shares his takes on collecting prospect cards and when to buy rookie cards. He also shares his opinions on “breaking,” as well as buying great single cards over hobby boxes.

My favorite lesson that he shared was about how he targets cards on eBay using both Auctions and Buy It Now cards that have Best Offers. It’s a brilliant strategy!

Patrick thinks hockey is pucktastic! (My word, not his.) He shared a pretty awesome baseball/hockey card trivia question from the junk wax era that blew my mind!

Finally, Patrick also loves his Pittsburgh Penguins, and this week’s “Cards That Make Us Happy,” really makes Patrick happy because it’s Super Mario’s rookie card!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 2025 Topps Design: What Does a Card Designer Think About It? - Ep. 2.01

David Gonos — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

The new 2025 Topps design for their flagship Series 1, Series 2 and Topps Update has been released!

Alan Camuto, one of the regular Happy Hobbyists in our HHSC Chat, is a graphic designer, who once worked for a firm who worked with Topps!

As a matter of fact, Alan worked on several cards for Topps during the 2000s, and now he’s bringing that expertise to us! We asked him what he thought of the new 2025 Topps design, and he shared some of his favorite things — and least favorite things!

Do you love the new Topps design? Do you hate it? Are you ambivalent? Let us know!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 6 Totally Rad Tips For Buying '80s Baseball Wax Packs! - Ep. 1.40

David Gonos and Scott H — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter For Collectors has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets!

Many of the baseball card collectors on our YouTube channel and in our newsletter chat are among the group I call, “The Renewed Collectors.” We were all former card collectors when we were kids in the ‘70, ‘80s and ‘90s, then we stopped for a decade or two, and now we’re picking it back up because it brings us back fond memories!

Scott Hedrick, one of our favorite Happy Hobbyists, loves to buy old wax packs and boxes off of sites like BBCExchange.com and DACardWorld.com.

For collectors looking to dip their toes into the wax pack pool, Scott shared six great tips on buying wax packs and boxes that should improve your chances on getting good cards without spending too much money.

We also share another awesome sports card trivia question, in which you could win a free baseball card, and Patrick Imhoff gives us another suggestion we hope Fanatics will listen to in 2026.

Finally, I look back almost 70 years at one of the coolest rookie cards in history, from 1948 Leaf, with our “Cards That Make Us Happy,” section.

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Best Subset Ever!?! 1976 Topps All-Time All-Stars! - Ep. 1.39

David Gonos — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

Nearly 50 years ago, Topps celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Major League Baseball by producing one of the coolest base card subsets in baseball card history: 1976 Topps All-Time All-Stars!

They named the best player from every position, creating an All-Star team we’d all love to see take the field at once.

While it would have been awesome to see both an American and National League listed, just so we could argue about who would win, it was still great to see all these superstar legends!

From Babe Ruth to Ty Cobb, from Honus Wagner to Ted Williams, from Walter Johnson to Lou Gehrig, this was a subset for the ages!

We also share another great baseball card trivia question, for those looking to win a great card!

And Patrick Imhoff shares two suggestions for Fanatics, with his “If I Became CEO of Fanatics” bullet list!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 11 Bowman Draft Prospects & Teams Rankings w/ Patrick Imhoff! - Ep. 1.38

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

One of our favorite Happy Hobbyists, Patrick Imhoff, joins the podcast to talk about which players he’s trying to collect in the new 2024 Bowman Draft product that came out this month, full of 2024 MLB Draftees!

Obviously, there are the superstars to collect, like No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana and Chase Burns, but Imhoff shares a few other great players to chase!

We also discuss some of Bowman’s background as a product, and how they’ve come to shape prospect-hunting in the baseball card world!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Hobby Widow!?! Interviewing My Wife About Sports Cards! - Ep. 1.37

David Gonos — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

I’ve been collecting baseball cards and other sports cards since I was a little kid, about 50 years now, but my wife Shelby and I have only been married for just over 5 years!

I thought it would be a fun exercise to talk to Mrs. Happy Hobby to see just what card-collecting information has leaked into her unsuspecting brain!

We also talk about how card collecting has affected us as a couple, and we share some tips on how to keep everyone in the marriage happy, when someone has a collecting obsession love.

Here are some of the topics we covered:

* Love languages… No, seriously. Haha, we talked about how this can help someone deal with someone else’s hobbies!

* How do you buy a gift for a card collector?

* Who’s on the Mt. Rushmore of Topps vintage baseball cards?

* What does “RP” mean in an eBay listing?

* What’s the difference between a retail and a hobby box?

* What’s a blaster?

* Can you name any of the top rookies from this year’s rookie card class?

* What are the four criteria grading companies use when determining a card’s grade?

* What is junk wax?

* What is a “Collector’s Grade”?

* What’s the most graded sports card ever?

* Who is the most graded athlete ever?

* What are the things you hate most about me being a sports card collector?

* How can I help you not hate my hobby?

We ended up talking about a lot of stuff, and it was one of the most fun podcasts I’ve ever done, for sure.

Please let us know what you thought of this special episode either in the comments or you can email me below!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 11 Dirty Tricks eBay Sellers Use That We Hate! - Ep. 1.35

David Gonos — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

Sports card sellers on eBay are always trying to squeeze every penny out of a card they’re selling, which is difficult when all of us buyers are trying to hold onto every single penny, when we’re buying cards!

In this episode, which is also a video on my YouTube channel, I share with you close to one dozen tricks that some nefarious eBay sellers try to pull on unsuspecting sports card collectors!

I also share another baseball card trivia question, in case you want to win yourself a free 1979 Topps Willie Stargell baseball card!

Patrick Imhoff shares another smart nugget about what he would change if he became CEO of Fanatics in 2026, when they unify all three sports card licenses.

And finally, we look at another one of those “Cards That Makes Us Happy!” This time, it’s from a card from not too long ago — the 2016 Topps Mike Trout card!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 13 Card-Grading Secrets Only Vets Know! - Ep. 1.34

David Gonos — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

Getting sports cards graded is really a new thing for collectors when you consider the hobby is a century old or so. But over the past 10 years, card grading has really become a war between companies, which makes for some good opportunities for baseball card collectors to get in on!

We share 13 nuggets we believe to be helpful to card collectors and card investors alike!

We also share another sports card trivia question, with a 1986 Topps John Elway up for grabs to one winner!

Patrick Imhoff shares another one of his if-I-were-CEO-of-Fanatics nuggets — this time about how he would revamp the whole Bowman suite of products!

Finally, we look at the best rookie cards from the year of 1981 in baseball, football, basketball and hockey!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 2024 Basketball Card Rankings-Palooza! - Ep. 1.33

David Gonos — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

Keeping with tradition, we discuss some older great rookie basketball cards, along with some newer great rookie basketball cards, as the new season NBA begins to unfold on us.

We did our football card- and hockey card-Paloozas a few weeks ago, and now it’s time for ranking some round-ballers!

Not only do we rank the rookie cards from the most recent flagship release, 2023 Panini Prizm NBA cards (spoiler alert: Wemby is No. 1), but we also look back at the past 10 seasons to find the 10 best rookie cards over that span!

We also look ahead to see who the top rookie cards we should be targeting when the 2024-25 rookie cards come out!

Patrick Imhoff shares another awesome aspect of the card industry he’d do differently if he became CEO of Fanatics!

I share another great baseball trivia question, where I offer up an awesome 1971 Topps Al Kaline card!

Finally, we look at 1988 at one of the coolest NBA cards ever created in our “Cards That Make Us Happy” feature! It has an image from the NBA Slam Dunk Contest!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 11 Card Collectors Who ANNOY Us! - Ep. 1.32

David Gonos — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

In this fun-filled, grumpy cat podcast, we list out all the things that turn our “Happy Hobby” into an annoyed and angry hobby!

Really, though, we’re big fans of being nice in the hobby and not grumbling about others in the card-collecting world. But no matter how hard we try, we sometimes just want to yell at somebody when they do any of these 11 things!

Patrick Imhoff also chimes in with another awesome thing he’d do differently if he became CEO of Fanatics!

I share another great baseball trivia question, where I offer up an awesome 1970 Topps Jim Palmer card!

Finally, we look back at the year 2005, and we share what the best rookie cards from each sport that season were!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] How To Become a Junk Wax Junkie - Ep. 1.31

David Gonos — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

In this episode, we have Scott Hedrick, one of our Happy Hobbyist guest writers, share his tales about how to lean on nostalgia for most of your hobby happiness!

This guy rips junk wax packs every single weekend — and has an awesome time doing it, chasing (and finding!) some of our favorite cards we all loved as kids!

We also ask Patrick Imhoff to share another nugget on what he would do differently if he became the CEO of Fanatics! This one’s a great one, as he talks about how he would connect with the younger market.

Finally, I share another great sports card trivia question — actually, I share two, since one already got answered!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 eBay “Saved Searches” You Need To Add! - Ep. 1.30

David Gonos — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 09:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

Card collecting can be competitive in many cases, even though it’s just a great community overall. We like it when our friends get good cards, and they’re happy for us! But when it comes to winning a card on eBay, it’s every collector for themselves! Our buddy Josh Scarberry from MJ Family Time Cards YouTube channel came up with five pretty awesome ways to use “Saved Searches” on eBay to help you win the pretty awesome cards you want to win!

We also bring back Patrick Imhoff to share another thing he would do if he became the CEO over at Fanatics before they get the MLB, NBA and NFL card licenses in 2026.

We deliver another tough sports card trivia question, hoping to give away a 1976 Topps Reggie Jackson card we picked up at a sports card store in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Finally, we share the best rookie cards in the baseball, basketball and football card world from the year 1970!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 2024 Happy Hobby Help For Hockey Card Collectors Everywhere! - Ep. 1.29

David Gonos — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 09:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Podcast” pack tries to help sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

🏒 2024 HAPPY HOCKEY HOBBY HELP FOR BEGINNERS & VETERANS🏒

Our Patrick Imhoff details all the best rookie cards and Young Guns you want to grab from last year’s Upper Deck Hockey sets before the 2024-25 Series 1 is released in a few weeks!

Nearly as important, though, Imhoff looks back at the past 20 years to detail which veteran’s rookie cards you should consider picking up, too! From Sidney Crosby to Steven Stamkos, there are plenty of great players who are either in the middle or the twilight of their careers whose rookie cards are worth grabbing!

Finally, Imhoff goes back to the ‘80s and ‘90s to detail some of the all-time greatest hockey rookie cards you should consider buying to make a good collection great!

Don’t forget about Imhoff’s breakdown of what he’d do if he became the CEO of Fanatics in a couple years! This guy thinks of everything!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 7 Smart Tips For Buying Sports Cards on eBay! - Ep 1.28

David Gonos — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

🏈⚾🏀7 SMART TIPS FOR BUYING CARDS ON eBAY!

Collecting sports cards is always fun, but spending less money than you have to is always a much better thing! We share seven different suggestions on how you can win cards on eBay without spending as much money as you used to.

From what types of eBay listings you should choose to how you can find the right prices for what you are looking for, we have all the great tips to save you money!

We also answer another one of our world famous sports card trivia questions — and we ask yet another one, allowing you another chance at winning a cool card! This question is a basketball one, though, so tighten up your laces!

Finally, we share another one of Patrick Imhoff’s great suggestions on how to improve Fanatics’ hold on the sports card world — if only he could become CEO!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1942

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 Great Sports Card Books For Your Library! - Ep. 1.27

David Gonos — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card” podcast has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

The links in this newsletter are affiliate links with eBay and Amazon, which means we will make a commission on any purchases off those links. So, thank you! Also, all sports card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com.

🏈 5 GREAT SPORTS CARD BOOKS FOR YOUR LIBRARY

I tracked down a handful of awesome sports card books I believe you’d love to have in your collection! Get them into your sports card library! From the history of sports cards, to the history of Upper Deck, to the history of one amazingly special card in the T206 Honus Wagner once owned by Wayne Gretzky!

🏈⚾🏀SPORTS CARD TRIVIA & FANATICS!

We continue on with our sports card trivia — once again, it’s about a Hall-of-Fame baseball player!

We didn’t get an answer to our question last week, so we reveal that answer for you, as well.

If you have a guess at this week’s trivia question, email me gonoscards@gmail.com!

Finally, Patrick Imhoff shares another great change to the world of sports card collecting that he’d make — if he became the CEO of Fanatics!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 Undervalued Football Rookie Cards We Like! - Ep. 1.26

David Gonos — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card” podcast has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

🏈 5 UNDERVALUED FOOTBALL ROOKIE CARDS WE LIKE!

Quarterbacks are king in the football card-collecting world, so we found a few we think you’ll like in the coming weeks, months and years. A couple of these guys are players everyone else has given up on, despite being Heisman Trophy winners and former No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks!

We also shared a few likely Hall-of-Fame players who we think you can grab on the cheap right now!

🏈 ⚾ 🏀TRIVIA, FANATICS & CARDS THAT MAKE US HAPPY!

One of our newest features in our newsletter/podcast is our weekly Sports Card Trivia contest! Get involved in this one and you could win a cool sports card!

Patrick Imhoff also chimes in with another great change to the world of sports card collecting that he’d make, if he became the CEO of Fanatics!

Finally, we share a Bo Jackson card that everyone knows and loves, and we dip back into the history of its creation!… and the news that has since followed it!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Facebook

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* TikTok

* Link Tree

Email me: mailto:gonoscards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 2024 NFL Kickoff! Football Card Rankings-Palooza! Rookies! - Ep. 1.25

David Gonos — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card” podcast has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

🏈 2024 FOOTBALL CARD RANKINGS-PALOOZA!

We are so excited about the new NFL season, we decided to just rank a bunch of football card stuff!

We ranked the top-five rookie football cards from last year! We ranked the top-10 rookie football cards from the past decade! We ranked the best-looking football card designs from the past 70 years! We ranked the NFL team that we believe has the most football-card collectability!

We ranked our rankings! We’re insaaaaane!

Patrick Imhoff also checks in again with another great idea for how he would make Fanatics eeeeeeven better if he were the CEO once the manufacturer gets the baseball, football and basketball card licenses in 2026!

Some great hobby news dropped recently, also, as SGC now has a $12 grading special for all Topps Chrome cards! All. Not just baseball. Not just 2024. All. Sweeeet!

Also, check out Joe Posnanski’s new book, coming out Sept. 17 on Amazon, “Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments.” I’ve already preordered it and I’m very excited to read it!

Finally, I also share some great news about how Sports Cards Nonsense Newsletter was kind enough to add our “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter to their “Recommended” list on their home page! Whaaaaat!?!?!? That’s some crazy sports cards nonsense right there!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buyhttps://davidgonos.com/sports-card-supplies/

Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-rookies-from-each-topps-baseball-set/

Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-basketball-rookie-cards-from-each-nba-season/

Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956https://davidgonos.com/best-football-rookie-cards-from-every-nfl-year/

Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951https://davidgonos.com/best-hockey-rookie-cards/

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos https://twitter.com/davidgonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos https://www.instagram.com/davidgonos/

* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgonoswriter/

* TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@davidgonos.cards

* Link Tree https://linktr.ee/gonos

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby !

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 9 Great Rookie Football Cards That Never Were! – Ep. 1.24

David Gonos — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card” podcast has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

🏈 9 GREAT ROOKIE FOOTBALL CARDS THAT NEVER WERE!

We listed off 9 Great Rookie Basketball Cards That Never Were (and 13 Others) in a previous issue, and it was easily one of our most popular posts so far. It was a list of rookie cards we were robbed of seeing, for whatever reason, and now we’re turning our attention to the football card world, since the 2024 NFL season is about to launch! In some cases, these players got rookie cards, just not in the season they should have gotten them, or in the product that should have celebrated them!

We also go back to Patrick Imhoff for another way Fanatics can be fixed before they get all three major sports card licenses in 2026! Imhoff shares his thoughts on Redemption Cards this time, and how he’d make everyone happy – from collectors to Fanatics!

Ebay shares some of their football search stats with us, and gives us an preview on the four most-searched football players from last season, which should roll over into this year!

Finally, we look at yet another amazing entry into our list of “Cards That Make Us Happy!” with a football rookie card for the ages. We don’t want to spoil it – but the player’s name rhymes with Schmeyton Schmanning!

***Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com***

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy: https://davidgonos.com/sports-card-supplies/

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956: https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-rookies-from-each-topps-baseball-set/

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948: https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-basketball-rookie-cards-from-each-nba-season/

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956: https://davidgonos.com/best-football-rookie-cards-from-every-nfl-year/

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951: https://davidgonos.com/best-hockey-rookie-cards/

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos https://twitter.com/davidgonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos https://www.instagram.com/davidgonos/

* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgonoswriter/

* TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@davidgonos.cards

* Link Tree https://linktr.ee/gonos

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby !

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Collecting the Top 5 Best HR Hitters of the 21st Century! - Ep. 1.23

David Gonos, Matt Musico, and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

The links in this newsletter are affiliate links with eBay, which means we will make a commission on any purchases off those links. So, thank you! Also, all sports card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com.

Which Sluggers Have the Most 21st Century Home Runs?

Who do you think are the five biggest home run hitters from this 21st century? I’m sure you can think of some of the more obvious sluggers, like those that came into the league right at the turn of the century, like Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera. But can you piece together the other three? They’re actually quite surprising!

We also share one of Patrick Imhoff’s Fanatics’ fixes, which are always entertaining and thought-provoking. (We really need Fanatics’ decision-makers to listen to these podcasts!)

Finally, I look at the active career home run leaders over at Baseball Reference, and start making some predictions over which active MLB players have a chance at reaching the 500-HR Club!

Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com

23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy: https://davidgonos.com/sports-card-supplies/

Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956: https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-rookies-from-each-topps-baseball-set/

Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948: https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-basketball-rookie-cards-from-each-nba-season/

Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956: https://davidgonos.com/best-football-rookie-cards-from-every-nfl-year/

Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951: https://davidgonos.com/best-hockey-rookie-cards/

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos https://twitter.com/davidgonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos https://www.instagram.com/davidgonos/

* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgonoswriter/

* TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@davidgonos.cards

* Link Tree https://linktr.ee/gonos

* Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby !

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 Ways Fantasy Football Helps Card Collectors - Ep. 1.22

David Gonos — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

Literally, hundreds of thousands of people are going to be drafting their Fantasy Football teams over the next couple weeks, which means there’s a lot of player evaluating going on out there!

That means there are ways sports card collectors can learn about what the crowd thinks about the incoming rookie class, as well as which players are believed to have breakout season — or disappointing seasons!

We share five ways Fantasy owners can help card collectors improve their collections!

What Else You Got!?!

Patrick Imhoff also shares another great nugget on how he’d fix Fanatics if he were CEO, before the unification of all the major sports card licenses in 2026.

Finally, we share another edition of “CARDS THAT MAKES US HAPPY!” We highlight all the reasons that the 1991 Upper Deck Baseball Michael Jordan #SP1 card was a big deal back then — and still a big deal now

Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com

23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy: https://davidgonos.com/sports-card-supplies/

Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956: https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-rookies-from-each-topps-baseball-set/

Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948: https://davidgonos.com/who-are-the-best-basketball-rookie-cards-from-each-nba-season/

Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956: https://davidgonos.com/best-football-rookie-cards-from-every-nfl-year/

Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951: https://davidgonos.com/best-hockey-rookie-cards/

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos https://twitter.com/davidgonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos https://www.instagram.com/davidgonos/

* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgonoswriter/

* TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@davidgonos.cards

* Link Tree https://linktr.ee/gonos

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby !

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 15 Lessons Learned at The National Sports Card Convention! - Ep. 1.21

David Gonos — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:30:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

This is the FREE version of the “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter, with the PAID version coming again next week.

⚾LESSONS LEARNED AT THE NATIONAL SPORTS CARD CONVENTION

Josh Scarberry of MJ Family Time Cards took his family, including his card-collecting son Micah, to The National Sports Card Convention in Cleveland a couple weeks ago.

First, he shared how he prepared to go to the convention, and in this podcast, he’s sharing all the new things he learned, which he hopes will help him – and others – for the next time he goes!

He talked about the freebies and all the cool corporate stuff that was handed out, including some random free stuff given to his family by other card collectors!

Josh also discussed some of the cards he picked up, as well as some of Micah’s best pickups.

Finally, he shared some tips and suggestions that should help others who might be thinking of going in 2025.

We also discuss the 10 most-graded cards according to GemRate.com during the month of July!

There are five basketball cards atop the list, with just a couple baseball and a couple football cards. Can you think of who they might be?

We move on to list the best rookie cards of all four sports from the year 1997! Of the 12 great rookies we listed, nine of them are in their respective sports’ Halls of Fame!

Finally, we look over all the things happening across the Happy Hoppy Sports Card world, including our current giveaways (like a graded card carrying case from OnlyGreats.com), our most popular videos, articles, and podcasts from the month of July!

⚾Important Card-Collecting Articles on DavidGonos.com!

* 23 Best Sports Cards Supplies To Buy

* Best Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Basketball Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1948

* Best Football Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1956

* Best Hockey Rookie Cards From Every Year Since 1951

Connect with David Gonos on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos https://twitter.com/davidgonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos https://www.instagram.com/davidgonos/

* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgonoswriter/

* TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@davidgonos.cards

* Link Tree https://linktr.ee/gonos

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Have a #HappyHobby !

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] 5 Undervalued Rookie Cards That Don’t Make Sense! - Ep. 20

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

⚾🏈🏀5 UNDERVALUED ROOKIE CARDS THAT DON’T MAKE SENSE TO ME!

We look back at some rookie cards from the past couple decades we believe are currently undervalued, and have room to rise! We touch on baseball rookie cards, football rookie cards, and even a basketball rookie card you should consider adding if you haven’t already!

Also, go to the David Gonos YouTube channel and watch the video we did about our Graded Card Case giveaway from the people at OnlyGreats.com! Learn how to become eligible to win this baby for free!

Patrick Imhoff shares another interesting nugget on how he would fix Fanatics if he became the CEO before they get all three major sports card licenses in 2026!

The great minds over at FantasyPros.com have ranked the Top 20 Dynasty Quarterbacks heading into the 2024 NFL season, and we discuss them — along with collectability!

We also look back at another one of the greatest Cards That Make Us Happy, which is a rookie card of one of the greatest running backs in NFL history!

Finally, we head over to Patrick Imhoff’s Substack to discuss his curiosity if the Mike Trout rookie card is overvalued or not!

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter! Email me at gonoscards@gmail.com!

Have a Happy Hobby!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Top 25 Most Graded Athletes of All Time! - Ep. 1.19

David Gonos — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:00:25 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

⚾🏈🏀Top 25 Most Graded Athletes According to GemRate.com⚾🏈🏀

We look closer at GemRate.com’s list of the top 25 players from all sports whose cards have been graded and slabbed the most among all the top sports card grading services!

You can read see this list on Instagram here:

And in some cases, we discuss some of the specific cards that have been graded the most by each of these athletes. You can read that chart here on GemRate.com.

⚾TOP 21 ROOKIE CARDS FROM 2024 TOPPS CHROME BASEBALL

Finally, I share the list I posted on DavidGonos.com where I rank the best rookie cards to get out of any 2024 Topps Chrome product! You can read more about that article here!

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Trade Deadline! 7 Players Possibly On the Move - Ep. 1.18

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:00:12 GMT

Each “Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter” pack has a handful of great sports card subjects, helping sports card collectors working with limited budgets – like me!

One of the most exciting times of the baseball season is the possible player movement before the MLB Trade Deadline — which is Tuesday, July 30, at 6pm ET.

Our Patrick Imhoff looks at seven six players who might get traded before the deadline, which means different things for collectors. Some players’ rookie cards will get a little boost, depending on where they land, but some prospects who get traded back for a star might become more valuable because of an increased chance of starring in the majors sooner than later.

Randy Arozarena was already traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle, for Aidan Smith and two other players! What do we think of that!?!

Patrick Imhoff’s newsletter can be found here — check it out when you can! He does some great Thrifty Thursday articles to help us know which prospect and rookie cards we should target!

In this podcast, we also go over how we feel about great youngsters who get busted for Performance Enhancing Drugs! Do we still target their cards? Do we avoid them?

Finally, we head to Pittsburgh to see another great Card That Makes Us Happy — 1973 Topps Roberto Clemente!

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Mail me:DavidGonos.comP.O. Box 36Georgetown, TX 78627

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

Have a #HappyHobby !

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Game Planning For The National Sports Card Convention 1.17

David Gonos and Joshua Scarberry — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 12:25:41 GMT

One of our Happy Hobbyist partners, MJ Family Time Cards, led by Josh and his son Micah, are taking over the podcast with their prep for The National! Happy Hobby. indeed!

Josh and his young son Micah, along with Josh’s wife and daughter are headed to Cleveland this week for The National Sports Card Convention, the largest card show in the world!

This is their first visit, but they’ve done a lot of preparation and watched plenty of videos to know how to attack it! They share all their tips with us, which we can use — even if we’re going to a much smaller card show near us! Here’s the newsletter issue where they list all their tips out!

Also, our Patrick Imhoff shares another nugget on how he would make Fanatics even better if he became CEO before their 2026 unification of the three major sports card licenses. This time, he shares which products he would keep producing — and which cards would be found on the cutting room floor!

Finally, we share one of our all-time favorite Cards That Make Us Happy — the 1971 Topps Thurman Munson All-Star Rookie Cup card!

Have a Happy Hobby! And don’t forget to listen to our Happy Hobby Sports Cards Podcast on Apple or Spotify!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories.

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

[POD] Naming 2024 Topps Rookie Card All-Star Team! - 1.16

David Gonos — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Who doesn’t love the 2024 MLB All-Star break!?! Well, in the Happy Hobby Sports Card world, we take this time to reset, do a fun break of a 2023 Topps Pro Debut hobby box (with a giveaway on YouTube!), and we look back to figure out which of the players with 2024 Topps Rookie Cards from Series 1 and Series 2 are playing the best!?

In this podcast episode, we also discuss what happened at the Dallas Card Show, when someone stole a case full of about $2 million worth of sports cards, including rookie Mickey Mantle cards! How does this affect sports card shows going forward? We try to figure it out.

We also look at the Top 10 Athletes whose cards were graded by PSA in the month of June, 2024, according to GemRate.com. It’s interesting to note that FIVE basketball players made the top-10 on this list, but only two of them are active players!

Finally, I explain how our new “Happy Hobby Zoo” works, with our first resident, Ken Griffey Jr…. I mean Ken Gruffey Jr.! (We have fun.)

We also look at what’s happening in the Happy Hobby World, with links to our new articles listing the Best Topps Chrome Baseball Rookie Cards From Every Year on DavidGonos.com.

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

Subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.15 [POD] 11 Tips For Collecting Sports Cards on a Budget!

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Collecting sports cards is one of the best hobbies around! You can connect with your childhood, connect with your friends and family who also collect, and you can even learn to be at peace while going through your collection. But spending too much money while collecting cards isn’t any fun at all! It can actually rob you of your fun!

We list off close to a dozen pieces of advice to help both novice and experienced collectors alike spend less money while still improving their collections!

Also, Patrick Imhoff continues his manifesto on how he would run Fanatics if he were to become CEO. (We’re actually rooting for this to happen because his ideas are just too good!)

Finally, we look at another one of our favorite “Cards That Make Us Happy!” This time, we’re turning our attention to mid-’80s baseball cards, and one that is etched in the minds of Gen-Xers everywhere! The 1987 Topps Bo Jackson Future Stars card!

Have a Happy Hobby! And don’t forget to listen to our Happy Hobby Sports Cards Podcast on Apple or Spotify!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories.

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.14 [POD] 9 Great Rookie NBA Cards That Never Were

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 10:00:00 GMT

This podcast is the sister to the 1.14 Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter! Each podcast has several subjects, like a pack of cards, with one big hit to start it off!

With the 2024 NBA Draft officially behind us, allowing us to start dreaming of the new rookies in their new rookie jerseys on their new rookie cards, we thought we’d look back at basketball card history. We tracked down nine great rookie basketball cards that we never got to see! In some cases, we saw their rookie cards in later years, but in the case of many of these players, they were more like third-year cards than rookie cards!

While we list nine, 🏀we actually discuss another 13 rookie basketball cards🏀 everyone also missed out on, for various reasons.

🎧Peeking Behind the Podcast Curtain🎧

I shared some numbers I learned about podcasters as they begin to judge the success or failure of their own podcast. How is the “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast measuring up!?! (Spoiler alert: Pretty good!)

Our buddy Patrick Imhoff also shares ⚾three players whose baseball cards he’s down on — as he climbs off their card-collecting bandwagons⚾, with no intentions to get back on!

🏀5 AWESOME EBAY STATS!🏀

Our friends at eBay shared some pretty great news about their vaulting services and their partnership with PSA, but even more importantly, they tell us who the five most bought/sold NBA players were during the 2023-24 NBA season! Can you guess who they were!?!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories.

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.13 [POD] Finally Fixing Fanatics!

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:30:00 GMT

In this podcast, Patrick Imhoff looks ahead to 2026 and he implores Fanatics to make some much-needed changes for the sports card industry to benefit the company, collectors and local card shops. He shares the first of many suggestions in this episode!

Imhoff isn’t done there, though, as he also lists off three rookie cards he’s picking up right now because of three players on the rise! (This is going to be an ongoing series, where he lists off three players he’s growing on and three players he’s liking less than he did before.

I share the list of the top-11 baseball players whose rookie cards have been clicked on the most in the past 30 days from my Best Rookie Cards From Every Topps Baseball Set From Every Year article. Several currently injured players are atop the list, which tells us there are some buy-low opportunities!

Along with Patrick’s picks of who he’s picking up, I share three players (one in baseball, one in basketball and one in football) whose rookie cards I’m considering picking up right now for various reasons!

Finally, I we look at Cards That Make Us Happy, and I go back to the 2007 Topps Series 1 release to find our latest fun gem. Derek Jeter swinging from his heels, with Mickey Mantle behind him in the dugout and U.S. President George W. Bush waving from the stands! It’s a fun card — and a fun history!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories.

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.12 [POD] Risers, Releases and Replies

David Gonos and Chris Clegg — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 21:00:00 GMT

This is a super special episode, as Chris Clegg from The Dynasty Dugout shares three great under-the-radar prospects whose 1st Bowman cards are worth picking up right now! This podcast is the sister to the Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter from June 13.

Not only does Chris rattle off three great pickup possibilities, including two shortstops and an outfielder, but we also look at the 2024 Topps Series 2 release, which includes me ranking the 11 Best Rookies to get from the latest release.

I also list share the best rookie cards in each sport from over 30 years ago, in the wonderful year of 1993, when Derek Jeter and Jerome Bettis ruled the day, at DavidGonos.com!

Finally, we answer a question from a collector whose friend inherited a binder full of 1953 Topps baseball cards! Should he try to pull them out? How? Should he check with a local card shop or see what one of the big professional houses think?

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories.

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.11 [POD] 3 Bowman 1sts, 2 Fanatical Years and 1 Supersonic Card

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 22:40:39 GMT

Who doesn’t love looking at great baseball prospects to see if their Bowman 1st cards might be worth picking up!?! This podcast is the sister to the Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter from June 6.

In this episode, I read off which three prospects Patrick Imhoff is hunting down. I also share what we can look forward to in two years when Fanatics finally unifies the sports card hobby belt, bringing baseball, basketball and football cards altogether again.

I also list off the 11 most popular rookie cards being clicked on at DavidGonos.com!

Finally, we share another Card That Makes Us Happy — the 2007 Topps Kevin Durant rookie card — view on eBay!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories.

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.10 [POD] Good Injuries & Great Gibson!

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT

This is the free version of the “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter, with the paid version coming again next week, as they are on a weekly rotation.

Patrick Imhoff looks at a handful of Topps Baseball rookie cards we might want to consider picking up (especially the Topps Gold parallels of those cards) of players who are close to returning from injuries!

Also, with the news that MLB added Negro League stats to the official MLB statistics book, we thought it was a good idea to look back at some awesome Negro League subsets that you can buy now from the past 25 years! From Josh Gibson to Satchel Paige to Buck O’Neill to Rube Foster, you can get some really cool cards of really cool players for cheap.

Finally, we review the best rookie cards from every sport in the year 1965! There are some legends on this list — from baseball rookie cards to hockey rookie cards to football rookie cards! Here’s a link to where you can find them all!

All sports card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com.

Consider becoming a paid subscriber for $6 per month, or $60 per year (20% discount from monthly!). Get into the “Paid Sub” group early and get to know the other subscribers in the chat! As a group, we’ll work to help you improve your collection on a limited budget!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

PAID SUBSCRIBERS GET:

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter once a week

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast once a week

* Access to Chat with other paying subscribers, where you can ask questions, post your pickups, post your hits, and see what the other Happy Hobbyists are up to.

* 3 Players Whose Cards I’m Picking Up and Why (Guest writers will also chime in here)

* Cards That Make Us Happy

* Rankings (cards, sets, years, players, etc.)

* Random Monthly Free Card Giveaway

* Access to the post archives

* Everything the free subscribers already get

FREE SUBSCRIBERS GET:

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter (bi-weekly)

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast (bi-weekly)

* Hobby news/views/reactions (bi-weekly)

* Happy Hobby Poll (bi-weekly)

* Happy Hobby Moment (bi-weekly)

* Site updates including which new rookie cards have been added/removed to our Best Rookie Cards articles (bi-weekly)

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter! Have a Happy Hobby!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

· Twitter/X @DavidGonos

· Instagram @DavidGonos

· Facebook

· TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.09 [POD] Finding Old Young Guns & Bowman Baseball Packs

David Gonos, Patrick Imhoff, and Joshua Scarberry — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:30:00 GMT

This podcast is for sports card collectors working with a limited budget! It’s the free version of our weekly newsletter/podcast!

In this episode, which is the sister to the newsletter at gonos.substack.com, we discuss some great hockey rookie cards you might be interested in picking up, whether you got a Connor Bedard Young Gun rookie card or not! Our Happy Hockey Hobbyist Patrick Imhoff shares some “older” Young Guns of players still on the rise!

Another one of our favorite Happy Hobbyists, Josh Scarberry of the YouTube channel, MJ Family Time Cards, shared a great trick to get tons of good Bowman prospects (both paper and chrome) in packs! I haven’t heard of this little trick — and Josh lays it all out for us! It’s legal, too!

All sports card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com.

PAID SUBSCRIBERS GET:

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter once a week

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast once a week

* Access to Chat with other paying subscribers, where you can ask questions, post your pickups, post your hits, and see what the other Happy Hobbyists are up to.

* 3 Players Whose Cards I’m Picking Up and Why (Guest writers will also chime in here)

* Cards That Make Us Happy

* Rankings (cards, sets, years, players, etc.)

* Random Monthly Free Card Giveaway

* Access to the post archives

* Everything the free subscribers already get

FREE SUBSCRIBERS GET:

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter (bi-weekly)

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast (bi-weekly)

* Hobby news/views/reactions (bi-weekly)

* Happy Hobby Poll (bi-weekly)

* Happy Hobby Moment (bi-weekly)

* Site updates including which new rookie cards have been added/removed to our Best Rookie Cards articles (bi-weekly)

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.8 [POD] Skenes Scene & Wemby Wins!

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT

This podcast is for sports card collectors working with a limited budget!

In this episode, which is the sister to the newsletter at gonos.substack.com, we discuss the arrival of Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh, as well as the Rookie-of-the-Year Award won by Victor Wembanyama! What do those two news items mean for card collectors!

Future Pirates ace Paul Skenes joined the big-league club last month, and our resident Pirates fan and card collector Patrick Imhoff compares the hype surrounding Skenes with five pitchers from the past 20 years.

He also helps card collectors and card investors decide on whether they should buy a 1st Bowman Refractor card of Skenes right now or if they should wait.

WEMBY WINS ROY!

Not only did Wembanyama win Rookie of the Year, but he won the award unanimously! That has only been done five other times, so I break down that handful of other players that did it, and looked at what their hobby legacy became later on.

BEST ROOKIE CARDS FROM 1976

At DavidGonos.com, we’ve already done the research to find the Best Rookie Cards From Every Year In Each Sport. We look back nearly 50 years ago to see which players had the best rookie cards from 1976 in each of the four main sports. One of these players turned out to have one of the most iconic cards in sports card history!

All sports card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com.

PAID SUBSCRIBERS GET:

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter once a week

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast once a week

* Access to Chat with other paying subscribers, where you can ask questions, post your pickups, post your hits, and see what the other Happy Hobbyists are up to.

* 3 Players Whose Cards I’m Picking Up and Why (Guest writers will also chime in here)

* Cards That Make Us Happy

* Rankings (cards, sets, years, players, etc.)

* Random Monthly Free Card Giveaway

* Access to the post archives

* Everything the free subscribers already get

FREE SUBSCRIBERS GET:

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Newsletter (bi-weekly)

* “Happy Hobby Sports Cards” Podcast (bi-weekly)

* Hobby news/views/reactions (bi-weekly)

* Happy Hobby Poll (bi-weekly)

* Happy Hobby Moment (bi-weekly)

* Site updates including which new rookie cards have been added/removed to our Best Rookie Cards articles (bi-weekly)

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter! Have a Happy Hobby!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

· Twitter/X @DavidGonos

· Instagram @DavidGonos

· Facebook

· TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.7 [POD] Peeks, Paolo & Potential RC Pickups

David Gonos — Fri, 31 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

Our “Happy Hobby” world went through a little transition over the past few weeks, as we turned on the pay wall with Substack. I explain in this podcast why there will now be a free version of the “Happy Hobby” newsletter and podcast, but there will also be a "premium” version that Happy Hobbyists can pay $6 monthly or $60 annually (a 20% discount!).

This particular episode is free to everyone, but it is an example of what premium subscribers should expect going forward.

3 Players Whose Cards We’re Picking Up!

While we aren’t financial advisors by any means, we are sports card collectors working on a limited budget, like most of my listening audience! So we thought it would be smart to share players we’re looking at, and picking up their cards!

Paolo Banchero is the biggest player on the list, but there are a couple more interesting ones to consider, too!

I also share my list of the top-10 sports card releases I get excited about every single year! What products are your favorites that you anticipate the most?

Patrick’s Picks

My man Patrick Imhoff joins the party with three 2023 rookie cards he’s grabbing now that he’s had a full year to realize these guys are buy-worthy! Two are middle infielders and one is a catcher!

Cards That Make Us Happy!

One of the most popular features in our Happy Hobby newsletters has been our “Cards That Make Us Happy” feature, which digs a little deeper into the background of a pretty awesome card!

This week’s card is actually a short print! But man, it’s pretty awesome, highlighting one of the most-anticipated rookie debuts of the 21st century! Can you guess who it is? If you can’t get it, you might have pie on your face!

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

Connect with me on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.6 [POD] Old Pre-Rookies?

David Gonos — Tue, 28 May 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Anyone involved in this Happy Hobby of ours is a big fan of rookie cards. Who isn’t!?! But we look back in time to talk about how Classic Draft cards, way back in the early ‘90s, changed how we see sports cards.

While many people weren’t fans of seeing players in college or high school uniforms, others were elated to now have another way to collect.

Some, like myself, were bigger college sports fans than pro fans, so getting young University of Miami football players, or Duke University basketball players, was fantastic! I was a huge Syracuse University basketball fan, so I got to pick up cards back in the day of guys like Lawrence Moten and David Johnson, but then I also got cards recently of Jimmy and Buddy Boeheim!

In this podcast, we also dive into the Topps Living set, looking at how the set is constructed, and why Wander Franco’s card makes us so mad!

We also take a look back at some Jackson “Holliday Anxiety,” wondering what his recent promotion/demotion means for collectors.

I look back at the top 11 baseball rookie cards clicked on from my Best Rookies article on my website, DavidGonos.com.

Cards That Make Us Happy! 1975 Topps Herb Washington

We also look back at a card from the 1975 Topps set that marked a point in Topps history, with the position designation for Herb Washington as “Pinch Run.” Why is that so cool? Listen and you’ll find out!

Let us know if you have any ideas for the podcast and/or the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

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Subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

======================================

Connect with me on:

* Twitter/X @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.5 [POD] Holliday Memories

David Gonos — Wed, 22 May 2024 13:30:00 GMT

This podcast mirrors the “Holliday Memories” newsletter we posted recently. It happens to have two great contributions from two of our great contributors, Patrick Imhoff and Scott Hedrick!

While one of the main subjects about this podcast is the arrival (and departure) of MLB’s top prospect, Jackson Holliday, to the major leagues, the biggest story in the podcast episode is actually what Happy Hobbyist Scott Hedrick shares.

Scott explains how our sports card hobby has affected his family positively in a major way, and it really is one of the more heartwarming stories I’ve heard about this hobby.

We also discuss the amazingness that is Dave Winfield — one of the greatest athletes in the history of the 20th century!

Patrick Imhoff shares which cards you’ll want to scoop up of Jackson Holliday’s, and now that he bounced back to the minors, you should be able to get them at an even better price!

I also thought it would be fun to rank my five favorite Topps card designs from the last quarter of the last century. What were your favorite card designs?

We also go back in time to 1992 for the latest “Cards That Make Us Happy,'“ with a closer look at Mariano Rivera’s Bowman rookie card. Such a classic look!

Dan Herman, of the Dan’s Sports Card Stack newsletter, chimes in with a great recap of a game from 2005, with Braves rookie Ryan Langerhans saving the day against the Astros!

Finally, our latest poll asked you which set of rookie cards from baseball, basketball and football, would you want the most from these years: 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2023?

Let us know what you think of the podcast and the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

======================================

Subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

======================================

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.4 [POD] Cards of Future Past!

David Gonos, Patrick Imhoff, and Ryan Daley — Tue, 14 May 2024 13:40:04 GMT

Welcome back for another sports cards podcast! This episode mirrors the newsletter we posted entitled, “Cards of Future Past,” which is the fourth newsletter we shipped out!

We discuss the awesomeness that is the 2024 Topps Heritage Baseball card set that was released in April, which has current players on current cards designed to look like the old 1975 Topps design. That look, in my humble opinion, is one of the all-time greatest looks ever!

Gorgeous design, tons of SPs, cool inserts — and look at this list of superstar rookies on the checklist: Evan Carter, Curtis Mead, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Junior Caminero, Masyn Winn, Noelvi Marte, Jasson Dominguez, Jordan Lawlar, Elly De La Cruz, and Endy Rodriguez.

Also, Patrick Imhoff shares some great “Alternative Collecting Ideas,” which will help make your collection even more fun (if you can imagine that!). He shares a few alternative ways to put together smaller sets that may be more meaningful to you.

We also list the Top 11 Baseball Rookie Cards clicked on from DavidGonos.com in the month of March! The top-five are from the latest 2024 Topps Series 1 release!

Ryan Daley also shares a cool article on 59 Great 2nd-Year Baseball Cards and he expounds on the 1962 Topps Billy Williams card! It’s a beaut! — and much cooler than Williams’ rookie card!

Daley also shares why the 1978 Topps Rookie Shortstops #707 card is extra special in baseball card history!

Finally, I share some interesting baseball history surrounding the arrival of Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford, who started the 2024 MLB season in the Rangers’ Opening Day lineup!

Let us know what you think of the podcast and the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

======================================

Subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

======================================

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.3 [POD] Bedard Young Guns, Buying Raw Vintage & Giveaway Talk

David Gonos — Fri, 10 May 2024 13:30:00 GMT

This podcast reflects what we talked about in our newsletter entitled, “Bedard Be Popular, Bubble Gum and Raw Vintage,” where we put on our skates and really dig into what Chicago Blackhawks rookie superstar Connor Bedard means for the hobby!

Patrick Imhoff shares his top-five Young Guns, so if you get shut out on pulling a Bedard rookie card out of 2023-24 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2, you can still do well with some of these other fellas!

We also look into giveaways that content creators do, and find out — why do we do giveaways? The answer isn’t what you’d expect!

I also brought in Garrett Wells from “Ballpark Memories” YouTube Channel and Twitter account to explain to us why buying raw vintage cards is an opportunity many people are missing out on!

Finally, we look at one of the all-time great:

CARDS THAT MAKE US HAPPY!

* 1976 Topps Bubble Gum Blowing Champ Card Kurt Bevacqua

Let us know what you think of the podcast and the newsletter!

Have a Happy Hobby!

======================================

Subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

======================================

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.2 [POD] Encouragers, Error Cards & MC Hammer

David Gonos, Brent Olson, and Patrick Imhoff — Mon, 06 May 2024 13:30:00 GMT

We’re back with a breakdown of our second newsletter, “Encouragers, Enemies and Errors,” and thanks for coming along for the podcast ride! We’re trying to get caught up, having a podcast reading for each of our newsletter issues, so we’re posting these every few days until we get caught up!

In this episode, we break down how our sports card spouses and significant others can either become encouraging for our collections, enemies of our collections or enablers! Interestingly, we explain how to turn an “enemy” into an “encourager,” and we explain how the “enabler” is far worse than the “enemy”!

Brent from “Brutus on Baseball” also pops in to share a great story about one of the greatest error/non-error card sets in sports card history!

With Fantasy Baseball season well underway, we look at the Average Draft Positions of some players to determine some undervalued rookie cards we should consider picking up!

My “Best Rookie Football Cards Ever” article has every great rookie card from every season, dating back to the ‘50s, with links to those cards on eBay. So I shared the top-12 rookie football cards that were clicked on in the month of March. There are definitely some interesting ones on here, with one of the newest NFL superstars at the top!

Patrick Imhoff checks in with some great tips on joining card breaks, adding some excellent advice for people wondering if breaking is for them!

One of our favorite sections, “Cards That Make Us Happy,” looks back to 1975 Topps and a card that is just “Too Legit to Quit!” because of who might be pictured!

MLB Network listed their Top 100 Players Right Now list in March, and after tracking down all their rookie cards, I found some interesting data that should affect our collecting going forward!

We think you’ll enjoy this listen back on one of our first newsletters!

Have a Happy Hobby!

======================================

Subscribe to the Happy Hobby Sports Card Newsletter!

Visit DavidGonos.com for more sports card stories!

The Dandy Dozen Video Series – Best Players to Collect in Each Sport, in Each Era!

======================================

Connect with me on:

* Twitter @DavidGonos

* Instagram @DavidGonos

* Facebook

* TikTok

Email me: GonosCards@gmail.com

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

1.1 Topps Series 1 Reactions, Rookie Picks, Tips on Buying Vintage Wax Packs

David Gonos and Patrick Imhoff — Fri, 03 May 2024 21:45:00 GMT

In our first ever true podcast episode, David shares a great story about how the 1978 Topps set actually influenced how he opens up packs four decades later. And how he eats popcorn in a movie theater!?!

We look at the 2024 Topps Series 1 rookie cards and how this set has already impacted the hobby!

We also talk with “Wax Pack Dad,” whose YouTube Videos are some of the most entertaining vintage pack openings you’ll see, and he shares some smart tips on how to buy vintage packs on eBay with reduced chances of being duped!

The first five years of Upper Deck Baseball cards saw a player from ONE team end up with the card number 666 every single season! Why!?!

In this week’s newsletter, we talked about “Cards That Make Us Happy” – 1969 Topps Aurelio Rodriguez 653. Is it Aurelio or is it Au-Fake-io!?!

Patrick Imhoff shares two cards he thinks are great buys now — and you can even get their Topps Gold numbered rookie cards on the cheap!

Then finally, we share our Happy Hobby poll, asking the question: “Which Player Are You Most Excited To See (Hopefully) in 2024 Topps Series 2?”

Have a Happy Hobby!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com

Our Sports Cards "Happy Hobby" Podcast!

David Gonos — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 01:22:23 GMT

After writing about Fantasy Sports for over 20 years online with companies like CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, and more, I’ve pivoted to cover the hobby I love most: sports card collecting! In our newsletter, we share “11 cards in every pack,” which just means 11 different sports card collecting topics! They could range from baseball cards to football cards to basketball cards to hockey cards and everything in between! My whole writing career is based off of helping others enjoy their hobby more with less money, whether it’s Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Football or collecting sports cards! This podcast will follow the lead from my “Happy Hobby Newsletter,” my DavidGonos.com website and my David Gonos YouTube channel. Drop me a line and tell me what you think!

Podcast Music: "I dunno" by grapes - 2008 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gonos.substack.com