HBO's Real Sports Will Cover Baseball Card Boom

[marzoumanian]

A simple head's up. I just read that HBO's Real Sports (hosted by Bryan Gumbel) will have a segment on the booming baseball card industry. It airs tomorrow evening, 8/24. It will be interesting to see the angles they cover/people they interview. Peace.

[mrreality68]

Agreed should be interesting

Also good for the hobby to keep getting awareness about to create new interest

[Snowman]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to check it out.

[rjackson44]

What time please

[marzoumanian]

is what its website says. Peace.

[rjackson44]

Omg im in bed lol

[chriskim]

I don't have HBO.. hopefully someone will upload that on youtube later

[byrone]

With more and more extensive and high-profile media coverage, I'm thinking it's signaling a market top for the "hobby", or it's at least a warning that "jumping the shark" is in play

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by byrone

With more and more extensive and high-profile media coverage, I'm thinking it's signaling a market top for the "hobby", or it's at least a warning that "jumping the shark" is in play

market top already happened early spring. perhaps a signal of the great decline?

[Kawika]

HBO is part of my cable package but tonight's listings don't show anything remotely related to the "booming baseball card industry". Does HBO have more than one channel or might it be that I live in Canada? Any of you Great White Northerners have it figured out?

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by marzoumanian

I just read that HBO's Real Sports (hosted by Bryan Gumbel) will have a segment on the booming baseball card industry.

I don't think it's a good idea to cover only baseball cards cause' the real winners are basketball and soccer. If HBO wants to make this doc interesting, then they gotta' cover those areas as well.

[marzoumanian]

The website says SPORTS cards industry will be covered on the Real Sports show (hosted by Mr. Gumbel) tonight. My boo-boo.

[Snowman]

You can access it from the HBO app, assuming you have a subscription. Just log in and go to 'Sports', then click on 'Series', then scroll to 'Real Sports with Brian Gumbel'. Looks like it's a monthly show, so the August episode will probably show up in there tonight.

[aconte]

I must have missed the decline in prices because every where I look things
are still going higher and higher.

[Bobbycee]

I hope Gumbel keep race out of the discussion. I bet he'll make at least 1 passing comment about it.

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Bobbycee

I hope Gumbel keep race out of the discussion. I bet he'll make at least 1 passing comment about it.

Not a fan of Mr. Gumbel. So, gonna pass on that one.

[1954 topps]

Originally Posted by aconte

I must have missed the decline in prices because every where I look things
are still going higher and higher.

Absolutely, vintage prices are at record high levels. There has been no decline yet especially on high grade.

[Johnny630]

To many people are too bullish for me to not think about trimming and cutting back. I’ve been wrong for the past few years it just going up. That being said I’m fearful not selling and definitely not buying.

[BobbyStrawberry]

What time is this supposed to be on?

[mrreality68]

Some one please provide a recap once it airs since many of us do not have HBO

or if their is a LINK on some or all of it.

Please let us know

Thanks in advance

[danf19]

Not seeing it on tonight’s hbo schedule anyone else see it ??
Thanks

[Bicem]

Thought it was fine. Mostly around the modern surge and $$$$ that's now involved.

Highlights:
Some 18 year old's $3M modern basketball collection after the surge and how he's now worth more than his father and is skipping college to focus on cards.

Some high-end private collector showing some of his cards like a Wagner and the huge security team he uses when transporting cards. Had a case of 24 cards worth $40M, mostly high grade mainstream Ruth, Cobb, Jackson, Aaron, Mantle, Robinson (going from memory) and the Wagner (PSA 3 I think).

Some shop owner that does live breaks and is now making millions after the surge. Shows him attending the National via private jet.

Lots of video from the National. Interview with our favorite FBI agent.

Some collector of NBA Top Shot and explaining non tangible digital collectibles.

Think that was about it unless I'm missing something.

[MattyC]

I hope they covered all the massive manipulation behind the surge in prices. Even if one loves cards and collecting, to participate in the hobby these days--- especially in the expensive end-- makes one feel like a mark at worst or in desperate need of a shower at best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvLFEh7V18A

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Thought it was fine. Mostly around the modern surge and $$$$ that's now involved.

Highlights:
Some 18 year old's $3M modern basketball collection after the surge and how he's now worth more than his father and is skipping college to focus on cards.

Some high-end private collector showing some of his cards like a Wagner and the huge security team he uses when transporting cards. Had a case of 24 cards worth $40M, mostly high grade mainstream Ruth, Cobb, Jackson, Aaron, Mantle, Robinson (going from memory) and the Wagner (PSA 3 I think).

Some shop owner that does live breaks and is now making millions after the surge. Shows him attending the National via private jet.

Lots of video from the National. Interview with our favorite FBI agent.

Some collector of NBA Top Shot and explaining non tangible digital collectibles.

Think that was about it unless I'm missing something.

Thanks for the highlights on it

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I hope they covered all the massive manipulation behind the surge in prices. Even if one loves cards and collecting, to participate in the hobby these days--- especially in the expensive end-- makes one feel like a mark at worst or in desperate need of a shower at best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvLFEh7V18A

Agree but doubt they will. That would have to be on an American Greed Show.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I hope they covered all the massive manipulation behind the surge in prices. Even if one loves cards and collecting, to participate in the hobby these days--- especially in the expensive end-- makes one feel like a mark at worst or in desperate need of a shower at best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvLFEh7V18A

No mention of that

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Agree but doubt they will. That would have to be on an American Greed Show.

Yep, as well it should be. Things just don't surge naturally the way so many cards have. But enthusiastic participants want to believe they are making savvy buys on an ever upward slope— and that belief is seemingly supported by a reality created by the AH's and TPGs that are in cahoots (and now even incestuously co-owned).

We all long knew of the cozy relationship between AHs and TPGs. The favorable grades given. The direct lines of contact between the AH heads and Orlando. The "Invitationals" where high-volume submitters/doctors were granted physical audience with the graders, where the doctors were actually told what to fix on a card, to get the card into a higher graded holder. All this shade has long been out in the open, so it amazes me there are people who believe the price surges of the past two years are due solely to natural demand and new money. After all, one part of creating a trap/bubble is the drawing in of new money who believe there is a real market developing. That belief is nutured and fostered by the prices that the AHs record.

Is there genuine demand at some level? Of course; it's the mass of collectors who form that key backbone of genuine demand; then the shady AHs and TPGs stand on that backbone to take things to where they are now.

We can only hope something happens to catalyze a massive correction; that may only be collectors all abstaining, which is impossible, LOL. Theoretically, if collectors left the sordid sandbox, that would leave just a bunch of manipulators passing the hot potato around with no marks in sight. Then maybe they'd just leave— and we'd see what prices look like then.

Of course, when collectors returned, so would the manipulators. And as prices rose once again, too many myopic mark collectors would break out their pom-poms to cheer their rising card values, not realizing all else they're cheering for— which includes more money out of their pockets due to higher prices, LOL.

[MattyC]

By the way, that video on manipulation was just poofed on the PSA boards. Unsurprisingly, LOL.

But what do we expect when the same guys own the TPGs and the AHs.

God Forbid we collector marks get wise and discuss how these guys are using our love of collecting to fuel steroidal prices and line their pockets.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I hope they covered all the massive manipulation behind the surge in prices. Even if one loves cards and collecting, to participate in the hobby these days--- especially in the expensive end-- makes one feel like a mark at worst or in desperate need of a shower at best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvLFEh7V18A

That’s a wild watch. Pretty much a perfect apples to apples for cards. Certainly paints Jim Halperin as a real POS.

[Brian Van Horn]

It should be interesting in a couple years. Just saying.

[Harliduck]

I enjoyed the segment for the most part...that was a great recap by Bicem.


The card shop owner that took the jet to the National didn't make sense to me. I get making money on the new shiny stuff, pack breaks, all that...but they didn't give much info on how he is making "millions". I assume he must have cashed in a few new 1 of 1 cards or something, but that guy didn't add up to me...and came off as a douche.

The 18 year old kid seems pretty savvy. Loved his line that his generation will look at an Aaron rookie the same as past generations looked at a Picasso. Great comment...

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Agree but doubt they will. That would have to be on an American Greed Show.

Anyone know those directors to get a show produced?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[philo98]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I hope they covered all the massive manipulation behind the surge in prices. Even if one loves cards and collecting, to participate in the hobby these days--- especially in the expensive end-- makes one feel like a mark at worst or in desperate need of a shower at best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvLFEh7V18A

This is an excellent video and is no doubt happening in the sports card market today. Probably could also include the memorabilia market as well.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Some shop owner that does live breaks and is now making millions after the surge. Shows him attending the National via private jet.

Seems like this is a way to make good money these days. Not sure how one would make millions doing it unless you've got a monetized Youtube channel that's doing huge numbers of views. But breaks are super popular right now and there's a lot money to be made doing them.

[Foo3112]

Thanks for providing those highlight recaps. I'll have to try and find it online somewhere since I don't have an HBO subscription.

[Mountaineer1999]

I found it a little depressing as I've made no money ��

[Vegas Cards]

Am I the only one that felt worried for that kid? I hope he goes to college. Take some business classes. More than just the learning, it's a great opportunity to expand horizons, see what else is out there in the world. And I hope someone is telling him to diversify. Sell some cards. Buy a duplex. Buy the S&P 500. Anything. I'd hate to hear about him in his twenties, no college, having lost it all. Too depressing.

[68Hawk]

I just can't help my disbelief for all the posters on here living in the sunk hole existence of a 'ruined' hobby. All the corrections you seek, the dirty tricks that have distorted you're favorite pastime, the nefarious monsters inside your nightmares.

Don't you people realize you are a speck on the side of a mountain sized group that makes up the collector community? Most couldn't give a fig for your lamentations and will drive the hobby forward in popularity and success that cements its place in our past times. Sounds like many of you would rather burn it down than have it be something you'd prefer it wasn't.

The cards were pennies and then dollars and then tens of dollars or hundreds of dollars, until they became thousands of dollars and now millions of dollars.
140 years of inevitable increasing desirability and cost and pleasure to huge numbers of people across the world, corrections here and there but telling the same greater story over time....

People want the cards, are willing to pay to own them, and as competition to own them has grown from children to odd non mainstream basement dwelling hobbyists to widespread sports loving populace, the price has gone ever upwards.
Not for dreck. Not for everything. Not for the purpose of owning full sets.
But for enjoying a card or cards of your favorite heroes.
Much as it was for the kids just after the turn of the 20th century.

If you're smart, you'll continue to hold the valuable and important cards you collected at relatively small entry prices, and perhaps sell them in your retirement at wonderfully high numbers. Or pass them along to your fortunate descendants.

What a bunch of whiny old geezers (I'm 52) you all come across as.
You should get out of the hobby to minimize your angst, the railing is such a waste when no one is making you collect.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by 68Hawk

I just can't help my disbelief for all the posters on here living in the sunk hole existence of a 'ruined' hobby. All the corrections you seek, the dirty tricks that have distorted you're favorite pastime, the nefarious monsters inside your nightmares.

Don't you people realize you are a speck on the side of a mountain sized group that makes up the collector community? Most couldn't give a fig for your lamentations and will drive the hobby forward in popularity and success that cements its place in our past times. Sounds like many of you would rather burn it down than have it be something you'd prefer it wasn't.

The cards were pennies and then dollars and then tens of dollars or hundreds of dollars, until they became thousands of dollars and now millions of dollars.
140 years of inevitable increasing desirability and cost and pleasure to huge numbers of people across the world, corrections here and there but telling the same greater story over time....

People want the cards, are willing to pay to own them, and as competition to own them has grown from children to odd non mainstream basement dwelling hobbyists to widespread sports loving populace, the price has gone ever upwards.
Not for dreck. Not for everything. Not for the purpose of owning full sets.
But for enjoying a card or cards of your favorite heroes.
Much as it was for the kids just after the turn of the 20th century.

If you're smart, you'll continue to hold the valuable and important cards you collected at relatively small entry prices, and perhaps sell them in your retirement at wonderfully high numbers. Or pass them along to your fortunate descendants.

What a bunch of whiny old geezers (I'm 52) you all come across as.
You should get out of the hobby to minimize your angst, the railing is such a waste when no one is making you collect.

I'm half way to 66, but I agree with you.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by 68hawk

i just can't help my disbelief for all the posters on here living in the sunk hole existence of a 'ruined' hobby. All the corrections you seek, the dirty tricks that have distorted you're favorite pastime, the nefarious monsters inside your nightmares.

Don't you people realize you are a speck on the side of a mountain sized group that makes up the collector community? Most couldn't give a fig for your lamentations and will drive the hobby forward in popularity and success that cements its place in our past times. Sounds like many of you would rather burn it down than have it be something you'd prefer it wasn't.

The cards were pennies and then dollars and then tens of dollars or hundreds of dollars, until they became thousands of dollars and now millions of dollars.
140 years of inevitable increasing desirability and cost and pleasure to huge numbers of people across the world, corrections here and there but telling the same greater story over time....

People want the cards, are willing to pay to own them, and as competition to own them has grown from children to odd non mainstream basement dwelling hobbyists to widespread sports loving populace, the price has gone ever upwards.
Not for dreck. Not for everything. Not for the purpose of owning full sets.
But for enjoying a card or cards of your favorite heroes.
Much as it was for the kids just after the turn of the 20th century.

If you're smart, you'll continue to hold the valuable and important cards you collected at relatively small entry prices, and perhaps sell them in your retirement at wonderfully high numbers. Or pass them along to your fortunate descendants.

What a bunch of whiny old geezers (i'm 52) you all come across as.
You should get out of the hobby to minimize your angst, the railing is such a waste when no one is making you collect.

Amen!

[Mountaineer1999]

Originally Posted by 68Hawk

I just can't help my disbelief for all the posters on here living in the sunk hole existence of a 'ruined' hobby. All the corrections you seek, the dirty tricks that have distorted you're favorite pastime, the nefarious monsters inside your nightmares.

Don't you people realize you are a speck on the side of a mountain sized group that makes up the collector community? Most couldn't give a fig for your lamentations and will drive the hobby forward in popularity and success that cements its place in our past times. Sounds like many of you would rather burn it down than have it be something you'd prefer it wasn't.

The cards were pennies and then dollars and then tens of dollars or hundreds of dollars, until they became thousands of dollars and now millions of dollars.
140 years of inevitable increasing desirability and cost and pleasure to huge numbers of people across the world, corrections here and there but telling the same greater story over time....

People want the cards, are willing to pay to own them, and as competition to own them has grown from children to odd non mainstream basement dwelling hobbyists to widespread sports loving populace, the price has gone ever upwards.
Not for dreck. Not for everything. Not for the purpose of owning full sets.
But for enjoying a card or cards of your favorite heroes.
Much as it was for the kids just after the turn of the 20th century.

If you're smart, you'll continue to hold the valuable and important cards you collected at relatively small entry prices, and perhaps sell them in your retirement at wonderfully high numbers. Or pass them along to your fortunate descendants.

What a bunch of whiny old geezers (I'm 52) you all come across as.
You should get out of the hobby to minimize your angst, the railing is such a waste when no one is making you collect.

No one complained or if they did it was minimal. Maybe people miss what it used to be and say so.. is that ok? Kids have been entirely pushed out of baseball card collecting, that is unless you're a rich suburban kid that daddy gives you 5k to take a chance on an NBA rookie card.

[jayshum]

I watched the show, and I still don't understand how the NBA is selling video highlights that some guy has a collection of that is now worth $12 million (down from $20 million). From what was said, the highlights can be seen online by others than him so how is there any value (let alone millions) in owning them? He said something about them being officially licensed NBA products, but I just don't get it. Can anyone explain it to me?

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I watched the show, and I still don't understand how the NBA is selling video highlights that some guy has a collection of that is now worth $12 million (down from $20 million). From what was said, the highlights can be seen online by others than him so how is there any value (let alone millions) in owning them? He said something about them being officially licensed NBA products, but I just don't get it. Can anyone explain it to me?

I too will anxiously await an explanation as that made no sense to me at all. They even played his "valuable" highlights on the show...I don't get that one at all...I wouldn't pay 5 bucks for that. Maybe he can sell them or rent them for commercials or something? Would he have the right?

[68Hawk]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer1999

No one complained or if they did it was minimal. Maybe people miss what it used to be and say so.. is that ok? Kids have been entirely pushed out of baseball card collecting, that is unless you're a rich suburban kid that daddy gives you 5k to take a chance on an NBA rookie card.

No one has complained??????
Do you read this forum?
EVERY OTHER BLOODY THREAD descends into this caterwauling of the ruination of the hobby, the deviousness of its backyard doctors, the looming price crash that must be inevitable...Good lord man, are you freakin serious?

Secondly, it's absolute rubbish that kids have been priced out of card collecting.
Buying boxes and packs? Sure, way to expensive for most.
But the individual cards themselves have never been more available or nearly as cheap as 99.5% of ALL CARDS LISTED ON EBAY. You even get to pick and choose exactly who you'd like to look at every day instead of simply filling a 9 pocket holder with players you thumb past with little to no interest.
Seriously, if you take out the high end cards (mainly rookies) of the very best players, you can collect by teams or sets for very very VERY little money.

This idea that because you can't afford a Mantle, or Gehrig, or Jeter rook, or current day heartthrob in one of their important issues relegates ALL collecting to nothingness and beyond young collectors is ridiculous.

If you are ok collecting non contemporaneous card issues of HOF players, then even then the options are innumerable to add cards of your favorite players to your collection.

This silliness you parrot needs to stop.
Just please, stop.
It's not true, and doesn't even make any sense.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

I too will anxiously await an explanation as that made no sense to me at all. They even played his "valuable" highlights on the show...I don't get that one at all...I wouldn't pay 5 bucks for that. Maybe he can sell them or rent them for commercials or something? Would he have the right?

No, an NFT conveys no rights of use. You don't have the ability to license your clip to Nike or whatever. Think of it as owning a digital music download. You own the music, but not the rights to it. The only difference is instead of millions of downloads, as in music, there may be only a handful available of a given clip.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

No, an NFT conveys no rights of use. You don't have the ability to license your clip to Nike or whatever. Think of it as owning a digital music download. You own the music, but not the rights to it. The only difference is instead of millions of downloads, as in music, there may be only a handful available of a given clip.

Count me as another that is scratching his head over these video highlights. To make matters worse, the collector's explanation on the show made no sense and made him sound like a desperate used car salesman trying to make sure his investment doesn't tank any further.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by mr2686

Count me as another that is scratching his head over these video highlights. To make matters worse, the collector's explanation on the show made no sense and made him sound like a desperate used car salesman trying to make sure his investment doesn't tank any further.

He supposedly spent around $200K and his investment is worth around $12 million so I think he's still doing ok, but I still don't get it. From what Scott posted, I understand that there may be a limited number of downloads available for a given highlight, but if it's available elsewhere online for free (or even shown on the HBO show) then how are people willing to pay so much for one? People may ask why someone will pay millions for a card, but if I own a specific card, then no one else can own that card. That doesn't seem to be the case with the highlights.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by jayshum

He supposedly spent around $200K and his investment is worth around $12 million so I think he's still doing ok, but I still don't get it. From what Scott posted, I understand that there may be a limited number of downloads available for a given highlight, but if it's available elsewhere online for free (or even shown on the HBO show) then how are people willing to pay so much for one? People may ask why someone will pay millions for a card, but if I own a specific card, then no one else can own that card. That doesn't seem to be the case with the highlights.

My first thought is if it's currently valued at $12M...SELL SELL SELL!

He did come off as a used car salesman...

[Mountaineer1999]

Originally Posted by 68Hawk

No one has complained??????
Do you read this forum?
EVERY OTHER BLOODY THREAD descends into this caterwauling of the ruination of the hobby, the deviousness of its backyard doctors, the looming price crash that must be inevitable...Good lord man, are you freakin serious?

Secondly, it's absolute rubbish that kids have been priced out of card collecting.
Buying boxes and packs? Sure, way to expensive for most.
But the individual cards themselves have never been more available or nearly as cheap as 99.5% of ALL CARDS LISTED ON EBAY. You even get to pick and choose exactly who you'd like to look at every day instead of simply filling a 9 pocket holder with players you thumb past with little to no interest.
Seriously, if you take out the high end cards (mainly rookies) of the very best players, you can collect by teams or sets for very very VERY little money.

This idea that because you can't afford a Mantle, or Gehrig, or Jeter rook, or current day heartthrob in one of their important issues relegates ALL collecting to nothingness and beyond young collectors is ridiculous.

If you are ok collecting non contemporaneous card issues of HOF players, then even then the options are innumerable to add cards of your favorite players to your collection.

This silliness you parrot needs to stop.
Just please, stop.
It's not true, and doesn't even make any sense.

You're probably right. You obviously care a lot more deeply about this than I do.

God Bless.
Donnie

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Yep, as well it should be. Things just don't surge naturally the way so many cards have. But enthusiastic participants want to believe they are making savvy buys on an ever upward slope— and that belief is seemingly supported by a reality created by the AH's and TPGs that are in cahoots (and now even incestuously co-owned).

We all long knew of the cozy relationship between AHs and TPGs. The favorable grades given. The direct lines of contact between the AH heads and Orlando. The "Invitationals" where high-volume submitters/doctors were granted physical audience with the graders, where the doctors were actually told what to fix on a card, to get the card into a higher graded holder. All this shade has long been out in the open, so it amazes me there are people who believe the price surges of the past two years are due solely to natural demand and new money. After all, one part of creating a trap/bubble is the drawing in of new money who believe there is a real market developing. That belief is nutured and fostered by the prices that the AHs record.

Is there genuine demand at some level? Of course; it's the mass of collectors who form that key backbone of genuine demand; then the shady AHs and TPGs stand on that backbone to take things to where they are now.

We can only hope something happens to catalyze a massive correction; that may only be collectors all abstaining, which is impossible, LOL. Theoretically, if collectors left the sordid sandbox, that would leave just a bunch of manipulators passing the hot potato around with no marks in sight. Then maybe they'd just leave— and we'd see what prices look like then.

Of course, when collectors returned, so would the manipulators. And as prices rose once again, too many myopic mark collectors would break out their pom-poms to cheer their rising card values, not realizing all else they're cheering for— which includes more money out of their pockets due to higher prices, LOL.

+1 you’re the only other guy I’ve seen on here mention invitationals being able to sit and talk one on one with the grader how shady was that. I hope they stoped doing those.