Innholdsfortegnelse for October 15, 2025 i Sports Collectors Digest

Sept. 10 was one of the darkest days of our lifetime. Christian faith leader, political activist and father of two Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an outdoor rally at Utah Valley University, stunning the nation and sparking a week of heartfelt mourning along with disturbing and terrifying acts of hatred and threats of more political violence. As the country remembered 9/11 24 years after that horrific attack, we witnessed an act of domestic terror on a college campus, another horrifying incident in a string of heart-rending school shootings that have become harrowingly common. As we grieved and mourned and raged, we needed a distraction. We needed relief and an emotional outlet. With the country in turmoil, we needed each other. We all needed a community, a gathering place where we…

Young football fans should know the impact made by Johnny Unitas. He may have played generations ago (1956-73), but when he retired, there was little argument that he was the NFL’s greatest quarterback ever. Changes in NFL rules and the explosion of the passing game have pushed his numbers uncomfortably low in the game’s record books. But keep in mind that Johnny U., in his era, set new marks for touchdown passes, completions, yards and every other passing statistic of note. When he retired at age 40, he had piled up 40,239 passing yards and 290 touchdown passes to go with three championships and three MVP awards. As time went on, quarterbacks like Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady took passing stats to new heights. But Unitas…

Autograph collectors are constantly looking for new or unique items they can use to seek autographs. In 1990, a small set of postcard-size football cards was released that was primarily designed for seeking autographs. The set, known as the Radnor Graphic Arts 90 set (or RGA 90), features cards with a borderless black-and-white photo of each player in action or posed. The reverse shows just a card number at the top and the RGA 90 logo at the bottom. The set was produced in limited numbers. Best estimates are that less than 1,000 were produced. The set depicts 35 Pro Football Hall of Famers. An additional bonus card of Red Grange was also produced, but is not considered part of the set. Most of the sets were purchased by sports…

It's been a little bit since I have highlighted a person from the hobby, so let's get back on that horse with collector Brandon Edwards of Bobbles & Ballcards. Sometimes our hobby relationships are formed simply by circumstance and the subject of this column fits that description. Brandon and I knew of each other but it was a phone call we both received on the same day from the same exact company that caused our paths to cross. The day was Tuesday, June 10 and the company was SGC. The call from the card-grading company informed both myself and Brandon that the bulk rates we were getting as official bulk submitters for the company were being eliminated within the next month. Brandon reached out to me to see if I…

The 2025 NFL trading card release calendar could get a bit complicated, or even sparse if things play out as feared. Fanatics and Topps are scheduled to take over the NFL trading card license in April 2026, but there have been rumors and reports that Topps might take over the license from Panini this fall. There also have been rumors that Topps might not produce any NFL cards this season. When asked about its football plans at the The National, Fanatics leadership basically told collectors to stay tuned. Cryptic, ominous or exciting, we're not quite sure what to make of that. Topps officials also declined comment. Panini, meanwhile, continues to hold the official NFL license this season, but in years past the company has had issues adhering to regularly scheduled…

For a complete listing of upcoming shows, visit www.sportscollectorsdigest.com NOTE: If you have a show listing, follow the style below and send to jowens@aimmedia.com. ALABAMA Oct 25-26 AL, Florence. Sports Card & Collectibles Show, Florence Coliseum, 702 Veterans Dr., Florence AL 35630. SH: Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm. T: 80 ($125). A: Free. Contact: Josh Johnson 256-607-7020 Nov 8 AL, Huntsville. Huntsville Sports Cards & Collectibles Show, Jaycees Community Building, John Hunt Park, 2180 Airport Rd. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805. SH: 9am-3pm. T: 100. A: Free. Contact: Scott Johnson 931-278-9044; sjohnson20_2000@yahoo. ARKANSAS Nov 6-9 AR, Ft. Smith. Vintage Sports Collectibles Show, Central Mall, 5111 Rogers Ave, Ft. Smith, AR 72903. SH: Thurs-Sat 10am-7 pm; Sun 12-5 pm. T: 50. A: Free. Contact: Larry Yeager 918 845 4257; vinsprtcrds@hotmail.com ARIZONA Nov 2 AZ, Sun…

Goldin’s Elite auctions focus on elite athletes and iconic trading cards, like Shohei Ohtani, Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant. Iconic cards of those historic athletes all set records in Goldin’s August Elite Auction. A Shohei Ohtani 2018 Topps Finest Autographs rookie card led the way, selling for $585,600, an all-time high for any Topps Finest Ohtani card. Meanwhile, Messi’s 2015-16 Panini Select Striped Jersey Black Prizm #1/1 card (PSA 9) sold for $427,000, a record for any Panini Select Messi card. And Kobe’s 2003-04 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ultimate Signatures Gold #8/8 signed Jersey Number card sold for $219,600, a record for the card. NBA great Michael Jordan also had a record item in the auction with a 1988 signed Foul-Line Dunk Type I Original Photo by Bulls Photographer Bill…