Quick Rips | RIPPED Newsletter

Card grading is more prevalent now than ever before. Collectors are sending cards for grading in record numbers to protect, authenticate, and add value.\xa0 Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grades more cards than any other grading company, and they’re providing a breakdown of what they saw in 2023. Surprisingly, the most common cards graded by PSA in 2023 were Pokémon, with over 4.4 million graded. Among sports, baseball saw the most cards graded, with over 2.3 million. SuperstarShoheiOhtani's 175K graded cards were the most of any player.\xa0 Current and former Seattle MarinersJulio RodriguezandKen Griffey Jrrounded out the top three players with the most cards graded, following Ohtani. The most graded sports card of 2023 was Shohei Ohtani’s 2018 Bowman Rookie #49. PSA has graded 21,693 copies of this iconic Ohtani rookie to date.

We have all experienced the anticipation of waiting for a big card to show up.\xa0 Whether a big hit from a break or your grail card purchased online, waiting for that big mail day is a helpless experience. In the world of through-the-mail (TTM) autograph collecting, you have no idea when or if you will ever get your card in the mail.\xa0 TTM collectors will send cards to their favorite players with the hope that they will return them signed. Many TTM requests return unsigned or never return at all. Collector Ross M. Rutter @rosssportsautoson X got his mail day after over 15 years of waiting. Rutter sent a TTM request to former Washington CapitalBob Gouldin 2008. Fifteen years after the request, the chances of a return were minimal until Rutter opened his mail. Gould returned Rutter’s card 5,624 days later, signed with a letter explaining a move caused the delay. Gould apologized for the delay and paid additional postage to return the card to Rutter. Next time you are frustrated waiting a week for a card, think of Rutter and Gould.

Lionel Messiis widely considered the GOAT of soccer and, before last winter, had everything on his resume besides the elusive World Cup victory.\xa0 That all changed, and Messi completed filling his trophy case after leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A group of six jerseys worn by Messi in the first half of various World Cup matches, including the final, was recently up for auction.\xa0 The auction hosted by Sotheby’s in New York ended with the jerseys selling for \\$7.8 million.\xa0 Sotheby's said a portion of the auction proceeds would be donated to the UNICAS Project to help children suffering from rare diseases.\xa0 Sotheby’s thought these jerseys could break the record for most expensive sports memorabilia ever sold, but they could not beat Michael Jordan’s \\$10 million finals jersey.

Dude Perfect, the kings of the trick shot, are coming toFanatics Live! With a pre-show on 12/19 and a massive debut show on 12/20, Dude Perfect is giving away merch and auctioning off memorabilia mystery boxes and one-of-a-kind experiences. Jump onFanatics Livefor a live collecting experience to remember!