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Nine cards, a lifetime of memories, and not a price guide in sight! What's the most important sports card in your collection? Is it your most expensive rookie card? Your rarest autograph? Or could it be a common card worth a couple of bucks that reminds you of someone special? In this episode of Happy Hobby Sports Cards, David Gonos shares nine types of sports cards that every collector should consider the most important in their collection—and why sentimental value often beats market value! After more than 50 years of collecting, David shares personal stories behind some of his favorite cards, including a 1970 Topps Pete Rose All-Star, a 1976 Topps Babe Ruth, an 1887 Allen & Ginter John McMahon, an Evan Longoria autograph and a Joey Votto Reverence autograph. Whether you're a lifelong hobbyist or a Comeback Collector rediscovering sports cards after decades away, this episode will help you look at your collection a little differently. In this episode, we'll discuss: Why the most expensive sports cards aren't necessarily the most important. How cards from friends and family can become priceless keepsakes. The cards that first sparked our love of collecting. Why vintage sports cards connect us to baseball history. The special card that brought you back into the hobby. Why there's still nothing quite like pulling a great card from a pack. How to build a more meaningful sports card collection on a real-world budget. Here's your Happy Hobby challenge: Find the nine most important cards in YOUR collection! They don't have to be valuable, rare or graded. They just need to mean something to you. Then share your favorite card and its story in the comments on our companion newsletter! Read the newsletter and join the conversation: https://gonos.substack.com Explore more collecting guides and rookie card resources: https://DavidGonos.com Remember, the best sports card collection isn't necessarily the one worth the most money. It's the one that means the most to YOU! Happy Hobby! Build a better sports card collection with a real-world budget! Happy Hobby Toolbox Ding Defend card-shipping protectors: https://dingdefend.com/ Use code HAPPYHOBBY for 10% off your first purchase of $40 or more. Disclosure: Happy Hobby may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. 🏆 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: 1.8K 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! Subscribe to the free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter: https://gonos.substack.com/ Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

Want to collect baseball legends without chasing expensive rookie cards? Try building a collection of their final regular Topps baseball cards — a fun way to bring big names and great stories into a collection on a real-world budget. In this episode of Collection Starters, we explore final cards of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Al Kaline, Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose and Derek Jeter, plus bigger targets like Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Ted Williams. You’ll learn how to:• Create a personal subset with a clear collecting theme• Start with nine players and one binder page• Define “final card,” including farewell cards released after retirement• Choose condition you’ll enjoy without overspending• Build at your own pace, with room for future additions Whether you’re getting back into sports card collecting or looking for a new baseball card collection idea, this project gives every purchase a purpose. Some final cards remain expensive, but you can choose players and copies that fit your budget. 💬 Whose final card would make your first nine? Tell me in the comments! 📬 Join the Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter:https://gonos.substack.com/ ⚾ Explore more collecting guides and baseball card history:https://davidgonos.com/ Subscribe for more Collection Starters, Hobby Therapy and practical sports card collecting advice. Happy Hobby! I’m David Gonos — build a better sports card collection with a real-world budget. #BaseballCards #SportsCardCollecting #HappyHobby Happy Hobby Toolbox Ding Defend card-shipping protectors: https://dingdefend.com/ Use code HAPPYHOBBY for 10% off your first purchase of $40 or more. Disclosure: Happy Hobby may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. 🏆 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: 1.8K 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! Subscribe to the free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter: https://gonos.substack.com/ Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

This episode explores Scott Hedrick’s ranking of the Top 50 Junk Wax Football Cards, using 1981–1995 as the era’s boundaries. The top five: 1981 Topps Joe Montana, 1989 Score Barry Sanders, 1984 Topps John Elway, 1984 Topps Dan Marino, and 1986 Topps Jerry Rice. Standout sets: Why 1984 Topps, 1986 Topps, and 1989 Score feature so prominently in the countdown. Beyond rookie cards: First Topps NFL cards of former USFL players and a memorable 1985 Topps Walter Payton. Four for Emmitt: Emmitt Smith leads the list with four cards from his rookie season. Collecting memories: Bo Jackson, Brian Bosworth, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, and Icky Woods. Personal picks and omissions: My love for Barry Sanders’ 1989 Pro Set card, plus cases for Vinny Testaverde, Cris Carter’s Topps rookie, and Junior Seau. Find the full ranking and links to the cards at DavidGonos.com. Which cards would you rank higher, and which missing card deserves a spot? If you add one, tell me who you’d bump out! Happy Hobby Toolbox Ding Defend card-shipping protectors: https://dingdefend.com/ Use code HAPPYHOBBY for 10% off your first purchase of $40 or more. Disclosure: Happy Hobby may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. 🏆 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: 1.8K 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! Subscribe to the free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter: https://gonos.substack.com/ Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

7 Sports Card Newsletters Worth Adding to Your Inbox David recommends seven sports card newsletters that each serve a different kind of collector. The conversation covers J.R. Fickle’s entertaining Mantel’s Mail Day, Evan Parker’s Above the Mantel, Sooz’s industry-informed Card Chat, vintage discoveries from Post War Cards, collector commentary from Trading Card Dumpster Fire, practical flipping lessons from Ballcard Genius, basketball coverage from Conor Collects and modern hobby trends from The Hobby Wire. There’s also a bonus recommendation for design and photography fans: Beauty of a Game. Newsletters mentioned Mantel: https://mantel.beehiiv.com/ Card Chat: https://cardchat.substack.com/ Post War Cards: https://postwarcards.substack.com/ Trading Card Dumpster Fire: https://tradingcarddumpsterfire.substack.com/ Ballcard Genius: https://ballcardgenius.substack.com/ Conor Collects: https://conorcollects.substack.com/ The Hobby Wire: https://www.thehobbywire.com/ Bonus — Beauty of a Game: https://beautyofagame.substack.com/ Happy Hobby Toolbox Ding Defend card-shipping protectors: https://dingdefend.com/ Use code HAPPYHOBBY for 10% off your first purchase of $40 or more. Disclosure: Happy Hobby may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. 🏆 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: 1.8K 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! Subscribe to the free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter: https://gonos.substack.com/ Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

Which 2026 Topps Update rookie cards belong on your collecting radar? In this bonus episode, David Gonos brings his video countdown to the podcast, covering six top picks and one wildcard with room to move up. The lineup includes Kevin McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt, Konnor Griffin, Carson Benge, Travis Bazzana, TJ Rumfield and wildcard Justin Crawford. Follow along, compare the picks with your own favorites, and tell us which rookie you think we’re overlooking! Read the full rankings and find the card numbers here:https://davidgonos.com/best-2026-topps-update-rookie-cards/ Happy Hobby! Happy Hobby Toolbox Ding Defend card-shipping protectors: https://dingdefend.com/ Use code HAPPYHOBBY for 10% off your first purchase of $40 or more. Disclosure: Happy Hobby may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. 🏆 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: 1.8K 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! Subscribe to the free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter: https://gonos.substack.com/ Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

7 Sports Card Newsletters Worth Adding to Your Inbox David recommends seven sports card newsletters that each serve a different kind of collector. The conversation covers J.R. Fickle’s entertaining Mantel’s Mail Day, Evan Parker’s Above the Mantel, Sooz’s industry-informed Card Chat, vintage discoveries from Post War Cards, collector commentary from Trading Card Dumpster Fire, practical flipping lessons from Ballcard Genius, basketball coverage from Conor Collects and modern hobby trends from The Hobby Wire. There’s also a bonus recommendation for design and photography fans: Beauty of a Game. Newsletters mentioned Mantel: https://mantel.beehiiv.com/ Card Chat: https://cardchat.substack.com/ Post War Cards: https://postwarcards.substack.com/ Trading Card Dumpster Fire: https://tradingcarddumpsterfire.substack.com/ Ballcard Genius: https://ballcardgenius.substack.com/ Conor Collects: https://conorcollects.substack.com/ The Hobby Wire: https://www.thehobbywire.com/ Bonus — Beauty of a Game: https://beautyofagame.substack.com/ Happy Hobby Toolbox Ding Defend card-shipping protectors: https://dingdefend.com/ Use code HAPPYHOBBY for 10% off your first purchase of $40 or more. Disclosure: Happy Hobby may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. 🏆 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: 1.8K 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! Subscribe to the free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter: https://gonos.substack.com/ Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

Maybe you collected sports cards when you were a kid. You bought packs at the grocery store, traded cards with your friends and organized them in those horrible binders without ever once wondering about print runs, population reports or whether your Ken Griffey Jr. was perfectly centered. Then life happened. You stopped collecting. The cards went into a closet, your parents’ attic or one of those giant 5,000-count boxes that somehow weighs 83 pounds when you try to move it. And now, 20 or 30 years later, you’re thinking about getting back into sports cards. Welcome back! We missed you. There’s just one small problem: This isn’t exactly the hobby you remember. Today we have parallels of parallels, numbered cards, autographs, refractors, grading companies, breakers, hobby boxes that cost hundreds of dollars and enough different rookie cards of one player to make you wonder whether the word “rookie” still means what you thought it meant. And because you’re older now, you probably have something you didn’t have when you were 13: adult money! That combination of nostalgia, excitement and confusion can get expensive pretty quickly. So before you start chasing boxes, grading everything you find in your old collection or buying whatever card somebody on social media says is “a must-have,” I want to help you get your bearings. 7 Things Every Comeback Collector Should Do We’ll help you figure out what you actually enjoy collecting, avoid some expensive mistakes and, most importantly, build a collection that makes you happy every time you look at it. 1. Decide what you want from the hobby Are you returning for nostalgia, entertainment, potential value—or some combination of all three? You can build a terrific collection that may appreciate over time. But if your primary goal is making lots of money quickly, sports cards are probably not the most dependable route. 2. Set a monthly hobby budget Choose an amount you can comfortably spend without every purchase having to “pay off.” That keeps the hobby fun and prevents one exciting week of buying from turning into a month of regret. You could even suggest a starter split: 50% toward singles for the collection 30% toward packs and boxes for fun 20% held back for unexpected opportunities The percentages can change, but the important part is giving every dollar a job. 3. Choose your collecting lanes You cannot collect every player, team, product, rookie, parallel and vintage set—and thankfully, you have the rest of your life to build something great. Start with two or three lanes: Favorite childhood players Favorite team and its Hall of Famers Important rookie cards A favorite set or era Modern players you enjoy watching This gives the collection an identity without locking him into one thing forever. 4. Make a dream-card list before buying Write down the players and cards you would be excited to own. Then separate them into affordable targets, medium-term goals and eventual grails. A list protects you from buying 25 random cards that merely caught your attention when that same money could have purchased one card you would treasure. Your Free Sports Card Tool: The Happy Hobby Collection Checklist! David Gonos · August 4, 2025 If you’re already part of our Happy Hobby Sports Card clan, you now have exclusive access to the Happy Hobby Collection Checklist — a powerful, digital Google Sheet designed to make tracking, organizing, and growing your collection simple and affordable. Read full story 5. Buy singles to build; rip wax for fun This is the central message of the video: Buy singles to improve your collection. Rip packs for the experience. Opening packs has value because it’s entertaining and reconnects us with that childhood feeling. But don’t expect boxes to consistently return what you paid. If you specifically want a great rookie parallel, buying that card is usually much smarter than buying boxes and hoping to pull it. 6. Sample before diving into a product Before spending heavily, try a blaster, watch a box opening, study the checklist or enter an inexpensive team break. Breaking can become costly, so establish a limit. But buying your favorite team in a reasonably priced break can help you experience a new product without paying for an entire hobby box. It’s a sampler—not an investment strategy. 7. Find trustworthy help and enjoy the process Social media will constantly show monster pulls, rising prices and cards you supposedly “must” own. Find collectors and creators who help you understand the hobby instead of simply pushing you to buy something. And if you’re a comeback collector trying to build a better sports card collection with a real-world budget, that’s exactly what we talk about here. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and sign up for our free Happy Hobby Sports Cards newsletter! Subscribe now We’ll help you understand what’s worth collecting, where you can save money and how to build a collection you’ll be proud of — without taking all the fun out of the hobby. Welcome back. The cards have been waiting for you. What age are you — and how does your age affect what you collect? I’d love to hear about it! Drop it in the comments below! Leave a comment If you enjoyed this post, check out these posts you might have missed: Top 101 Junk Wax Baseball Cards To Collect! - Ep. 3.27 Scott H and David Gonos · Jul 21 Listen now The Best Ways to Organize Your Sports Card Collection (Without Spending a Fortune!) - Ep. 3.29 David Gonos · Aug 5 Listen now Sports Card Collection Pillars: How to Define, Refine, and Avoid Common Mistakes - Ep. 3.25 David Gonos · Jul 9 Listen now 🏆 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: 9.6K 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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

Collecting great football rookie cards usually means 1st-year quarterbacks — so let’s see how many young QBs land in the top 21! If you want to find all the great rookie cards over the past 70-plus years, check out our article here, listing the Best NFL Rookie Cards From Every Year! Counting Down the 12 Best NFL Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! Ten years from now, which football rookie card from the 2020s will you be happiest to have in your collection? That’s the question we’re trying to solve today! That’s a much more interesting question than simply asking which players have performed the best so far. Statistics matter, of course, but sports-card collectability has never followed a perfectly organized spreadsheet. Some great players never become major hobby stars, while certain cards remain desirable because of the player’s personality, fan base, championship moments or the story attached to the card itself. Check out Scott Hedrick’s Top 50 Junk Wax Football Cards! To build my rankings, I considered five major factors: * Quarterback Advantage: Fair or not, franchise QBs generally receive the most attention in our hobby. * Hall-of-Fame Trajectory: Is this player building the type of career collectors will still celebrate decades from now? * Championships & Awards: Super Bowls, MVPs, All-Pro selections and major records can permanently change how the hobby views a player. * Fan Base & Personality: Playing for a popular franchise helps, but charisma, memorable moments and a compelling story matter, too. * Hobby Significance: Does the card represent an important rookie class or product? This is not a prediction of which cards will produce the greatest financial return. It’s a collector’s projection of whose football rookie cards we’re most likely to care about ten years from now. 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 12! * 21. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (Age 22) – 2025 Prizm 315 * 20. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans (Age 24) – 2023 Prizm 339 * 19. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (Age 22) – 2026 Topps 301 * 18. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons (Age 24) – 2023 Prizm 305 * 17. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions (Age 24) – 2023 Prizm 331 * 16. Jaxson Dart, QB, N.Y. Giants (Age 23) – 2025 Prizm 332 * 15. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys (Age 27) – 2020 Prizm 334 * 14. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders (Age 23) – 2024 Prizm 315 * 13. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears (Age 24) – 2024 Prizm 301 12 Best Football Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! The teams listed are their CURRENT NFL teams. 12. Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers (Age 27) * 2020 Prizm 363 - View current prices on eBay! Starting quarterback for the Packers carries unusual long-term collectability. If he wins a Super Bowl, this ranking could look conservative! 11. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (Age 26) * 2021 Prizm 331 - View current prices on eBay! Time is ticking for this golden boy, so we need to see some major postseason success soon if the No. 1 overall pick is going to eclipse the top 10 on this list. 10. Puka Nacua, WR, L.A. Rams (Age 25) * 2023 Prizm 357 - View current prices on eBay! [Puka’s off-the-field issues could hurt his collectability, so pay attention to that!] The production, name recognition and underdog story are all unusually collector-friendly. Fun name, fun team, just needs Ty Simpson to be a home run after Matthew Stafford hangs ‘em up. 9. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos (Age 26) * 2024 Prizm 309 - View current prices on eBay! Productive young quarterback with a major football market and a realistic decade-long starting window. 8. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers (Age 26) * 2023 Prizm 353 - View current prices on eBay! Mr. Irrelevant becoming a franchise quarterback is an enduring card story. Winning a championship would cement his legacy as one of the great Cinderella stories! 7. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (Age 27) * 2020 Prizm 398 - View current prices on eBay! The strongest Hall of Fame trajectory among the position players — and potentially the best receiver of his generation. 6. Justin Herbert, QB, L.A. Chargers (Age 28) * 2020 Prizm 325 - View current prices on eBay! Elite talent, great-looking flagship rookie and nice hobby following. The remaining question is postseason accomplishment. 5. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (Age 26) * 2021 Prizm 337 - View current prices on eBay! Could retire as one of the decade’s best receivers, especially if he and Burrow eventually win a championship together. 4. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (Age 28) * 2020 Prizm 343 - View current prices on eBay! A Super Bowl MVP, huge Eagles following and a terrific career story. His 2020 Prizm has considerable room to gain historical importance. 3. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders (Age 25) * 2024 Prizm 347 - View current prices on eBay! The best combination of early achievement, excitement and quarterback upside among the younger classes. 2. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots (Age 24) * 2024 Prizm 329 - View current prices on eBay! Young franchise quarterback for one of football’s biggest brands. I think his long-term ceiling is higher than his current hobby standing suggests. 1. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (Age 29) * 2020 Prizm 307 - View current prices on eBay! Already the defining quarterback card of this era outside Mahomes. A championship would make it untouchable. We want to hear from you — which great NFL 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: 9.6K 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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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 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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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! ============================================== ✅Thank you for supporting our channel! Here's a link to the Sports Card supplies that I love: https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidgonosAs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases! ============================================== ✅You can subscribe to our Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter at https://gonos.substack.com/ ============================================== You can listen to our Happy Hobby Sports Cards Podcast on -- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/pg/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lcy2Mg... Substack: https://gonos.substack.com/podcast ============================================== *Ways to Contact David Gonos* Visit my website for more sports card stories: https://davidgonos.com/ Connect with me on: -Twitter/X @DavidGonos / davidgonos -Instagram @DavidGonos / davidgonos -Facebook / davidgonoswriter -TikTok / davidgonos.cards -Link Tree https://linktr.ee/gonos Email me: [email protected] Mail me: DavidGonos.com P.O. Box 36 Georgetown, TX 78627 #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 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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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. Subscribe now 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. Leave a comment If you enjoyed this post, check out these posts you might have missed: ✨7 Sports Card Logos That Changed the Hobby Forever! - Ep. 3.20 David Gonos and Alan Camuto · May 19 Listen now Top 101 Junk Wax Baseball Cards To Collect! - Ep. 3.27 Scott H and David Gonos · Jul 21 Listen now 11 Smart Rookie Card Alternatives For Budget Collectors! - Ep. 3.10 David Gonos · Mar 10 Listen now 🏆 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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe

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 Read full story 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 Read full story 56. 1991 Upper Deck #SP1 Michael Jordan - View on eBay! 🏀1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan SP1🏀CTMUH No. 4 December 17, 2025 Read full story 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!) Leave a comment If you enjoyed this post about great baseball cards, check out these posts you might have missed: 11 Best MLB Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! - Ep. 3.22 Randy Litzinger and David Gonos · Jun 2 Listen now 11 Best NHL Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! - Ep. 3.19 Randy Litzinger and David Gonos · May 12 Listen now 11 Best WNBA Rookie Cards To Own Since 2020! - Ep. 3.18 David Gonos and Alan Camuto · May 5 Listen now 🏆 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: 1.6K 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! Get full access to Happy Hobby Sports Cards Newsletter For Collectors! at gonos.substack.com/subscribe