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A few days ago, I happened across a trending article on LinkedIn from Bloomberg titled “Crafts and Hobbies Are Winning the Battle for Americans’ Paychecks.” The subtitle noted that “Pastime categories as a share of US goods consumption is at a record, beating pandemic highs.”
It’s that last part that really surprised me, because the pandemic was well known for people engaging in hobbies, including, yes, sports cards, as the inflated prices of that time period indicated.
According to the article, Americans are putting nearly 5% of their goods spending toward hobbies, while the share of after-tax income that Americans don’t spend and put toward savings fell to 2.7% in June, the lowest total in four years.
I can definitely say I’ve spent more on hobbies, both sports cards and running, over the last four years, than I have in a LONG time. How about you?
How much do you typically spend on sports cards each month?
I’m in the middle range, while trying my best to offset that spending by selling as well.
In this issue you'll find:
Auction highlights
Recent auction recaps
News in the hobby
Set profile: 1979 Topps Comics
ICYMI
Recent Vintage Card Voyage videos
Let’s get into it.
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Auction Highlights
In order of closing date:
Mile High Card Company August 2026 Extra Innings (ending on August 19)
Sirius Sports Cards Auction (ending on August 20)
Heritage Auctions Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction (ending on August 21-23)
Wheatland Auction August 2026 Sports Card & Memorabilia Auction (ending on August 23)
Other active auctions:
Clean Sweep Auctions (ends on September 10)
Recent Auction Recaps
(Results are specific to vintage sports cards)
Hunt Auctions August Internet Auction:
Top Sale: ⚾ 1909-11 T206 Rube Waddell Portrait With Sovereign 350 Subjects Back PSA 5 - $3,000 (The last sale of the same grade with the same back, per Card Ladder, was for $2,280 on Jan. 15, 2020)
Lowest Price Hall of Famer: 🏈 Lot of (4) 1989 Score #270 Troy Aikman Rookie Cards (Raw) - $35
Lelands 2026 Summer Classic:
Top Sale: 🏀 1957 Topps Basketball Unopened Wax Pack PSA 7 (Bob Pettit Showing on Back) - $70,666.06 (The last sale of the same grade, but without mention of who was on the back, per Card Ladder, was for $74,199 on April 18, 2026)
Lowest Price Hall of Famer: 🏈 Signed 1956 Topps Football #76 Elroy Hirsch (PSA Auto 8) - $61
Most Bids: 🏀 1957 Topps Basketball Unopened Wax Pack PSA 7 (Bob Pettit Showing on Back) - 35 bids
Goldin Auction Monthly Sports Elite #7:
Top Sale: 🏀 1984-85 Star Basketball Chicago Bulls Team Set (12) in Original Factory-Sealed Bag, Featuring #101 Michael Jordan Rookie Card - $111,020 (Two other sales at the same auction of the same team set went for $70,150 and $63,440)
Lowest Price Hall of Famer: 🏈 1954-1989 Topps, Other Brands Pro Football Hall of Famers Signed Cards Collection (10 Different), Including Earl Campbell, Y.A. Tittle and Red Grange - $366
Most Bids: 🏀 1984-85 Star Basketball Chicago Bulls Team Set (12) in Original Factory-Sealed Bag, Featuring #101 Michael Jordan Rookie Card - 58 bids (This is a guess, based on a cursory look, since Goldin doesn’t sort by number of bids)
News Briefs
Set Profile: 1979 Topps Comics
One of the real joys of being back in the hobby is coming to realize just how many oddball sets there are. I was somehow unaware of the 1979 Topps Comics set, so thankfully my friend and Vintage Card Voyage co-host Ken introduced me to them earlier this year.
They were a test set for Topps, wanting to see how much demand there was for these waxy gum wrappers around a big hunk of bubble gum. While they were also affordable, selling for only a nickel apiece, they weren’t popular enough and were thus a one and done for Topps.
Ken even gifted me an unopened one, so I of course had to open it (getting the above George Brett), and my son of course felt the need to lick the 47-year-old gum, something I, uh, wouldn’t advise.
Of the 33 comics, there are 13 Hall of Famers. Along with the above four, there are Eddie Murray, Jim Rice, Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson, Phil Niekro, Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, Ted Simmons, and Dave Winfield. Meanwhile, all of the 26 MLB teams were represented, and there were three different color backgrounds, with the blue color being the rarest, showing up on only four of the comics.
Even though they weren’t popular enough for Topps to produce again, the company did decide to revive them in 2023 with the Topps Archives 15-card set, one that happens to include Shohei Ohtani.
The original set is relatively affordable, with recent eBay sales for the set ranging between $25-45. The Nolan Ryan seems to be the most expensive single, selling in the $5-8 range. You can also get uncut rolls of the comics, and, yes, unopened boxes, with more decades-old gum than anyone would ever need.
Further info about the set is available on Beckett and Sports Collectors Daily.
ICYMI
Vintage Card Voyage: Recent Videos
This is the YouTube channel I co-host with my friend Ken.
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Thanks for reading.
Marc