The Hobby is so back, baby or is it?

Rob Kim via Getty Images

Morning, Collectors.

After the dramatic post-COVID crash, the card market is officially back,says Will Stern from cllct, and in ways that may prove more sustainable than the stimulus-fueled frenzy of 2020–21.

While million-dollar sales have resumed (nine already in 2025), the real story is broader: record-breaking online volume ($308M in July), a surge in mid-range and base card sales, product innovation like the Rookie Debut Patch, the emergence of new superstars (hello, Caitlin Clark), and major players like Sotheby’s, GameStop, and Fanatics making aggressive moves.

Stern even mentions that the hobby has its own social network now calledMantel, which sounds amazing and everyone should check out!

​​COUNTERPOINT! Darren Rovell, also of cllct, worries that we might beheaded towards a bear market, stating that the current market is showing all of the signs of a bubble. Hype, speculative buying, irrational price increases, lack of fundamentals…

So which is it? We’re always optimistic here at Mantel, but we’ll wait until things shake out and then come back here to tell you we predicted the world correctly all along. Stay tuned!

The Athletic: Controversial Little League Bat Flip is Now a Collectible Pin, Bat Going to Auction

Twelve-year-old Marco Rocco’s controversial bat flip, which briefly led to his suspension from the Little League World Series, is now being commemorated with a limited-edition collectible pin. Only 75 “BATFLIP 2025” pins will be available for trading in Williamsport, each depicting Marco mid-flip in his No. 10 jersey. Designed in collaboration with Jeff and Todd Frazier, the pins celebrate the 75th anniversary of Haddonfield Little League and are expected to be a sought-after item among pin traders. Meanwhile, Marco’s now-iconic bat will be auctioned by Goldin (Ken Goldin’s son plays on the Haddonfield team… serendipity!).

Robb Report: MLB Players Are Taking the Field in Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels Necklaces

Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic Alhambra collection has found an unlikely but glamorous home on MLB diamonds, as players like Miguel Rojas, Junior Caminero, and Joc Pederson adopt the luxe, clover-shaped pendants as part of their game-day look. Once the domain of royalty and fashion icons, the necklaces, priced north of $9,000, are now being paired with cleats and batting gloves. Onyx appears to be the stone of choice, with its supposed protective energy adding a touch of superstition to the aesthetic. The trend evokes past player fads like the Power Balance bands (I had one and NOBODY could push my arm down when it was on!), but this time the jewelry’s appeal lies more in prestige and polish than pseudoscience.

NY Post: California Police Recover $30K Worth of Labubu Dolls After They Were Stolen From Warehouse

A group of thieves in La Puente, CA recently bypassed cash and electronics to steal $30,000 worth of toy-of-the-moment, Garbage Patch KidsFurbyBeanie Baby Labubu dolls. The Labubu, a grinning, bunny-eared oddity, has become a collector obsession, with blind boxes starting at $27.99 and rarer versions climbing past $500. One skateboarding variant sold for $10,500 last week. And of course, where there is money, there are thieves, and stories pop up near daily about major Labubu thefts. Knockoff versions called “Lafufus” are already popping up in response.

NYT: Hidden Inside Our Electronics, Tiny Doodles From Another Era

This is the type of collecting story we love — an obscure category we never knew existed, with a fervent and growing community. The New York Times wrote about the hidden world of silicon art that is captivating a small group of collectors who search for “doodles” etched into vintage microchips by engineers in the 1970s–1990s. These whimsical illustrations — smiley faces, pyramids, space shuttles, and even a Playboy bunny — were secretly embedded in unused chip space as a form of creative expression and personal signature. Though never intended for public discovery, the doodles are now being unearthed through a combination of technical skill, detective work, and a bit of hardware archaeology. With modern chip design no longer allowing such flourishes, collectors are racing against time to preserve these hidden relics of the analog era.