PSA comments on the Wemby 1/1 drama 🎭

PLUS: Heritage Auctions passes a billy 💸

March 14, 2024

Rise and shine, card enthusiasts! This is Penny Sleeve, the highlight reel of sports card collecting.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

  • PSA comments on the Wemby 1/1 drama 🎭

  • Heritage Auctions passes a billy 💸

  • People to follow in the hobby 👥

  • Meme of the day 🃏

PSA COMMENTS ON THE WEMBY 1/1 DRAMA

The sports card collecting scene is buzzing over the Victor Wembanyama Black Prizm 1/1 card saga, especially after it snagged a PSA Gem Mint 10 grade. Eyebrows went up quicker than a rookie's batting average, thanks to murmurings about its imperfect centering and possible close encounter with Kurt's Card Care.

PSA entered the chat with a tweet saying they've given the Wemby card a good once-over and are sticking by their grade. They didn't find any surface tweaks screaming 'chemical makeover', even though the owner of the card admitted to cleaning it beforehand. Despite that, PSA used this as a teachable moment to underline a big no to beautifying cards with anything that could alter their condition. It's a nudge to remember the fine line between keeping a card in tip-top shape and going full mad scientist to buff up its grade.

The conversation swirling around PSA's clarification is shaking up the usual talk about what's fair game and what's off-limits in the card restoration alley, pushing everyone to ponder the principles that keep our hobby honest and healthy.

HERITAGE AUCTIONS PASSES A BILLY

Heritage Auctions has just thundered past the billion-dollar goalpost in sports memorabilia and card sales, marking an era of dominance in the collectibles domain since their debut sports auction in 2004.

From their humble debut auction that raked in nearly $2 million, Heritage has consistently upped the ante. Memorable sales include a 1963 Mickey Mantle jersey cashing in at $143,400 and the storied $3.72 million haul from a 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey case.

At the empire’s helm, Steve Ivy laid the foundation in '82, with his son Chris Ivy diving headfirst into the sports memorabilia sphere in 2003. Their audacious strategy was evident from the get-go, claiming the title for the "highest grossing first-time sports auction.”

A standout moment came in 2022, with a record-shattering $12.6 million sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. Leap forward to 2023, and Heritage demolished expectations with $1.76 billion in total sales, solidifying their championship belt in the sports memorabilia arena.

This achievement isn't just a win for Heritage; it's a victory lap for the entire sports memorabilia ecosystem, signaling a vibrant and thriving market.

PEOPLE TO FOLLOW IN THE HOBBY

MEME OF THE DAY

I’m in this picture and I don’t like it…