Sports Market Insight Issue 15 (6/15/25-6/22/25) Graden Cards LLC

🧠 Sports Market Insight

Welcome back to Sports Market Insight, where we break down weekly market trends, highlight top card performers, and give you smart tips to stay ahead in the hobby.

🔥 What’s Hot Across the Hobby?

• NBA Finals Buzz – With the Celtics closing in on the championship, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown cards are on fire. Tatum’s Prizm Silver RC PSA 10 jumped from $330 to $415 in just 10 days. If Boston finishes the job, expect even more gains—especially in short print serial-numbered cards.

• MLB Rookie Movement – With James Wood now officially called up to the Nationals, his 1st Bowman Chrome Auto (PSA 10) saw a spike from $525 to $670. But buyer beware: that hype window is short, and the Nationals are struggling. Still, if you believe in his tools, there could be a second wave.

• Soccer Euro 2024 Effect – Jude Bellingham is the most dominant name in the tournament so far. His Topps Merlin Aqua /99 just sold for $850 raw. These international runs always fuel short-term spikes, so this is a good time to sell on a peak if you’re not holding long-term.

• NFL QB Market Heating Up – June is quiet in football, but the Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams markets are picking up steam again. Richardson's Optic Hollow PSA 10 is now $150 (up from $90 in May), and Caleb's Bowman U Chrome Auto /99 just closed at $2,850.

⚾️ Baseball Card Market Breakdown

• BUY NOW: Eury Pérez (Marlins) – He’s on a rehab stint and expected back before July. When healthy, his stuff is electric. His Bowman Chrome Auto PSA 10 is floating under $75. That’s a steal for a frontline starter if he finishes 2025 strong.

• SELL NOW: Elly De La Cruz – Yes, he’s flashy and still popular. But Elly’s K rate is up again, and smart sellers are cashing out now. His Sapphire Auto PSA 10 is still above $900. Don’t get caught holding when it dips.

• PROSPECT TO WATCH: Samuel Basallo – quietly becoming a top-3 catching prospect in the hobby. His stats in Double-A are absurd (.940 OPS), and his market hasn’t caught up yet. Scoop his Chrome autos raw before they reach $75 consistently.

🏈 Football Card Trends

• Offseason QB Bounce – Jordan Love, Will Levis, and Kenny Pickett markets are seeing speculation bumps. Love’s Prizm Silver PSA 10 moved from $125 to $190 this week. If you’re holding these guys, late June is often the best exit point before training camp hype goes parabolic.

• Card to Target: 2022 National Treasures RPAs are underpriced relative to Prizm/Optic comps. They don’t grade as often but have game-worn patches and low print runs. Look for deals at local shows.

• Stay Away: Bijan Robinson prices are holding at last year’s levels, but there’s zero value growth. Unless you’re in it for the PC, don’t chase 2023 running backs.

🏀 Basketball Market Notes

• Tatum vs Luka vs Ant – Tatum’s cards are the safest investment short-term. Luka’s market dipped after another early playoff exit, and Ant’s cards are high—but risky if he doesn’t repeat next year.

• Card Play of the Week: Chet Holmgren Prizm Fast Break Auto /50 – Chet’s a unicorn, and these disco autos are undervalued ($200–$300). This could be a sneaky stash ahead of next season.

• College to NBA Watch: Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan are getting sleeper buzz for the upcoming NBA Draft. If they land in good systems, their cards (especially low-pop autos) could see quick flips during Summer League.

🏒 Hockey Pulse Check

• Connor McDavid cards are stable as always. Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 is still trading around $750. No big swings, but reliable blue-chip.

• HOT BUY: Logan Stankoven – this guy is the real deal for Dallas. If you can find a Future Watch Auto /999 for under $100, grab it now.

• Stanley Cup Final: Panthers are pushing for their first ever Cup. If they win, look at short-term movement in Sergei Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk cards—both historically low population in slabs.

⚽️ Soccer Snapshot

• EURO 2024 Winners (so far):

  • Jude Bellingham – up 40% on most cards.

  • Jamal Musiala – sneaky breakout candidate; Topps Finest Refractors under $30 are drying up.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo – vintage cards seeing late-career action. 2004 Panini Mega Craques RCs are spiking.

• Women’s Soccer Cards: Keep an eye on Sophia Smith and Caitlin Foord ahead of the Olympics. These cards will jump fast with global visibility.

🎴 TCG Watch – Pokémon, GPK, Yu-Gi-Oh!

• Pokémon: 1st edition Base Set prices holding. Charizard PSA 9 is consistently above $7,300, but Shadowless PSA 8s are more liquid right now.

• GPK: Strong sales of Atom Bomb cards continue. PSA 10 OS1 is trending back over $2,100. The new Chrome 6 release is still underwhelming—be selective.

• Yu-Gi-Oh!: The market's still recovering, but Dark Magician Girl Ghost Rare just sold for $1,550 (PSA 10). Low-pop anime chase cards are the best play here.

💡 Investing Tip of the Week

“Focus on liquidity when flipping.”You might love a card with a pop of 6, but if no one’s buying it, that doesn’t matter. Prioritize cards with strong historical sales volume over ultra-rare ghosts that sit for months. Check eBay sold comps and sort by date to see what’s really moving.

📣 From the CEO's Desk – Aiden Long

We just hit a huge milestone this week—and it’s all thanks to you.

Whether you’ve been buying cards, consigning with us, or just following our Sports Market Insight series, I want to say thank you for being part of the Graden Cards community. Your support means the world to me.

If you’ve got a card you’re curious about or need help moving inventory—reach out. We’re not just a marketplace. We’re building something bigger together.

Until next week,Aiden Long | CEO DeskGradenCards.com