Collectors!!! Today is the big day! The Mantel Hobby Award Show starts at 4PT/7ET, and you can stream it here.

I know it seems like I’ve been talking about this program forever, (probably because I have…), but for good reason! This is the first large-scale (and unbiased) awards program for the card and memorabilia industry, ever. 15 categories. 98 worthy nominees whittled down from more than 700 community suggestions. Thousands of individual voters across the country, plus the opinions of 18 respected and well-known judges.

And now a highly-produced award show airing across the entire Yahoo Sports ecosystem - YouTube, on TV, in-app and across social - with special guests, fun surprises, giveaways and more.

Trust me- this is an award show you’re going to want to watch. And when it’s over, head to Mantel and let us know what you think (and also enter to win something big).

cllct: Led by PSA, Collectors Corners Even More of Grading Market by Acquiring Beckett

Collectors, parent company of industry-leading PSA, is tightening its grip on card grading. After buying SGC in 2024, the company has now acquired Beckett’s grading arm, magazines, and price guides. With PSA, SGC, and BGS under one umbrella, Collectors now controls roughly 80% of grading submissions. CGC remains the lone major independent, and there are a handful of smaller start-ups vying for market share. 2025 will be closing out on the heels of this massive deal, one that has consumers asking if they’ll be better or worse off as the industry continues to see consolidation.

The Athletic: Meet the Family That Hit Shohei Ohtani’s Most Expensive Baseball Card to Date

A Minneapolis family hit the hobby lottery after buying into a Whatnot box break and landing Shohei Ohtani’s 1/1 Topps Chrome Gold Logoman auto. The card is now with Fanatics Collect in an auction ending tonight… with bids north of $1.2M. Once the hammer drops, it will become the most expensive Ohtani card ever. A fun story to read, and one that might have you day dreaming about one day pulling a similarly massive hit.

Mantel: 2026 Hobby Predictions: The Long-Awaited Part 2

J.R. Fickle is back with Part II of his 2026 Hobby Predictions (read Part I here): fewer “vintage-only” lectures, more fun-first collecting, a looming pitcher boom, sneaky upside in hockey, and a reminder that not everything needs to be an investment. And no surprise, Fickle included at least one unhinged Sophie Cunningham prediction for good measure.

SI Collectibles: Michael Jordan's Rookie-Season Nikes Sell for Six-Figure Price at Auction

Michael Jordan’s cultural dominance in footwear added another chapter this week when a pair of rookie-season Nike Air Ships sold for $698,500 at Sotheby’s. While not his priciest rookie shoes, these sneakers were worn during a December 2, 1984 comeback win over the Lakers, and the huge auction price for the red-and-white shoes highlights how Jordan’s game-worn items continue to command massive premiums.

USA Today: Denny's Made Sneakers with Real Syrup. Here's How to Get a Pair.

Ignore the headline above… the shoes are already sold out. But we’re still entertained! Denny’s turned breakfast chaos into streetwear with Sticky Kicks, the limited-edition high-top sneakers featuring real Denny’s syrup sealed inside. The shoes went on sale yesterday, Dec. 17, also known as National Maple Syrup Day for those who don’t celebrate, and sold for $195 a pop. We’re waiting for the first pair to hit StockX, and for the first YouTuber to cut into the sneakers on camera to sweeten up some flapjacks.

Robb Report: The Last Pennies Ever Minted Just Sold for Over $16 Million at Auction

Collectors went all in on the end of an era. The final U.S. pennies ever minted sold for more than $16.7M at Stack’s Bowers, led by a record $800,000 for the very last circulating set. The 2025 “Omega” pennies, which were struck after production was halted, averaged $72,000 per lot, turning a one-cent coin into a six-figure collectible overnight.