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92
July 14, 2026
A Collector’s Guide to Vintage Cards Before The National | Gordy Bonkers
Gordy Bonkers joins Ryan Alford on Collector Nation for a deep dive into the vintage sports card market and what collectors should be watching before The National. Gordy shares how more deals are now finding him through his content and why reputation, trust, and consistency matter when buying and selling high-end cards.
Ryan and Gordy break down the strength of the vintage market, including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente. Gordy explains
Ryan and Gordy break down the strength of the vintage market, including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Roberto Clemente. Gordy explains
91
July 10, 2026
Keep, Sell, or Trade? Cards Getting Hot Before The National
Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer are back on Collector Nation with a weekly hobby episode covering World Cup card movement, Topps Chrome Cactus Jack Basketball, Ryan’s latest Cooper Flagg pull, and what collectors should watch before The National. Ryan shares the cards he may bring to sell or trade, including a Cooper Flagg on-card auto, Trevor Lawrence, Cam Ward, Jackson Dart, and other cards that could become trade bait for vintage icons.The conversation moves through World Cup ex
90
July 7, 2026
Is Your PSA 10 Really a 10? | Mike Baker Authentication
Ryan Alford welcomes Mike Baker back to Collector Nation for another MBA edition focused on grading, certification, and what collectors should understand before making submission decisions. Mike shares what MBA learned from a same-day shop event, how Diamond Certification works on existing slabs, and why pre-grading can help collectors decide whether a card is worth sending in for full grading.The conversation also previews MBA’s plans for The National, including a larger booth setup, expanded
89
July 3, 2026
4th of July Special: The Declaration Auction, FIFA Stickers, and NFL Card Speculation
Ryan Alford and Bella Shafer are back on Collector Nation with a fast-moving episode about how wide the collectibles world has become. They start with Fourth of July energy, Joey Chestnut, and the rare Declaration of Independence broadside hitting the auction world before moving into Panini’s FIFA World Cup sticker books and why low-cost, fun collecting still matters in a market full of expensive boxes and high-end chases.From there, Ryan and Bella talk through international soccer card moveme
88
June 30, 2026
ONIT’s New Era: Alexis Ohanian, Gravity Baseball, and the Future of College Cards
Ryan Alford talks with ONIT Head of Product Cory Hollingsworth about the company’s biggest recent developments, including new ownership, the launch of Gravity Baseball, and what the next phase of ONIT could look like inside the hobby. Cory explains how Alexis Ohanian’s involvement changes the energy around the brand, why that matters for growth, and how ONIT is staying focused on fully licensed, on-card, college-driven products.The episode also explores the product side in real detail. Ryan an
87
June 26, 2026
Inside Brian Ludden’s Massive Card Storage Unit, NBA Draft Hype, and Pokémon Demand
Ryan Alford, Brian Ludden, and Bella Shafer are back with a hobby-heavy episode that moves from a real card-storage treasure hunt into the biggest collector conversations happening right now. Ryan shares what it was like going through Brian’s packed storage unit in Chicago, why the Griffey, Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Frank Thomas finds stood out, and how quickly you can lose track of time when a collection actually has quality.From there, the conversation shifts into NBA Draft card speculation, A