Collectors, we are two weeks away from The National Sports Collectors Convention. I repeat. Two. Weeks. Away from The National.

We haven’t even caught our breath from Fanatics Fest, yet we’re already counting down the days before The Hobby descends upon Rosemont, Il. for one of the very best weeks of the year.

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I’ve been fortunate enough to attend The National multiple times, and I’m pretty convinced that if a card or piece of memorabilia exists, you’ll be able to find it on the show floor.

We were curious what members of the Mantel community were planning to hunt for at The National this year, and Mike Metzler pulled out a few of our favorite “In Search Ofs” for a fun read…

The National isn’t just a convention… it’s the collector’s Hail Mary, the one place where impossible grails suddenly feel within reach. Whether it’s a Harry Heilmann card tied to a family legend, a PSA 10 Hulk Hogan from the ultra-rare 2013 Upper Deck Employee set (only 125 made, with no Hogan 10s surfacing since 2020), or the elusive junior-year high school card of John Smoltz, this is where the hunt gets personal. It’s not always about value; sometimes it’s about closure, purpose, or just proving the card exists.

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In a still developing story, one of the largest autograph forgery rings in hobby history has been exposed, with dealer Brett Lemieux, founder of “Mister Mancave”, publicly confessing to forging millions of sports memorabilia items over the past two decades. Authorities raided his Westfield, Indiana facility, seizing merchandise allegedly worth up to $700M. Lemieux has admitted to faking autographs, holograms, and even developing a signature machine to fool COAs, en route to selling more than $350M in fraudulent items. With connections to nearly every major athlete and authentication company, Lemieux’s operation may eclipse even the infamous Operation Bullpen. And last night it was reported that a dead body was found at Lemieux’s warehouse, though at press time no more details were confirmed. Collectors are now left wondering how many “authenticated” items in their stash are actually fakes, as the whole industry turns their attention to this sad, still developing story.

Bobblehead mania is officially out of control, and incredibly collectible. Fans now show up hours before first pitch to stadiums across the country, braving summer heat and subway chaos for the chance to grab a limited-edition bobble, often reselling them for big profit before the game even gets underway. Designs have evolved beyond basic poses into creative collabs and cultural tributes (hello, Superman Judge and George Costanza Night), fueling a booming subculture and prompting the National Baseball Hall of Fame to dedicate an entire exhibit to them. Rising tariffs have jacked production costs, but between attendance bumps and eBay markups, teams are still all in.

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A photo-matched, game-worn Mickey Mantle Yankees jersey inscribed “No. 7” and authenticated across 13 images including the 1960 All-Star Game, is heading to auction at Heritage with a $4M estimate. Fresh to the hobby and unaltered (a rarity for gear from that era), the jersey was quietly acquired in the 1990s from a teammate’s estate. It’s been linked to multiple games across 1960 and 1961, including spring training and an exhibition with Roger Maris. If bidding meets expectations, it could join Mantle’s elite memorabilia club, alongside his 1958 jersey ($4.68M) and a 2024 World Series gamer ($3M).

Pokémon cards continue to be the ultimate high-stakes collectible, now doubling as bait for international heists. In the latest caper, a shop in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture was hit for $92,000 in cash and cards, allegedly orchestrated with help from the manager of a rival card shop. It’s the third arrest tied to the June 16 robbery, which involved a knife, a 3:30 a.m. break-in, and a flood of online outrage. Similar heists have struck Osaka, Melbourne, and Massachusetts, with six-figure losses becoming disturbingly common. Pikachu may not carry a wallet, but collectors clearly need safes.

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With 2025 Score Football hitting the market just in time for preseason hype, collectors are already placing bets on this year’s NFL rookie class. Aside from the more obvious, early picks like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter, plenty of rookies are worth keeping an eye on, with cards currently trading at reasonable prices. Shedeur Sanders is a risky but intriguing QB play at $100. Further down, Tetairoa McMillan ($33), Tyler Warren ($35), and Matthew Golden ($45) offer solid value with potential upside. True bargain hunters may eye sleepers like Xavier Restrepo ($15), Tre Harris ($7.50), and Elic Ayomanor ($10), all of whom could be poised for big seasons.

Hand-cut wooden puzzles are having a luxury moment, with elite puzzlers shelling out thousands for bespoke, brain-twisting works of art. Companies like Elms, Stave, and Par craft these heirloom-quality pieces from fine hardwoods, often featuring irregular edges, no image references, and sculpted, whimsical pieces. Top-tier sets can hit $9,000 (or more for custom commissions), with some puzzlers spending over $500K to grow their collections. Meanwhile, micro-puzzle jeweler Lazels just dropped a $1,200 titanium puzzle the size of a cellphone, which sold out in only 12 minutes. Call it jigsaw couture: tactile, meditative, and wildly collectible.

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