Mickey Mouse Joins The Big Leagues

And Ryder Cup Sells Ugly Visors, But Now Authenticates Memorabilia

Author

Evan Parker
September 25, 2025

Collectors, tomorrow the Ryder Cup tees off, and I’m incredibly excited (and strangely developing a serious cough that might make it impossible for me to show up to work tomorrow or care for my infant daughter this weekend…, go figure).

The Ryder Cup ALWAYS delivers, and with a treasure trove of storylines percolating (Keegan Bradley not picking himself to play, Rory vs. Bryson, NY fans, etc, etc.), the 2025 edition has the makings of an instant classic already.

The storylines even extend to the merch tent, where folks are asking: “Are they selling the ugliest golf visor ever created?” (By “folks” I mean “me”).

That said, if you score one, maybe hold onto it, because I have a feeling in 20 years someone will be willing to pay up for the memorabilia, because as we all know, vintage never goes out of style.

The PGA of America is stepping into the collectibles space by authenticating Ryder Cup memorabilia in real time, partnering with TheRealest to tag everything from flags to signage to…potentially a vice captain’s cart (no word yet on if they’ll be authenticating the WARNING visors). The goal: preserve provenance, raise funds for PGA HOPE, and avoid waste from unused event materials. Inspired by MLB’s model, this could reshape how golf memorabilia is valued. As one expert noted, if the cup that caught Justin Leonard’s 1999 Ryder Cup ball had been authenticated, it’d be worth as much as $10K today. With stakes rising, authentication is becoming as important as the item itself.

PSA is opening a full-scale European grading operation in Frankfurt, Germany, slated for summer 2026. Branded “PSA Europe,” the move marks the company’s second international expansion after Japan in 2018, and aims to streamline grading access for a fast-growing European hobby community. With 100 new hires planned, collectors can submit locally without dealing with international shipping or customs. PSA leadership emphasized that global standards will remain consistent with U.S. grading benchmarks, so don’t drop your cards off in Germany hoping for a more-forgiving rookie grader. (And by the way, PSA announced a price/turnaround increase this week as well 🫠).

via Topps

If the entertainment trade publications are writing about cards, you know it’s a big deal… Announced yesterday, Topps is teaming up with Disney and MLB for a new Chrome Disney Trading Card Set, blending baseball with beloved animated icons. The 200-card release features Disney and Pixar characters alongside inserts like actor autographs and sketch cards, but the standout is Mickey, Goofy, and Donald donning MLB uniforms for the first time. Each character will rotate across divisions annually to boost collectibility. It’s a nostalgic crossover aimed at fueling fandom across collectors, sports lovers, and Disney diehards alike.

Finally a good story coming out of MLB’s grandstands… When Mike Trout crushed his 400th career home run at Coors Field, the ball could’ve sparked the usual chaos. Instead, it landed in the hands of “Alberto,” a fan more interested in a memory than a payday. Rather than cashing in and selling the historic ball, he returned it to Trout postgame in exchange for signed bats and balls… and a game of catch on the field. In a hobby where milestone balls often end in bidding wars, this one ended with a moment straight out of Field of Dreams.

Mantel: Big Bob’s 2025 Bowman Chrome Top 10 Pitchers to Chase

2025 Bowman Chrome may be loaded with hitters, but savvy collectors will find serious upside among the arms, too. Yankees righty Carlos Lagrange leads the pack with a huge year-over-year leap in command and strikeout rate, while Texas’ Alejandro Rosario posted absurd numbers before a UCL injury muddied his timeline. Deeper plays include Kevin DeFrank (age 17, big tools, Marlins dev system) and Ethan Pecko (Astros, riding rising velocity). Injured guys like Chase Hampton offer stash potential, and strikeout-light profiles like Henry Baez may fly under the radar. Of course, we never give investment advice here at Mantel, but if you are prospect hunting, we always recommend you read Big Bob before opening your wallet.

via Julien’s

We know it seems like every 10 year old with a plank of maple can complete a 900 these days, but there was a time when people considered it an impossible trick. This week, Tony Hawk’s board from the first 900 ever completed (at 1999 X Games) sold for $1.152M at Julien’s, setting a new benchmark for action sports memorabilia. The board headlined the “900 Collection,” a curated set of items from the legendary moment. Hawk’s helmet ($115K), shoes ($64K), and even his knee pads ($58K) were snapped up by collectors. This sale confirms Hawk’s place not just in sports history, but in the pantheon of grail-level collectibles.

via BAT

Bring a Trailer is currently hosting a standout auction for a 1999 BMW E36 M3 in Hellrot Red, a pristine final-year example with just 54,000 miles. Long overshadowed by the E30 and E46, the E36 is finally getting its due as a bridge between analog performance and early tech innovation. This specific car features the more powerful 3.2L S52B32 engine and tasteful OEM+ upgrades like a Remus cat-back exhaust and metal-impeller water pump. With clean examples getting harder to find—especially ones this clean—it’s a moment of renewed appreciation for one of BMW’s most overlooked M cars.

After the U.S. imposed 39% tariffs on Swiss imports, pre-owned watch sales for luxury brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet surged, with Patek’s secondary sales doubling to $87M in one week and Rolex jumping to $140M, per Everywatch. But the rally was short-lived. By late August, U.S. sales volume had dropped 41%, and prices fell 14%. Buyers pushed back, listings slowed, and mid-tier brands like Cartier remained relatively stable. As Swiss exports declined, some brands responded by raising U.S. retail prices to offset the tariff impact. The data points to a fast, volatile market cycle driven by external shocks.