Shop Break-Ins & Hogwarts Cards Usher in 2026

Plus Bowman Draft Hitters to Target

Author

Evan Parker
January 08, 2026

We’ve almost made it to the end of Workweek 1, 2026, Collectors. Hang in there.

And if you’ve been too busy reading the endless stream of new job announcements on LinkedIn to dive into the latest collectibles news, as usual, we have you covered.

The hobby rode a rollercoaster in 2025 with record-breaking sales, a smattering of scandals and new, bold-named investors. Despite controversy (like the $350M autograph forgery ring) and consolidation (like the FTC probing PSA’s acquisition of Beckett), interest surged. Attendance at The National topped six figures. A Jordan/Kobe Dual Logoman sold for $12.9M, while Ohtani’s latest 1/1 hit $3M. Vintage remains steady, but modern is in frenzy thanks to Fanatics. Despite headwinds, collectors and dealers expect 2026 to be another strong year, assuming the broader economy holds.

Credit: SA Spurs

Arena Club, known for their “Slab Packs” (digitally purchased but physically redeemable graded cards), announced an official partnership with the San Antonio Spurs as they look to expand their interactive approach to fandom. The Spurs collaboration will include in-game promotions (like giveaways when the team hits 11+ steals), appearances at home games, and free graded cards. Co-founder Brian Lee calls it “the future of fandom,” and it’s a sign of how collectibles are merging with live sports experiences.

Mantel: Who to Chase in 2025 Bowman Draft – Bowman 1st Auto Hitter Rankings

The 2025 Bowman Draft checklist looks stacked with hobby potential, headlined by five prep shortstops offering a mix of athleticism, upside, and polish. Eli Willits, the youngest and most complete hitter, draws Jackson Holliday comps, while JoJo Parker’s elite OBP and lefty power make him a potential breakout. Steele Hall and Gavin Fien offer loud tools and sneaky upside, and Dax Kilby’s elite debut stats could carry serious hobby heat, especially with the Yankees tax. With over 20 teams worth chasing in breaks, this year’s Bowman Draft could be one of the most balanced in recent memory.

Southern California hobby shops continue to be targeted in a string of bold burglaries, with the latest hit taking place at Simi Sports Cards in Simi Valley around 3:30 AM on Sunday. Surveillance footage shows five masked individuals smashing display cases and stealing nearly every card inside, along with sealed boxes of wax, before fleeing ahead of law enforcement’s arrival. The shop also sustained significant damage. This follows a recent spree of at least three other SoCal break-ins last month, two of which involved burglars tunneling in from adjacent businesses. Authorities are still investigating.

Credit: Upper Deck

Upper Deck is diving into the wizarding world after securing the Harry Potter license from Warner Bros. Discovery. The first set—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 25th Anniversary—will feature familiar Upper Deck hallmarks like Outburst and Gold 1/1 inserts. A Fleer Ultra Harry Potter line is also in the works. No release dates yet, but the move aligns with a broader push into non-sports IPs like DC and Looney Tunes. With first-edition Potter books and original art already fetching six and seven figures, Upper Deck is betting big on collectors’ love for Hogwarts.

Mantel: How Much is Zohran Mamdani’s Autograph Worth?

This week’s Mail Day explores Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected rise as a collectibles curiosity following his swearing-in as NYC Mayor. While his autograph market is nascent, low supply and media visibility could make a signed New York Magazine cover a sleeper. Also flagged: Trey Lance as the single best card value in football (yes, we know that’s a slightly crazy claim)… writer J.R. Fickle thinks Lance’s PSA 10s are underpriced given his draft pedigree, athleticism, and looming free agency. If he lands a starting role, prices could surge. A big IF!

The $2.99 Trader Joe’s canvas tote has become an unlikely global status symbol, surfacing on the shoulders of cosmopolitan commuters from Seoul to Melbourne. Its appeal stems from scarcity—Trader Joe’s has no international stores—and cultural coding: the bag signals a certain brand of liberal, design-conscious, America-adjacent worldliness. Some overseas listings have reached jaw-dropping asking prices of $10,000 to $50,000, which makes me want to stock up on my next grocery run.

One last thing! If you participated in The Mantel Hobby Awards—by nominating, voting, watching the show, anything!—we’d love your feedback on what we can do better next time. The survey takes just 3 minutes, so please help us out if you have a moment.