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The NBA Debut Patches We Saw Coming, A Labubu Cards We Didn't
Mantel Debuts New Algorithm In App, Delivering A More Personalized Experience
Evan Parker
October 16, 2025
Collectors, before we get into this weeks news (and there are some great pieces below), forgive me for this brief Mantel product update.
Yesterday we dropped an improved algorithm, which powers our social feed. We heard the feedback that users wanted a more personalized experience, with a feed full of posts based on a user’s interests, so the new algorithm balances:
Topic relevance: how closely a post matches the user interests
Engagement: how much activity or conversation the post getting
Recency: how recent the content was posted
Quality: how complete and well-put-together the content is
It’s still fresh — just smarter.
So if you haven’t yet, hop on over to Mantel to give the new algo a test-drive, and let us know what you think. We’re always listening, always tinkering, always working to build the best social network for collectors on Al Gore’s internet, and with this update, we’re getting closer.
Ok… let’s get into the news.
via Topps
File this under: Least surprising (but still fun) news ever: Fanatics and Topps are bringing their debut patch and gold logo patch programs to the NBA for the 2025 season. Every rookie will have a one-of-one, on-card autograph featuring their debut jersey patch, while the MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year will each wear gold NBA Logoman patches that will later be inserted into cards. Fanatics also signed LeBron James to its roster, with plans for new memorabilia and milestone-driven releases; if 2025 turns out to be LeBron’s final season, could we see a dedicated car set (a la the Topps Ohtani 50/50)? We’d bet money on it.
Steve Aoki’s Las Vegas “Playhouse” doubles as one of the hobby’s most eclectic private collections, spanning vintage icons, modern grails, UFC 1-of-1s, Pokémon rarities, and even his own memorabilia (did we spy a life-size vinyl statue of Aoki doing a wall sit in his house?). Beyond cards, Aoki, who is an investor and friend of Mantel, pushes into vinyl with Audio Media Grading, eyeing test pressings and acetates as the next frontier. Biggest eye-opener in the story? That Aoki has 37,000 graded cards vaulted with PSA. How does PSA have room for cards from anybody else?
Fanatics Fest NYC is officially set for July 16–19, 2026, returning to the Javits Center with 25% more space and perfectly timed with the World Cup Finals at nearby MetLife Stadium. That global spotlight could bring a stronger soccer presence alongside the star-studded panels and activations that defined 2025. Mantel’s Shane Deol says attendees should expect expanded fan competitions, bigger stage moments, and hopefully a smoother path to exclusives after this year’s allocation hiccups. Tickets go on sale in November, with perks for returning attendees, and anticipation is already running high.
via Heritage Auctions
A mid-grade 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (BVG 3) is drawing attention at Heritage thanks to its unusual provenance. Alongside the card comes a photo of Mantle holding it at a 1990s signing, a signed baseball from the event, the original screw-down holder, period magazines, and even the camera used to capture the moment. With bidding already at $56,120 and an estimate north of $70K, the sale will test whether a unique backstory can push a Mantle beyond the typical $50K–$60K range for this grade. All early signs point to “yes”.
We liked how Highsnob framed this story: How to quit your job and sell vintage watches for a living. The feature centers around a dealer collective making waves, Very Special, which catapulted onto the scene after a watch they had sourced was spotted on a court-side wrist at an NBA game. Founded in 2023, VS has become a tastemaker hub in the vintage watch scene, blending streetwear sensibilities with high horology. With clients from Hailey Bieber to Zack Bia, they source esoteric APs, Piagets, and Rolexes while fostering a community-driven, trust-first approach. Part showroom, part supergroup, VS is carving out its own lane in the secondary watch market, and the photos are drool-worthy enough to warrant an article click.
via Topps
Ok, ok… I know I said we’d stop covering Labubu here, but perhaps our call that they were no longer cool was a bit premature. Case in point: Topps is bringing Labubu into the hobby with the debut Topps x Labubu Chrome 10th Anniversary set, marking the character’s first appearance in trading card form. Featuring art from creator Kasing Lung, the release ties into THE MONSTERS’ global anniversary tour, with installations beginning in Shanghai. Each box includes five Chrome cards and at least one parallel, with collectors chasing Speckle Refractors, anniversary logofractors, and colored variants. The crown jewels are the ultra-rare autographs, limited to just 22 copies per subject. Pre-sales open October 20.
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NYCC 2025 delivered plenty of buzz, but the breakout might just be “Mr. Pumpkin,” a quirky Halloween-inspired character from Miss Chibi Artist that feels destined for bigger things, or so says our J.R. Fickle. Bull Airs’ Adam Bomb sneakers and Madballs mashups also drew Fickle’s attention, while Topps Mint Disney boxes stole the show — $150 at the booth, flipping for up to $1,300 before settling near $650–700. Cards were everywhere this year, from Invincible tie-ins to indie creators making their own, cementing trading cards as the con’s stealth trend.