Holy Grail Holograms (DRAFT)
June 17 2025 by GradeX
PART 1 – DIGITAL COLLECTIBLES
This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the digital landscape within the sports collectibles world. It explores the future of sports trading cards and collectibles while examining the impact of technology on the hobby. Additionally, it delves into several emerging markets that are reshaping the industry.
By the chapter’s end, you will be equipped to explain the foundational principles of digital collectibles and understand the core concepts of blockchain technology. You will gain a thorough understanding of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and recognize the major players in the digital collectibles market. Furthermore, you will be able to analyze the potential and implications of digital collectibles while exploring their growth trends and future outlook in this rapidly evolving space.
Upper Deck e-Pack
Launched in 2016, Upper Deck’s e-Pack program is described as a “digital to physical platform.” Collectors can purchase packs from the e-Pack website or app, open them online, and choose to either have the cards shipped or stored.
Here is a tutorial on Upper Deck’s e-Pack program for NHL hockey cards: https://youtu.be/vI0WLkFkL3g
Note: COMC.com manages the storage and shipping of physical cards for e-Pack.
Virtual Collecting
eBay, vaulting, grading
NFTs, Blockchain and Digital Cards
In this chapter, we will explore the future landscape. We’ll begin with a brief overview of digital sports collectibles. To aid in understanding, we’ve included several short videos that explain these products and concepts as concisely as possible.
LINK: “NFTs Explained in 4 minutes”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkUn86bH34M
Let’s look at a few examples of sports-licensed NFTs and digital collectibles.
Panini Blockchain Cards
These cards represent a premium entry into both the NFT and physical collectible markets. Collectors who purchase one receive a unique, one-of-a-kind NFT along with a physical copy of the card. Each card is a one-of-one, potentially featuring autographs and the prestigious “logoman” jersey patch.
Watch this video for more information: https://youtu.be/ljJlE3JtSjU
SoRare
SoRare is a licensed soccer NFT product that combines elements of competition and fantasy sports. Below, you’ll hear from fantasy sports experts at RotoWire, who will provide an excellent breakdown of this rapidly growing platform. Many of these cards are fetching significant sums at auction.
Watch this video for more information: https://youtu.be/sqxiFHOnl1Y
NBA Top Shot
To date, NBA Top Shot from Dapper Labs stands as one of the most successful NFT sports products and marketplaces. Top Shot enables collectors to purchase NBA digital video highlights, known as “Moments.”
Watch this video for more information: https://youtu.be/5E8dEtVHmCE
NFL All Day
NFL All Day is an NFT digital collectibles platform developed through a partnership between the NFL, NFLPA, and Dapper Labs. It enables football fans to collect “Moments,” which are NFTs that capture highlights of significant plays, such as spectacular passes and touchdowns. These Moments are securely stored on a blockchain and can be bought, sold, or traded on a peer-to-peer marketplace. The platform celebrates the game’s epic highlights, offering fans a unique and interactive way to engage with their favorite sport.
Watch these promotional videos for NFL All Day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBRowz4fIP0
https://youtu.be/fsaPceavB6g?si=hAVg307xGvU57nHM
NHL Breakaway
NHL Breakaway is an official NFT digital collectibles marketplace for the NHL, NHLPA, and NHLAA, powered by the Sweet platform. Similar to NBA Top Shot, Breakaway enables fans to buy, trade, and collect video highlights and memorabilia from both current and historical NHL moments. The platform also features interactive elements such as on-platform challenges, where collectors can earn real-life rewards and additional digital goods.
Watch this video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRjAXhFmyMM
Topps and Panini NFTs versions of flagship brands
Topps has launched an NFT version of their flagship MLB cards. Similarly, Panini has introduced NBA and NFL NFT versions of their popular Prizm brand.
Topps Collect!
Digital cards, not NFTs
PART 2 – EMERGING MARKETS & NIL
Collectors are always on the lookout for the next big thing. Over the past six to eight years, the sports collectibles market has experienced tremendous growth in several new and exciting categories, attracting many new hobbyists.
At the end of the chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify and examine several growing markets in sports and entertainment collectibles.
- Analyze the potential and implications of these emerging markets.
- Review the growth trends of these markets.
- Describe the core concepts of NIL.
Video Game Grading
Video game grading is a process where experts assess the authenticity and condition of video games, especially sealed or complete-in-box (CIB) games, and assign them a grade based on their condition. This grading helps collectors and enthusiasts determine the value and authenticity of their games.
The most well-known companies in this field are Wata Games, CGC, and Video Game Authority (VGA). These companies have established strong reputations for their grading standards and practices.
In addition to the overall grade, the quality of the game’s seal (if it is sealed) is also graded. This can range from A++ (nearly perfect) to C (significant defects). The grading process can include evaluating the game box, cartridge or disc, manuals, and any game-specific inserts. Each component is carefully assessed for its condition.
To illustrate the market’s potential, in August 2021, a high-grade, unopened, rare copy of the original Nintendo Mario Bros. game sold by Rally (the fractional company) for $2 million USD as a buyout. This exciting new collectible category is still in its infancy, particularly for sports video games. (UPDATE THIS, WITH A MORE RECENT EXAMPLE)
Watch this video from the TV show ‘Pawn Stars’ featuring a high-grade copy of the Nintendo game “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!”: https://youtu.be/jTA14m3Wu7s
Discover the fundamentals of video game collecting with insights from Jon Waldman of WorthPoint. Jon has contributed to Beckett Media and numerous other collectibles publications. He is also the author of two books.
https://www.worthpoint.com/articles/collectibles/how-to-collect-video-games-a-primer
Ticket Grading
Similar to trading cards, professional grading of sports tickets involves authenticating, preserving, and certifying tickets from various events to assess their condition. PSA is the leading grader in this space. The ticket market has experienced significant growth over the past few years and appears to have a high ceiling.
Currently, compared to trading cards or other graded collectibles, the population reports for graded tickets are quite low, and very few copies are found in high grades. Special moments commonly captured on graded sports tickets include player debuts, record-breaking performances, championship games, historic matches, and farewell games.
LINK: PSA podcast discussing grading sports tickets with Principal Ticket Authenticator Matt Fuller: https://t.co/QQoVK6BpIJ
IMAGES: Ruth called shot ticket, Gretzky debut
Magazine Grading
Magazines uniquely capture significant moments with impactful visuals, evoking strong emotions in fans and collectors. Like trading cards, magazines are graded based on attributes such as cover gloss, spine condition, and page quality, though the process is more complex. CGC leads the grading market, with PSA entering the space in 2025.
Collectors prize magazines featuring prominent athletes, historic events, or “first appearances,” such as Sports Illustrated #1 from August 16, 1954. Sports Illustrated is the most sought-after title, along with others like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Baseball Digest, and ESPN The Magazine. Newsstand editions, free of subscription address labels, are typically more desirable and valuable on the secondary market.
For more on magazine collecting and grading, see this article.
Trading Cards of Female Athletes
While confined to their homes and computers during the early months of the pandemic, collectors discovered new and underappreciated cards and sets. One category that has seen tremendous growth since early 2020 is the market for cards featuring top female athletes, like tennis star Serena Williams and soccer star Mia Hamm, and more recently basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Read this fascinating article on the state of this growing market segment:
Non-Sport / Entertainment Cards
Some of the most popular properties in the non-sport world include Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. Interestingly, the first trading cards were non-sport cards. Characters, historical figures, and subjects, especially fictional ones, don’t face the risk of scandal or injury like modern athletes do – after all, “Superman can’t blow out his elbow.” In the non-sport world, rookie cards are known as “first appearances,” a term also used in comics.
Recently, certain cards and sets have seen dramatic increases in demand, such as 1940 Superman #1, 1966 Batman #1, 1966 Marvel Super Heroes #34 Spider-Man, and 1977 Star Wars #1 Luke Skywalker, to name a few. In modern card collecting, very few insert sets carry the clout and prestige of 2017 Fleer Ultra Marvel Precious Metal Gems.
IMAGE: 1966 Batman #1, 2017 PMG
NIL: Name, Image, Likeness in College Sports
NIL stands for “name, image, and likeness.” It refers to U.S. college and university athletes being allowed to sign endorsement deals and be paid by companies for using their name, image, and/or likeness without losing their amateur status or becoming ineligible to compete.
The new NIL regulations took effect on July 1, 2021. While several details continue to be worked out, you can find more information in this article announcing Panini’s new agreement with the Collegiate Licensing Company (which represents the logos and marks of colleges and universities) and OneTeam (a group licensing company representing a large group of athletes). This agreement will also include digital trading cards and NFTs.
EA’s 2025 College Football video game
LINKS: Panini, OneTeam, Topps Bowman U announcements
IMAGES: Manning Texas Panini Prizm card / Clark Iowa Bowman U or Panini card
