When I see a Mangini video that has "rant" in the title it's a stop-what-you're-doing-and-watch-now! moment. Never disappointed.

Good commentary, John. I have been collecting since 1977. I have been in banking since 1994. The economy and incomes are in the tank, but some people don’t want to admit. Mixed signals everywhere, but if you look deeply. We are in very choppy times…agreed.

MCCGA, Make Card Collecting Great Again.

Now this is my kind of video. Real stuff, no fluff. It’s gonna get worse before it gets worse.

The terns that some of these guys come up with drives me nuts. Guess everyone looking to be hip. Comma card, flip, grail, slab, casket card, LCS, PC, TTM. I never heard any of these terms collecting in the 80's and 90's.

The only grail card I knew growing up was the “Wagner card” …regarding the economy …yes it can effect cards ….but vintage has always held it’s ground …David

If I collect a card, that makes it a collector's grade. // Yes, a crash is coming. Too many people are living off their credit cards, and soon the time will come to pay the piper. // By the way, nice pickups.

Well said, thank you for sharing your thoughts.

John I love you keeping it real and your thoughts and opinions but I don’t think you realize how cool your collection truly is …I love when you show off ball cards like the slim Jim’s and stuff like that just a pleasure to watch your show brother

❤ great video John spot on today

All cards are collectables..Collectibles... not investments.. so all grades are collectors grades.. jmo

Me too! Its why i know about Reiser. Refreshing to move off the hof players sometimes!

Quite enjoyable to have a mix of a hobby and the current economic climate. Definitely a symbiotic relationship and impactful to how we all collect.

Thank you! Just thank you! As real as it gets! I've seen the same as you say. True words and couldn't agree more. After I graded 30 cards. And the differential between 9 & 10 is just stupid....I may never grade again. I've been doing this for 35+ years and my wife is in printing for a living! We used similar technology the "grading" companies use.

Thank you for a good video. One thing learned from 8th grade economics class in 1990 was supply/ demand and the business cycle. From a retired advisor... #1 Buy low, Sell High. #2 Don't let your emotions determine your investment decisions. Ugh. Warren Buffet and I think alike. Think of these down markets as the "Greatest Sale"(cheap-ass prices). You should have already been building up the cash to buy low, because eventually you may be able to sell high. Let's hurry up and get all the layoffs over with. Most importantly... drink water and have a great weekend.

Your points on the economy are well taken. You’re correct about a Grail being “one”. Nice Reiser card and I love the Stargell transfer.

I love the pinholes in really old cards. Meant someone had their own display of players they followed. Maybe a kid who was filling up a wall or corkboard, maybe a worker to get thru the doldrums of the day in a factory or office because he had tickets in a few weeks to see baseball. Someone cared! Now they are considered 'beaters', a level below collector's grade --- A message from an obscure collector

There's only one grail!! Lol...damn right. But I sure have a couple hundred dream cards. Great video John!

Totally agree John! The numbers don't lie.... I hope it isn't too bad 😮

They're sure are a Lotta distractions goin' on as well. Nice rant. Cool cards! First time seeing the All-State insurance cards.

Nice video…gives me lots to think about….card prices are so high, that a downturn seems more likely than not…

I liked your take about the Grail cards. Interesting foresight into the economy. Thanks for sharing.

enjoy hearing your thoughts. it's definitely going to be a ride.

I really hope you are right about prices going down. Also, most of the time your rants are warranted. Thanks!

Most of this represents an astute series of observations. Good for you. As far as I'm concerned], the card crash is here and has been here awhile - and you're right in predicting it'll get worse. Even eBay is in a bit of a panic, offering small sellers some considerations that have been off the table for years. As far as an outfit like Disney, thank God I haven't had a small child for decades. They found so many tiers and add-ons to gouge consumers in the past several years, they deserve whatever they get. Inflation rates are varying by arena, certainly down from their post-lockdown heights. Your observations on the card market and some of its grotesque lingo are terrific. Surely it's wiser to be alone than in bad company.

I had no idea that Allstate entered into the baseball card market. Very cool looking Ty Cobb card!

Crash is coming, it's just a matter of time. Stay frosty & keep the powder dry, my friend.

I’m happy you are not in obscurity. I’ve really learned a lot from your videos and for the most part, you are in great company. As far as Buffett is concerned, the dude is 93 years old. He shouldn’t even be worried about the economy. Life’s too short. Cheers!

Def love to hear more on both your outlook & exp.. I know something's coming, not looking great out there to say the least.. not that I'd look to anyone for inv advice not what I'm asking, but I will say I don't consider many wise about much anymore but they're there if u pay attention, consistently both lear, and grow. That being said Mr M. I always enjoy your take and do have a solid respect for my elders. Not saying your old but I am not, lol, and I always like hearing someone's take that's seen a couple lunar cycles more than myself on interesting topics... That being said am a fan of the channel, and wish this had been longer Stay blessed

Thanks for the thoughts!

Thanks for sharing the cards, John. Totally agree with you on the rants. Family Dollar is the company that is closing the 1000 Stores. Times are not good. Will have to see if another recession happens. Do not think much of this collector’s grade thing myself.

Nice share John. I am really not sure what to think about it all. As a collector i do enjoy getting cards at a cheaper price. I cannot stand the terms "Grail Cards" and "Collectors Grade". I should hit up at least the Collectors Grade comments on my next hobby talk video because that one bothers me the most. Lol. Enjoyed.

Well said sir!

I’m curious how the National will be with the market in limbo. Household debt rising, free cash tightening….will dealers be in liquidating mode or will they be holding on waiting for top dollar.

I agree 100%!

Nice Dodgers jersey. It’s sort of inevitable that we’ll have a recession at some point at which point card prices will go down a lot. This hasn’t happened since COVID boom. Sweet cards!

Just hope the markets stay good enough for me to quit working after this year. Nice pickups. Willie Stargell played for the Grand Forks Chiefs Nothern League team in ND.

My Grail card is anything in the customized Mangini slab.

I understand the considerations maybe just collecting alone again. I personally like it the way it is now. I enjoy a little drama just for entertainment. It's fun & doesn't affect me. I buy cards because I love them and assume they'll be worth zero in the future. If my offspring can get a couple bucks out of them when I'm dead than that's just a bonus.

The term grail has always bugged me, the way the hobby uses it. Just like most things in life, I set the goal 'grail' and strive to achieve it, then if I do acheive it, I set a new goal 'grail'. We all can only dream as far as our experiences can allow us to see. My first comic grail was unthinkable when I started to collect, a cgc yellow label 9.8 with Michael Turner's auto. He had passed from cancer before I started collecting, so this was my grail. Then, I learned more about the hobby I love, gained more experience, achieved that grail and then set my eyes on a new hard to achieve goal...grail. This is the only way I can justify the use of the term grail, when applying it to multiple objects. Cheers! Oh, and I'm buying soooo much. Unfortunately people are hurting, so I'm trying to help them liquidate while they help me with my passion.

Man that Ty Cobb is exceptional. I typed out a book length rant about the talking points you brought up, but thought better of it. I’m not even a little educated on the market but I’d guess you’re right to go cash heavy. Take care bud

Collecting today with all KZfaqrs talk grades and how much money. Or hall of fame cards you can vote on. That's why l enjoy your vtg. cards. I enjoy my cards l grew up. Collectors don't care about non stars. They did played the game. 😊

I use to think about that a lot too. Thought it was only valid for a period on the 2010's

Gave a video like - That is a great 66' Willie Stargell. Really cool Pistol Pete. I think he would have had a HOF caliber career had he not missed three years in the service. I've been heavy cash for a long time now. Hard to buy stocks on sale if you don't have a pile of it waiting there. My cash has been crushing it. Money market been earning like 5% while I wait, wild times.

That term is “Let’s GoOoOooOoo”

I always thought the collectors grade was the highest grade where the price was affordable to the average Joe. . For example, a 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson PSA 9 goes for $2,000 and a PSA 8 goes for $250. So the collectors grade for that card would be a PSA 8. Or a 1992 Fleer Update Mike Piazza PSA 10 goes for $500 and the PSA 9 goes for $100, so the collectors grade is a PSA 9. I would actually say that the collectors grade is the positive term in the hobby. The Henderson PSA 9 and Piazza PSA 10 are the ridiculously overpriced expensive grade, and not much different of a card.

I just filled my truck up and then went by the grocery store and filled a shopping cart up. I have already stopped buying cards because of this. I am glad I am stocked up on lead and beans.

If card prices come down I just want my T206 Cy Young back I sold like an idiot in 2005 for $300 😂

Collectors grade is any grade. I think investor grade goes by the decade. Also, I think we have some good company, just got to separate the wheat from the chaff. Crash is coming, I moved some stuff into cash myself

I’ve got the Ted Williams from that Allstate Set

First of all, after coming back around a year ago to the hobby, your channel speaks my thinking best. Everyone acts like a bunch of lemmings... again.. I refuse to travel the common path like I did in the 90s. I'm nobody special, just a middle class welder in Tennessee. I study financial related things trying to learn not trusting anything anymore. I totally expect some bad MOJO to come to life and signal pain to the common folk. If that happens, cards will be the last thing people will be thinking of.. Love the channel, and may the Lord lead us to wisdom on how to navigate the times!

Economy is certainly showing no indicators of optimism based on the market earnings reports. That being said, I’m still adding very tough to find/rare cards when I can. I think when things get tough, and something is unpopular/out of cycle (as cards seem to be currently), it’s a great time to buy.

A grail card migrating from something barely attainable based on one’s current finances to something that will probably be purchased at this weekend’s card show is quite the study in semantic mutations.

Love the Reiser card. Durocher compared him to Willie Mays, high praise. A player lost to history unless you are willing to dig a little. Nice adds.

John, I began collecting again a couple of years before COVID. I started watching card channels on KZfaq and became very excited about going to the National one day and meeting everyone I saw. In time, I decided I didn't like the majority of those with channels and wanted to collect in obscurity as well. I have a few friends I share my pick ups with and pay attention to only a few card collecting channels now. Having peace in one's life is worth a fortune! However, I recognize I'm a very judgemental person and place high expectations upon others. What can I say?

John, no matter how much Sammy Thunder and Jake try, you're often imitated, never duplicated! Agree, who comes up with this "collector's grade" nonsense.

The only crash is me getting outbid

Rant on!!

I'm with you Magic, just like when they call someone the GOAT and they name multiple people, it just doesn't make sense. Peace brother

The economy is broken ... a crash is looming, but it needs to happen. This garbage is unsustainable

I like your shirt.

I think you could be right.One of the big reasons, those companies you mentioned and some other Big ones have struggled is because they're pricing themselves too High for normal people to afford like Disney. Now, if you go to McDonald's and get a double cheeseburger meal, it's $ 12. It's absolutely insane. Good thing I don't need mcdonald's, ha ha. As far as the stocks... I'm not as savvy as you are, so I have no info there. But I hope you're right about the cards coming back to reality. That would be awesome. So since you cashed out, what you're saying is the first round is on you in Cleveland.... and by round I mean 1909 Cobbs for everyone in the house.... haha

dollar general... i think... ((800 stores... reportedin march '24/edit))

Until inflation rates show an improving trend there’s no way interest rates are coming down. I think it will be next year at this point. And I think card prices will decrease in the short-term as some full-time dealers will need to sell inventory. I think we are seeing it with some cards already, but not across the board. Auction house prices seem to be holding steady.

Well if all goes to hell and the economy tanks and so on and so on, at least I'll have my awesome baseball card collection to enjoy! 🎉👍

One thing I dislike about the hobby is the unending focus on "price" and "investment". As if a card is collector grade because its worth a lot of money. I wish there was more discussion and focus on cards that are aesthetically pleasing. For me, when I think about I like baseball cards is because they capture something really rare in day to day life: amazing athleticism, focus, determination, colorful personality, time period design, fun, etc. I could care less about "price" so long as the card depicts one of those.

I don't remember a time in my 50 years when people weren't worried about an economic crash. And when stocks crash, they always seem to bounce back. The stock market is a strange beast. A businesses balance sheet has taken a back seat to hype. One bad apple in a sector can tank all the others. It's madness.

Video a bit depressing but the cards were nice

Uh-oh, the inverted yield curve. Maybe inflation is making it tough to do business. Wait, inflation is transitory.

I hope to HELL a crash is coming. The hobby needs a good, old fashioned crash after that boom crap we had to endure……prices need to go down lower than pre-Covid prices for me . Either dealers are just stuck on prices that they paid during the peak or they don’t realize people ain’t got no cash no more….#crashLESSGOOOOOO

Hey John. If anything goes down I hope it’s cards. Did you know that Paul reiser was the pistol Pete before pistol Pete? Everyone used to call him Pistol Pete

Rant rant. Rant it all out

Agree or disagree, I appreciate your perspective. You push my buttons, and ya can't be pushed around. I will say this though. There is a difference between a hobby that polices itself and someone trying to police the hobby. You appear to take a bird’s eye view and make comments in the vein of a person outside the hobby. Simple semantics seem to annoy you for no other reason than to be annoyed. "Grail Card", or "Collector Grade"...just because you don't use these terms doesn't mean they are not an accepted part of the hobby in 2024. When you put down phrases a lot of us are using, you put us down. It’s the equivalent of saying you are smart we are not. Because you are highly qualifed to speak on the topic of cards, I feel a lot of folks will simply go along with what you have to say. On the topic of a crash. There is no such thing as a crash when you play the game long enough.

i am sorry that a crash is coming.

Should I buy gold and silver?

Thats why i dont make youtube content anymore im a obscure curator of collectibles not into stupid collecting fads John

everyone betting minnesota timberwolves to win it all for that easy $. get it!!! save the economy anthony edwards!

I went to a card show recently and the seller did not want to be paid in Cash. What???

Un made cards in 2024-25 already commanding a higher dollar then my PC cards. lol

"It is different this time" - Some 25-year-old guru living in his parent's basement who doesn't think his influencer gig will ever end.....

I agree that the economy is broken. But unfortunately we havd heard the worst is coming for a long time. Hope u r wrong about this

I honestly never heard of a collector's grade by decade, before KZfaq. I like collecting Roberto Clemente cards. So, do you, Theo, Lou and a lot of people. Which is great. Clemente was a great baseball player and person. But, the collector grade Vs. the PSA set registry part of the hobby, is what I don't like. People on KZfaq don't need to tell me (or yourself) that a 1959 Roberto Clemente Topps for example, isn't a rare card. Or a scarce card or whatever. Regardless of some arbitrary number. It has a special meaning to me, you know? If it was all about rarity and scarcity, or a number on a slab? Would the passion, the art or love of collecting becomes secondary at best? Maybe not even that, right? My apologies for the rant or vent. Just one of those days. But yeah. It isn't talked about often. But, one of those reasons I don't press play and hit the record button, is because I already feel that it wouldn't make a difference. I don't have the ice cream and candy and cookie and glizzy (slang for hot dog where I'm from) cards. And, that's great for those who love it, not trying to shame anyone that collects what they like. If that is what they truly like. HOF cards ? Grails ?'ll stick to what I care about it. However, if I don't post videos (not the only reason) because I don't have the above ''collector's grade.'' Cards. There could be others who feel the say way. Not the best message certain people in the hobby say or do, and I don't if it's realized. Self-awareness is something I struggle with too. I guess ''we'' are all in our bubbles...hopefully, the market one won't POP. Apologies for the long comment. And rant....you make some great points, as usual.

Kinda like in 2020 when the market dropped 30%? As I recall card prices went to the moon

No crash coming in cards. People just won't sell. Just as there's no crash in real estate coming because people just aren't selling

I hope the card market crashes so the clowns in the hobby will go elsewhere. lol As a person who owns a farm, it is my opinion that grocery stores and restaurants are gouging the customer. Farmers and ranchers are not seeing the additional income. Seems like I am missing something between these entities.

I think “collector’s grade” and “investment grade” are the absolute dumbest terms ever. Every card is a collector’s grade if it is being collected. Is a ‘51 mays in a psa 1 not an investment? So stupid.

“Grail card” “psa 10” “iconic” Some of these folks over using those terms need to stop with the rediculous terms and start watching more of the game itself

The potato 🥔 in charge has taken a sledge hammer to to economy. As you said, Americans are hurting bad with all-time high credit card debt, terrible inflation caused by the reckless spending, fuel costs higher (which make the cost of everything rise) due to changing Trump’s fuel policies on day 1 in office, etc. I’m thankful that I make a decent paycheck with a sturdy company that I’ve been with 10+ years and have no credit card debt. I think it’s going to get uglier soon.

Mark my words, ONE year after Trump gets elected the economy will be on a tear, buckle up buttercup, it'll be a rocket ride!!!

I'll deal with mean tweets. Please everyone, let's get President Trump back. 🇺🇲 Nice Pete Reiser. Just picked up his 48 Bowman.

The death of the Yen has made eBay buying impossible for me. 🥲 Brighter side, a lot tamer inflation here but still feeling it because a lot is imported.