Sports Cards are Dope

The 1914 Babe Ruth Baltimore News just sold for $4.02M—about $3M less than last year’s $7.2M result. Is the hobby crashing? Nope. I walk through two-bidder auction dynamics, liquidity, macro vibes, why rarity + narrative still matter, and how this compares to modern grails (MJ/LeBron/Kobe). Quick story, four takeaways, and what it might mean for vintage vs. modern over the next decade.

Timestamps
0:00 Cold open — what sold, where, and the $3M gap
0:45 Quick story: 1914 Baltimore News Ruth (19-year-old minor-leaguer)
1:20 Why auctions drop: the two-bidder reality (not 100k voters)
3:40 Takeaway #1: Auction competition drives big swings
4:45 Takeaway #2: Liquidity & macro conditions matter
6:35 Takeaway #3: Narrative + rarity still rule (Ruth’s historical weight)
8:50 Takeaway #4: This isn’t hobby doom — one sale ≠ the market
10:40 Modern heat check: MJ/Kobe/LeBron/Ohtani vs vintage over time
12:30 Wrap + what I’m watching next (and Chicken Nugget Nation)
Thanks to our monthly supporters
  • Zach LaFountain

What is Sports Cards are Dope?

Welcome to the Sports Cards Are Dope podcast, hosted by Dr. Tyler Tarver (@tarvercards), an aggressively average dude with an above-average obsession for those glorious, four-cornered lil treasures we call sports cards!

This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a celebration of sports, pop culture, and the universal joy of pulling a card so dope you immediately start calculating how many shares of Apple you can buy with it. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a curious rookie, or someone who just wants to hear how Michael Jordan, Marvel movies, and Saved by the Bell all connect through cardboard, you’ve found your proverbial home.

Here, we keep it (mostly) positive as we dive into the wild world of collecting: rookie chases, market trends, and how these little slices of nostalgia tie into fandom, investing, and, yes, incredible relationships! Also, expect plenty of stories, pop culture tangents, and more than a few questionable analogies.

So grab your penny sleeves, settle in, and let’s talk sports cards more than your spouse would ever allow! SPORTS. CARDS. ARE. DOPE. (and so are you 🎧✨)!

Now quit reading, hit follow, and let’s dance you beautiful chicken nugget.