Journalist covering cards, collectibles and memorabilia. @NewhouseSU alum. Insta/Mantel: @benmburrows
Atlanta
Joined June 2011
- Tweets11K
- Following975
- Followers3.3K
- Likes7.2K
Some interesting data from PSA on its grading so far in 2026.
Weekly grading output is up nearly 50% over 2025 and 150% compared to average from 2020-2025.
PSA also reports it has graded 59M items over the last 3 years, which is more than the prior 23 years combined (57M).
JUST IN: @PSAcard is reopening its Value service at $39.99 per card with a 90-100 business day turnaround.
These submissions enter the queue behind all existing orders already at PSA.
Details are free to read on @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/7732307…
The seller of this Topps Finest Victor Wembanyama Purple Refractor PSA 9, which was part of the PSA-FedEx theft, tells me the card was part of their own submission.
The eBay listing for the card was originally made when the card shipped from PSA but has been taken down.
Seller tells me over 100 cards from their submission were part of the theft.
The FBI is now leading the investigation into the theft of thousands of PSA-graded items from a FedEx truck last week.
PSA has also published a complete list of the 6,451 stolen items to help track them down.
Free to read on @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/7718903…
JUST IN: PSA confirms the FBI is investigating the theft of an estimated 250 packages containing graded cards from a FedEx truck on Oct. 13.
A total of 6,451 cards were stolen.
Ben Burrows retweeted
Pro wrestler who hit seven-figure Shohei Ohtani card selling it to help his dad (free to read)
nytimes.com/athletic/7713869…
Ben Burrows retweeted
This is true. The kicker is that these cards will be able to be hit in the company’s repack.
BREAKING: @PrizePicks -- now owns ALL THREE Rookie Patch Auto Debuts from the Fanatics Collect auction last month.
The Flagg sold for $8.2M, the Harper sold for $2.88M and the Knueppel sold for $2.34M.
Assumed these will be part of company's new repack product.
Ben Burrows retweeted
Fanatics is postponing the opening of its Paris flagship store, which was set for the week.
“Due to the current events in Paris and its surrounding areas, we have made the decision to postpone the opening of our Paris flagship store. We felt this was not the right time to launch and celebrate a new store and look forward to welcoming collectors soon when a new opening date is announced.”
Latest update to PSA's Backlog Tracker shows 7.2 million cards, which is down from 8.2 million on Oct. 6.
"We plan to continue reopening services in phases and prioritizing shorter turnaround times, with pricing designed to balance demand against available grading capacity."
JUST IN: Police have confirmed more than 200 packages filled with PSA-graded cards valued at nearly $1 million were stolen from a FedEx truck.
Value is expected to rise as more packages are investigated.
Details are free to read on @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/7705932…
Beckett announces suspicious activity was detected during planned system updates and platforms were taken offline out of caution.
An investigation "has not identified any evidence that sensitive customer information was impacted."
Restoration is currently underway.
Ben Burrows retweeted
Michael Jordan ‘Last Dance’ NBA Finals jersey sells for record $12.26 million
nytimes.com/athletic/7644430…
Trio of Rookie Debut Patch Autograph 1/1s ended with record results Friday morning via @Collect.
1. Cooper Flagg RDPA: $8M
2. Dylan Harper RDPA: $2.88M
3. Kon Knueppel RDPA: $2.34M
Flagg result is the fifth-highest known sale for any sports card, per @CardLadder's database.
JUST IN: The 2007 Exquisite Collection Kobe Bryant & LeBron James Dual Logoman Autograph 1/1 sold for $6,501,840 via @altxyzofficial.
Card recently resurfaced and was graded after sitting raw in a collection for years.
Result is the 8th-highest known sale for a sports card.
“The hobby is making millionaires every single day from opening boxes."
The hobby is bigger than ever behind sports cards and Pokémon.
That's not anecdotal. The math is undeniable.
But is it a bubble about to pop?
Free to read on @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/7623714…
Ben Burrows retweeted
From Cooper Flagg to Pete Crow-Armstrong to Jaxson Dart, Topps Debut Patches are everywhere and the cards they’re going into are selling for big money (Free to read)
nytimes.com/athletic/7623215…
The sports and trading card hobby is bigger than it's ever been.
Pokémon cards are surging and there have already been more $1 million-plus sales in 2026 than any year prior.
I spoke with experts to better understand why.
Free to read for @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/7623714…
