Edition 39 . Monday, August 24, 2026

Maradona's Hand of God ball sells for $3.35 million

The 1986 World Cup match ball behind both Maradona goals against England closed at $3.35 million at Heritage, well short of its $10 million estimate.

Drop Radar

Official brand release confirmed by Footy Headlines on August 24; on sale today.

Nike puts Atletico Madrid's 26-27 third kit on sale today in muted grey

Nike's third shirt for Atletico Madrid is officially released and on sale today. The base is a muted grey (Light Pumice) with navy (Obsidian) and red (Salsa Red) accents and retro-inspired horizontal striping, and matching grey shorts and socks come with it. Footy Headlines has the full image set if you want a close look at the striping before you commit.

Footy Headlines' report

Atletico Madrid Nike

Source: Footy Headlines . Published August 24, 2026

Preorder date of August 25 at Topps.com, reported by Blowout Cards on August 17.

Topps returns to basketball after 20 years with 2025-26 Pristine, preorders open August 25

Pristine is Topps' first basketball release in 20 years, and it comes back Chrome-forward. Mix Tape, Impact Frame and Clean Court carry the insert lines, with Pristine Pair dual autographs and Pristine Pieces relic autographs at the top of the box. Preorders open at Topps.com tomorrow, August 25, four days after a First Day Issue Dutch auction already ran on August 21.

The First Buzz breakdown

Topps Pristine Basketball Topps NBA

Source: Blowout Cards (Blowout Buzz) . Published August 17, 2026

Reveal set for 10 a.m. August 25, announced by the Colts on August 21 and reported with the same date for all eight teams by multiple outlets.

NFL and Nike unveil Rivalries uniforms for eight AFC South and NFC North teams on August 25

The reveal lands at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 25, and covers the Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans, Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings in one go. It is the second year of the Rivalries program, which started with the AFC East and NFC West in 2025. Each team debuts its look in a game against a division rival this season and keeps it in rotation for three seasons, so these are not one-night specials.

The Colts announcement

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) Indianapolis Colts Ad at Fanatics

Indianapolis Colts NFL Nike

Source: Colts.com . Published August 21, 2026

Presale date of August 31 listed by Checklist Insider; no release date announced.

2026 Topps Museum Collection Baseball presales open August 31, release date still unannounced

Museum Collection is a 100-card base set that exists mostly as a carrier for its hits: Museum Framed Autographs, Autograph Patch cards, Lifetime Members Relic Autographs of all-time greats, Momentous Material game-worn memorabilia and Jumbo Museum Memorabilia. Presales open August 31. Topps has not set a full release date yet, so the presale is the only date on the board.

The checklist page

Topps Museum Collection Baseball Topps MLB

Source: Checklist Insider

Live Heat

Sold for $3.35 million at Heritage's Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, reported August 22 by Yahoo Sports and corroborated by other wire coverage.

Maradona's 'Hand of God' match ball sells for $3.35 million at Heritage, short of a $10 million estimate

The ball used for both the 'Hand of God' goal and the 'Goal of the Century' against England in 1986 sold for $3.35 million at Heritage Auctions' Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. Heritage had put a $10 million estimate on it. Two of the most replayed goals in the sport's history came off this one object, and it still finished a long way under the number the house called.

Yahoo Sports' report

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) Argentina National Team Ad at Fanatics

Diego Maradona Argentina 1986 World Cup

Source: Yahoo Sports . Published August 22, 2026

$85,500 current bid, 74 bids and 317 watchers on the live eBay listing; second on Cardboard Connection's most-watched tracker this run.

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 3 hits $85,500 with 74 bids, second on Cardboard Connection's most-watched board

The #311 Mantle in PSA 3 is running at $85,500 with 74 bids and 317 watchers, ranked second by watcher count on Cardboard Connection's live most-watched eBay tracker. Seventy-four bids is a lot of separate hands on one mid-grade copy, and the auction is still open.

The eBay listing

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) New York Yankees Ad at Fanatics Mickey Mantle collectables at eBay Mickey Mantle jersey Ad at Fanatics

Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps New York Yankees

Source: Cardboard Connection (eBay most-watched tracker) . Published August 24, 2026

$25,508.72 current bid, 66 bids and 247 watchers on the live eBay listing; seventh on Cardboard Connection's most-watched tracker this run.

2025 Clear Cut Matthew Schaefer Exquisite 1-of-1 auto reaches $25,508.72 with 66 bids

The Schaefer Exquisite autograph, numbered one of one, is at $25,508.72 with 66 bids and 247 watchers, seventh on Cardboard Connection's most-watched tracker. It is the only hockey card on the current top ten, which tells you plenty about where the room's attention usually sits.

The eBay listing

Matthew Schaefer NHL

Source: Cardboard Connection (eBay most-watched tracker) . Published August 24, 2026

$9,688 current bid, 72 bids and 299 watchers on the live eBay listing; third on Cardboard Connection's most-watched tracker this run.

Michael Jordan-signed 1998 Upper Deck Bulls jersey auto reaches $9,688 with 72 bids and 299 watchers

A Michael Jordan-signed 1998 Upper Deck Chicago Bulls jersey auto is at $9,688 with 72 bids and 299 watchers, third on Cardboard Connection's most-watched tracker. It is the only signed memorabilia piece on the current top ten; everything else up there is cards.

The eBay listing

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) Chicago Bulls Ad at Fanatics Michael Jordan collectables at eBay Michael Jordan jersey Ad at Fanatics

Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls Upper Deck

Source: Cardboard Connection (eBay most-watched tracker) . Published August 24, 2026

From the Feed

Posted August 23 by @darrenrovell on X.

Darren Rovell: a silver MBA sticker Mantle PSA 3.5 sold for $390,000 at Heritage

MBA stickers are out of control. The previous record for a Mantle PSA 3.5 was $244,000. That was four months ago with a GOLD MBA sticker. Tonight, this one, with a silver MBA sticker, sells for $390,000 at Heritage.

Rovell puts a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle in PSA VG+ 3.5 (cert 22970064) with a silver MBA sticker at $390,000 on the night of August 23. He notes the previous record for a Mantle in that grade was $244,000, set four months ago with a gold MBA sticker.

The post

Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps New York Yankees

Source: Darren Rovell (X) . Published August 23, 2026

Posted August 23 by @Collect on X.

Fanatics Collect: LeBron James has 28 card sales over $1 million, more than every other active NBA player combined

LeBron James has 28 card sales of $1 million+, twice as many as all other active NBA players combined. Other active NBA players with card sales exceeding $1 million: Luka Doncic: 5 Steph Curry: 2 Giannis Antetokounmpo: 2 Victor Wembanyama: 2 Nikola Jokic: 1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 1 Anthony Davis: 1

Fanatics Collect's own count puts LeBron at 28 sales of a million dollars or more, against 14 for every other active NBA player put together: Luka Doncic five, Steph Curry two, Giannis Antetokounmpo two, Victor Wembanyama two, Nikola Jokic one, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander one, Anthony Davis one. Wembanyama at two after three seasons is the number worth sitting with.

The post

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) LeBron James collectables at eBay LeBron James jersey Ad at Fanatics

LeBron James NBA

Source: Fanatics Collect (X) . Published August 23, 2026

Posted August 24 by @CardsBoulevard on X.

Best Cards Ever tracks a PSA 10 Stained Glass Gold Curry from $9,900 in April to $25,200 in August

PSA 10 2013 Panini Innovation Stained Glass Gold Stephen Curry Market Check 📈 ✅ Apr. 2026 - $9,900 ✅ Jun. 2026 - $12,200 ✅ Aug. 2026 - $25,200

The account follows one 2013 Panini Innovation Stained Glass Gold Stephen Curry in PSA 10 (cert 68924108) across three sales this year: $9,900 in April, $12,200 in June, $25,200 in August. Same card, same cert, three prices in five months.

The post

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) Stephen Curry collectables at eBay Stephen Curry jersey Ad at Fanatics

Stephen Curry Panini

Source: Best Cards Ever (X) . Published August 24, 2026

Posted August 24 by @kobehighlight on X.

Barcelona debut the Nike 'Mamba' away kit on what would have been Kobe Bryant's 48th birthday

FC Barcelona debuted their new Kobe away jersey on what would've been Mamba's 48th birthday. 💜

Barcelona put the Nike 'Mamba' away kit on the pitch for the first time on what would have been Kobe Bryant's 48th birthday. Our July 23 coverage carried the kit's announcement and its July 31 launch date; this is the first time it has been seen in a match.

The post

Gear check · curated picks · Advertising: links marked Ad earn us a commission (disclosure) FC Barcelona Jersey - Home, Away & Third Ad at Fanatics Kobe Bryant collectables at eBay Kobe Bryant jersey Ad at Fanatics

FC Barcelona Kobe Bryant Nike

Source: Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation (X) . Published August 24, 2026

Community posts surfaced by the editor from public feeds. Posts may not be independently confirmed.

Today's Video

“What's in the case on the show floor of the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago 🔥” by AA Mint Cards on YouTube, published August 24, 2026. Watch on YouTube.

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