Hobby Nonsense

The Pokémon Show That Changed How We View Non-Sport Cards

May 27 · 1 hr 18 min
0:00-1:18:51

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This week on Hobby Nonsense, Jesse and Ray are joined in studio by Matt “Funcle” Hathorn after a huge weekend at Nashville Poké Fest and one of their biggest nights ever on eBay Live.

Before diving into the show recap, the guys cover several major upcoming releases, including:

  • 2025 Star Wars Masterwork

  • WWE Cosmic Chrome

  • And the newly announced 2026 Topps Chrome Marvel Comics

They also react to some eye-popping recent sales:

  • A $30,000 Woody card from 2025 Topps Chrome Disney

  • And a Disneyland 70th Anniversary Churro card /10 that sold for $560

Then the conversation shifts to Poké Fest itself.

As Jesse’s first true non-sport-focused card show experience, the weekend revealed something important: The Pokémon and non-sport markets are MUCH more different than most collectors realize.

While Pokémon tables were packed with traffic and activity, many attendees had little awareness of modern non-sport cards at all. At the same time, that lack of knowledge created incredible buying opportunities — including deals that saved the guys hundreds of dollars simply because few people were competing for the same cards.

The episode also explores:

  • Ray’s dealer-to-dealer flipping strategy

  • The massive PSA grading gap between Pokémon and non-sport

  • And why the current state of the market may suggest non-sport is still in its early stages

A fascinating look at where the hobby stands today — and where opportunity may still exist.

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