This Kobe Card Went From $156K to $1.1M… Here’s What It Means for the Hobby

A Kobe Bryant gold /10 BGS 9.5 went from $156K in 2022 to $1.1M in 2026. Ryan Alford and Bella explain why rising Hall of Famer prices signal a healthy, more stable card market, and how that’s different from chasing rookie 1/1s. Download the Collector Nation app and visit thecollectornation.com for more.

Ryan and Bella also break down the second MJ 1998 Finals jersey to sell for $14M (this one privately), Goldin’s Babe Ruth card vs. Ty Cobb photo result, and where things stand with grading and the PSA backlog. They close with Five Up, Five Down for NFL Week 5 and the latest Topps price hikes on Flagship Basketball and Cosmic Chrome.

Topics Covered:

Kobe Bryant gold /10 BGS 9.5: $156K (2022) → $1.1M (2026)

Why rising Hall of Famer prices mean market stability, not gambling

Second MJ 1998 Finals jersey sells privately for $14M

Private sales vs. open auctions: why “the last comp lies”

Goldin Fall Vintage Elite: Babe Ruth card vs. Ty Cobb Type 1 photo

Grading: the PSA backlog, the value tier, and cost per card

Five Up, Five Down: NFL Week 5 card market movers

Fernando Mendoza’s debut patch going into a Topps 1/1

Topps Update Series markups over MSRP