Happy holidays. While you’re spending the entire morning checking your shipping notifications in hopes that the gift you bought arrives in time, let’s have a little fun and play a game that I completely made up that I call “The 12 Days of  Collect-mas.”

How does it work, you ask? Simple. If you’re familiar with The 12 Days of Christmas, it’s like that, but for collectors: You have 12 days, with the corresponding number of gifts for each day with a gamified twist: you have $1,000 to spend. 

Make sense? No? It will. 

On the 12th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: 12 Sports Illustrated Magazines with Michael Jordan on the cover [like these from 1995-2000]. 

I’ve said it before, but I think paper is going to be the next wave - you had a box of SI magazines in the basement, your father and grandfather did too; and like those 1952 Mantle rookies they were tossed in a basement clean-out. Nostalgia for print sports memorabilia will have it’s day. 

• Est. Cost: $16
• Remaining: $984

On the 11th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: This lot of 11 postcards from 1910 that has “Greetings” and “Ladies” on them.

Ok, these are pretty great. First, they are greeting cards from 1910. Like, over-100-years-ago-1910. That 1910. Second, just the hilarity of the messaging on the greeting cards. “Good Morning.” Hey, sorry, sent you that one 9 days ago - was hoping you had a good morning that day, specifically. 

• Est. Cost: $10
• Remaining: $974

On the 10th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: The complete set of 10 NBA Dream Team Starting Lineup figurines. 

Still in the box, a collection of the greatest team ever assembled. If you’re feeling super nostalgic, buy two and open one to play with the kids or grandkids. 

• Est. Cost: $50
• Remaining: $924

On the 9th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: These 9 Doritos & Cheetos Donruss Brett Favre cards.

Quick: How many Cheetos cards do you own? Yeah, I don’t own any either! And as someone who spent a lot of time rooting against Brett Favre over the years it’s fun to pretend like they are Cheat-os cards.

• Est. Cost: $30
• Remaining: $894

On the 8th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: A lot of 8 1980’s San Francisco Giants “Bat pens” and pencils. 

Are you sure pencils and bat pens aren’t going to have a hot market one day? Are you really, really sure? Bat pens…ha! I used to love those when I was younger. 

• Est. Cost: $41
• Remaining: $853

On the 7th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: This lot of 7 plastic cases for a miniature Zamboni machine.

What, I have 7 miniature Zambonis. Don’t judge me. 

• Est. Cost: $25
• Remaining: $828

On the 6th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: This lot of 6 1990’s miniature NHL Zambonis.

I lied about having seven of them, I only have one. 

• Est. Cost: $20
• Remaining: $808

On the 5th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: Fiiiive vintage Riiiing Boxing Magazines from 1945.

Remember when I was talking about print magazines and newspapers as collectibles? Here’s a cool lot of issues of Ring Magazine from 1945. Aside from Jack Johnson being on the cover, 1945 was a pretty interesting year in boxing history as they only held two world championship boxing matches that year due to World War II. 

Sadly, a lot of boxers were actually drafted to serve in WWII and many of them never fought again after the war. 

• Est. Cost: $73
• Remaining: $735

On the 4th Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: This lot of 4 Jayden Daniels rookie cards.

I mean, it’s time to load up on the Jayden Daniels rookie cards. He’s been incredible this year. It’s hard to pass piling up on a potential generational talent. However, there’s a sense that we’re about to get absolutely hammered with parallel rookies - if you think Victor Wembanyama cards have been overprinted, Panini is having a “hold my beer” moment as they ride off into the sunset. A rumored 63 parallels in the Prizm base set alone. Yikes. 

Still, I would feel naked without having my hands on some Daniels rookies. 

• Est. Cost: $90
• Remaining: $645

On the 3rd Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: Three 2024 WNBA Select blaster boxes at $40 a piece.

This was the first year of WNBA Select cards and oh what a year it was to launch. With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese - among other potential all-WNBA rookie talent - you have to start loading up. Reese and Clark alone have the potential to be generational mega-stars outside of the sport - Swifties-level of fandom. 

This feels like a grab and stash purchase. 

• Est. Cost: $120
• Remaining: $525

On the 2nd Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: Two Roki Sasaki 2022 Epoch One “Perfect Game” PSA-graded cards.

I’m very, very much looking forward to seeing Roki Sasaki pitch this season, wherever that may be. I think he has potential to be the next great ace in baseball. It might be now-or-never when it comes to grabbing his pre-MLB cards. 

• Est. Cost: $130
• Remaining: $395

On the 1st Day of Collect-mas, my Mantel gave to me: One Muhammad Ali autograph - any autograph, really. 

This has been one of those “grail” purchases - funny enough, you can find some in the $350 range, which is pretty wild. But that’s the autograph I’m after. 

• Est. Cost: $350
• Remaining: $45

Look at that, I still have $45 left over. Might as well grab me a Mantel hat and a $10 gift card while I’m at it. 

Enjoy the holidays, and thanks so much for being a part of this community!