Is Mickey Mouse the Next Giant in the Trading Card Hobby?

Disney cards are on fire and some vintage Mickey Mouse cards are reaching prices few collectors could have imagined even just weeks ago.

Joe Davis is joined by non-sports expert Cleve Bosher to dig into the rapidly changing Disney card market and clear up some major confusion surrounding Mickey Mouse’s earliest cards. Is the famous 1931 Wills card really Mickey’s “rookie,” or do much scarcer cards predate it?

From obscure European issues and the beautiful 1935 Mickey Mouse Gum set to early appearances of Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck and other legendary Disney characters, Joe and Cleve explore the cards collectors are suddenly chasing - and why identifying true first appearances in the non-sports world can be so complicated.

After a whirlwind stretch at Fanatics Fest and The National, Joe Davis is back behind the mic and there’s a lot happening in the hobby.

In this episode of Sports Cards & A Cup of Joe, Joe shares what he learned firsthand at two of the industry’s biggest events, along with important updates on the rapidly changing grading landscape. With PSA and BGS limiting lower-cost services and demand showing no signs of slowing, what should collectors be doing with their cards right now?

But grading is only part of the story. Joe dives into some of the hottest trends he witnessed at The National, including the explosive growth of vintage and modern non-sports cards, surging demand for iconic characters, and a major shift taking place in sports cards. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Ken Griffey Jr. and other established legends are gaining momentum as collectors increasingly look toward proven stars rather than the next big prospect. Plus, with major athletes, celebrities and investors pouring money into the hobby, could sports cards be entering another stage of growth?

From grading strategies and changing buying habits to surprising trends coming out of The National, this episode is packed with observations collectors won’t want to miss.

The hobby is changing fast. The question is: are you paying attention?

What if the next hobby boom is hiding in a bargain box?

This week, Joe Davis dives into one of the most fascinating questions in the sports card market: Who's next? After watching Michael Jordan cards explode in value and Ken Griffey Jr. follow a similar path, Joe explores which Hall of Famers and forgotten 1990s inserts could be the hobby's next breakout stars. From iconic parallels and overlooked sets to AI predictions and collector insight, this episode is packed with thought-provoking discussion that will have you looking at your collection in a whole new way.

Most importantly, Joe wants to hear from you. Who are your sleeper picks? Which players, inserts, or eras are being overlooked today but could be tomorrow's hottest chase? Join the conversation and see if your prediction becomes the next big hobby trend. This episode is being released a week late due to the New York Show. Stop by Joe's booths at the National: 853, 855, 952 and 954.