Thanks to Power Sports Memorabilia and to Dennis Rodman for the cool auto....
The Great Grading Debate and the Future of Sports Card Collecting with Tyler Nethercott
The sports card hobby continues to evolve at a rapid pace. From the explosion of grading companies to the return of Topps Chrome Football and the growing popularity of aftermarket autographs, collectors today have more choices and opinions than ever before.
On a recent episode of the Powers Sports Memorabilia Show, Matt Powers sat down with Tyler Nethercott from Sports Card Investor and Market Movers to discuss some of the biggest topics shaping the hobby today. Their conversation covered everything from autograph signings and grading controversies to collector nostalgia and how new collectors can get started in the hobby.
Aftermarket Autographs: Love Them or Hate Them?
One of the first topics discussed was aftermarket autographs. At Powers Sports Memorabilia, collectors regularly send in their favorite cards and memorabilia to be signed at upcoming athlete signings. These are commonly referred to as aftermarket autographs because the signature was not originally inserted into the product by the card manufacturer.
Tyler explained that his opinion on aftermarket autographs depends heavily on the type of card involved.
For modern prospect cards like Bowman Chrome autographs, he admitted they can create confusion in the marketplace because aftermarket signed cards are often listed similarly to official pack-pulled autograph versions. This can lead to pricing inconsistencies and inaccurate sales data.
However, Tyler expressed a much stronger appreciation for vintage signed cards and unique customizations. Vintage cards signed in person create a personal connection that many collectors value deeply. He also highlighted how collectors enjoy customizing signatures with unique pen colors and inscriptions, something impossible with traditional pack-pulled autographs.
Collectors today increasingly want one-of-one experiences. A Barry Sanders Kaboom signed in blue ink or a vintage baseball card signed in person carries a different type of meaning than a standard autograph card pulled from a pack.
Why Grading Has Become So Controversial
One of the most passionate parts of the discussion centered around sports card grading.
Matt referenced Tyler’s viral video involving a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card that received drastically different grades from multiple grading companies. The same exact card reportedly received grades ranging from PSA 6 all the way up to a BGS 9.5, while some companies even labeled the card as trimmed or oversized.
The experiment reinforced a growing belief among collectors that grading is far more subjective than many hobby participants want to admit.
Tyler emphasized that he is not anti-grading. Authentication remains extremely important, especially for vintage cards. However, he believes collectors place far too much emphasis on the numerical grade itself.
He pointed out how tiny differences in centering or corners can create enormous price gaps between otherwise identical cards. A PSA 10 can sell for several times more than a PSA 9, while a BGS Black Label can command massive premiums despite the differences often being nearly invisible to the naked eye.
The conversation also explored why PSA continues to dominate the grading market despite frustrations over turnaround times and inconsistencies. Tyler explained that PSA has essentially become its own hobby currency due to market trust, liquidity, and resale history.
At the same time, companies like CGC and TAG are slowly carving out niches by focusing on faster turnaround times, transparency, modern technology, and customer service.
The Return of Topps Chrome Football
Another major topic was the highly anticipated return of Topps Chrome Football.
While collectors have debated the product’s high price point, both Matt and Tyler focused more on the design and collector appeal of the release.
Tyler praised Topps for significantly improving its designs in recent years, especially when it comes to inserts. He highlighted inserts like Tecmo Bowl, Alter Egos, and Ultraviolet All Stars as examples of how modern products are tapping into nostalgia while still feeling fresh.
For collectors who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, products inspired by classic video games and childhood memories resonate strongly. Matt noted that many collectors who grew up during that era now have disposable income and are reconnecting with the athletes and products they loved as kids.
This nostalgia-driven collecting trend helps explain why players like Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, and Bo Jackson continue to maintain strong collector interest decades later.
Advice for New Collectors and Parents
One of the most valuable parts of the conversation focused on how parents can introduce their kids to collecting without overspending.
Tyler recommended starting simple:
- Buy affordable blaster boxes or value boxes
- Focus on favorite players or teams
- Organize cards into binders and sets
- Visit local card shops and card shows
- Dig through value bins
- Learn negotiation skills at shows
He emphasized that the hobby should first and foremost be fun for kids. Building sets, sorting cards, and hunting for favorite players creates memorable experiences that matter more than chasing expensive hits.
Matt also discussed how attending local card shows provides a valuable hands-on experience for young collectors, especially when they can interact with dealers and see the community side of the hobby firsthand.
The Future of Collecting: CardScore
Toward the end of the interview, Tyler shared an exciting concept he has been developing called CardScore.
The idea behind CardScore is to help collectors evaluate cards based on qualities beyond just price or grade. Instead of focusing only on PSA 10s and population reports, collectors could evaluate cards based on:
- Design
- Photography
- Rarity
- Player popularity
- Set appeal
- Collector sentiment
- Overall visual appeal
The long-term goal is to create a crowdsourced system that helps collectors discover truly great cards, regardless of condition or market hype.
It is an idea that could shift hobby conversations back toward appreciation of the cards themselves rather than simply viewing them as financial assets.
Final Thoughts
The sports card hobby continues to grow, but conversations like this remind collectors why they fell in love with collecting in the first place.
Whether it is getting a favorite card signed, debating grading standards, chasing nostalgic inserts, or introducing kids to their first card show, the hobby is ultimately about passion, memories, and community.
At Powers Sports Memorabilia, we love being part of that experience by helping collectors connect with athletes and create one-of-a-kind signed memorabilia pieces that mean something personal.
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The autographs turned out better than I could have imagined. Was a pleasant experience from sending to receiving back the items. You have a customer for life.
Nice big autograph!
Great autograph on this giant 2XL jersey
Power Sports was very helpful. They will answer any questions throughout the process of getting your Autograph. And they packed very well when they ship it back to you.
Another great looking signature added to my team signed helmet. It is great to get notifications throughout the process and using UPS is great to protect my items.
Nice autograph signed by former NY Mets great. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
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I’ve been holding on to this hat forever!! Finally got the opportunity to get it signed NBA legend Alex English.. Courtesy of Powers Sports!
Everything went smooth from ordering the autograph to receiving my item promptly and Natalie was very helpful and responsive with the questions I had.
Again, PSM did a great job!
Nice autograph by Roger Clemens himself. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice autograph by Cal Ripken Jr. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice autograph. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Another perfect autograph on my 3000 hit baseball. Always a great experience! Thanks again.
I've had this card since the age of 12. Never had the opportunity until now to get his RC signed. Thanks Matt for making this happen!!
Once again, Matt and his team delivered a smooth, professional experience in obtaining a Dustin Pedroia autograph (with authentication) to a book already containing a number of Red Sox greats’ signatures. I recommend Powers Spirts Memorabilia highly.
Great experience. Card was just as described. Excited to have this added to the collection.
Frank Thomas 1990 Topps Signed Baseball Rookie Card #414B Auto Graded Beckett 10
The COA was placed exactly where I wanted it and it turned out great. Always an easy experience.
An excellent experience with the team. The ball turned out perfectly. Easy to ship the ball in and it returned after signing without an issue.
Great place to do business with. Thank you!
Fernando Tatis Jr 2019 Topps Baseball Rookie Card RC #410 Graded PSA 9 MINT
😍 such a nice autograph! Thank you!
Thank you for another awesome autograph!
Mr. Powers delivered on my request for this Cal Ripken jr. autograph. It was a nice size clean and perfect signature better than I expected. Mr. Powers team is quick to respond with any concerns you may have and keeps you posted on your item. I will absolutely be getting more signatures through them to finish my collection. I highly recommend Powers Sports to anyone that has any doubts. I use to do send ins with Steiner sports until he sold, to me Powers picked up where they left off and I couldnt be happier. Thank you
Great experience as usual! I’ll definitely be getting more autographs in the future!!
As good as it gets
Smooth transaction
The process was smooth and easy as always.
Awesome!
The color match ink auto looks great! Thanks!
A fantastic addition to the set. Bosh's autograph really pops on this one. Thanks!
This might be the only autograph of this card that has his whole auto on it. Great addition to the collection!
The COA wasn't close to where I asked for it to be placed. I'm not sure how this was missed but it was a bummer when I saw that.
This came back amazing! The autograph was very clean! Thanks!
This completes my set of sketch cards. It's been fun doing this.
This was just the COA. Thanks!
It's awesome to get this one back! Another added to the Collection.
Great job by Powers Sports once again! They were able to secure a great signature from Andy Reid on my trading card, using the exact type pen and the exact location that I requested. Accuracy and quality are their top priority!
I submitted 2 cards to get them signed by Patrick Ewing himself. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
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