# PSA Pop Control?! Fanatics’ HUGE Conflict of Interest + Affordable GOAT Cards Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/collector-investor-podcast-7656182/psa-pop-control-fanatics-huge-conflict-of-interest-affordable-goat-cards Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/collector-investor-podcast-7656182/psa-pop-control-fanatics-huge-conflict-of-interest-affordable-goat-cards.md Podcast: [Collector Investor Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/collector-investor-podcast-7656182) Published: 2026-09-01T19:50:49+00:00 Episode link: https://collectorinvestorpodcast.podbean.com/e/psa-pop-control-fanatics-huge-conflict-of-interest-affordable-goat-cards/ Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/6m7pvcg4h6d2eyri/Sept_17rz8h.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/collector-investor-podcast-7656182/episodes/psa-pop-control-fanatics-huge-conflict-of-interest-affordable-goat-cards Duration seconds: 3857 ## Resource Is PSA intentionally controlling card populations? And does Fanatics have a conflict of interest when it manufactures the biggest chase cards in the hobby AND operates a marketplace that can sell them? On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, we dive into two major sports card hobby debates. First, we discuss Fanatics and the massive Cooper Flagg chase card. When a huge card is pulled as a redemption, Fanatics is involved in getting that card to the collector β€” but it also has its own selling platform. Does that give Fanatics an unfair advantage when it comes to landing some of the biggest cards in the hobby? Then we get into PSA grading. Has PSA become significantly tougher on cards from the 1980s and 1990s? Are newer graders judging older card stock against modern and ultra-modern standards? And the biggest question of all: could PSA be intentionally controlling populations on valuable cards? We also discuss: πŸ”₯ Fanatics and the Cooper Flagg chase card πŸ”₯ Fanatics Collect and potential conflicts of interest πŸ”₯ Why PSA seems tougher on 1980s & 1990s cards πŸ”₯ PSA grading consistency πŸ”₯ The theory of PSA "pop control" πŸ”₯ Why high-value cards may receive more scrutiny πŸ”₯ The lack of transparency in card grading πŸ”₯ Old-label PSA slabs vs. newer PSA slabs πŸ”₯ How we evaluate vintage cards in older PSA holders πŸ”₯ Whether a new grading company could challenge PSA πŸ”₯ Affordable cards of some of the greatest athletes of all time PLUS β€” we pick affordable or undervalued cards for hobby GOATs including: ⚾ Mickey Mantle πŸ€ Michael Jordan ⚾ Babe Ruth ⚾ Ken Griffey Jr. ⚾ Jackie Robinson 🏈 Tom Brady πŸ€ Kobe Bryant ⚾ Ty Cobb ⚾ Shohei Ohtani Which debate are you more concerned about: Fanatics' growing influence over the sports card hobby or PSA's grading standards? And do YOU believe… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/collector-investor-podcast-7656182/episodes/psa-pop-control-fanatics-huge-conflict-of-interest-affordable-goat-cards/transcription-requests` β€” Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/collector-investor-podcast-7656182/psa-pop-control-fanatics-huge-conflict-of-interest-affordable-goat-cards.md` β€” Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.