The baseball cards that make us happy: Childhood favorites and mementos of loved ones

For many of us, it’s impossible to think about baseball without also thinking about baseball cards. Those little pieces of cardboard serve as tangible reminders of people, moments and emotions that get wrapped up in the game we love. With the new MLB season now in full swing, we asked The Athletic’s writers and editors…

Torpedo effect: Victus, Marucci and Chandler all begin selling the uniquely shaped bats

After the New York Yankees hit 15 home runs (nine of which came off torpedo bats) this past weekend, bat makers are looking to cash in on the offensive explosion. Manufacturers Victus, Marucci, and Chandler Bats have all begun selling torpedo bats through their websites, with prices ranging from $199 to $239. At Victus, customers…

Shohei Ohtani leads MLB players in jersey sales, six Dodgers crack top 20 list

Reigning National League MVP and World Series champion Shohei Ohtani has a stranglehold on MLB jersey sales over the past 18 months. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar’s Nike jersey has sold “more than any other in the U.S., Japan and worldwide” since 2023, according to a joint news release by MLB and the MLB Players…

First Shohei Ohtani card to sell for $1 million includes coveted piece of his pants

A Shohei Ohtani trading card sold for nearly $1.07 million through Heritage Auctions on Saturday night, making it the first Ohtani card to reach the seven-figure milestone. The one-of-a-kind Topps Dynasty Black card was from a set produced last year to commemorate Ohtani’s historic 50/50 season. It was autographed in gold pen by Ohtani and…

Caitlin Clark card sells for $366,000, setting new record for a women’s sports card

A one-of-a-kind Caitlin Clark autograph rookie card sold in a Goldin auction for $366,000 on Saturday night. The previous record sale for a women’s sports card was held by a Serena Williams card that sold for $266,400 in 2022. For more than a year now, Clark’s rarest cards have achieved progressively higher values, repeatedly setting…