NEWSLETTER #1
on The Block Sports
"You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." – Wayne Gretzky
Welcome to the first-ever edition of the On The Block Sports newsletter!
Wayne Gretzky said it best: "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." At On The Block Sports, we believe sports are about more than just stats or collectibles—they’re woven into the fabric of our lives. Whether it’s the thrill of a game-winning play, the grind of training for something bigger, or the joy of pulling a rare card, sports remind us to take our shot and keep moving forward. This newsletter will explore the stories, moments, and lessons that make sports so impactful—on the field, in the hobby, and in life.
Let’s dive into this week’s biggest stories and start this journey together!
Sports News
NFL Highlights
The Kansas City Chiefs kept their perfect record intact, improving to 9-0 with a 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos. The game came down to a blocked field goal by linebacker Leo Chenal in the final minutes, showcasing just how dominant the Chiefs’ defense has been this season.
Christian McCaffrey returned for the San Francisco 49ers in their 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey totaled 107 yards, and Jake Moody hit the game-winning field goal as time expired, keeping the 49ers in playoff contention.
The Detroit Lions staged an impressive comeback, erasing a 16-point halftime deficit to beat the Houston Texans 26-23. Jake Bates nailed two critical field goals, including the game-winner, helping Detroit stay in the NFC race.
College Football Highlights
Alabama dominated LSU 42-13, proving once again they’re a team built for the big stage. Jalen Milroe threw three touchdowns, and the defense completely shut down LSU’s offense, keeping Alabama squarely in the playoff conversation.
Georgia Tech pulled off a shocking 28-23 upset over No. 4 Miami, marking their first win over a top-five team in more than a decade. The upset shakes up the playoff picture and is one of the biggest surprises of the season.
Other Sports News
The Cleveland Cavaliers set a franchise record with a 9-0 start to the season, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122, led by Donovan Mitchell's 29 points.
Due to the impending $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement, American college sports are facing significant changes in roster limits, affecting the ability of high school athletes to secure scholarships
Looking Ahead
As the NFL playoff race intensifies and college football nears its climax, the stakes are only getting higher. Keep an eye on key matchups next week as teams fight to secure their spots.
Sports Collector new
Fanatics vs. Panini: What’s Going On?
As we all know The trading card industry’s two biggest players, Fanatics and Panini, are in a heated legal battle. Back in August, Panini filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fanatics, accusing them of trying to monopolize the market by locking in exclusive long-term deals with major sports leagues. These deals would kick in when Panini’s contracts end in 2025 and 2026.
Fanatics fired back with a countersuit, claiming Panini is just upset about losing its footing in the industry. Fanatics says Panini’s accusations don’t hold water and argue they’re playing fair by negotiating better deals.
The legal fight could shake up the trading card world depending on how it plays out, so collectors are keeping an eye on what happens next. I will do my best to bring updated information on this situation whenever it arises to this newsletter!
Sports Cards at a Glance
The card market saw some major highlights this week. A dual autograph card featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi sold for $84,000 at the London Card Show, solidifying the value of cards featuring iconic players. Caitlin Clark’s rookie card also made headlines, becoming the most expensive women’s basketball card ever at $84,000. Football cards are gaining traction too, with a 2018/19 Cristiano Ronaldo Panini card valued at $15,000 at the Brighton Card Show, showing the increasing interest in soccer memorabilia.
On the release front, 2024 Topps Chrome Update Baseball and 2024 Panini Impeccable Baseball both hit shelves on November 13, offering collectors fresh opportunities to score high-value rookies and premium memorabilia cards. Football fans won’t want to miss 2024 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Football, releasing on November 15, showcasing future NFL stars in a collectible format (i know it is DP…but atleast it is prizm lol)
NFL Players to Watch in the Card Market
Christian McCaffrey – Back from injury and continuing to perform at a high level, McCaffrey could draw renewed attention from collectors as the season progresses.
Jalen Hurts – With the Eagles leading the NFC, Hurts is a player to keep an eye on, as his consistent performances might generate more interest in his cards.
Tua Tagovailoa – Tua’s card prices are notably lower in some markets. His history of injury is extremely concerning. In fact, too concerning for me! However, for our Tua believers out there the high risk investment could pay dividends down the line.
Buy, Sell, or Hold.
Each week to close out the newsletter I will name a player that I have to decide wheter to buy, sell or hold. In addition to that DECISION, I will justify my reasoning. In honor of the first ever on the block sports newsletter i think it is fitting that i start out with a no brainer…patrick mahomes!
Mahomes market has seen some very slight upward creep as the chiefs continue to rack up wins week after week. However, a lot of his rookie cards can be purchased at a price point less than $100 over his market before he won the last super bowl…If he leads kansas city to a 3-peat it is highly unlikely to see his market in the same realm that it is today regardless of what his future holds. making him an amazing long term investment with some potential short term upside! Easy, BUY.
