Sports Card Market Stagnates as TCG Investment Dollars Shift to Pokemon and MTG
Sports cards drop 12% year-over-year while vintage Pokemon and MTG reserved list cards hold steady. Collector investment flows toward gameplay-backed assets.
The sports card market enters 2026 in a cautious position, with aggregate prices down 12% year-over-year according to Market Movers data. Meanwhile, TCG collectibles — particularly vintage Pokemon and Magic reserved list staples — have absorbed a growing share of collector investment dollars.
The divergence is stark. While a PSA 10 2020 Prizm Luka Doncic rookie has fallen from $450 to $320, Pokemon Base Set Charizard holos in comparable condition have stabilized or appreciated. The trend suggests a maturing collector base that increasingly views TCG cards as the category's blue-chip assets.
Industry observers point to several factors: sports card overproduction during the pandemic boom diluted scarcity, while TCGs benefit from gameplay utility that provides a price floor independent of speculation. Magic's reserved list — which guarantees certain cards will never be reprinted — functions as a built-in scarcity mechanism with no parallel in sports cards.
The shift isn't absolute. Ultra-premium sports cards (vintage pre-war issues, one-of-one autographs) continue to perform well at auction. But the mid-market, where most collectors operate, has tilted decisively toward TCG products.
