In the modern hobby, storytelling drives connection. The Best Media Platform category honors the outlets that inform, entertain, and elevate collectors — turning data, nostalgia, and cultural moments into shared conversations. These nominees have each built distinct voices, bridging the space between market analysis and community storytelling, proving that media is the glue holding the collectibles world together.
Nominees
cllct
cllct was launched by Darren Rovell (formally unveiled in April 2024) as a media platform focused on collectibles — trading cards, memorabilia, autographs, and culture.
In February 2025, Monumental Sports & Entertainment named cllct its Official Cultural History & Collectibles Partner, embarking on a multi-year collaboration to develop archival and memorabilia programs. Their first drop in this venture included limited editions containing pieces of ice and net from Alex Ovechkin’s 895th goal.
In September 2025, Sports Business Journal spotlighted cllct’s ambition to become “the industry’s first memorabilia agency,” recognizing its combined media, curation, and memorabilia operations. Through its editorial coverage and partnerships, cllct is positioning itself as a hybrid media-collectibles platform — shaping how stories and artifacts are preserved and delivered to collectors.
🔗 Instagram | X | Website
Prospects Live
Prospects Live blends baseball scouting with hobby relevance, offering in-depth analysis of prospects, draft classes, and player development alongside coverage of Bowman releases and prospecting trends. Its editorial scope includes dynasty fantasy baseball, MLB draft previews, minor league reports, and the baseball card market.
In 2025, Prospects Live expanded its draft coverage and scouting reports while continuing to connect emerging MLB talent to card market implications. Its previews of products like Bowman Chrome have become a key reference for collectors tracking the next generation of stars.
By linking player development to collecting, Prospects Live has carved a niche as a trusted hybrid of scouting outlet and hobby media.
🔗 Instagram | X | Website
Sports Card Investor
Founded by Geoff Wilson, Sports Card Investor has become one of the hobby’s leading platforms for data-driven analysis, educational insight, and entertainment content. Its website and app, Market Movers and Sports Card Investor, offer real-time price tracking and market charts, while its YouTube channel and social platforms share accessible insights and educational content for collectors of all experience levels.
In 2024, Wilson expanded the brand’s reach with CardsHQ, a 14,000-square-foot flagship shop in Atlanta that merges retail, content production, live breaking, and collector events under one roof. The space represents a physical extension of the brand’s mission to make collecting more connected and transparent.
Sports Card Investor continues to blend media, technology, and community, positioning itself as both a market research resource and a cultural platform shaping the modern hobby.
🔗 Instagram | X | Website
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Sports Cards Nonsense
Sports Cards Nonsense (SCN) is a multi-platform media company that entertains and informs audiences with sharp insights and engaging commentary on the evolution of the sports card and collectibles industry.
Launched in 2020 as a podcast hosted by Mike Gioseffi and Jesse Gibson in partnership with The Ringer, SCN quickly stood out for its unique blend of expertise, humor, and authenticity. Mike’s deep knowledge of sports data paired with Jesse’s passion for pop culture and non-sports memorabilia created a show that was both insightful and relatable. Their natural chemistry and grounded perspectives helped new and seasoned collectors alike navigate — and laugh their way through — the ever-changing hobby landscape.
Since its debut, Sports Cards Nonsense has grown into a full-fledged media brand, delivering a mix of hobby news, entertainment, and cultural storytelling across multiple platforms. Twice-weekly episodes cover sports and culture trends, card market shifts, athlete stories, and collector debates — always with SCN’s signature humor and authenticity.
In 2025, SCN evolved into a broader media network, launching spin-off shows such as Cut the Nonsense, Hobby Handbook, The Gordy Bonker Show, Daily Nonsense, and The Breakdown with Mojo Breaks, as well as the largest social community in the hobby, original video series, and a daily email newsletter, expanding its reach while staying true to the community that made it thrive.
With its dynamic mix of storytelling, expertise, and market perspective, Sports Cards Nonsense continues to serve as a cultural hub that bridges the gap between casual fans and dedicated collectors — celebrating the stories, people, and passions that define the hobby.
🔗 Instagram | X | Website
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Trove
Trove is a content collective that brings creator-driven storytelling to the collectibles world — covering sports cards, memorabilia, and culture with analysis, market insight, and narrative features. Its network is rooted in voice and authenticity rather than top-down authority.
By blending curated narratives, collector-first presentation, and creative partnerships, Trove bridges traditional hobby culture and digital-first audiences — spotlighting the emotional and cultural dimensions of collecting beyond just market price.
🔗 Instagram | Website
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These platforms prove that great storytelling drives great collecting. From investigative reporting and price data to cultural essays and podcasts, each nominee helps define how the modern hobby is covered, discussed, and remembered.
Voting for Best Media Platform is now open.
All registered Mantel users who vote will automatically be entered to win a limited /50 Ghostwrite Hobby Awards Trophy.
To see all categories, nominees and vote, visit TheHobbyAwards.com.
