Final yr, we shared present concepts for the sports activities fan who has every part. This yr, we’re again with some new objects to contemplate in a wide range of classes. We even have one other visitor recommender from The Athletic’s newsroom: senior school sports activities author and knowledgeable present giver Lindsay Schnell. We hope this listing makes your vacation purchasing rather less tense!
— Brooks Peck and David Betancourt, The Athletic’s memorabilia and collectibles editors
Books
Air Jordan Final Version (left) and Basic Version (proper). Photograph courtesy of Assouline
“Air Jordan: 40 years of fashion and legacy”
To have a good time the fortieth anniversary of the Jordan Model, and the sneaker line that modified the sport, Assouline has printed a stunning e book that includes unique pictures and contemporary interviews and insights. Written by Adam Bradley, author at massive for the New York Occasions’ T Journal, and with a foreword by Jordan himself, that is good for anybody who has a closet filled with Air Jordans (or needs they did). The e book is available in two variations: Basic Version and Final Version, the latter of which is proscribed to only 1,000 copies and has bought out, however should still be discovered on eBay.
The Soccer 100. Photograph: The Athletic
“The Soccer 100”
We’re all impatiently ready for the 2026 World Cup to reach, and what higher approach to move the time than by studying up on the best males’s gamers within the historical past of the sport? The Athletic’s unmatched workers of consultants has put collectively the final word rating of the highest 100 gamers (together with 43 World Cup winners) with deeply reported profiles of every participant, which is a must have for any soccer fan. For a style, you may learn Oliver Kay’s full introduction to the e book right here.
Different sports activities books from The Athletic: “The Soccer 100” by Mike Sando, Dan Pompei and The NFL Workers, “The Basketball 100” by David Aldridge, John Hollinger and The NBA workers.
Hats
A couple of of the throwback hats from the Hardwood Classics assortment. Photograph: of New Period
New Period’s Hardwood Classics NBA hats
New Period’s retro model and nostalgia-infused Hardwood Classics assortment is the proper present for that particular person in your life that’s just a bit too excited that the NBA is again on NBC. Whereas these aren’t formally the hats to put on when jamming to John Tesh’s “Roundball Rock” after a Bob Costas or Marv Albert narrative intro, they need to be. There are 33 crew choices (the Boston Celtics and Washington Bullets/Wizards have a number of choices) they usually’re accessible in New Period’s signature 59FIFTY fitted, 9FIFTY snapback, 9SEVENTY trucker and 9TWENTY adjustable, relying on the crew. In a set the place each hat seems nice, the standouts embody the Grant Hill teal (not the title of the colour, nevertheless it ought to be) Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, Seattle Supersonics and the black Iverson-esque Philadelphia 76ers. There’s additionally a throwback attire assortment to go together with the hats.
Different nice hats: Jackie Robinson Day Commemorative Wool Ballcap by Ebbets Discipline; WNBA Hitch hats by ’47 Model; Wisconsin Frozen Pizzas (an id adopted by the Milwaukee Brewers Single-A affiliate as a result of Wisconsin consumes essentially the most frozen pizza on the earth) by New Period.
Attire
The darkish facet (left) and lightweight facet hoodie choices for the Dallas Cowboys. Photographs: Homage
Homage’s Star Wars NFL Assortment
Star Wars and NFL groups may seem to be an odd combo (OK, it positively is), however the way in which Homage put this assortment collectively makes it work. Every crew has a customized gentle facet and darkish facet design, giving followers a selection in how they need to rep their crew and most well-liked facet of the Drive. Every design is hand-drawn, giving it that retro really feel of the unique Star Wars trilogy and is obtainable in T-shirt or hoodie kind with each youth and grownup sizes, permitting you to do some enjoyable mixing and matching, even inside your loved ones.
One of many WNBAPA shirt choices from BreakingT.
BreakingT WNBAPA shirts
Again in July, the WNBA All-Stars wore T-shirts studying “Pay us what you owe us” made by BreakingT, an organization that turns viral sports activities moments and figures into wearable kind, licensed by a wide range of gamers’ associations. With the WNBA CBA dispute nonetheless ongoing, that shirt and different variations of that idea stay among the many firm’s prime sellers.
Different superior attire: Santurce Cangrejeros mesh v-neck jersey by Ebbets Discipline; WNBA x WNBPA assortment by Round21; Teemu Selanne Anaheim Geese 1995-96 teal alternate energy play jersey by Mitchell & Ness (this is likely to be essentially the most ’90s garment in existence).
Oracle Park and Yankee Stadium pint glasses. Photograph: Unusual Items
MLB ballpark pint glasses
Possibly you may’t take somebody out to a ballgame within the lifeless of winter, however you may pour them a frosty chilly beverage in these glasses and make plans for the upcoming season. Every set of those glasses contains a map of an iconic MLB stadium within the crew’s two predominant colours, they usually’re good wanting sufficient to be displayed on a bar cart year-round. To make sure everybody can be a part of within the enjoyable, add this card-based sports activities ingesting recreation.
Mini TENS unit
The final word stocking stuffer, that is the software the grownup athlete in your life wants. Irrespective of if somebody is a runner, weightlifter or the star of their slow-pitch softball crew, a TENS machine will change their life if they’ve sore muscle groups or nagging accidents — I promise. Better of all, it’s small, which implies it could actually simply match into somebody’s purse, backpack or carry-on suitcase. Plan forward and order some substitute pads, too.
Sports activities artwork by Mallory Tolcher and Abriella Sammy
How does one discover stylish sports activities artwork? Look north of the forty ninth parallel towards Toronto, the place two ladies artists and their work present the reply. Mallory Tolcher “reimagines the symbols of sport as timeless luxurious,” whereas Abriella Sammy’s experience with epoxy resin creates a number of the most lovely basketball courts you’ve ever seen. Tolcher’s most up-to-date assortment is an exploration of the NBA’s evolving gown code guidelines, whereas Sammy’s partnered with everybody from Canada Basketball to the NBA to create one-of-a-kind items. You should buy prints and sculptures instantly from Tolcher, and you’ll put on or show Sammy’s work.
Caitlin Clark coloring e book
Odds are, somebody who’s a Caitlin Clark fanatic. And irrespective of that particular person’s age, they’re certain to take pleasure in this coloring e book with illustrations that look strikingly just like the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Yr. Clark has helped carry not simply ladies’s basketball, however all of girls’s sports activities, into the highlight it’s lengthy deserved. What higher approach to have a good time that than by papering your fridge with footage of one in all America’s hottest athletes?
Buying and selling playing cards
Sports activities playing cards stay a extremely sought-after collectible and make a simple and enjoyable present for youths, nostalgic adults or hardcore collectors. They’re additionally normally accessible at a wide range of worth factors. Listed below are some accessible picks for every sport:
NBA: 2025-26 Topps Basketball — Topps’ return to licensed NBA playing cards after 15 years of Panini exclusivity. Set contains plenty of enjoyable insert designs, Cooper Flagg rookie playing cards and autographs from the likes of Victor Wembanyama and LeBron James.
WNBA: 2025 Donruss WNBA — Contains Paige Bueckers’ rookie playing cards and the supremely in style Downtown inserts could be present in some interest packing containers.
MLB: 2025 Topps Chrome Baseball — This set contains the uncommon gold Logoman patch playing cards and as an added little bit of worth, playing cards of MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Choose could be traded in at interest retailers throughout the nation for retailer credit score.
NFL: 2025 Panini Mosaic Soccer — These are eye-catching playing cards with enjoyable parallels and inserts (just like the Stained Glass and Kaleidoscopics) to chase.
Premier League: Topps Premier League 2026 — Topps’ first set since getting the license contains vibrant designs and autographs from a number of the Premier League’s greatest — previous and current.
NWSL: 2025 Parkside NWSL Assortment Vol. 1 or 2025 Membership and Nation (for the USWNT fan) — The Membership and Nation set is very cool because it reveals gamers in each their NWSL and USWNT kits. Moreover, each units embody autographs to chase.
NHL: 2025-26 Higher Deck Hockey Sequence 1 — Discover the coveted Younger Weapons rookie playing cards of the most recent draft class, in addition to the gorgeous images of the UD Canvas inserts.
PWHL: 2024-25 Higher Deck PWHL — Contains the PWHL Younger Weapons and inserts like UD Portraits.
Method 1: 2024 Topps Chrome Method 1 — From the images to the cardboard designs, that is a gorgeous set and a enjoyable rip whereas we await the 2025 version to launch.
Tennis: 2024 Topps Chrome Tennis — This set contains each males’s and girls’s gamers, and the Aces inserts are certain to attraction to any fan.
Extra sports activities artwork
A minimalist piece to commemorate the LA Dodgers’ second consecutive World Sequence title. Picture: S. Preston
S. Preston artwork
S. Preston combines sports activities and artwork in some actually enjoyable and distinctive methods. His minimalist works spotlight defining and beloved components of various ballparks, stadiums, mascots and extra. Then his MLB/NHL x Looney Tunes and Sesame Road collection mash-up of beloved groups and characters. His items look nice wherever from a children’ room to an workplace.
Trey Yesavage painted with a baseball as a brush. Picture: Samantha Woj
Samantha Woj artwork
A Canadian artist who paints athletes utilizing the gear of their sport as a brush, Samantha Woj creates lovely and distinctive works for a wide range of sports activities. Her tackle a shirtless Jason Kelce, famously celebrating within the stands at a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs versus Buffalo Payments recreation utilizing the nostril of a soccer, is certainly a standout.
Two picks for the highway
Yeti’s NBA crew customization choices. Photograph: Yeti
Yeti crew customs
Yeti has compiled licenses for the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, Pink Bull Racing and over 100 faculties, permitting them to place sleek-looking logos on a wide range of gift-worthy merchandise starting from coolers to water bottles and flasks. Wirecutter recommends Yeti’s 20 oz. Rambler Tumbler with MagSlider Lid and the Colster Can Cooler, each of which can be found for crew customization.
The Tiny Tailgater Set. Photograph courtesy of Fischer-Value
Fisher-Value Mini Me Moments Tiny Tailgater Set
Lastly, a approach to develop an toddler’s motor abilities whereas additionally prepping them for the tailgate life. This set features a curler sizzling canine, a plushie soccer, a crinkle cooler, a teether chip, a wearable crinkle “foam” finger and a aim publish spinny mirror. It’s as a lot a present for football-loving mother and father as it’s for the newborn.
Wirecutter picks
Our buddies at Wirecutter have examined and really useful what they’ve discovered to be one of the best sports-related gear accessible. Try their opinions for a plethora of present concepts:
One of the best well being and health gear
One of the best working gear
One of the best exercise earbuds and headphones
One of the best health trackers
eBay insights
Realizing which athletes have been the preferred amongst collectors this yr can assist information your gifting. Listed below are eBay’s most searched athletes in a number of the prime leagues (knowledge from January-September 2025):
Within the NBA, a couple of legends stay simply as in style as ever: Michael Jordan, Wembanyama, Kobe Bryant, James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It’s an analogous story within the NHL: Wayne Gretzky, Connor Bedard, Sidney Crosby, Patrick Roy and Mario Lemieux.
Within the NFL, it’s all in regards to the younger quarterbacks: Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix and Drake Maye.
Within the WNBA, younger stars additionally cleared the path: Caitlin Clark, Bueckers, Cameron Brink, Sophie Cunningham and Sabrina Ionescu.
In MLB, a number of generations are nonetheless represented: Shohei Ohtani, Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle, Paul Skenes and Elly De La Cruz.
In golf, Tiger continues to be king: Woods, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm.
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