Sports Cards Live

Part 5 is the back half of the episode where the chat drives the direction, the panel ties bows on the biggest themes, and the show lands the plane on a classic Episode 300 sendoff. We start by reacting to the comment stream and a surprisingly useful debate: what percentage of card show purchases are actually planned vs pure impulse. The answer matters more than people think, especially if you're a dealer deciding what to put in the case. Then we pivot into a second topic that hits everyone who buys online: photo integrity. Sticker auto vs on-card is the example, but the real question is bigger. How much editing is acceptable, what crosses the line, and what buyers should do when an image feels off. The takeaway is simple: if the photo is misleading, the sale is contaminated. We also touch the Hobby Spectrum directory snapshot, the ongoing Michael Jordan one-of-one decision, merch plans, and wrap Episode 300 with some fun “300” facts and community shoutouts. At a card show, are you a checklist hunter or a “let's see what hits me” buyer? Have you ever bought a card where the photo made it look better than reality? What should be the rule for auction houses: zero editing, or “reasonable” adjustments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 4 shifts from card alteration to the everyday reality that actually shapes most collections: buying behavior in the moment. We break down the two main modes of acquiring cards. The long-planned hunt where you research, budget, and wait. And the lightning-strike buy, whether it's a card show table surprise or an auction ending in 14 minutes that suddenly feels like fate. The panel debates which one feels better, which one backfires more often, and why “spontaneous” isn't always reckless if it still fits your collecting formula. We also get into the hidden danger nobody wants to admit: the slow budget bleed. A couple hundred bucks here and there feels harmless until you realize you just torched the funds you needed for the card that actually mattered. Are you more premeditated or more impulse, and has it helped or hurt your collection? Do you allow “short-term PC” cards, or do you only buy with lifetime intent What rule keeps you from death-by-a-thousand-deals? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 3 goes straight into the messiest debate in the hobby right now: card “work” that gets cards into PSA slabs, then quietly back onto the market. A Facebook thread shows collectors openly soaking and pressing Gretzky rookies using Kurt's Card Care, talking about submitting to PSA, and selling afterward. We walk through why that should scare buyers, even when the card ends up in a straight numeric holder. Then we address a comment that tried to lump Mr Minty into the same bucket. We draw a hard line between inspection tools that help you see a card more clearly and products or processes that change the card itself. The distinction matters, and confusing it muddies the conversation. The real core of this segment is the question behind the episode title: are all PSA cards truly the same if the label says the same number? We debate grade worship vs card worship, provenance, disclosure, whether experienced collectors can spot things graders miss, and what happens when the “fix” literally does not last. Where's your line? Microfiber wipe is fine, but what crosses it for you? Would you pay less for a slabbed card if you knew it was soaked or pressed, even if it is a “9”? If PSA offered a clearly labeled “altered” holder, would you want that market to exist or be banned outright? Subscribe for Part 4 and Part 5 as Episode 300 keeps building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of Episode 300 brings Leighton Sheldon into the mix and the conversation immediately jumps into rare territory. Two T206 Honus Wagner cards are set to hit the auction market at the same time, something most collectors will never see in their lifetime. We break down how that happens, why one will almost certainly outsell the other, and whether simultaneous offerings actually hurt or help the market. From there, the focus shifts to card shows and expansion. The Dallas Card Show is heading to New Jersey, and that raises a bigger question. What actually makes a card show succeed in a market that has failed before? Location, vendors, buyers, travel radius, brand power, and even food all come into play. The panel digs into why some shows flourish while others fade. Then the conversation turns to liquidity and data as Mantle introduces its new Slam Score. Is it a useful tool for collectors, a metric for operators, or just another number in a hobby already full of them? We debate momentum, fundamentals, eye appeal, and whether liquidity can ever be captured cleanly in a single score. Drop a comment with your prediction. Which Wagner sells for more and why? If you run tables or attend shows, what makes a show worth traveling for? Let us know if you would ever use a Slam Score when buying or selling a card. Subscribe so you do not miss Parts 3, 4, and 5 from Episode 300. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off Episode 300 of Sports Cards Live with a milestone check-in, a quick run through key updates, and a hobby conversation that goes deeper than most collectors ever think to look. We share progress on POPs & COMPs, a behind-the-scenes update on Hobby Spectrum, and a real discussion about the “invisible layer” behind many online auction houses: third-party platforms, data access, and why understanding the rules and infrastructure matters. Then the night takes a turn when Joe recounts his Fanatics Collect Premier Auction moment, dropping a record bid to land a serious Steph Curry grail. The best part is the card is actually nasty. If you've taken the Hobby Spectrum assessment, send feedback on any questions that didn't fit. That's how we tighten it before wider rollout. Drop a comment: do you care whether an auction house uses proprietary software vs a leased platform? Why or why not? If you're listening on audio, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss Parts 2–5 from Episode 300. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finish the public vs private collector debate with real, grounded examples. Jeremy frames the personal side of it: imposter syndrome, introvert vs extrovert energy, security paranoia, social anxiety, and even simple friction like not wanting to be around crowds. Joe explains what changed once he stopped collecting in “incognito mode” and went more public: better conversations, better information, and smarter decision making, even if it occasionally pulls you into rabbit holes before you find your North Star again. Josh adds the collector's version of the same point: he avoids most hobby news, but social media has been a net positive for building real friendships and getting access to major cards through the network, as long as you curate your feed. Then the show widens out into community updates and current hobby signals. Joe makes a push for the West Coast Card Show, and Jeremy shares a major milestone: the Hobby Spectrum directory hits 500 opt ins, with Louis from Hockey Cards Gong Show landing as the 500th entry. Jeremy previews the next directory upgrades, including standardized player, team, and sport tags to make discovery far more powerful. The panel then reacts to a surprising on the ground report from the Dallas Card Show: Beckett's Rock Hard Review price jump and a 2.5 to 3 hour line. That spirals into bigger questions about grading market power, pricing, guarantees, and whether collectors ever hit a breaking point. We close with upcoming show reminders and a quick look ahead to episode 300 of Sports Cards Live. In this part, we cover: The real reasons collectors stay private: confidence, security, and social friction Why going public can improve your collecting, even if it creates rabbit holes Curating your feed and avoiding news while still building real relationships West Coast Card Show momentum and meeting collectors in real life Hobby Spectrum directory hits 500 and what standardized tags unlock next Beckett RCR price jump and the “why are people still lining up?” question Grading market power, guarantees, and where collectors draw the line Episode 300 coming up and the week ahead schedule Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and turn on notifications for the live show Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips and updates Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to support the show Comment on YouTube: are you a public collector or a private collector, and why? Visit TheHobbySpectrum.com to request an access code, take the assessment, and opt into the directory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We keep digging into Chris HOJ's MJ 1 of 1 dilemma, but with a new angle: why talk about it publicly at all? Chris explains he's not trying to broadcast to the whole world, he's thinking out loud in a tight community, building clarity through dialogue, and inviting outside lenses that can change how he sees the problem. Joe pushes the biggest question of all: after the maneuver is done, do you actually love the card, or do you love the concept? Chris admits the Jordan 90s 1 of 1 project is new since June 2025, and this card was not something he was hunting. The auction forced the decision. He also drops a key distinction: this is “rare and obscure” more than “rare and iconic,” which makes it feel risky from a market standpoint even if it matters deeply to him. We run through chat questions that cut right to the psychology: happiness vs regret, “best” vs “rarest,” the autograph angle, and whether the joy gap matches the value gap. The community also debates prudence and optionality, with the clearest takeaway being that you can “afford” something in card capital while still wondering if you can mentally afford the consequences. Then we pivot to the hobby experience itself: Chris recaps the San Diego Front Row Card Show, including the sports vs TCG mix and a smart “zag” on why those tables can actually speed up the walk. Josh checks in from the Dallas Card Show with pickups and consignments. Finally, Chris introduces a new topic that came directly from Jonathan's presence on the show: the tradeoff between being a public collector and a private collector. Does visibility help you build a network, buy cards, and sell cards? Does it also expose you, influence what you collect, and create “flex points” that shape your decisions? We start unpacking what you gain, what you lose, and how discovery changes if you are lurking versus not participating at all. In this part, we cover: Why Chris goes public with the dilemma and how dialogue changes decisions “Do you love the card or the concept?” and the risk of a new collecting lane Rare and obscure vs rare and iconic, and why that matters Optionality: 100 cards vs 1 card and the tradeoffs of going all in San Diego Front Row Card Show recap and sports vs TCG reality Josh's Dallas Card Show notes and consignments New topic: public collector vs private collector and what it changes Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube so you catch the live show every week Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips, updates, and behind the scenes If you're watching on YouTube, hit like and drop a comment: would you go public with a hobby dilemma like this? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it helps more collectors find the show Visit TheHobbySpectrum.com to explore the Hobby Spectrum and connect with like minded collectors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We wrap Jonathan's debut, run through some of the best chat comments from the “house of slabs” discussion, and one line stops the show: “A PSA 10 transforms a sports card into a financial instrument.” From there, the conversation sharpens into what grading really does, how speed impacts accuracy, and why some collectors are starting to sober up from slab worship. Jonathan gets a proper community welcome and we bring on Chris HOJ, followed by Josh Adams. Then the episode pivots hard into a collector dilemma that hits every nerve in the hobby: a major Michael Jordan 90s 1 of 1 is headed to auction, and Chris is considering a seismic consolidation to chase it. We debate what you gain, what you lose, and whether “nuking” a carefully curated collection is ever worth one apex card. Jeremy argues the memories, stories, and future content pipeline matter more than the trophy. Josh says do it and never look back. Joe lands in the middle: the 1 of 1 stamp matters, it's probably financially defensible, but you still need a number and a plan because deeper pockets exist. Chris explains the real point of talking it out: dialogue changes how you see everything, and collectors make versions of this decision every day, including the decision to do nothing. In this part, we cover: The chat's best lines on grading, consistency, and “too big to fail” thinking “PSA 10 as a financial instrument” and why that framing is so accurate Jonathan's official welcome into the community Chris HOJ and Josh Adams join, and the MJ 1 of 1 auction dilemma kicks off One card vs a whole collection, and what “replaceable” really means Consolidation as sacrifice, strategy, and identity, not just money Why talking it out changes decisions, and why inaction is still a decision Follow Sports Cards Live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube for full episodes and live shows Leave a rating and review to help more collectors find the show Drop a comment: would you consolidate your collection for one apex grail, or never? Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips and updates Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment and request your access code at TheHobbySpectrum.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Poirot joins the conversation and we go deep on vintage slab transitions, grading risk, and the psychology of the “slab premium.” Jonathan explains how he moved major cards out of BVG holders without mailing them, including an in person handoff to SGC at Fenway, and why a newer holder can feel like a safer asset even with a downgrade. Then we zoom out to the bigger question sparked by a High Pop Professor video: is the hobby becoming a “house of slabs,” and are we still trapped in cult like grading behavior? We also hit the uncomfortable part: older high grade cards that might not hold up to today's standards. If collectors pay today's money for “imposter” high grades and later feel burned, that can shake confidence, push people out of the market, and create downstream damage. Joe breaks down why this risk depends heavily on the lane, with real differences between ultra modern gem rates, 90s inserts, and classic 80s cardboard where PSA 9 to PSA 10 gaps can feel irrational. In this part, we cover: BVG to SGC and PSA crossovers, and how to do it without mailing grails Downgrades, security, and why a newly graded holder can feel safer PSA owning SGC and Beckett and what that does to collector psychology The “same card” thought experiment and whether the holder is the product Older “imposter” high grades and how changing standards create hidden risk Why buyers getting burned could ripple downstream across the market Gradeflation, resubmission incentives, and who ends up holding the bag Why 10s matter in some lanes, and barely matter in others Follow Sports Cards Live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube for full episodes and live shows Leave a rating and review to help more collectors find the show Share this episode with a collector who's chasing old 10s or debating a crossover Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips and updates Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment and request your access code at TheHobbySpectrum.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Epstein (IG: @RexCards24) joins Sports Cards Live for his first ever hobby appearance after years of consuming content quietly from the sidelines. We talk about finally stepping into the community, taking the Hobby Spectrum assessment, and landing in the Nostalgic range. Jonathan shares key pieces from his vintage collection including a 1952 Topps Mantle, and we dig into the psychology of price ceilings, emotional attachment to “your copies,” and why upgrading often feels harder than it should. This is a collector conversation about identity, memory, and the invisible rules we all carry into the hobby. In this episode, we cover: Moving from hobby lurker to active community member The Hobby Spectrum result and why it hit so hard Psychological price ceilings and the trap of old prices “My copies” vs upgrading and downgrading decisions Why storytelling matters more than flexing How community actually forms in the hobby Follow Sports Cards Live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube for full episodes and live shows Leave a rating and review to help more collectors find the show Share this episode with a collector who still watches from the sidelines Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips and updates Request your access code and take the Hobby Spectrum assessment at TheHobbySpectrum.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This final segment brings the week to a close with one of the most raw and honest conversations of the episode. The panel wrestles with the idea of “entertainment value” in wax and breaks, pushes back on how people rationalize losses, and digs into why regret, risk, and expected value matter more than most collectors want to admit. It's blunt, reflective, occasionally uncomfortable, and very much grounded in lived experience rather than theory. The discussion also highlights the difference between nostalgia-driven exceptions and modern price reality, why moderation keeps the hobby sustainable for most people, and how personal thresholds shape collecting behavior far more than hype ever will. Layered throughout is classic Sports Cards Live back-and-forth, humor, chat interaction, and a late-night energy that only comes when people stop posturing and start being honest. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and join us Saturday nights on YouTube for Sports Cards Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation shifts from player legacy into a bigger question that sits under everything in modern collecting: is this a hobby, an industry, or both? The panel reacts to ideas raised from Brett McGrath's Stacking Slabs and uses it as a launch point to talk about the ecosystem that keeps cards moving, including dealers, flippers, LCS owners, breakers, repackers, and every type of market participant in between. Jeremy lays out a blunt argument: even collectors who never sell a card still depend on selling, and many of the things people complain about are not going away, especially breaking. From there, the chat gets into real pushback, including whether breakers are truly necessary for cards to reach collectors, whether breaking is “good” for the hobby or just the industry, and how wax pricing and distribution models changed post-Covid. In this segment: Loyalty to one-team careers and how that impacts rookie card identity Hobby vs industry and why the market behaves like an ecosystem Breakers, repackers, and what actually puts singles into circulation Flippers vs dealers and where the overlap really lives Wax value, expected value, and why opening product is still a gamble A collector-first take on why “industry talk” turns some people off A practical idea for newcomers: open one box, track every card, sell everything, learn fast This discussion lives right at the intersection of hobby identity and market reality, where emotion, nostalgia, economics, and behavior all collide. It's candid, sometimes uncomfortable, and very much rooted in real collector experience, with the chat actively shaping where the conversation goes. There's no attempt to settle the debate, just to understand it more clearly. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and join us Saturday nights on YouTube for Sports Cards Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris HOJ and Josh Adams join Jeremy for a loose but surprisingly revealing roundtable that starts with NFL playoff energy and quickly turns into real hobby discussion. The group digs into what actually makes a card show worth attending, how many tables matter, and why inventory quality almost always beats raw table count. They also talk honestly about travel costs, expectations, and how card shows have shifted from pure buying trips into social and relationship driven hobby experiences. From there, the conversation pivots into one of the most relatable collector debates out there: when a player changes teams, which uniform do they truly belong to? Using examples like Christian McCaffrey, Reggie Jackson, Michael Jordan, Ohtani, Gretzky, Nolan Ryan, and more, the panel explores how moments, championships, market size, hometown ties, and personal collecting boundaries shape how each collector answers that question differently. The discussion naturally spills into collecting behavior itself, including team collecting versus player collecting, why some collectors restrict uniforms to stay focused, when exceptions make sense, and how iconic moments often outweigh years played. The chat explodes with examples, disagreements, and edge cases, proving just how personal and subjective this topic really is. This segment is equal parts hobby philosophy, collector psychology, and pure Sports Cards Live banter, with strong audience participation and no single “right” answer, just thoughtful perspectives from every angle. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and join us live Saturday nights on YouTube for Sports Cards Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Hill, founder and CEO of MyCardPost, joins Jeremy (with Joe Poirot jumping in from the sick bay in Santa Cruz) for a hobby-wide conversation that starts light with recent pickups, then turns into the stuff that actually matters right now: comps, trust, shill bidding, platform incentives, and the new wave of buyer scams powered by AI. Mark breaks down how MyCardPost thinks about comps differently in a no seller-fee environment, why net proceeds matter more than headline price, and how the archive makes research possible across single card and multi card deals. He also gives a quick peek behind the curtain on Crown Auctions, what the Hobby Awards bump meant for awareness, and the platform ideas he is exploring to reduce bad actors, including post auction bid history visibility and bidder trust signals. Later, they get into the growing tension around card show mapping apps, plus the reality of scams on eBay and what sellers can do right now to protect themselves. In this episode: Joe's latest pickup: a Steph Curry 1 of 1 Platinum and why “off brand” can be the play Mark's recent pickup: Bryson DeChambeau Exquisite Rookie Auto out of 49 How MyCardPost comps compare to eBay and why net proceeds change the conversation Multi card deals, why they complicate traditional comp tools, and how auctions shift that Card show mapping apps: efficiency vs discovery, and who should get dibs on show inventory Shill bidding: what can realistically be done, plus ideas like bid history transparency and bidder trust scores Vetting buyers and sellers, verification signals, and how unpaid bidders get restricted The new AI damage scam on eBay and practical ways to push back (video requests, multiple angles, community verification) POPs & COMPs update: Chapter 72 and the “it's only worth what someone will pay” fallacy Quick hits from the chat, plus a Bears comeback win that derails the moment in the best way Sponsor shoutout: CIA Auctions (January auction live now at CollectorInvestorAuctions.com) Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Leave a rating and review if you get value from the show, it helps more collectors find it. And join us live for Sports Cards Live on Saturday nights on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Hill, founder and CEO of MyCardPost, joins Jeremy for a wide-ranging conversation about what it looks like when the hobby stops behaving like a casual pastime and starts operating like a full-blown industry. They dig into the mental side of building something from scratch, including how impostor syndrome can either stall you out or become real fuel, and what the grind of bootstrapping actually feels like when you are building in public. Along the way, Mark shares perspective from launching new initiatives like Crown Auctions and how moments like the recent Hobby Awards recognition can create meaningful momentum without changing the day-to-day work. They also hit bigger hobby psychology and culture: imposter syndrome, community support for builders, and a lively debate on rookie cards vs early-career non-rookies, plus where “vintage” actually starts and ends. Jeremy also shares updates on the Hobby Spectrum snapshot and the status of POPs & COMPs as it moves closer to release. In this episode: Why “the hobby is an industry” is more than a talking point Impostor syndrome as a motivator, not a weakness The real grind of bootstrapping a hobby business Crown Auctions and what event-style auctions add to the hobby experience The impact of Hobby Awards recognition and organic awareness Rookie cards vs second-year cards, and why early-career cards still matter The ongoing debate around vintage definitions Golf cards, Bruins collecting, and niche community building Updates on the Hobby Spectrum and POPs & COMPs Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, leave a rating and review. It helps more collectors find the show. Join us live for Sports Cards Live on Saturday nights on YouTube, and bring your questions to the chat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The discussion turns inward as the panel explores how collectors actually decide what matters in their collection. Is value something you discover after the fact, or does price itself shape what you end up wanting? From year end pickup lists to war chests and oddball discoveries, this segment digs into how taste, memory, scarcity, and market signals quietly influence collecting behavior. The conversation also examines whether price is just opinion or a real source of power, why some cards only enter our consciousness once they sell for big money, and how story, provenance, and rarity create lasting interest in both vintage cards and on card autographs. In this episode: Whether seeing a big sale can change how desirable a card feels Ranking cards by personal meaning vs ranking them by market value Year end pickup lists as reflection, obligation, or performance The difference between mainstream comps and niche or oddball demand Why vintage cards retain relevance even without generational connection Price as a unit of exchange and why it still matters, even for purists Vintage on card autographs: durability, unknown supply, and rarity within rarity How story and provenance can outweigh condition and grade You can explore the Hobby Spectrum assessment and opt into the Spectrum Directory at HobbySpectrum.com. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, with the full audio released here on podcast platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this segment, the conversation shifts from results and strategy into something more fundamental: what “value” even means in the sports card hobby. The group digs into how price gets formed, why comps can both help and mislead, and whether the hobby can ever be considered an efficient market in any real sense. From vintage collectors who do not care about the money, to precision-minded hobbyists who do, the discussion lands on a core truth: this market runs on signals, stories, and human behavior. In this episode, we get into: The case for an all vintage show, and why vintage collectors often feel quieter online “I do not care about the money” vs “I enjoy the money part too” and how both can be true Price as the opinion of two people, and why that can be hard to anchor to Why comps and data tools can improve decision-making while also distorting it Grading as “better than nothing” and the problem of false precision What market efficiency actually means, and why sports cards break the rules The story of the card as a valuation lens, and why narratives keep engagement alive The evolution of pricing: dealer era → price guide era → big data era A quick detour into the “nice card” compliment, what it really means, and what it reveals about collectors Explore the Hobby Spectrum assessment and add yourself to the Spectrum Directory at HobbySpectrum.com. Want to catch the full show live? We stream Sports Cards Live on YouTube every Saturday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation stays lively as Joe Poirot joins Jeremy and Paul Hickey midstream, and the chat becomes part of the show. What starts as hobby banter quickly turns into a real discussion about market psychology, self awareness, and how collectors actually behave when nobody's watching. Jeremy reacts to a key question about whether early Hobby Spectrum results are skewed by audience makeup, while Joe offers a sharp observation: even long time “collectors at heart” have moments where they check prices first and feelings second. From there, Paul puts real numbers on the table from his 2025 five athlete experiment, including total spend, net profit, and player by player ROI. The segment closes with a deep dive into Paul's biggest mistake of the year: a Michael Jordan Star card play that didn't go the way he expected, plus a fast-moving discussion about grading trends, crossovers, and what it would actually take for a grading company to compete with PSA. In this episode: Joe Poirot jumps in and the chat drives the discussion Is the Hobby Spectrum Directory skewed toward collectors and why that matters The “Beckett Price Guide arrows” effect and why motivation is rarely pure Paul's 2025 results with real numbers: total spend, net profit, and cards still held Player by player ROI: Wembanyama, Ohtani, Jordan, Caitlin Clark, Arch Manning, Cooper Flagg Why Paul chose Anthony Edwards over SGA for liquidity and buyer confidence The Michael Jordan Star card mistake and what it cost Grading landscape talk: turnaround times, acquisitions, and crossover strategies Jeremy's “how to compete with PSA” recipe and Paul's devil's advocate take Why comps can mislead when attention and timing change If you want to go deeper: Watch Sports Cards Live live on YouTube Saturday nights Follow Sports Cards Live on your podcast platform and leave a rating or review Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment at HobbySpectrum.com to see where you land Opt into the Spectrum Directory to connect with collectors who think like you Explore Paul Hickey at NoOffSeason.com and the Sports Card Strategy Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani is the entry point for a wider conversation about strategy, timing, and identity in the modern hobby. Leighton Sheldon puts Paul Hickey on the spot with a question many collectors think about but rarely articulate clearly: if you have $1,000 or $10,000 to spend on Ohtani, what's the smartest way to approach it right now? Paul answers from an unapologetic Operator perspective, explaining why Ohtani behaves differently than almost any other modern athlete, how raw-to-grade math actually works, and why early January can be one of the least crowded decision windows of the year. From there, the discussion expands into bigger hobby dynamics, including grading labels versus true condition, friction between Purists and Operators, and why Paul deliberately caps his premium community to protect both value and signal. This episode stands on its own whether you're a collector, an investor, or somewhere in between. In this episode: A practical Ohtani buying framework for $1,000 vs $10,000 budgets One big card versus multiple plays, and how risk tolerance changes the answer Why Ohtani is a data anomaly in modern cards Raw-to-grade strategy explained without hype Timing buys around grading backlogs and the MLB calendar The grading company versus card condition debate Why Operator and Purist perspectives clash and why both still matter How community size can quietly impact markets If you want to go deeper: Follow Sports Cards Live and leave a rating or review on your podcast platform of choice Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment at HobbySpectrum.com to see where you land Opt into the Spectrum Directory to connect with collectors who think like you Explore Paul Hickey's work at NoOffSeason.com and the Sports Card Strategy Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off 2026 with Leighton Sheldon and Paul Hickey, and we go straight into the real stuff collectors are feeling right now: the hobby is bigger than ever, the content and event volume is getting overwhelming, and card shows are evolving fast. We dig into the Strongsville changes, the “curtain” concept, the rise of niche shows, and the growing tension around sports and TCG sharing the same floor space. Paul also shares early market observations that are starting to feel a little like 2021, and we talk through what it means if more new people keep entering the hobby. In this episode: 2025 hobby takeaways and why 2026 is almost guaranteed to surprise us The “too much intake” problem: content, auctions, card shows, and burnout risk Strongsville's shift and the big question: can the hobby support another vintage only show? Where would a new vintage show even fit on the calendar? Sports vs TCG at shows: when “just walk past it” stops being realistic Why niche events and niche businesses keep winning Paul's early pricing notes and what they might signal about demand Follow the show and leave a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment at HobbySpectrum.com and get your access code After you take it, opt into the Spectrum Directory and add your links Follow Leighton Sheldon and Just Collect, and check out Trading Card Therapy and The Vintage Spotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 5 is where the conversation stops being theoretical and gets brutally practical. The group circles back to a key question: if a card is reholdered years later, can a grading company responsibly “honor” the old grade when the card may have changed inside the slab. Sunlight, shifting, cracks, handling, even subtle edge impressions can all alter the card after encapsulation. The windowsill example becomes the perfect shorthand: you cannot blindly stamp the old number without confirming the card is still the same. From there, the show pivots into the eye appeal debate. A chat comment calls I appeal stickers a joke, and the response flips the argument: the sticker is just a physical way of saying what collectors already say every day, strong for the grade, weak for the grade, or average. The deeper issue is that grading compresses endless nuance into a limited scale, and the sticker market exists because grading is inconsistent and the scale is restrictive. Then the segment gets fun. Josh leans into his Purist identity, shows a beautifully ugly off centered vintage card, and the panel celebrates the whole idea of “honest cards” and how vintage should look like it lived a life. That naturally leads into a scorching vintage hot take about high grade 1952 Topps cards and what people are really chasing. Finally, the show lands the plane with a blunt truth: the hobby is a business, there will always be bad actors, and nobody is quitting. The best protection is education, risk awareness, and knowing what you personally can tolerate. Highlights in Part 5 include: Reholder without regrade: why “honor the grade” falls apart in the real world The windowsill problem: the card may not be the same card anymore Why eye appeal stickers exist: not because cards have only 19 conditions Strong for the grade vs weak for the grade, and why a sticker triggers people Beckett's scale, subgrades, and why nuance still gets flattened in the end Josh calls grading “silly” and compares the hobby to a cult The real “win”: low grade cards with high eye appeal at a fraction of the cost Collecting miscuts, off center cards, and why charm beats perfection The emotional attachment angle: why we keep “our” copy, even if it isn't perfect The hot take: skepticism around “natural” high grade vintage, especially 1952 Topps “Honest corners” and uniform wear as a collecting preference The closing message: this is a business, bad actors exist, education reduces regret Wrap-up plugs: Fanatics Collect watch party, upcoming Saturday show, Hobby Spectrum waitlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 4 shifts from merger talk into the part of grading nobody likes to say out loud. It starts with the “I've heard stories” framing, then draws a hard line between pre Nat Turner ownership and post Nat Turner, including the point that Collectors inherited liabilities and has paid out on mistakes from earlier eras. From there, the panel gets into why the hobby quietly benefits from inconsistency, even while asking for standardization. And then the episode drops the best real world illustration of the entire debate: a card that graded 5.5 on a Beckett raw card review, then later came back as a BGS 9.5. Same card, same grader ecosystem, wildly different outcome. Highlights in Part 4 include: The “I've heard stories” disclaimer and why some things get talked around, not stated Pre Turner vs post Turner: inherited liability, payouts, and where blame actually belongs The uncomfortable truth: if grading was consistent, resubmissions would collapse Is there a tipping point where collectors stop paying for the slab number and start paying for the card The “record sale” culture and why nobody flexes a record low Big money entering the hobby and the moment investors realize how the sausage is made The raw card review story: 5.5 to 9.5, and what that says about grading as a product The ethics question: if you sell a card that jumped grades, what do you owe the buyer Reholder without regrade: should a card be reassessed every time it passes through the facility Old standards vs new standards: should an older PSA 7 stay a 7 even if it would grade lower today The health inspector analogy that nails the point: same item, changed condition, unchanged label Buyer beware vs “protect the hobby”: how those two ideas collide in the content era The practical takeaway: advanced collectors hunt lower grades with stronger eye appeal, not the other way around Part 4 is basically the grading debate in its purest form: what people say they want, what they actually reward, and what happens when reality shows up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 3 is where the conversation takes a sharp turn into the mechanics of power. We start with Josh asking the uncomfortable question: if PSA can decertify slabs selectively, what happens when they own Beckett too? From there, it spirals into the real stuff collectors argue about behind the scenes but rarely say out loud. This episode is part hobby debate, part reality check, and part rant. It also includes one of the most memorable analogies of the entire emergency stream: PSA upcharges as “insurance premiums” paid by someone else. Highlights in Part 3 include: The decertification question: what PSA can do, what they won't do, and why it matters The real concern: what happens to Beckett slabs if the brand is sunsetted Why job cuts at Beckett are basically guaranteed if Collectors is building toward an IPO Will submissions slow down, or does demand stay bulletproof no matter what happens A blunt take on phantom POPs, resubmissions, and why pop reports mislead collectors The PSA upcharge rant: who pays, who benefits, and why the buyer wins Whether standardization in grading would help collectors or expose the whole system Registry culture, resale pressure, and why many collectors chase holders over cards The future question: machine-driven grading, consistency, and what it could do to premiums The Black Label premium debate and why some buyers pay like the number is the card The punchline: grading isn't a scam, but it can still be a sham Part 3 is where the episode stops being about “PSA bought Beckett” and becomes a broader argument about what grading has turned the hobby into. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 picks up right where the emergency reaction left off, and the conversation gets more pointed. We dig into actual market share data, what Beckett's role really was in the ecosystem, and the uncomfortable question nobody wants to answer: is there any scenario where a near-monopoly helps collectors? From there, we move into who benefits next, what alternatives could rise, and why some collectors feel like this is the moment the hobby's power structure finally shows its hand. Highlights in Part 2 include: Ari's take on what PSA could strip from Beckett immediately and why flat-fee models may disappear GemRate market share numbers and why “Beckett was irrelevant” is not the full story The Beckett booth reality check: lines at shows despite the online narrative The big question: could monopoly conditions ever produce any consumer upside? “Backhanded positives” and the risk of pushing collectors away from grading entirely Potential winners outside PSA: Mike Baker Authenticated, CGC, and other niche graders The CGC price increase timing and why it looks like a missed opportunity The growing frustration around PSA culture, dealer networks, and perceived unfair advantages Fanatics speculation: liquidity, conflict of interest talk, and why a Fanatics-Collectors deal feels unlikely IPO logic and why removing “future competitors” can matter more than saving brands The closing reminder: don't let the industry chase you out of the hobby, enjoy cards without needing a slab Part 2 is where the discussion shifts from “what happened” to “what happens next”, and the answers are not comforting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(As there was no livestrewam on Saturday December 27, this weeks podcasts will be from the previously unreleased emergency episode we recorded on December 15, the day the Beckett acquisition was announced, before the letter was written from congressman Patrick Ryan to the FTC to look into the competitive power of Collectors Holdings.) In this emergency episode of Sports Cards Live, we react in real time to one of the biggest hobby developments of the year: PSA has acquired Beckett. Joined by Graig Miller (Midlife Cards), Ari, Josh Adams, and Mike Petty, the conversation quickly turns intense as we break down what this acquisition could actually mean for collectors, graders, and the future of the hobby. Topics covered in Part 1 include: Why almost nobody wanted PSA to be the buyer Whether this was about grading, talent, or pure market control The Fanatics factor and why keeping Beckett away mattered Lessons learned from the SGC acquisition Monopoly concerns and antitrust realities IPO speculation and why investor optics may matter more than collectors Who this deal actually helps, and who it doesn't This is raw, unfiltered reaction from people who have lived through multiple hobby cycles and aren't buying the corporate spin. Part 1 sets the table. The temperature only rises from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 295 of Sports Cards Live closes out with a blunt, necessary conversation about responsibility in the hobby. We finish unpacking the Wilt Chamberlain PSA downgrade and move past the shock value into the real issues: PSA's grade guarantee limits, insurance caps, NDAs, and why the buyer likely absorbed the majority of the loss. We debate why a buyer would request a review on a card that sold as a PSA 10, what PSA is and is not obligated to do under its own terms, and whether exceptions behind closed doors create fairness issues for the broader hobby. The conversation also tackles a key question raised in the chat: should auction houses like Heritage bear responsibility for selling overgraded cards? From contract law to hobby ethics, we draw a clear line between counterfeit liability and misgrading reality. We explain why auction houses are middlemen, not graders, and why shifting that responsibility would create even bigger conflicts of interest. This segment also touches on reslabbing policies, reholdering versus regrading, contingent liabilities, and why older slabs represent a structural challenge no grading company wants to fully reopen. The episode winds down with broader end-of-year reflections: grading trust, accountability, collector responsibility, and why “buyer beware” still matters even in a slabbed world. We close by looking ahead to 2026, upcoming shows, the Sport Card Expo in Toronto, and continued development of the Hobby Spectrum and Spectrum Directory. In this episode: Why PSA cannot simply erase past sales or comps Grade guarantee caps and why $800K losses are not getting reimbursed NDAs, discretionary payouts, and fairness concerns Reholdering vs regrading and why that distinction matters Why auction houses are not liable for grading outcomes Counterfeit cards vs overgraded cards: a critical legal difference Buyer responsibility at the ultra-high end of the hobby Why reopening decades of grading would be chaos End-of-year reflections and what to expect in 2026 Sports Cards Live streams live every Saturday night on YouTube. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss breaking hobby news, deep dives, and guest-driven conversations. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms. If you haven't yet, visit TheHobbySpectrum.com to join the waitlist, discover your collector identity, and add your social and hobby links to the Spectrum Directory. It's free to use and built for discoverability. Thank you for an incredible year. We'll see you in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We tackle one of the biggest hobby moments of the year: Shohei Ohtani's 1-of-1 Gold MLB Logoman autograph selling for $3 million on Fanatics Collect, followed days later by a $3.1 million Jordan Kobe dual Logoman sale at Heritage. From there, the conversation widens into something much bigger than one card. Is modern ultra high-end moving too fast? Does a card need “time to breathe,” or does Ohtani's career, global reach, and historical context override that idea entirely? We compare the sale to Paul Skenes' $1.1 million debut patch, debate opportunity cost versus singular grail ownership, and question whether one or two buyers can drag an entire market upward. The discussion then pivots into a deep dive on the comp economy. How much judgment are collectors outsourcing to strangers? Are comps guidance or control? When do comps work, when do they break, and how do concepts like triangulation, opportunity cost, and buyer intent actually play out in real hobby behavior? The segment closes with a heavy PSA conversation following the downgrade of a Wilt Chamberlain rookie from PSA 10 to PSA 9, wiping out roughly $800,000 in market value. We discuss whether that sale should remain in public comp databases, if it deserves an asterisk, and what “descriptive vs prescriptive” data really means when trust, grading, and market memory collide. Join us live every Saturday night on YouTube for Sports Cards Live and be part of the conversation in real time. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss breaking hobby news, emergency streams, and guest-driven discussions. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms. And if you're exploring collector identity, head to TheHobbySpectrum.com to join the waitlist, get an access code, and add your hobby and social links to the Spectrum Directory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We pivot from PSA market power into something more personal: how public identity labels change behavior. If Spectrum results are visible, do people “answer toward who they want to be” instead of who they are? Does the hobby stigmatize flippers and dealers in a way that creates bias and self-reporting issues? Leighton joins briefly to share holiday wishes, show a few personal pickups, and then drops a surprise giveaway for the Sports Cards Live community. From there, the show bounces into a fun but legit vintage debate: 1948 Leaf Jackie vs 1949 Bowman Jackie, why the price gap exists, and why true oddball scarcity like Bond Bread still gets ignored by many collectors. We finish with some classic end-of-year stream energy, including a Bears comeback story and a quick WAR trivia segment. In this segment: Spectrum Directory updates: add your links, build discoverability, help people find you across social and hobby platforms The “assessment vs quiz vs test” framing, and why self-reporting can get messy when results are public Stigma in the hobby: flippers, dealers, and why some sellers feel better when they learn a card is going to a PC Transparency talk: leading by example as a creator, and why “hiding” can create its own assumptions Leighton joins, shares PC pickups (including a T206 and a modern 1/1 story), then gives away a 1958 Topps Ted Williams Live giveaway draw and winner announcement 1948 Leaf vs 1949 Bowman Jackie: aesthetics, demand, set prestige, and the “PSA decides reality” joke The curveball: Bond Bread Jackie scarcity and why mainstream collectors still treat it like an oddball footnote Bears vs Packers: the onside kick swing and overtime finish WAR trivia: which player led MLB in WAR the most seasons (answer revealed in the segment) Reminder: The Spectrum Directory is currently visible only to members inside the system, and retakes will be limited to once every 30 days so the profile stays meaningful over time. Join us live every Saturday night on YouTube for Sports Cards Live. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss breaking hobby news, emergency streams, and guest-heavy episodes. If you prefer audio, you can listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. And if you're checking out the Hobby Spectrum, head to TheHobbySpectrum.com to join the waitlist and get an access code as we onboard new users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We keep digging into the PSA Beckett fallout, but the conversation shifts into the stuff collectors actually feel day to day: what “monopoly” even means, why PSA's registry and resale values drive behavior, and how grading inconsistency has become the hobby's accepted tax. We also get into cracking, resubmitting, phantom pops, and the Wilt Chamberlain PSA 10 to PSA 9 situation, including the uncomfortable questions around the guarantee and what we may never learn publicly. In this episode: Monopoly vs market leader: the definition debate and why it matters Fanatics licensing vs PSA dominance: which “monopoly” argument is stronger PSA criticism without the fake outrage: pricing and wait times vs the real issue (inconsistency) The registry effect: why uniform slabs still shape collector behavior Cracking and resubmitting: how big is it really, and where it's concentrated Phantom pops and why pop reports can't be treated like gospel Wilt Chamberlain downgrade: guarantee limits, compensation questions, and NDA speculation PSA standards drift: did they change, or did collectors change first Hobby Spectrum update: The Spectrum Directory is becoming a discoverability tool, not just a results page Add your social and hobby links so people can find you across platforms New sorting and filtering makes it easier to browse by archetype, score, and join date Retakes will be limited to once every 30 days, with score history saved to your profile Keep up with Sports Cards Live: Catch the Saturday night live show on YouTube and join the chat, your questions are always in play Subscribe so you don't miss breaking hobby news, emergency streams, and guest-heavy episodes Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts If you're enjoying these five-part drops, leave a rating and a quick review, it helps more collectors find the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the opening segment of Sports Cards Live Episode 295 (streamed December 20, 2025). We kick things off with Jeremy and Joe Poirot, reacting to the newest twist in the PSA Beckett story: a U.S. congressman urging the FTC to investigate Collectors Holdings and its acquisitions. Then we bring in Chris Sewell to dig into what this could mean for grading competition, pricing, and the hobby's confidence in the “big three” becoming one portfolio. In this episode: The FTC pressure: what an antitrust investigation could actually change (or not) Why “monopoly” is the word everyone is thinking, even if the legal definition is messier The biggest unknown: what does Collectors do with Beckett long-term The BGS 9.5, Pristine 10, and Black Label issue living under the same umbrella as PSA PR vs reality: “broom closet” fears after what happened to SGC's momentum Grading trust fatigue and why the hobby feels more on edge right now Chris Sewell joins and we talk Hobby Spectrum results, Builders, and what the early directory is showing Keep up with Sports Cards Live: Catch the Saturday night live show on YouTube and join the chat, your questions are always in play Subscribe so you don't miss breaking hobby news, emergency streams, and guest-heavy episodes Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts If you're enjoying these five-part drops, leave a rating and a quick review, it helps more collectors find the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We close out Ep 293 with a full walkthrough of HobbySpectrum.com and what's coming next. Jeremy explains the core idea: discovering your collector identity by taking the Collector Investor Spectrum assessment and finding your placement across seven archetypes, from Purist to Tycoon. He also explains why the site is currently gated, why onboarding is gradual, and what listeners can do right now: join the waitlist and get ready to set aside 20 to 25 minutes for the assessment. Jeremy then shares a live look at the Spectrum Directory, including a new feature that lets you filter by score or archetype, see who matches your exact number, and quickly find like minded collectors. He also highlights a major update: members can now add their social links so the directory becomes a practical bridge to the platforms people already use, not a replacement for them. From there, the conversation shifts into a candid moment about the idea of transparency in the hobby. If we demand transparency from grading, auction houses, and platforms, what does it look like when collectors turn some of that transparency inward? Jeremy makes the point that opting into the directory is optional and privacy matters, but that the directory can help build real community if people choose to participate. The episode finishes with rapid fire comments and a fun closer: hobbyists share their favorite pickups and best hobby memories of 2025, from Ice Bowl history to Kobe refractors, Brady autos, vintage baseball, hockey heat, and everything in between. Jeremy and Josh also touch on the ongoing reality of grading inconsistency, why authentication still matters, and why buying the card, not the label, remains the best long term approach. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, with the chat driving the show. Subscribe so you do not miss an episode. If you are listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, follow the show and leave a rating and review. And if you want early access to the Collector Investor Spectrum assessment and directory, join the waitlist at HobbySpectrum.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation continues with a wide ranging conversation that starts in Los Angeles and ends at the core of what the hobby really looks like. Ryan Veres shares his view on the Lakers market, LeBron's long term place in LA after retirement, and why Luka in a Lakers uniform has instantly reshaped demand. The discussion highlights how superstar legacies evolve locally and why LeBron's appeal goes far beyond one franchise. From there, the show pivots into a deeper conversation about hobby perception versus reality. Jeremy, Josh Adams, Joe Poirot, and Leighton Sheldon unpack the idea that “everyone is a flipper” and why that narrative simply does not hold up. Real world examples from card shows, shops, and personal collections point to a much quieter majority of collectors who buy for nostalgia, personal meaning, and long term enjoyment, often spending modest amounts and never posting online. The group digs into how social media distorts what we think the hobby is, why big money cards dominate feeds while everyday collectors stay invisible, and how platforms like Instagram and YouTube shape different versions of reality. They also discuss consolidation trends, why the same handful of vintage cards appear everywhere, and how many collectors are deliberately moving off the beaten path into second year cards, oddballs, sets, and under the radar material. The episode closes with reflections on collecting purely for joy. Stories of collectors building stacks from $5 to $50 boxes, discovering new personal collecting lanes late in life, and even shopping your own inventory underline a simple truth: there are endless ways to collect, and most of them have nothing to do with flipping, flexing, or chasing approval. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you are watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a stream. If you are listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review. It helps more than you think. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who will appreciate the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot, Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards, and later Leighton Sheldon of Just Collect, moving from shop philosophy into what the market feels like right now in real time. Ryan explains why Southern California is, in his view, the best sports card market in the world, how Burbank became what it is through family roots that go back generations, and why the West Coast Card Show matters beyond revenue: it gives the region a true destination event that pulls collectors and dealers from all over. From there, we get into how a massive operation stays tight. Ryan talks checks and balances, logging purchases, accounting flow, and a core principle that sellers should get paid instantly. He also shares a behind-the-scenes experiment he's building: real time wax pricing using electronic signage that can update like a gas station, with the goal of transparency and keeping prices fair as markets move. The conversation also tackles the “priced out of the hobby” narrative. Ryan breaks down how Rob constantly builds value sections like vintage boxes, $10-and-under, and $100-and-under showcases so collectors can still walk out happy without needing big money. Then the guys get into dealer reality: how “percentage” buying questions miss the point, when a dealer might pay what looks like full market on the right card, and why having a small, controlled high end vault can help facilitate major trade ups for customers. We close with what's hot right now. Leighton shares what he's seeing at the Philly Show, from the usual heavy hitters like Mantle, Jackie, Old Judge, and Jordan, to the truth that even seven copies of the same card still might not be the right copy for one buyer. Ryan talks modern demand for rare, high eye appeal cards that do not surface often, some hockey pickup momentum with Cup season, and what actually sells fast in a shop like Burbank. And one more collector nuance that matters: faded autos. Ryan explains why shops treat them as damaged, Leighton explains why he often avoids them entirely, and Joe adds the collector perspective on curating out anything that does not hold up visually. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you're watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss a stream. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps a ton. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who'd be into the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 293 continues with Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot, and Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards, digging into how Ryan values cards when speed matters: gut feel versus comp tools, why blanket “percentage” buying is a broken way to think, and how eye appeal can completely change the number even when the grade is the same. We also get an update on Burbank's eBay status and the ongoing transition toward Fanatics Collect, why offers sometimes went unanswered in the past and what's changed operationally, plus the real on-the-ground reality of TCG taking up more table space at local shows and what promoters can do about it. Ryan also shares practical advice for anyone opening a shop: build relationships with other store owners, create a strong local network, and do not rely on straight distribution if you want to survive. From there, the conversation touches on what it's like running a bucket list store, whether Burbank worries about copycats, and the competitive mindset that keeps the team sharp. We also get Ryan's perspective on PSA Offers and how Burbank participates as an approved buyer, along with a sober look at shipping theft risks this time of year and why insurance matters when you're moving higher-end cards. We close with talk about the West Coast Card Show and how it feeds the Burbank brand, even if the economics of running a big show can be brutal. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you're watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss a stream. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps a ton. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who'd be into the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off Episode 293 with Jeremy Lee and Joe Poirot, starting with a new pickup for Joe's collection: a 2008 Upper Deck Premier Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Remnants quad jersey card numbered to 50. From there, we open up a fun chat-wide debate about dual player cards, what makes a pairing work, and which athlete combinations would be the ultimate hobby matchup. Then Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards joins the show for a behind-the-scenes look at how Burbank has scaled, why the shop feels like “a show every day,” and how they think about liquidity, inventory turnover, dealer activity, and using clean data to track demand and guide smarter buying decisions. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show, so jump in live and bring your takes, questions, and hot card debates. If you're watching on YouTube, make sure you subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a Saturday stream. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, please follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps more than you think. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who'd appreciate the discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Adams joins Jeremy and Joe to close out the night and reflect on the first public reveal of the Hobby Spectrum project. The chat reacts in real time, asking about access keys, badges, the directory, archetype blends, the science behind the scoring system, and how collectors will eventually share and connect based on their profiles. Jeremy explains how early access works, why the waiting list is open, and how testers so far have responded to their archetype results. Joe shares what it was like to take the assessment, including how tough some questions can be when they force real self reflection. The conversation turns to how the directory will function, why opt in privacy matters, and how this tool can help collectors find people who think and collect the same way. From there, the group moves into wider hobby issues. Josh presses Jeremy about the PSA 9 to 10 controversy and the idea of reevaluation without new cert numbers. They talk through what makes the story suspicious, what is known so far, and where transparency is still missing. They also connect the dots between PSA Vault offers, approved buyers, repackers, and the structural opacity around who is actually placing bids and offers. The chat then raises the question of legal exposure for Upper Deck after the Gretzky Exquisite Tribute Cup card surfaced with a smudged autograph and a completely different patch than the solicitation image. Jeremy and Josh walk through the legal reality versus the ethical reality, why mockups give companies cover, and why the right move would still be to replace the card to protect the brand. The episode winds down with talk of auctions, employee bidding, the collector experience at shows, and a bit of football before Jeremy closes the night with gratitude for everyone who has helped bring the Hobby Spectrum to life. Follow or subscribe, leave a rating and review if you enjoy the show, and join us Saturday nights on YouTube for the live conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attention turns to Upper Deck and Jeremy does not hold back. He walks through the story behind the 2003 Exquisite Tribute Wayne Gretzky 1/1 from the new Cup release, comparing the slick solicitation image to the actual card that surfaced: a different patch and a badly smudged, weak gold autograph on what should be one of the key cards in the entire product. Jeremy explains why he thinks this is a failure at multiple levels. He questions why the mockup used a fantasy level patch that does not exist in the production run, why the autograph pen was not tested properly, and why the card was allowed to be packed out instead of being pulled and replaced with a redemption and a remade version. He is clear that he respects the people at Upper Deck but argues that this specific card makes the brand look careless at the top end of the market and that it crosses the line from acceptable variation into something that feels like bait and switch for a product that costs thousands per tin. From there, the conversation shifts into something Jeremy has been hinting at for months. He finally reveals the project he has been working on behind the scenes alongside his book: a collector identity assessment that maps hobbyists on a 0 to 100 collector–investor spectrum. He introduces the seven archetypes that live along that spectrum, from Purist and Nostalgic through Precisionist, Hybrid, Builder, Operator, and Tycoon, and explains how your answers place you into both a score range and a detailed written profile. Jeremy and Joe talk through why this spectrum exists, how it grew out of years of conversation about “collector vs investor,” and why most people live somewhere in between. They discuss how a shared set of archetypes can give the hobby clearer language, help collectors better understand their own motivations, and make conversations at shows and online more grounded in where people are actually coming from. Jeremy shares that the tool is in early beta with only a handful of people tested so far, that the core assessment is intended to be free, and that future layers will add modifiers, maturity progression within each archetype, and deeper optional insights. Sports Cards Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Follow or subscribe, leave a rating and review if you are getting value from these conversations, and join us live on YouTube Saturday nights to be part of the chat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Lee and co host Joe Poirot stay locked on two of the toughest topics in the hobby right now: shill bidding and the latest PSA controversy. Jeremy continues unpacking the listener email from a former prosecutor who feels that phrases like “essence of shill” normalize fraud. The chat weighs in, with some agreeing and others arguing that honest talk about how widespread shilling really is is exactly what protects newer collectors. Jeremy pushes back on the idea that he is endorsing anything, explaining why he refuses to pretend the market is clean while still choosing to participate in it. From there the conversation moves into what “going after” bad actors actually looks like. Jeremy walks through his work with multiple auction houses, including REA, to tighten up terms and increase transparency around active reserves, non paying bidders, and house bidding. Joe raises the distinction between true shill bidding and active reserves, and they dig into why transparency and education matter more than empty outrage, especially when it comes to giants like eBay. The back half of the segment shifts to the PSA buyback story that has the hobby buzzing. Jeremy and Joe react to reports that a batch of PSA 9 Pokémon cards sold through the PSA offer program later appeared as PSA 10s under the same cert numbers. Even allowing for missing facts and possible explanations, they walk through the optics, the conflict of interest concerns, and what it means when 11 out of 30 cards can swing from a 9 to a 10 after the fact. The bigger question becomes grade reliability itself and how much subjectivity collectors are really willing to live with. Follow or subscribe for free, leave a rating and review if you are finding value in these conversations, and join us live on YouTube Saturday nights to be part of the chat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Lee and Joe Poirot kick off this four-part run from Sports Cards Live episode 292 with a big vintage mailday and a tough ethical question for the hobby. Joe walks through his latest pickup, a T206 Cy Young “bare hand shows” in a PSA 1 slab with elite centering, color, and eye appeal that completes his three-card Cy Young T206 flight. That card opens a wider conversation about which Hall of Famers will actually stand the test of time and how storytelling keeps players like Cy Young, Larry Doby, Joe Jackson and others relevant for future generations. From there, Jeremy reads an email from a new listener and former prosecutor who worries that phrases like “essence of shill” risk normalizing shill bidding. Jeremy lays out his position on calling fraud what it is while still being honest about how much of it is already baked into comp data, and why pretending the market is clean does more harm than good for collectors trying to protect themselves. The segment wraps with a discussion on why hobby drama videos tend to out-perform thoughtful history content, how “evergreen” storytelling works on a different clock than breaking scandals, and why the community still needs both. Sports Cards Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Follow or subscribe for free, leave a rating and review if you enjoy the show, and join us Saturday nights on YouTube for the live conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation moves from Card Ladder and comps into a bigger, uncomfortable question: is opening modern product basically gambling, and what kind of culture do we actually want in the hobby going forward? Jeremy, Chris McGill (HoJ), and Josh Adams dig into group breaks, pack odds, “hits,” and the reality that some collectors have gone bankrupt chasing boxes. They balance that against the fun and nostalgia of ripping with kids, Tim Hortons packs, and building sets the way many of us did in the 80s and 90s. Along the way they tackle advertising, culture, and where the hobby goes next. Topics in this segment include: • PSA upcharges, comps, and why some people think PSA should have to buy your card at the value they assign• Arena Club criticism, “where collecting begins” marketing, and whether repack-centric products are aimed more at gamblers than collectors• Is opening any sealed product gambling, or does it depend on intent, price point, and expected return?• Pack odds, box price vs expected value, and why the emotional hit of losing on wax feels exactly like losing at the casino for some people• Breakers, gamblers, and the argument that the hobby “needs” high-volume product rippers to create singles for everyone else• Direct-to-consumer vs LCS distribution and whether cards should always come from packs or could one day go straight to auction• Getting more women in the hobby and how to treat everyone at shows as collectors first• What kind of culture shift the hobby actually needs: less divisiveness, more mutual understanding, more integrity from individuals and institutions, and less “my way is the only right way”• Leadership, voting with your wallet, and why content and conversations matter in shaping where the hobby goes next Sports Cards Live streams live on YouTube every Saturday night, and this audio comes from that live video show. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and check out the full video replays on the Sports Cards Live YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IN this installment of SCL the conversation turns to conflicts of interest, price guides, and how the hobby leans on data. Jeremy, Chris McGill (HoJ), and Josh Adams unpack a pointed question about Beckett running both a price guide and a grading company, and whether that structure was ever as conflicted as people now claim it to be. From there, they move into how PSA uses Card Ladder as one data source, what Card Ladder Value actually is, and why no single comp should ever be treated as “the” price of a card. Topics in this segment include: • Beckett's price guide plus grading model and whether the real concern is what would happen if someone launched that structure today• How conflicts exist everywhere in business and why safeguards and transparency matter more than pretending they do not• Chris's breakdown of Card Ladder Value, confidence levels, and why different sales of the same card can show different CL values• Dan's Gene Hackman one-of-one example and why getting a “good buy” can make algorithmic estimates look off• The problem with overreliance on comps and why the hobby is nothing like an efficient stock market• How shill bidding, thin markets, and buyer ignorance can distort individual sales• Josh's card show story about sellers who freeze when there is no recent comp and what real critical thinking should look like• Arena Club's “where collecting begins” slogan and a candid debate on repacks, gambling, and what collecting actually is• Whether Card Ladder is a price guide or simply a historical data tool that PSA and others use for due diligence Sports Cards Live streams live on YouTube every Saturday night, and this audio comes from that live video show. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and check out the full video replays on the Sports Cards Live YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 291 continues with Jeremy Lee, Chris McGill (HoJ), Leighton Sheldon, Joe Poirot, and Josh Adams dig into two big threads: what autograph grades actually mean and how to tell real stories about your cards on social media without slipping into pump mode. They start with whether a PSA 10 autograph should factor in legibility, contrast, and visibility, then pivot into how collectors can write posts that go beyond “look what I got” and actually teach, connect, and document why a card matters. Topics in this segment include: • What grading companies might be grading on autograph labels: legibility, placement, contrast, or just ink quality• Why some collectors refuse autos they cannot read or see clearly, no matter what the label says• Using objective facts (print runs, set history, parallel structure) to balance out personal hype in card posts• Jeremy's approach to pickup posts: why he wanted the card, how it fits his collection, and giving credit to the source• Leighton's framework for when a pickup deserves a story and why provenance, history, and feelings matter• How to share genuine excitement about a card without coming across as a pumper• Joe's behind the scenes perspective from writing auction house descriptions and trying to add value without empty sales fluff• Why posts that explain “why this matters to me” stand out more than pure flex shots• Josh's Ice Bowl ticket win as a quick case study in concise, memorable storytelling Sports Cards Live streams live on YouTube every Saturday night, and this audio comes from that live video show. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and check out the full video replays on the Sports Cards Live YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 291 continues with Jeremy Lee and Joe Poirot are joined by Leighton Sheldon of Just Collect for a focused conversation on where the line sits between cards and memorabilia. They dig into what happens when card prices climb into serious money, whether collectors should pivot to memorabilia at certain price points, and how space, display, and personal taste factor into those decisions. From there the trio shifts into a long, honest discussion about sticker autographs, PSA 10 autograph grades, and whether grading the auto itself adds real value or just marketing noise. Topics in this segment include: • Leighton's main question: when your card budget hits its ceiling, do you start looking at memorabilia instead• Jeremy's “cards only” stance and why game used gloves made the cut when jerseys did not• Space, storage, and display issues that push some collectors away from big items and back to cards• Jackie Robinson examples: 1950 Bowman in different grades versus signed pieces and scorecards• How memorabilia can offer historically significant items at prices below top tier card grades• Why some collectors chase one key piece of memorabilia per player while others stay strictly cardboard• Sticker autos versus on card autos and why some collectors refuse stickers entirely• PSA 10 autograph grades on modern pack pulled autos and whether the extra premium is justified• Vintage signed cards, fading ink, ballpoint quirks, and when an autograph grade actually helps• The psychology of “10/10” labels, population reports, and how grading companies changed how autos are valued Sports Cards Live streams live on YouTube every Saturday night, and this audio comes from that live video show. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and check out the full video replays on the Sports Cards Live YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 291 kicks off with Jeremy Lee and co-host Joe Poirot taking questions straight from the live chat in a fully unscripted Q&A. The conversation zeroes in on the Probstein and Snipe situation, shill bidding realities, buyer risk, and how collectors should actually think about auctions and comps in 2025 and beyond. From there it branches into grails, card of the year talk, consolidation, and how personal collections are evolving. Topics in this segment include: • Probstein returning to eBay after the Snipe collapse and how the hobby is reacting• What the Snipe data breach could mean for user data and identity risk• Shill bidding realities, the “essence of shill,” and how much is already baked into comps• Would Jeremy or Joe bid on a card consigned with Probstein right now• If money were no object, which vintage box or case we would rip• “Card of the year” candidates: Joe Jackson, Ruth, modern hype pieces and more• The Griffey Jr. PSA 10 run-up and whether the premium over PSA 9 makes sense• Messi Mega Cracks, goat focus, and how star cards rose and cooled in 2025• If you had to reset your entire collection, what would your first card back be• Collection size in 2025: consolidation, upgrades, and how our PCs actually changed Sports Cards Live streams live on YouTube every Saturday night, and this audio comes from that live video show. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and check out the full video replays on the Sports Cards Live YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should a fair sports card auction actually look like if you are the buyer, not the consignor or the house? In this segment, Chris McGill (Card Ladder) and Josh Adams (90sAuctions) join Jeremy and attorney Paul Lesko to talk about auction environments collectors actually want to bid in, why hidden reserves and owner bidding feel wrong, and how 90sAuctions approaches consignor bidding and reserves. From there the conversation shifts to comp culture, why so many people try to apply comps with false precision, and how data tools like Card Ladder can help if you are willing to dig into context instead of outsourcing your thinking. Jeremy also connects it back to his upcoming book POPs and COMPs and the idea that not all comps are created equal. In this segment you will hear about: Chris's ideal auction setting, only bidding against other true buyers How auction reserves and undisclosed owner bidding change the whole game Josh on why 90sAuctions banned consignor bidding and walked away from reserves Why buyers and sellers lean so hard on the last comp in 2025 How to look at comps with real scrutiny so you do not get burned by bad data Sponsor notes:  Go to ⁠⁠hellofresh.com/cards10fm⁠⁠ to get 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life, one per box.

Sports Cards Live 290 keeps rolling as hobby attorney Paul Lesko sticks around and is joined by Chris McGill and Josh Adams from Card Ladder to unpack more of the biggest legal battles shaping the hobby. In this segment they hit: Panini vs Fanatics antitrust Wild Card vs Panini antitrust BCW vs Ultra Pro over “penny sleeve” and “top loader” trademarks LeBron RPA / Goldin / Card Porn business disparagement dispute Messi Green Kaboom one of one broken contract case Collectable fractional fallout and investor information rights Shill bidding, specific performance, and how courts might treat unique grails Sponsor notes:  Go to ⁠hellofresh.com/cards10fm⁠ to get 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life, one per box.

Sports Cards Live 290 continues with hobby attorney Paul Lesko joining Jeremy for a sharp follow up to the auction house discussion with Jeff Marren of Rockhurst Auctions. This second of four segments from the November 22, 2025 live stream digs into bidder privacy, collusion concerns, and a stack of current hobby lawsuits that every collector should understand. In this episode you will hear: Jeff answering viewer Skeppy's question about how important privacy and anonymity are in the auction world, and why most bidders and consignors do not actually want their identities shared. A hard look at the push for more transparency in bidding, what collectors really want to see, and why public bidder identities can open the door to collusion, harassment, and back-channel deal making. Jeremy's comparison to real estate offers and client lists, and Jeff's blunt take that bidder and consigner data is proprietary relationship capital for an auction house, not something the public has a “right” to. Chat reactions from vintage and “new school” hobbyists who were raised on eBay and mall card shows, why reserves and 150 year old rules feel archaic, and what it means to “vote with your wallet.” Discussion of fixed price and “buy it now” style listings on traditional auction platforms, private treaty sales, and how auction houses try to balance consignor risk with a functioning marketplace. Paul's legal lens on bidder anonymity, client lists, and why courts often treat that information as protected business property under protective orders. Then Paul kicks off a rapid fire legal update round, including: Upper Deck vs Ravensburger (Lorcana case) – How Upper Deck claimed Lorcana stole game mechanics from its unreleased Rush of Ichor TCG, why game mechanics are very hard to protect with copyright, and how a multi year fight led to Ravensburger being cleared and only a small settlement with the individual designer. Blank vs Beckett – A new case where a collector alleges Beckett lost 87 rare Stan Lee autograph cards that he values at around 250 thousand dollars, and why the terms you click on for grading companies matter when cards go missing. Lance Jackson vs Collectors Universe and PSA – The nightmare scenario of sending in a key Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome rookie, getting it back with a lower grade and visible damage, and what a live trial could mean for how grading companies handle damaged cards and declared values. The “lost” T206 Honus Wagner vs BGS – A wild allegation that a Wagner was submitted 12 years ago and never returned, what statutes of limitation really are, and why waiting a decade to sue is usually a fatal mistake no matter how strong the story feels. A bigger conversation about terms of service, arbitration clauses, class action waivers, and why collectors almost never read what they are agreeing to when they click “I accept.” Jeremy's question about whether anyone in the hobby will ever differentiate by surfacing key terms in plain language and forcing users to acknowledge the important parts, instead of burying everything in boilerplate. Sponsor notes:  Go to hellofresh.com/cards10fm to get 10 free meals plus free breakfast for life, one per box. If you enjoy these in depth hobby and legal breakdowns:

Sports Cards Live 290 kicks off with co host Joe Poirot and special guest Jeff Marin of Rockhurst Auctions for a deep dive into how traditional auction houses actually work, why reserves exist, and what the latest Snipe and COMC drama says about trust in the hobby. This is the first of four segments cut from the full live stream recorded on November 22, 2025. In this episode you will hear: Jeremy's Saturday night open, with updates on the Fanatics Collect Weekly Auction Ending Watch Party, the new “From the Front Row” series with Front Row Card Show, and his recent conversation with hobby OG Brandon Steiner. Recap of Jeremy, Joe and Chris McGill's appearances on Graig's Midlife Cards channel and how those conversations set up tonight's focus on auctions, reserves and hobby trust. Gretzky rookie talk, Topps versus O Pee Chee, what population reports really tell you, and why more collectors are demanding strong eye appeal instead of just an old grade on the flip. Reaction to Dr Beckett's appearance on Hobby Hotline, the Geoff Wilson interview, and the fatigue many collectors feel around apology tours and “can we move on yet” discourse. Breakdown of the Snype launch issues after Rick Probstein's move off eBay, the site going dark on its first big night, worries about data and screenshots circulating on social, and what all of that means for any new auction platform. Discussion of fresh COMC rumors, a long time employee exiting, a tweet suggesting the company might be “in trouble,” and why broken telephone and the hobby rumor mill can distort reality fast. A full segment with Jeff Marren of Rockhurst Auctions covering how traditional auction houses handle reserves, why “active reserves” exist, why most lots actually run without reserves, how opening bids create momentum, what consignors misunderstand, and how bidders should assess whether to stay in or step out. Jeff's take on how eBay trained the hobby to chase last second “wins,” why many collectors are addicted to the idea of scoring under market, and how old hobby scars from scams and bad deals make drama based content so magnetic. If you enjoy these in depth hobby conversations:

Sports Cards Live host Jeremy Lee sits down with hobby OG Brandon Steiner of CollectibleXchange for a blunt conversation about grading, gambling, and greed in today's sports card market. In this episode we tackle the uncomfortable questions. Are auctions broken for everyday collectors, how deep does shill bidding and market manipulation really go, and what happens when breaks, repacks, and live streams start to look a lot like gambling addiction instead of hobby fun. This episode also features:

Dan the Card Lawyer and Josh Adams from 90s Auctions join us to keep pulling back the curtain on shill bidding, reserves, and how auction houses really work behind the scenes. We look at where “accepted hobby practice” ends and fraud begins, why some newer hobby-first auction houses are drawing hard lines, and how much shill is quietly baked into the prices we all rely on. We also touch on eBay authentication horror stories, stolen mail, and whether it is even possible to collect without being touched by any of this. Highlights include: A criminal defense lawyer's perspective on shill bidding, fraud, and why some practices cross the line An auction owner explaining why 90s Auctions walked away from reserves and house bidding How guarantees, reserves, and “system bids” can warp prices long before you place your max bid The uncomfortable question of how much shill is baked into almost every COMP in the hobby Your comments drive the show, so bring your questions and experiences to the live chat. If you find value in this conversation, please hit like, subscribe to Sports Cards Live, and share the episode with another collector who needs to hear it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sports Cards Live 289 keeps the heat on the biggest issue in the hobby right now. Jeremy and Dan take a hard look at shill bidding, reserve games, and how bad data can quietly push every collector into paying more than they should. The conversation turns blunt, practical, and focused on what real solutions could look like and how collectors can protect themselves in the meantime. In this segment of Sports Cards Live 289, we cover: • Why shill bidding and reserve logic are more connected than most people realize • How inflated or faulty COMPs can affect your max bid without you noticing • Where the legal line sits between shady tactics and actual fraud • What a healthier, more transparent auction environment would require Your comments and questions drive the show, so jump in and tell us where you stand on bidding trust and what changes you want to see in the hobby. If you enjoy the content, please: • Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube • Follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts • Leave a rating or review to help more collectors find the show Thank you for watching Sports Cards Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices