Sports Cards Live

In this episode, Jeremy Lee is joined by Leighton Sheldon and David Chase for a conversation that moves from vintage hockey to a red hot show floor and then into one of the biggest modern card sales in hobby history. The episode opens with more discussion around the decision to break up a high grade 1966 Topps Hockey set card by card rather than sell it as a complete set. Along the way, the conversation branches into Bobby Orr versus Gordie Howe, hobby Mount Rushmore talk, vintage hockey card aesthetics, and what makes certain iconic cards feel larger than the players themselves. From there, Leighton shares a detailed report from the Philadelphia show, where the crowd, dealer activity, and overall momentum all pointed to a hobby that feels extremely strong right now. He talks about the competitive nature of buying on the floor, the challenge of acquiring great material even when you are ready to spend, and a standout pickup from the weekend: a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson that checked the eye appeal box in a big way. The conversation then shifts to the $5.2 million Aaron Judge Superfractor 1/1 sale, a result that made mainstream headlines well beyond the hobby. Jeremy, Leighton, and David discuss what a sale like that says about the state of the market, whether it signals strength or excess, and why media attention around major card sales continues to bring more awareness and energy into the space. If you enjoy hobby talk that blends vintage perspective, market insight, and real conversations from inside the show floor, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with a fellow collector. Be sure to check out Jeremy’s new book Pops and Comps and take the Hobby Spectrum assessment to discover your collector identity and connect with others in the directory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Lee kicks off Episode 305 of Sports Cards Live with Joe Poirot by recapping a busy week that included Jeremy’s Pops and Comps book signing at Burbank Sports Cards, a night at the Lakers game in Los Angeles, and some memorable moments meeting collectors and hobby friends in person. The conversation then turns to one of Jeremy’s latest auction purchases: a Randy Moss Exquisite 1/1 patch card picked up during the Fanatics Weekly auction. Jeremy and Joe break down the appeal of Exquisite, why certain cards feel like opportunities when they appear, and the difference between buying for a personal collection versus buying because a card simply feels underpriced. The episode also dives into the story behind a complete 1966 Topps Hockey set that is now being broken up and sold card by card. The discussion explores what it takes to build a high quality vintage set over decades, the challenge of condition and centering in that issue, the iconic Bobby Orr rookie that anchors the set, and the emotional side of letting go of a long term collecting project. Along the way the conversation touches on hobby momentum, community, set building, and the stories that make vintage cards meaningful beyond their value. If you enjoy collector stories, hobby perspective, and conversations that go deeper than just prices and comps, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with a fellow collector. You can also check out Jeremy’s new book Pops and Comps and take the Hobby Spectrum assessment to discover your collector identity and connect with other hobbyists in the directory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation closes with one of the most thoughtful topics of the night: are we now in the era of learning from other collectors? Inspired by earlier discussion around research, collecting curiosity, and content that teaches rather than just showcases, Chris McGill brings a topic that gets to the heart of what hobby content can be at its best. The panel digs into the value of collector-created knowledge, from Instagram captions that read like mini essays to YouTube videos, podcasts, databases, and personal research projects that help people better understand players, sets, eras, rarity, and collecting history. Jeremy, Joe, Josh, and Chris talk about the difference between simply consuming hobby content and actually learning from it, and why the best content often gives you not just facts, but a way of thinking. From there, the conversation turns to the balance between teaching and protecting an edge. If collectors are building knowledge, doing research, and uncovering overlooked areas of the hobby, should they share it openly or keep some of it close to the chest? The panel explores the push and pull between community-building, generosity, influence, and the natural fear that sharing too much can move markets or close off opportunities. The segment also touches on what separates meaningful hobby education from noise. Not every take deserves to be accepted at face value, and part of growing as a collector is learning how to filter information, test ideas, and think critically even when the source is someone you respect. That makes this a strong closing conversation about not just what we know, but how we learn, how we teach, and how we sharpen our own thinking through the hobby. The episode wraps with a few final hobby updates, including Jeremy’s upcoming Burbank Sports Cards book signing, a Lakers game visit to see LeBron, Luka, and Anthony Edwards in person, and another quick look at the evolving Hobby Spectrum directory features. If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversation, real collector perspective, and live stream energy carried over into podcast form, make sure to subscribe to Sports Cards Live across your podcast platform of choice, follow the show on YouTube, and share this episode with another collector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation begins with a deeper look at selling in the hobby and whether there is still a negative stigma around trying to maximize returns, flipping cards, or moving inventory strategically. Jeremy, Joe, Greg, and Jason talk through the difference between ethical selling and short-term opportunism, the role of dealers and flippers in the ecosystem, and why so many collectors still have conflicted feelings about money, pricing, and reputation in the hobby. From there, the show shifts as Jason exits and Josh Adams and Chris McGill join the conversation. Chris returns from the injured reserve list and immediately gets into the aftermath of the Michael Jordan 1 of 1 auction that had captured so much attention. Rather than just revisiting the final price, the group explores the bigger question: why didn’t Chris buy the card, and what did he learn from going through that process so deeply? That leads into one of the most insightful parts of the segment, as Chris reflects on the value proposition, the research, the emotional pull of a grail, and the reality of deciding what cards would have to go in order to make room for one massive acquisition. Jeremy, Joe, and Josh all weigh in on consolidation, regret, collecting discipline, and the psychological cost of moving deliberate, carefully chosen cards out of a collection for one apex piece. The result is a thoughtful discussion on what it means to go all in, when it makes sense to tap out, and how collectors should think about major decisions when a once-in-a-lifetime card comes to market. The segment also touches on the difference between rooting for a grail pursuit and believing it is truly the right move. If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversation, real collector perspective, and live stream energy carried over into podcast form, make sure to subscribe to Sports Cards Live across your podcast platform of choice, follow the show on YouTube, and share this episode with another collector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation continues around hobby exploration, with a deeper look at how collectors discover new eras, new card types, and new lanes through research, curiosity, and community. Jeremy, Greg, and Jason talk about the fun of learning before buying, the value of studying what matters within a category, and why participation in a new area of the hobby does not have to begin with spending money. Sometimes the real thrill is in the digging, the ranking, the spreadsheet building, and the process of figuring out what actually matters to you. The discussion also expands into hobby evolution on a bigger level. Just like collections change over time, so do channels, formats, and collecting identities. What you collect now may not be what you collect in five or ten years, and that uncertainty is part of what makes the hobby so interesting. Greg shares thoughts on how collectors grow into new passions, Jeremy reflects on how his own collecting lanes have changed, and Jason adds perspective on how both content and collections naturally evolve when you stay open. From there, the segment turns into a thoughtful discussion about card value, selling, and whether there is still a stigma around moving out of cards. Is selling part of refining a collection, or does it create tension with traditional collector identity? The conversation explores the idea that selling can be practical, healthy, and even necessary if it helps fund the next phase of your collecting journey. The segment also introduces one of the liveliest debates of the episode: the idea of a “coffin card.” Is it simply a card you plan to keep for life, or do some collectors truly mean they want to be buried with it? What starts as a funny concept turns into a real conversation about emotional attachment, legacy, collecting philosophy, and what it means to love a card enough to never let it go. If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversation, real collector perspective, and live stream energy carried over into podcast form, make sure to subscribe to Sports Cards Live across your podcast platform of choice, follow the show on YouTube, and share this episode with another collector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation continues with Jason from Professor Sports Cards as we talk about live streaming, audience interaction, and why some hobby communities feel so alive. Jeremy and Jason get into the role of call-ins, chat participation, and the balancing act of running a live show while keeping the audience engaged in real time. From there, the discussion turns to shipping headaches, cross-border frustrations, and the kinds of real-world logistics collectors and creators deal with behind the scenes. That leads naturally into a broader market conversation, including whether now is a time to sell, how hobby cycles actually work, and why timing the market is often easier to talk about than to execute. Greg Miller then joins the show to talk about his newly released book, Midlife Card Collecting Stories, now available on Amazon. Greg shares what it feels like to finally have the book out in the world, why he wrote it, and how the hobby has helped carry him through meaningful moments in life. The result is a heartfelt conversation about collecting, storytelling, memory, and why this hobby can be far more than just cardboard. The segment then opens into one of the strongest themes of the episode: how collectors can accidentally limit themselves by over-identifying with a certain hobby lane. Greg talks about discovering new areas of the hobby through other creators, from non-sport and vintage autographs to 1990s refractors, and why passion is often more contagious than category. Jeremy and Jason add their own thoughts on influence, curiosity, distraction, and the value of staying open to new parts of the hobby that might unexpectedly connect with you. If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversation, real collector perspective, and live stream energy carried over into podcast form, make sure to subscribe to Sports Cards Live across your podcast platform of choice, follow the show on YouTube, and share this episode with another collector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off the show with hobby updates, channel announcements, and a look at what appears to be major momentum in the vintage market coming out of the Philly Show. Leighton Sheldon checks in with a quick report from the floor, and the early conversation turns into a broader read on hobby health, market energy, and why community continues to be one of the strongest forces keeping collectors engaged. We also revisit last week’s Jackie Robinson PSA 1 story and share an important follow up that brought some peace of mind to David Chase after the eBay bidding glitch. From there, the discussion shifts into manual sniping, bidding psychology, and how collectors think in those final seconds when a truly special card is on the line. Then the conversation moves into a strong discussion on eye appeal, condition, grading, and what really matters when evaluating a card. Is a PSA 9 actually a condition, or just a label? How should collectors think about centering, registration, surface, and overall visual impact? Jeremy and Joe dig into the difference between technical grade and the feeling a card gives you when you look at it, while the chat adds some great commentary of its own. The segment wraps with the arrival of Jason from Professor Sports Cards, who shares his collecting origin story, his return to the hobby, and why he started creating content on YouTube in the first place. If you enjoy thoughtful hobby conversation, real collector perspective, and live stream energy carried over into podcast form, make sure to subscribe to Sports Cards Live across your podcast platform of choice, follow the show on YouTube, and share this episode with another collector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This segment is a pure hobby hang. The chat goes from recency bias and collector psychology to one of the funniest “punishments” ever suggested for people who cannot agree to disagree. From there, the conversation swings back to Leaf, where David drops his favorite detail: the set numbering that practically dared kids to chase a completion that was never going to happen. It turns into a quick, honest look at how the hobby has always used scarcity, short prints, and missing numbers to keep collectors pulling harder. Then the crew shifts into auction watch mode, reacting in real time as massive cards close and numbers jump, including the idea of a card “tripling late” and how that changes the feel of an auction. That tees up the big debate: the 1986 Fleer Jordan. With a pop count that feels impossible, does demand really stay that strong forever, or does the math eventually win? The answers land where they usually do on Sports Cards Live: iconic cards can break normal rules, but collectors still have to decide what makes sense for them. The episode closes with a theme that hits home for a lot of us: sometimes owning a card once is enough, and the next chapter is chasing something different, even if it is a second, third, or fourth year card. Grab POPs & COMPs on Amazon, and if you have not done it yet, head over to HobbySpectrum.com to request your early access code, take the assessment, and build your collector profile so people can find you by what you collect. If you are in the LA area, come by the Burbank Sports Cards book signing on March 10 from 12 to 3 Pacific, and we will see you on the next live episode of Sports Cards Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We shift from the “48 vs 49 Leaf” debate into two things collectors actually wrestle with: how we form our taste, and how our collecting evolves over time. David lays out his theory that most people start with what was modern when they began collecting, then gradually move backward into their era, iconic cards, and eventually deeper vintage, pre war, and oddball. The crew pushes on whether that’s projection or pattern, and the conversation lands where it should: everyone’s path is different, and that’s the whole point. Then we head straight into the Leaf rabbit hole, and this is where it gets fun. David explains why Leaf feels “gangster” as a set: the chaotic printing, the wild color shifts, the ghost versions, the back bleed-through, and the weird reality that sometimes the ugliest version can carry the highest grade. It becomes a conversation about collecting as a game you choose for yourself, including the eternal tug of war between centering and registration, and why two people can love “eye appeal” but score a card completely differently. Pick up POPs & COMPs on Amazon, and if you have not done it yet, head over to HobbySpectrum.com to take the assessment, build your collector profile, and let everybody know what you collect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 303 rolls on with the aftermath of the PSA 1 Leaf Jackie saga, and the emotional hangover that comes with chasing a true one of one copy in your mind. We unpack why Jackie Robinson sits on a different level for collectors, why that specific card felt like a “lifetime” target, and how eye appeal can completely scramble what the label says you’re supposed to value. From there, the conversation opens up into the bigger hobby tension points: Leaf vs Bowman as the Jackie pairing debate, why some collectors will always gravitate toward the Leaf even if they own both, and why the “48 vs 49 Leaf” naming fight probably does not change unless the grading companies change it first. It’s part card psychology, part market reality, and part grading frustration, with a few laughs and real collector talk mixed in. Pick up POPs & COMPs on Amazon, and if you have not done it yet, head over to HobbySpectrum.com to take the assessment, build your collector profile, and let everybody know what you collect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leighton Sheldon joins the show as the Heritage night keeps moving, with major bidding updates including the Michael Jordan 1 of 1 crossing the 2 million mark and the Wagner still in play. We also hit a quick check-in on the wild Hulk Hogan WrestleMania boots sale and run through a Kronozio spotlight on their “trading cards to cash” business-in-a-box bundles. Then the conversation turns to hobby philosophy: should historic memorabilia be cut up into cards, and does it change anything if the artifacts would otherwise live in a vault? We also touch on the Jack Hughes “golden goal” puck and the reality of where hockey history gets displayed. David Chase joins and explains why 1948 Leaf is one of the most addictive sets in the hobby, how he hunts the lowest grade with the highest eye appeal, and why “upgrading” often means buying a lower number. That leads into the beginning of the now infamous PSA 1 Jackie Robinson saga, including the research rabbit hole, the record price, and the surprising ending that reminds everyone that comps never tell the full story. If you enjoy the show, follow Sports Cards Live and share it with a collector friend. And if you have not done it yet, head over to HobbySpectrum.com to take the assessment and share what you collect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 303 kicks off with us tracking the T206 Honus Wagner as bidding climbs, react to late auction momentum, and tour a lineup of heavy hitters including the Wilt Chamberlain rookie uniform lot and two Michael Jordan 1 of 1 Masterpieces closing the same night. Along the way, we get into eye appeal versus technical grade, do a detailed O Pee Chee Gretzky compare, and talk honestly about how much value, exit strategy, and intuition really factor into the way we buy cards. If you enjoy the conversation, follow the show and share it with a fellow collector. And if you have not done it yet, head over to HobbySpectrum.com to take the assessment and share what you collect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off with a tease for next week’s show: a topic that surprised even me once I actually sat with it. I collect memorabilia cards. I love patches. I collect autograph memorabilia cards too. But I don’t chase autograph only cards, and I’m not talking about vintage autos or in person signatures. I mean modern autograph sets and modern autograph singles. So why do patches pull me in, but autographs on their own usually don’t? I think I finally figured it out. Next week, I’ll lay out the theory and we’ll talk it through with the guys. After that, we roll into show and tell, and it’s a full spread. A meaningful gift from a viewer that lands right on a top want list item. A quick rip through a stack of early 2000s era hockey memorabilia that reminds you how fun and affordable the hobby can still be when you collect with your own lane in mind. Then we keep going with more pickups, a few modern slabs, a handful of personal favorites, and a couple of oddball additions that turned into a fun new little side quest. We wrap by checking in on a major auction watch and setting the table for next week’s episode, where a big hobby conversation and a big result are both coming into focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation goes back to a simple truth: the hobby can be enjoyable at any price point, and if modern collecting is stressing you out, you’re allowed to pivot and find a lane that actually fits you. Kyle flips the script and asks the question everyone hates: “What’s your favorite card in your collection?” That leads to a real conversation about how cards aren’t just cardboard. They carry stories, experiences, and personal meaning that has nothing to do with a price tag. You share a funny, oddly perfect moment from years ago when a hobby friend referred to his cards as “his babies,” and why that idea kind of works, even if it sounds ridiculous out loud. Kyle wraps with a strong closing message about the hobby being an ocean with room for every kind of collector, then he signs off to get home to the family. From there, the episode turns into a full-on reveal of a brand new personal collecting lane that you did not expect to fall into. What started as a quick walk through the West Coast Card Show turns into a long conversation with a specialist vendor, a deal you couldn’t say no to, and a stack of pickups that feels like you’re holding real history. You break down why this lane hits so hard for you, why it complements the way you already collect, and why it has you genuinely fired up to keep building it. And yes, during the reveal, a “Michael Jordan” comparison comes up in a way that will make sense the second you hear it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We get into the simplest truth in the hobby: if you don’t like how someone does business, don’t reward it. Whether it’s grading fees, breakers, platforms, or companies making decisions you disagree with, your real vote is your wallet. Complaining without changing behavior is pointless. From there, Kyle explains why he’s never graded a card and why he prefers cards in one touches over slabs, plus how nostalgia-driven collecting can be a legitimate lane in a hobby that keeps getting louder and more expensive. We also hit a key content topic: the difference between people who simply post and people who actually create. Kyle lays out why real creators engage, take feedback, and evolve, and why so much hobby content feels stale right now. The segment closes with a bigger reality: modern wax and modern hype are increasingly not built for the average collector. So the move is not to panic or posture, it’s to adapt and collect in a way that still brings real joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy reveals that the West Coast Card Show sparked the start of a brand-new sub-PC, and explains why today’s hobby environment often pushes collectors toward personal themes instead of traditional set building. Leighton Sheldon joins to talk about the real advantage of attending shows in person, where eye appeal, overlooked cards, and fresh inventory can still create opportunities for collectors who know what they’re looking at. The conversation moves into vintage, market health, and why not all cards inside the same grade are created equal. Then Kyle “K-Dub” Woelber joins the show and introduces himself as the voice of the everyday collector from the Twitter community, setting up a broader discussion about hobby culture, engagement, and what community actually means across platforms. Listen now, and stay tuned because Part 3 is where the new PC reveal and show pickups really begin. If you enjoy the show, follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with a collector who believes the hobby is still about connection, not just transactions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back for Episode 302, and Part 1 sets the table for the whole night. Jeremy and Joe Poirot kick things off with a West Coast Card Show recap, what it’s like seeing the hobby in person again, and why the best parts of collecting rarely show up in comment sections. Then it’s time for a live moment: the Shields Family T206 Honus Wagner ends during the show and the final price catches us off guard. We compare it to the other Wagner running at the same time, talk eye appeal versus back damage, and react to what the result might actually say about the ultra high end market. We also connect the dots to the $16.492M Pokémon Illustrator sale on Golden and pull a few practical insights for sports card collectors, especially the difference between buying for love, buying for investment, and buying for status when money stops behaving like money. Part 1 closes with Joe’s West Coast show ritual: the PC audit, the liquidation run, and the consolidation mindset that leads to a major Jackie pickup. Listen now, then make sure you’re subscribed because Part 2 moves into Leighton Sheldon and the vintage conversation. If you’re enjoying the podcast, leave a rating and review and share this episode with a collector who loves the hobby side more than the noise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, I take a step back and look at the hobby through a different lens. Sometimes the best way to understand how something works is to look at the system as a whole rather than focusing on individual opinions or trends. This episode is more of a thought exercise than a hot take. It is about how different parts of the hobby interact, why movement matters, and what keeps everything functioning whether we notice it or not. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to like, subscribe, share it with a fellow collector, and leave a review wherever you listen. Your support helps the show grow and keeps these conversations going. Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trading card just sold for $16.5 million. Public record. Headlines everywhere. Attention across the hobby. But this episode isn’t about celebrating a sale. It’s about what reflecting on that sale made me realize. On a walk in Arizona last week, I started thinking about price sensitivity, constraint, and where markets actually move. At the lowest levels, money often doesn’t matter. At the highest levels, money often doesn’t matter. So where does it matter? And what does that mean for sports cards? This solo episode unpacks that framework and why understanding it may change the way you interpret big sales and your own buying decisions. Not investment advice. Just perspective. Sign up for Card Ladder, using the SCL affiliate link: https://app.cardladder.com/signup?via=sportscardslive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode picks up right where the last one left off. Only this time the book is no longer an idea on a screen. It is sitting in my hands. About thirty minutes after Amazon dropped off the very first physical copy of POPs and COMPs, I jumped onto a live stream and hit record. No script, no planning, just raw reaction to seeing months of work turn into an actual finished object with my name on the cover. The audio is not perfect because I forgot to pull the microphone in front of me, but the moment is real. You hear the excitement, the disbelief, and the first impressions as I flip through the pages and realize this thing actually exists. I also talk about the messy path to publishing, the pricing mistake I made right out of the gate, and how strange it feels to move from writer on a laptop to author holding a book. It is part celebration, part behind the curtain look, and part thank you to the people who helped along the way. POPs and COMPs is now available on Amazon. Visit HobbySpectrum dot com to take the assessment and join the directory. Email anytime at sportscardsliveshow at gmail dot com. Next Sports Cards Live livestream on YouTube February 21. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices