The Weekly Rip 1.19.25 [Sacrifice]
We explore the acquisition of big cards and the price it takes.
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The Weekly Rip
Your Stacking Slabs Sunday Update
January 19, 2025
There’s something about those quiet moments after the chaos of the day winds down. For me, it was an ordinary night. Kids tucked into bed. The stairs creaking under my feet as I made my way down, hoping for silence to stick. Couch, phone, escape. The usual scroll on Instagram, DMs, eBay searches.
It wasn’t supposed to be anything special. Just routine. But then, there it was.
A 2024 Select Gold Caitlin Clark Gold Prizm /10 rookie card. Concourse level. PSA 10. Pop 1.
That shine. That significance. Her first chromium-based gold rookie card. Everything about it screamed at me. But so did the price, a five-figure number that felt like it was in a different world than mine.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
You know the feeling. When a card grabs hold of you, time slows down, and nothing else fills your headspace. But reality checks you quick. The asking price was way out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t a regular five-figure buyer. Not yet, at least.
That night, I got up from the couch, went to my collection, and started flipping through the cards. It was judgment day and there was the “sacrifice pile.” You know what I’m talking about. It’s that mental exercise we all go through when the big ones show up. What am I willing to give up to get this? Which cards would I miss the least to make this happen?
The process isn’t easy. It’s not just about dollars and cents. It’s about letting go of pieces that have been with you for years. Cards that tell part of your story. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, sometimes those cards aren’t enough anymore. They’ve done their job.
I went to bed that night, thinking it might end there. But by morning, the card was still in my head. A run, a shower, the school drop-off routine, none of it could shake the pull. I had to try.
I reached out to Nic at Wharf Sports Cards, a resource I trust when it’s time to make serious moves. We talked strategy, set limits, and submitted an offer. Then came the waiting game, the anxious hours of staring at a card listing, wondering if someone else might beat me to it.
When I saw the listing disappear, my stomach dropped. I thought I’d lost it. Then came Nic’s message: “The card is yours.”
Relief. Joy. Excitement.
The sacrifice didn’t end there, though. I went back to that pile of cards and kept adding. Sent them off, sold them, waited for funds to clear. It wasn’t easy, letting go of pieces that had been part of my collection for years.
But then the mail day came.
I opened the package, held the card, and felt it all, the validation, the pride, the payoff. Every decision, every card I moved, was worth it. Because now I have something that feels bigger. A connection to a player I admire. A piece of the story I want to tell with my collection.
Sacrifice isn’t easy. It’s not meant to be. But when we’re willing to let go of what’s comfortable, the door opens to something greater. That’s how collections grow. That’s how they evolve.
So, what about you? What’s the card you can’t stop thinking about? What’s in your “sacrifice pile”? If you’re staring down a big card, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
Define your target. Is it a grail? A piece that aligns with your core collection goals? If it’s just a passing interest, it might not be worth the sacrifice.
Assess your equity. Go through your collection and identify cards that no longer fit. Be honest with yourself, what are you holding onto out of habit rather than passion?
Leverage your resources. Whether it’s using a trusted partner like Nic at Wharf or leveraging platforms to sell quickly, don’t be afraid to tap into the tools the hobby offers.
Set limits. Know your budget and stick to it. Emotional buying can lead to regret. A clear plan helps avoid that.
Be patient. The process takes time. Selling, funding, and acquiring isn’t instant. Trust that the wait will make the mail day even sweeter.
Every card has a story. The ones that require sacrifice? Those are the ones we remember most.
Now, what’s your next move?
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A Collector To Follow
I love seeing collectors complete projects. A big shout out to @nicks_basketballpc for completing his Z-Force Rave /399 20 card set. I know he had been chasing this thing for a while and always can appreciate the grind of a good pursuit. Give Nick a follow. Great collector.
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Take care,
Brett