The Weekly Rip 12.15.24 [Rituals]
We explore the topic of following rituals to provide comfort and connect us deeper with our collection.
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The Weekly Rip
Your Stacking Slabs Sunday Update
December 15, 2024
We all have our routines. For some of us, it’s the same alarm every morning, the same coffee cup, the same path to work. These small rituals bring comfort and structure to our days, and as collectors, those habits naturally extend into the hobby we love.
For me, I bake routine and ritual into almost everything that I do that’s part of my collecting. It’s the joy of the hunt. The thrill of turning over rocks. Whether it’s scanning auction houses, marketplaces, or setting eBay alerts, every ritual is built around the possibility of finding that one card. The card I need to complete a story in my collection. Sometimes, it’s calling in a favor from friends attending shows, asking them to be on the lookout. It’s all part of the chase, every step pulling me deeper into the hobby and strengthening my connection to it.
Then there are the mail days. You know the ones. The excitement of tracking every movement of a package, checking the mailbox, sometimes more than once, just to see if it’s here. And when it finally arrives, it’s all about savoring the moment. Cutting through the bubble wrap, pulling out the card, and spending time with it. Not rushing. Just appreciating it. Maybe pairing it with other cards it complements, connecting the dots in my collection. Eventually, it finds its place, but not before a quick photo for Instagram to share the joy. Mail day rituals are critical for me. They’re a moment in time that connects me back to my collection and the community of collectors I interact with on a daily basis.
These rituals aren’t just routines. They’re what bind us together as collectors. They’re universal.
Even organizing my collection has its own rhythm. Recently, while preparing a PSA submission, I found myself reorganizing everything. Touching each card, sorting them by set and year, reflecting on their meaning. It’s a quarterly ritual for me, a chance to reset and reconnect with my collection. The way we organize and display our cards says a lot about who we are and the stories we want our collections to tell. And don’t forget grading. There’s something satisfying about preparing my own cards, wiping them down, packing them up, sending them off. Each submission becomes part of a cycle, a rhythm I’ve built over time.
Now that this is my full-time gig, even content creation has become part of my ritual. The structure I’ve created around my work doesn’t just keep me on track, it makes the hobby even more enjoyable. These habits ground me and remind me why I fell in love with collecting in the first place.
What are your rituals? How do they connect you to the hobby? Whether it’s the hunt, the mail day, or the way you organize and display your cards, it’s these small, repeated actions that make collecting so personal—and so meaningful.
Auctions to Follow
I reserve space in the newsletter to highlight cards that are up for auction from members of the Patreon community. The following cards end this evening on Fanatics Collect Weekly auction. If you’re interested make sure you check them out!
2000 Skybox Superlatives Star Rubies Randy Moss /50 #3 PSA 7 NRMT
You can chalk this one up on the “Cards You Don’t See Everyday” list. There’s few things more nostalgic than seeing Moss in the purple on a 90s inspired sports card. The design elements for this card are wonderful. I’ll speak for the rest of the community that we’re all pulling for Moss and wish him the best in his health battle!
Nic and I talked about the following 2 cards on Auction Talk this week. It’s tough to beat a first year of Prizm. You pair the significance of the first year with Prizm with fantasy football studs that will forever live in the hearts and minds of collectors. I’m a Colts fan. I had to deal with Chris Johnson and Arian Foster’s dominance being in the same division as my squad. I can’t wait to see where these 2 incredible cards end!
2012 Panini Prizm Gold Arian Foster 10/10 #76 PSA 10 GEM MINT
2012 Panini Prizm Gold Chris Johnson /10 #188 PSA 5 EX
SSP Exclusive Offers For You
I’m working with the PSA team to extend more offers to my audience. We’re kicking off the promotion by giving any first time PSA submitters a $25 discount on your first order. Take advantage of the promotion by using promo code SSP25 on your first submission today.
Joining the Stacking Slabs Patreon is The Best Way to Show Your Support
Collectors are joining Stacking Slabs Patreon to consume exclusive content, connect with other collectors, and promote their cards. I’m putting out new collector focused content in the group on a daily basis and it’s the hub for all of SSP’s video content. If you’re enjoying what I’m putting out on the main feeds check out what the group has to offer. I appreciate your attention and commitment to helping grow the damn brand. Join Today
The brand new series “From Wax to Wonder” continued this week in the Stacking Slabs Patreon group. This week we explored the 2017 Prizm Patrick Mahomes RC and its impact on the football card collecting community. I’m having a lot of fun going broadway on one card and exploring the reasons for why it’s gained prestige in our community.
A Collector To Follow
There’s an incredible group of Indianapolis Colts collectors in the community. I get the opportunity to see their awesome cards and engage with them around the team that we love. @kyle_sports_cards has so many amazing pieces that I admire. How about this Michael Pittman Jr. Rookie Black Finite pairing? Goodness!
I appreciate your support and passion for Stacking Slabs. Thanks for reading!
Take care,
Brett