A big thank you to the Card Ladder team for being the official data sponsor of Stacking Slabs. If you’re looking to make more data-driven collecting decisions make sure you give the app a spin. Also, you can hear Chris and Josh on this Friday’s collector conversation on the SSP main feed.
In last week’s edition of The Weekly Rip I wrote about the evolution that I’ve been through as a collector over the past 4 years. It was therapeutic to examine my collecting patterns and what drives my activity. I think one of the most profound things about evolving in the way that we collect sports cards is recognizing how we respond to the financial component. I listened to a lot of Wu-Tang Clan’s 36 Chambers when I probably shouldn’t have been growing up. I understand C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) is an undeniable driving force in the hobby. Also, I think it’s ok to believe that our hobby is over-indexed at the top of the funnel around content that’s exclusively about making money. I’ve talked a lot about how I believe there’s a lot of flavors of the hobby and most of them aren’t for me. The conversation around money can be taboo for many long-time collectors, but I think it’s really important to consider how we organize our own personal collections to make sure we have the resources to support each lane.
After 400+ episodes of Stacking Slabs in the can I think I can make a pretty fair assessment about one of the primary issues that we face as collectors. When I create content for this platform I like to start with the question to myself, “What problem are you facing with your collection right now and what are you doing to solve it?”. When I ask myself that question it can lead to a lot of interesting ideas and topics that I’ll share with you. One of the greatest challenges that I face as a collector is deciding the volume of lanes that I collect and how I want to allocate my hobby dollars to each of those areas. I’m not here to break down my financial situation, but I do think it’s important for me to share how I think about building my collection and support it from a financial resources standpoint.
My collection consists of 7 different lanes. I’ve gone back and forth if this is too many or not, but it’s what works for me right now. It allows me to focus on my favorite players from past and present. Also, it gives me enough to think about or consider without ever having a stale stretch.
Tier 1: My GOATs
Peyton Manning
Andrew Luck
Roman Reigns
Tier 2: My Favorite Active Players
Jonathan Taylor
Tyrese Haliburton
Tier 3: The Melting Pot
Colts Collection
WWE Miscellaneous
My priority is always representation. I want my collection to communicate a story. When I take a step back each of my lanes tells a story. There’s no doubt in my mind that collecting Andrew Luck is my favorite part of my collection. I left Lucas Oil Stadium the night he retired and felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I struggled to believe it was actually a reality. Andrew Luck was the most incredible football player I had ever laid my eyes on. Also, Luck was the most normal superstar athlete likely in the history of sports. I had 3 separate random run-ins with him during his time in Indianapolis in the most unusual situations and he couldn’t have been more normal. It was like interacting with a friend you hadn’t seen from college in years. Collecting Luck in 2024 offers me a continuation to his legacy. It allows me to connect back to all of the great memories while avoiding that one night where he walked away. For me, having a reason to collect a player is the easy part. The challenge is being able to support a myriad of collections from a financial perspective.
I try not to overthink things. This is a hobby. This is my escape. I don’t want to overwhelm myself worrying about being able to afford a card when it pops up. I’m an anxious person and the last thing I need is anxiety to enter my escape. The easiest way for me to manage the money that I spend and how I allocate those funds is to be proactive with my collecting. It’s not about accumulating cards that pop up that fit in my lanes. It’s about exclusively allocating hobby funds to only cards that are on my current list of cards that I want. Yes, it’s a list and it might be the most important document that I’ve ever created.
When you make lists of the cards that you really want it enhances the entire hobby experience. Also, it makes acquiring those cards all the more important. I’m not here to say it’s perfect because it’s not. I still buy cards that aren’t on my list, but have a rule that those have to be under $100.
Think about all the lanes that you collect. Instead of scrolling aimlessly through different marketplaces this week take a moment to start building your list.
I promise it will improve your process and likely remind you about what type of cards that you love most.
Auction Talk is for The People
The weekly episodes of Auction Talk with Nic (@thewharfsportscards) continue to be one of my favorite moments of the week. I’m an idiot and scheduled our recording this week during the eclipse. Indianapolis was within the path of totality and I decided to record a podcast about sports cards instead. To honor this moment, I asked Nic what were the first cards that came to his mind when he thinks about space and he mentioned the 1996 E-X2000 Kobe Bryant Star Date 2000. I could instantly visualize this card and immediately started to think about the manipulation it received during the pandemic.
A card that isn’t overwhelmingly rare or scarce once sold for nearly $39k during the pandemic bubble. According to Card Ladder, the last sale of a PSA 10 copy of this card went for $5,655.19 on April 2. I think about the pandemic era of collecting cards a lot. It was good because it brought so many collectors back into cards, but it was also terrible for all the black clouds that still linger over the hobby today. I’ve thought a lot about a stretch goal to use SSP to write a book about it. Maybe someday I will, but for now I’m glad an eclipse could bring back that strange era of cards back into my brain for a moment.
If you’re interested in consigning your cards with Nic you can check out the form and use promo code “stacking50” for $50 off your first consignment with him.
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
I love the group. It’s a community of so many passionate collectors who help me level up and I’m truly grateful for everyone in there. I opened up the door for more voices in the group last week. The response I got was stunning. I love to create content about cards, but also love sharing it, too. Brian (@prison_mike_pc) wrote the most informative column on 2012 Prizm Pylon 1/1’s I’ve ever read. I was pumped to consume it and then post it to the group on Friday. I am working my ass off to make this space the most informative and unique content platform in the hobby.
A Collector To Follow
Speaking of Prizm Pylon 1/1’s, Matt (504_persson) just recently posted his Reggie Bush. You won’t find many stronger Reggie Bush collection’s than Matt. He collects a little bit of everything and it’s been fun watching his collection grow over the past several years. Give him a follow!
I want to close out this week’s newsletter by letting you know that I’m working on some pretty cool content projects and collaborations that I’m looking forward to sharing soon. Also, I’m in the process of talking with other people in the industry who I believe in to create mutually beneficial partnership opportunities. If you’re interested in learning more about ways that we can work together I am easy to access. Shoot me a DM and let’s get a conversation started.
There’s so many places to consume content in this hobby and I want you to know that I really appreciate you spending a little bit of your time with Stacking Slabs. This platform was built and will always be for the collector.
Enjoy the Masters, start of the NBA Playoffs, WNBA Draft, NFL Draft commentary, first month of the MLB, and the end to the NHL season. There will be something that happens in sports this week that will inspire your collecting.
Embrace it.
Take care,
Brett
Got it. So you don’t usually buy individual player cards, from your Tier 2 for example, that are not part of larger sets that you’re chasing?
I like the tiers. What criteria do you use to pick cards to add to your list?