The Weekly Rip 5.11.25 [PC evolution]
We're exploring the evolution we go through when collecting our favorite players in the hobby.
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The Weekly Rip
Your Stacking Slabs Sunday Update
May 11, 2025
There’s nothing like the start of a player collection.
You’ve found your guy. You start scanning eBay before bed. Every mailday feels like momentum. You’re not chasing comps—you’re chasing connection. That’s how most of us begin. We’re not building a PC. We’re building a relationship.
But what happens when the chase slows down?
That question came up in a recent conversation with a collector who asked why I hadn’t been buying as many Peyton Manning cards lately. And it was a fair question. I’ve been collecting Peyton for six years. He’s still my favorite player. That hasn’t changed.
What has changed is the way I collect him.
In the beginning, it was a volume game. If the card had Peyton on it and made me feel something, I wanted it. I wasn’t thinking about themes, cohesion, or how it would all fit together. I was just grabbing pieces that gave me that dopamine hit of a new card in the case.
Eventually, that faded.
Not because I stopped caring, but because I started caring more.
Now, I know exactly which Peyton cards I want. Not types. Specific cards. The ones that make me stop scrolling. The ones I don’t hesitate to chase. The ones that belong.
And here’s the hard truth: most of them aren’t for sale. They’re buried deep in someone else’s collection. Or they pop up once every couple of years. And that changes everything. The pace slows. The chase becomes quiet and patient.
And when the chase slows down, so does the buying.
That doesn’t mean I’m out. It means I’m refining. It means my collecting has evolved.
I’ve noticed a few things happen in this stage:
You start comparing emotional weight over market weight.
A 1/1 Black Finite of Jonathan Taylor hits harder for me than a Manning Platinum Medallion rookie—regardless of the price tag or historical respect.You start needing stronger reasons to buy.
You see a good card, but you pause. “That’s a great card, but…” And that “but” reveals a lot. It’s the space between emotional connection and analytical hesitation.You start editing instead of adding.
You care less about owning everything and more about owning the right things. Fewer cards, more meaning. You want a collection that tells a story, not one that clutters your case.
Eventually, this shift forces you to confront something deeper:
Are you still collecting because you’re chasing a player…
Or are you collecting because you’re chasing a feeling?
That feeling might come from a new player. A new project. A set that’s always intrigued you. A design that triggers a memory. And it’s okay to go there. It doesn’t mean you’re quitting on the old chase. It means you’re making room for something new.
You don’t owe your past self anything.
You owe your present self the freedom to collect in a way that feels right—right now.
Some of the best collectors I know haven’t made a big announcement. They didn’t say they were “done” with a player. They just started buying other cards. Quietly. Naturally. They followed what moved them. And in doing so, they looked more energized, more dialed in, and way more free.
That’s the kind of collecting I want more of.
So if you’ve found yourself slowing down on a player PC, ask yourself why. Is it scarcity? Is it the price? Or is it something deeper?
Whatever the reason, you’re not alone.
And if you’ve got a story about how your chase has evolved, I’d love to hear it.
Reply to this email. Tag me in your story. Share what you’ve learned.
We’re all figuring it out in real time. That’s what makes it fun.
More next week on the flagship.
Stacking Slabs + PSA = W
I’m pumped to be partnering back up with PSA on the Vaulted series. The first episode was released this week. You’ll learn how I’ve gone from zero vault usage to a hybrid approach and the reasons why. Make sure you check out the episode. For further information learn more about the PSA Vault and PSA Consignment.
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I started a new series in the Stacking Slabs Patreon this week called From 3. The goal is to call out 3 cards that were sold from the previous week and explore those individual sales. In the debut episode we discussed the 2009 Bowman Chrome Ken Griffey Jr. Superfactor, 2019 Select Ja Morant Concourse Gold /10 PSA 10, and 1998 Skybox Star Rubies Vince Carter rookie. Check out the Stacking Slabs Patreon for new and exclusive content coming out every day.
A Collector to Follow
I love a dedicated team collector. If you like to follow the passion of a team collector look no further than @broncos_cards_303. You get hit with a page of gems from the Panini era. If someone was looking to get up to speed on the best sets of the last decade, I’d point them to this page.
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Take care,
Brett