Sports Cards Live

We close out Ep 293 with a full walkthrough of HobbySpectrum.com and what’s coming next. Jeremy explains the core idea: discovering your collector identity by taking the Collector Investor Spectrum assessment and finding your placement across seven archetypes, from Purist to Tycoon. He also explains why the site is currently gated, why onboarding is gradual, and what listeners can do right now: join the waitlist and get ready to set aside 20 to 25 minutes for the assessment. Jeremy then shares a live look at the Spectrum Directory, including a new feature that lets you filter by score or archetype, see who matches your exact number, and quickly find like minded collectors. He also highlights a major update: members can now add their social links so the directory becomes a practical bridge to the platforms people already use, not a replacement for them. From there, the conversation shifts into a candid moment about the idea of transparency in the hobby. If we demand transparency from grading, auction houses, and platforms, what does it look like when collectors turn some of that transparency inward? Jeremy makes the point that opting into the directory is optional and privacy matters, but that the directory can help build real community if people choose to participate. The episode finishes with rapid fire comments and a fun closer: hobbyists share their favorite pickups and best hobby memories of 2025, from Ice Bowl history to Kobe refractors, Brady autos, vintage baseball, hockey heat, and everything in between. Jeremy and Josh also touch on the ongoing reality of grading inconsistency, why authentication still matters, and why buying the card, not the label, remains the best long term approach. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, with the chat driving the show. Subscribe so you do not miss an episode. If you are listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, follow the show and leave a rating and review. And if you want early access to the Collector Investor Spectrum assessment and directory, join the waitlist at HobbySpectrum.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation continues with a wide ranging conversation that starts in Los Angeles and ends at the core of what the hobby really looks like. Ryan Veres shares his view on the Lakers market, LeBron’s long term place in LA after retirement, and why Luka in a Lakers uniform has instantly reshaped demand. The discussion highlights how superstar legacies evolve locally and why LeBron’s appeal goes far beyond one franchise. From there, the show pivots into a deeper conversation about hobby perception versus reality. Jeremy, Josh Adams, Joe Poirot, and Leighton Sheldon unpack the idea that “everyone is a flipper” and why that narrative simply does not hold up. Real world examples from card shows, shops, and personal collections point to a much quieter majority of collectors who buy for nostalgia, personal meaning, and long term enjoyment, often spending modest amounts and never posting online. The group digs into how social media distorts what we think the hobby is, why big money cards dominate feeds while everyday collectors stay invisible, and how platforms like Instagram and YouTube shape different versions of reality. They also discuss consolidation trends, why the same handful of vintage cards appear everywhere, and how many collectors are deliberately moving off the beaten path into second year cards, oddballs, sets, and under the radar material. The episode closes with reflections on collecting purely for joy. Stories of collectors building stacks from $5 to $50 boxes, discovering new personal collecting lanes late in life, and even shopping your own inventory underline a simple truth: there are endless ways to collect, and most of them have nothing to do with flipping, flexing, or chasing approval. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you are watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a stream. If you are listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review. It helps more than you think. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who will appreciate the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot, Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards, and later Leighton Sheldon of Just Collect, moving from shop philosophy into what the market feels like right now in real time. Ryan explains why Southern California is, in his view, the best sports card market in the world, how Burbank became what it is through family roots that go back generations, and why the West Coast Card Show matters beyond revenue: it gives the region a true destination event that pulls collectors and dealers from all over. From there, we get into how a massive operation stays tight. Ryan talks checks and balances, logging purchases, accounting flow, and a core principle that sellers should get paid instantly. He also shares a behind-the-scenes experiment he’s building: real time wax pricing using electronic signage that can update like a gas station, with the goal of transparency and keeping prices fair as markets move. The conversation also tackles the “priced out of the hobby” narrative. Ryan breaks down how Rob constantly builds value sections like vintage boxes, $10-and-under, and $100-and-under showcases so collectors can still walk out happy without needing big money. Then the guys get into dealer reality: how “percentage” buying questions miss the point, when a dealer might pay what looks like full market on the right card, and why having a small, controlled high end vault can help facilitate major trade ups for customers. We close with what’s hot right now. Leighton shares what he’s seeing at the Philly Show, from the usual heavy hitters like Mantle, Jackie, Old Judge, and Jordan, to the truth that even seven copies of the same card still might not be the right copy for one buyer. Ryan talks modern demand for rare, high eye appeal cards that do not surface often, some hockey pickup momentum with Cup season, and what actually sells fast in a shop like Burbank. And one more collector nuance that matters: faded autos. Ryan explains why shops treat them as damaged, Leighton explains why he often avoids them entirely, and Joe adds the collector perspective on curating out anything that does not hold up visually. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you’re watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss a stream. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps a ton. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who’d be into the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 293 continues with Jeremy Lee, Joe Poirot, and Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards, digging into how Ryan values cards when speed matters: gut feel versus comp tools, why blanket “percentage” buying is a broken way to think, and how eye appeal can completely change the number even when the grade is the same. We also get an update on Burbank’s eBay status and the ongoing transition toward Fanatics Collect, why offers sometimes went unanswered in the past and what’s changed operationally, plus the real on-the-ground reality of TCG taking up more table space at local shows and what promoters can do about it. Ryan also shares practical advice for anyone opening a shop: build relationships with other store owners, create a strong local network, and do not rely on straight distribution if you want to survive. From there, the conversation touches on what it’s like running a bucket list store, whether Burbank worries about copycats, and the competitive mindset that keeps the team sharp. We also get Ryan’s perspective on PSA Offers and how Burbank participates as an approved buyer, along with a sober look at shipping theft risks this time of year and why insurance matters when you’re moving higher-end cards. We close with talk about the West Coast Card Show and how it feeds the Burbank brand, even if the economics of running a big show can be brutal. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show. Jump in live with your questions, takes, and debates. If you’re watching on YouTube, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss a stream. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps a ton. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who’d be into the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off Episode 293 with Jeremy Lee and Joe Poirot, starting with a new pickup for Joe’s collection: a 2008 Upper Deck Premier Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Remnants quad jersey card numbered to 50. From there, we open up a fun chat-wide debate about dual player cards, what makes a pairing work, and which athlete combinations would be the ultimate hobby matchup. Then Ryan Veres of Burbank Sports Cards joins the show for a behind-the-scenes look at how Burbank has scaled, why the shop feels like “a show every day,” and how they think about liquidity, inventory turnover, dealer activity, and using clean data to track demand and guide smarter buying decisions. Sports Cards Live streams every Saturday night on YouTube, and the chat is part of the show, so jump in live and bring your takes, questions, and hot card debates. If you’re watching on YouTube, make sure you subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a Saturday stream. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, please follow the show and leave a rating and review, it helps more than you think. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a hobby friend who’d appreciate the discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices