Sports Cards Live

Part 2 of Episode 300 brings Leighton Sheldon into the mix and the conversation immediately jumps into rare territory. Two T206 Honus Wagner cards are set to hit the auction market at the same time, something most collectors will never see in their lifetime. We break down how that happens, why one will almost certainly outsell the other, and whether simultaneous offerings actually hurt or help the market.

From there, the focus shifts to card shows and expansion. The Dallas Card Show is heading to New Jersey, and that raises a bigger question. What actually makes a card show succeed in a market that has failed before? Location, vendors, buyers, travel radius, brand power, and even food all come into play. The panel digs into why some shows flourish while others fade.

Then the conversation turns to liquidity and data as Mantle introduces its new Slam Score. Is it a useful tool for collectors, a metric for operators, or just another number in a hobby already full of them? We debate momentum, fundamentals, eye appeal, and whether liquidity can ever be captured cleanly in a single score.

Drop a comment with your prediction. Which Wagner sells for more and why?

If you run tables or attend shows, what makes a show worth traveling for?

Let us know if you would ever use a Slam Score when buying or selling a card.

Subscribe so you do not miss Parts 3, 4, and 5 from Episode 300.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off Episode 300 of Sports Cards Live with a milestone check-in, a quick run through key updates, and a hobby conversation that goes deeper than most collectors ever think to look. We share progress on POPs & COMPs, a behind-the-scenes update on Hobby Spectrum, and a real discussion about the “invisible layer” behind many online auction houses: third-party platforms, data access, and why understanding the rules and infrastructure matters.

Then the night takes a turn when Joe recounts his Fanatics Collect Premier Auction moment, dropping a record bid to land a serious Steph Curry grail. The best part is the card is actually nasty.

If you’ve taken the Hobby Spectrum assessment, send feedback on any questions that didn’t fit. That’s how we tighten it before wider rollout.

Drop a comment: do you care whether an auction house uses proprietary software vs a leased platform? Why or why not?

If you’re listening on audio, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss Parts 2–5 from Episode 300.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finish the public vs private collector debate with real, grounded examples. Jeremy frames the personal side of it: imposter syndrome, introvert vs extrovert energy, security paranoia, social anxiety, and even simple friction like not wanting to be around crowds. Joe explains what changed once he stopped collecting in “incognito mode” and went more public: better conversations, better information, and smarter decision making, even if it occasionally pulls you into rabbit holes before you find your North Star again. Josh adds the collector’s version of the same point: he avoids most hobby news, but social media has been a net positive for building real friendships and getting access to major cards through the network, as long as you curate your feed.

Then the show widens out into community updates and current hobby signals. Joe makes a push for the West Coast Card Show, and Jeremy shares a major milestone: the Hobby Spectrum directory hits 500 opt ins, with Louis from Hockey Cards Gong Show landing as the 500th entry. Jeremy previews the next directory upgrades, including standardized player, team, and sport tags to make discovery far more powerful.

The panel then reacts to a surprising on the ground report from the Dallas Card Show: Beckett’s Rock Hard Review price jump and a 2.5 to 3 hour line. That spirals into bigger questions about grading market power, pricing, guarantees, and whether collectors ever hit a breaking point. We close with upcoming show reminders and a quick look ahead to episode 300 of Sports Cards Live.

In this part, we cover:


The real reasons collectors stay private: confidence, security, and social friction


Why going public can improve your collecting, even if it creates rabbit holes


Curating your feed and avoiding news while still building real relationships


West Coast Card Show momentum and meeting collectors in real life


Hobby Spectrum directory hits 500 and what standardized tags unlock next


Beckett RCR price jump and the “why are people still lining up?” question


Grading market power, guarantees, and where collectors draw the line


Episode 300 coming up and the week ahead schedule


Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and turn on notifications for the live show


Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips and updates


Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to support the show


Comment on YouTube: are you a public collector or a private collector, and why?


Visit TheHobbySpectrum.com to request an access code, take the assessment, and opt into the directory

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We keep digging into Chris HOJ’s MJ 1 of 1 dilemma, but with a new angle: why talk about it publicly at all? Chris explains he’s not trying to broadcast to the whole world, he’s thinking out loud in a tight community, building clarity through dialogue, and inviting outside lenses that can change how he sees the problem.

Joe pushes the biggest question of all: after the maneuver is done, do you actually love the card, or do you love the concept? Chris admits the Jordan 90s 1 of 1 project is new since June 2025, and this card was not something he was hunting. The auction forced the decision. He also drops a key distinction: this is “rare and obscure” more than “rare and iconic,” which makes it feel risky from a market standpoint even if it matters deeply to him.

We run through chat questions that cut right to the psychology: happiness vs regret, “best” vs “rarest,” the autograph angle, and whether the joy gap matches the value gap. The community also debates prudence and optionality, with the clearest takeaway being that you can “afford” something in card capital while still wondering if you can mentally afford the consequences.

Then we pivot to the hobby experience itself: Chris recaps the San Diego Front Row Card Show, including the sports vs TCG mix and a smart “zag” on why those tables can actually speed up the walk. Josh checks in from the Dallas Card Show with pickups and consignments.

Finally, Chris introduces a new topic that came directly from Jonathan’s presence on the show: the tradeoff between being a public collector and a private collector. Does visibility help you build a network, buy cards, and sell cards? Does it also expose you, influence what you collect, and create “flex points” that shape your decisions? We start unpacking what you gain, what you lose, and how discovery changes if you are lurking versus not participating at all.

In this part, we cover:


Why Chris goes public with the dilemma and how dialogue changes decisions


“Do you love the card or the concept?” and the risk of a new collecting lane


Rare and obscure vs rare and iconic, and why that matters


Optionality: 100 cards vs 1 card and the tradeoffs of going all in


San Diego Front Row Card Show recap and sports vs TCG reality


Josh’s Dallas Card Show notes and consignments


New topic: public collector vs private collector and what it changes


Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube so you catch the live show every week


Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips, updates, and behind the scenes


If you’re watching on YouTube, hit like and drop a comment: would you go public with a hobby dilemma like this?


Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it helps more collectors find the show


Visit TheHobbySpectrum.com to explore the Hobby Spectrum and connect with like minded collectors

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We wrap Jonathan’s debut, run through some of the best chat comments from the “house of slabs” discussion, and one line stops the show: “A PSA 10 transforms a sports card into a financial instrument.” From there, the conversation sharpens into what grading really does, how speed impacts accuracy, and why some collectors are starting to sober up from slab worship.

Jonathan gets a proper community welcome and we bring on Chris HOJ, followed by Josh Adams. Then the episode pivots hard into a collector dilemma that hits every nerve in the hobby: a major Michael Jordan 90s 1 of 1 is headed to auction, and Chris is considering a seismic consolidation to chase it. We debate what you gain, what you lose, and whether “nuking” a carefully curated collection is ever worth one apex card. Jeremy argues the memories, stories, and future content pipeline matter more than the trophy. Josh says do it and never look back. Joe lands in the middle: the 1 of 1 stamp matters, it’s probably financially defensible, but you still need a number and a plan because deeper pockets exist. Chris explains the real point of talking it out: dialogue changes how you see everything, and collectors make versions of this decision every day, including the decision to do nothing.

In this part, we cover:


The chat’s best lines on grading, consistency, and “too big to fail” thinking


“PSA 10 as a financial instrument” and why that framing is so accurate


Jonathan’s official welcome into the community


Chris HOJ and Josh Adams join, and the MJ 1 of 1 auction dilemma kicks off


One card vs a whole collection, and what “replaceable” really means


Consolidation as sacrifice, strategy, and identity, not just money


Why talking it out changes decisions, and why inaction is still a decision


Follow Sports Cards Live on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen


Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube for full episodes and live shows


Leave a rating and review to help more collectors find the show


Drop a comment: would you consolidate your collection for one apex grail, or never?


Follow @jlee_sportscardslive on Instagram for clips and updates


Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment and request your access code at TheHobbySpectrum.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices