Sports Cards Live

Part 3 is where the panel expands. Chris McGill from Card Ladder and hobby lawyer Josh Adams jump in with Jason Masherah, and we get into the kind of hobby conversation everyone relates to: the stuff that drives collectors nuts.

We start with the “Top 5 hobby annoyances” trend (with a hat tip to Sports Illustrated) and then Jason adds a couple of his own. His first one is simple and needed: online hobby spaces don’t give enough grace to legitimate newbie questions, and that pushes people away when we’re supposedly trying to grow the hobby.

Josh’s first annoyance is an instant classic: sellers posting “taking offers” instead of putting a price on the card. Same energy as unpriced cards at shows. Save everybody time.

Chris goes two directions:

a funny shot at Rodman’s unreal collecting instincts

a real point that matters: people throw around “best card” like it means something objective, when “best” could mean highest grade, highest sale, rarest, or just someone’s personal taste. If you don’t define “best,” you’re not saying anything.

Then we hit a breaker rant that needed to happen: handle cards properly. Stop touching the face of chrome cards. Hold by the edges. Sleeve them like you actually care. We also talk grading backlogs and why “just hire more graders” is lazy thinking if you also want grading accuracy.

Jason brings it back to collecting, and highlights a reward system a lot of people still don’t know exists: the Upper Deck Bounty program, where completing certain coded sets earns achievement cards. It’s a real way to reward set builders and collectors, not just hype and flipping.

From the chat, we dig into:

the toxicity and flex culture on Instagram and why curating your feed is work

the “calling cards trash” issue and why it’s actually disrespecting the person, not just the cardboard

“low pop” being thrown around like a magic spell

fake slabs, and why eBay authentication exists in the first place

We also take a detour into ugly card designs, nostalgia, and how opinions change over time. Then we land on a point that ties back to your world: predicting what becomes iconic is way harder than people pretend. Some products that didn’t sell at all when they released later become staples, and sometimes a whole category flips from “nobody wants this” to “everyone needs this.”

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Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, and moves from hobby momentum into the business mechanics behind what collectors are feeling right now.

We start with a straight question: how real is the US hockey card market, and where is the growth coming from? Jason explains why Upper Deck is focused on expanding hockey’s footprint in the United States, how the Certified Diamond Dealer ecosystem helps them measure shop health, and what changed since 2017 with programs designed to help stores upgrade, expand to multiple locations, and build stronger communities.

From there, we hit a fun CDD storyline: the player appearance giveaway, why those events matter for collectors and kids, and why Jason still gets anxiety about players flaking because it reflects on the brand and the shop hosting.

Then we get into the Olympics angle, including an update on an Olympic licensed Team Canada Tim Hortons product and a massive chase concept tied to a golden goal moment that hockey fans still remember vividly.

Next comes a topic everybody argues about: unopened wax pricing. Jason breaks down what’s actually driving higher prices, including labor and material costs, inflation, and how pricing behavior differs across sports. He also draws a hard line on something he believes in: collectors should still be able to buy and rip a real hobby box without being forced into breaks as the only realistic option.

We also dig into the current hobby upcycle. Jason shares why he thinks this era is different from the early 90s, why Gen X returning matters, and how serial numbering changed the psychology of collecting. Then a great sidebar: should everything be serial numbered, or does mystery help certain chase cards become lore?

We close with a clear discussion about consolidation and “monopolies” in the hobby. Jason compares grading dominance versus exclusive league licenses, explains why those are not the same problem, and talks about what would actually need to happen for competition to return in certain sports.

Follow, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you want more long-form conversations like this.Watch Sports Cards Live on YouTube and join the chat when we go live Saturdays.
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This week on Sports Cards Live, we’re joined for an extended conversation by Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, covering what’s changing in hockey, what’s driving current momentum, and what collectors should understand about new product innovations.

We start with quick show and community updates, including where things stand with POPs & COMPs as it moves through the Amazon review process, plus a Hobby Spectrum update as revised questions prepare to roll out based on collector feedback.

Then Jason takes us inside Upper Deck’s Certified Diamond Dealer Conference, why brick and mortar shops remain the lifeblood of the company, and how direct collector feedback still shapes product decisions even in a world of instant reactions from breaks, message boards, and social media.

The centerpiece of Part 1 is the new Rookie Debut Game Jersey program landing in Upper Deck Extended. Jason breaks down:


How Upper Deck is acquiring full debut jerseys (and why that matters)


The three-tier structure (base jersey, jersey auto numbered to the player’s number, and the 1/1 tag)


Why Upper Deck chose natural, team-authenticated elements instead of adding a manufactured debut patch


Why accessibility matters, not just building one monster 1/1

We close by zooming out: hockey’s current rise, why some believe this is the biggest momentum since the Gretzky trade era, and a candid conversation about the hobby’s mix of collectors vs flippers, including how “hybrid” behavior shows up in the real world.

Follow, subscribe, and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoy these conversations.Watch Sports Cards Live on YouTube and join the chat every Saturday night when we’re live.
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Part 5 is the back half of the episode where the chat drives the direction, the panel ties bows on the biggest themes, and the show lands the plane on a classic Episode 300 sendoff.

We start by reacting to the comment stream and a surprisingly useful debate: what percentage of card show purchases are actually planned vs pure impulse. The answer matters more than people think, especially if you’re a dealer deciding what to put in the case.

Then we pivot into a second topic that hits everyone who buys online: photo integrity. Sticker auto vs on-card is the example, but the real question is bigger. How much editing is acceptable, what crosses the line, and what buyers should do when an image feels off. The takeaway is simple: if the photo is misleading, the sale is contaminated.

We also touch the Hobby Spectrum directory snapshot, the ongoing Michael Jordan one-of-one decision, merch plans, and wrap Episode 300 with some fun “300” facts and community shoutouts.

At a card show, are you a checklist hunter or a “let’s see what hits me” buyer?

Have you ever bought a card where the photo made it look better than reality?

What should be the rule for auction houses: zero editing, or “reasonable” adjustments?
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Part 4 shifts from card alteration to the everyday reality that actually shapes most collections: buying behavior in the moment.

We break down the two main modes of acquiring cards. The long-planned hunt where you research, budget, and wait. And the lightning-strike buy, whether it’s a card show table surprise or an auction ending in 14 minutes that suddenly feels like fate. The panel debates which one feels better, which one backfires more often, and why “spontaneous” isn’t always reckless if it still fits your collecting formula.

We also get into the hidden danger nobody wants to admit: the slow budget bleed. A couple hundred bucks here and there feels harmless until you realize you just torched the funds you needed for the card that actually mattered.

Are you more premeditated or more impulse, and has it helped or hurt your collection?

Do you allow “short-term PC” cards, or do you only buy with lifetime intent

What rule keeps you from death-by-a-thousand-deals?
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