Sports Cards Live

In this solo episode, it’s just me and the mic.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how many lanes I’m collecting in right now… and whether there’s actually a point where it becomes too much.

Because I’m in a lot of lanes. And I’m enjoying it more than ever.

But at the same time, it’s made something surprisingly difficult…

I don’t know how to share my collection.

Do I organize it? Post randomly? Break it into themes? Even share it at all?

And it got me thinking… maybe the question isn’t how many lanes you’re in… it’s something else entirely.

Curious where you land on this.

If you’ve ever questioned how you collect, or how to define your approach, check out the Hobby Spectrum at thehobbyspectrum.com. It’s designed to help you understand your motivation, mindset, and behavior in the hobby, and you can build out your profile by adding your players, teams, sports, and links so others can see what you’re all about.

And if you want to better understand how value actually works in this hobby, check out Pops and Comps, available on Amazon or directly through me.
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In this solo episode, we slow things down and get personal.

After more than four decades in the hobby, I’ve come to a realization that honestly surprised me… rookie cards just don’t drive my passion the way they used to.

This isn’t about tearing down rookie cards. Their history, significance, and place in the hobby are undeniable. But somewhere along the way, I started to feel like I was following a path that had already been laid out for me… chasing the same cards, the same checklist, the same “must-haves” as everyone else.

And I got bored.

So now, I’m doing something different.

I’m shifting my focus toward non-rookie vintage cards… second-year, third-year, even later early-career pieces that offer something I feel like I’ve been missing: discovery, creativity, and a stronger personal connection to my collection.

From moving iconic rookie cards like Payton, Rice, Jordan, and Jim Brown… to finding more joy in cards like a 1958 Johnny Unitas or a 1959 Bart Starr, this episode walks through how my mindset has changed and why I’m no longer interested in replacing the rookies I once chased for decades.

We also touch on how this thinking connects back to modern cards, the issue with non game-used patch premiums, and why I now prioritize aesthetics, presence, and individuality over following the hobby’s default script.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re just checking boxes instead of building something that truly reflects you… this one might hit.

Let me know your thoughts

DM me anytime on Instagram: @jlee_sportscardslive

Pick up a copy of Pops & Comps

Available now on Amazon. A deep dive into the numbers, psychology, and realities that drive the sports card market.

Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment

Discover your collecting identity and see where you fall across the spectrum of hobby approaches.

Then complete your profile by adding your social links, and your favorite players, teams, and sports to be part of the directory and connect with other collectors.
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In this solo episode, we slow things down and dig into a simple question that turned out to be anything but simple… why do some cards resonate more than others?

Jeremy breaks down his personal collecting preference for patch cards and autograph patch cards, while explaining why autograph-only cards have never fully connected with him. This isn’t a critique of autographs or the collectors who love them. It’s an exploration of what kind of connection we’re actually looking for when we collect.

Is it about the player… or the game itself?

From early memories of game-used jersey cards in the 1990s to modern patch collecting and design, this episode explores the emotional, visual, and psychological reasons behind why certain cards feel more meaningful than others. Along the way, Jeremy introduces a powerful distinction:

Autographs are proof the athlete touched the card
Patches are proof the athlete touched the game

That idea opens the door to a bigger conversation about identity in the hobby, what we value, and how our preferences shape the way we collect.

Whether you love autographs, patches, or both, this episode will challenge you to think about what you’re really chasing when you add a card to your collection.

📘 Get your copy of Pops & Comps
A deep dive into the numbers, psychology, and truths that drive the sports card market. Available now on Amazon.

🌐 Take the Hobby Spectrum Assessment
Discover your collecting identity across motivation, mindset, and behavior, then build your public profile in the directory:https://thehobbyspectrum.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy is joined by Joe Poirot, Josh Adams, and Chris McGill as the conversation turns to one of the most talked about moments in the hobby right now… and a bigger question underneath it all.

Is this kind of attention actually good for the hobby… or does it risk taking it in the wrong direction?

Using the recent Kevin O’Leary moment as a jumping off point, the group digs into the idea of spectacle versus substance, and whether the hobby needs that kind of exposure to grow… or if it already stands strong on its own.

Different viewpoints come through clearly:

Whether hype and visibility help bring in new collectors

If staged moments create skepticism in a trust-based hobby

The difference between showing a card… and turning it into a spectacle

Who really represents the hobby to the outside world

There’s also a deeper layer to the discussion… around ownership, voice, and the idea that while anyone can participate in the hobby, the community still has the right to react, critique, and define what it stands for.

This segment closes out the episode by tying together a central tension… exposure versus authenticity, and where each collector lands on that spectrum.

📘 Get your copy of Pops & Comps on Amazon to sharpen how you think about cards, value, and the hobby.
🧭 Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment at thehobbyspectrum.com and, after receiving your results and exploring your core identity, complete your profile by adding your social and hobby links along with the players, teams, and sports you collect so others can find you and understand how you collect.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy is joined by Joe Poirot, with Josh Adams and Chris McGill joining the conversation as it opens up into a broader look at the hobby itself… and whether what we’re seeing today is evolution, or something else entirely.

Different perspectives start to surface around how the hobby has changed over time, with a clear tension between old school approaches and newer ways of collecting.

Along the way, the group gets into:

How newer collectors are entering and shaping the hobby

Whether today’s approach is more transactional or more intentional

The role of nostalgia versus opportunity

How different generations view collecting differently

It becomes less about right or wrong… and more about understanding where you fit within it all.

This segment zooms out to the bigger picture… the direction of the hobby, and how each collector navigates it in their own way.

📘 Get your copy of Pops & Comps on Amazon to sharpen how you think about cards, value, and the hobby.
🧭 Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment at thehobbyspectrum.com and, after receiving your results, complete your profile by adding your social and hobby links along with the players, teams, and sports you collect so others can find you and understand how you collect.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices