Stacking Slabs

Every collector has a card that got away.

In this episode, Brett shares the story of a card that came back around. Earlier this year he lost the 2020 Crown Royale Crystal Platinum Tyrese Haliburton 1/1 at auction after spending hours researching it and building conviction around the card.

Then the card appeared again.
A second chance.

Brett breaks down what happened next and explores the psychology behind second chances in collecting. Why missed grails stay with us, how auctions influence decision making, and how reference prices shape the way collectors experience wins and losses.

The first time the card sold for over $1200.
The second time Brett set a max bid of $1701.
The auction closed at $775.

Sometimes the hobby gives collectors another opportunity.
The real question is what that second chance reveals about the collector.

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In Episode 20 of The Staging Area, Brett McGrath and Tory from dcsports87 discuss the current state of the consignment market.
The conversation starts with several notable sales across the hobby. A 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle PSA 8 set an all-time high at $23,700. A 2013 BBM Shohei Ohtani promo PSA 9 jumped from $3,500 to nearly $20,000. An Aaron Judge Bowman Draft Chrome Auto PSA 10 sold for $7,500 as baseball season approaches.
The episode then shifts to a topic many collectors experience but rarely discuss openly.
Non-paying buyers.
Brett and Tory break down what happens when auctions end and buyers fail to pay, how often this occurs, and what steps platforms and consignors are taking to reduce the problem.
The episode closes with a look at the scale of the current market, with dcsports87 moving $14M in January and $17M in February.
For collectors who buy, sell, or consign cards, this conversation offers a clear look at how the system works behind the scenes.

A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night.
Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype
Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon
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Tommy Lasorda didn’t inherit a card business.
He got fired during the pandemic and decided to bet on himself.
In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, Tommy shares how he went from working as a breaker in someone else’s shop to launching Lasorda’s Card House in March 2025

We talk about:
Why he walked away from allocation and buys only what his customers want
How repacks, done right, protect value and trust
Why football became the focus
The Gold Kaboom Mahomes moment that accelerated growth 
Why customer care matters more than short-term margin
If you care about trust, reputation, and playing the long game in this hobby, this one is for you.
A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.
Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon
[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link
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Season 4 reaches its midpoint with a solo episode from Katelyn (@coldlunchcards). 
The topic is nostalgia and how it shapes the way collectors approach WNBA cards.

Many collectors chase rookie cards. That is a bet on the future.
Many collectors chase early legends. That is a connection to the past.

But the WNBA sits in a different position than most leagues. The league began in 1997. Many collectors building WNBA collections today did not grow up watching those early seasons.

So what creates nostalgia when the memory is not personal?

Katelyn explores two forces that drive collecting behavior.

Individual nostalgia
The cards tied to your own life and memory.

Collective nostalgia
The stories a community builds together over time.

In a league and card market still under thirty years old, collectors are not only preserving history.
They are helping define it.

This episode explores how cards connect generations of players, collectors, and moments. And why the present moment in the hobby might be the most important one of all. 

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast
Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype
Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon
[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link
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WrestleMania season changes everything.
On this episode of Booked to Last, Adam and Ryan break down the full impact of Elimination Chamber and the release of 2025 WWE Universe.

They dig into:
Why Randy Orton and Rhea Ripley winning matters for collectors
The real hobby impact of WrestleMania storylines
Whether WWE Universe is a true win or just hype
Why event-worn relics change the long-term value conversation
What rising wax prices mean for you
This is not surface-level talk.
It is a real conversation about how moments on TV turn into momentum in the market.
If you collect wrestling cards, this episode will sharpen how you think about:
Prospecting young talent
Chasing event-worn gear
Navigating breakers vs ripping wax
Identifying what actually holds value
Universe is not perfect.
But it might be one of the most important wrestling releases in years.
Let’s talk about why.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!
Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free
Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon
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