Advertise on podcast: Sports Cards Live

What brings people back to the sports card hobby? Is it nostalgia, the excitement of collecting, the potential to make money, or some combination of all three? On this episode of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee, David Chase, Joe Poirot, Chris McGill, and Joshua Adams explore the changing motivations of collectors, sparked by a conversation Jeremy recently had with a friend who's returning to the hobby. The guys discuss the growing fascination with Michael Jordan cards, the relationship between collecting and investing, and whether a new generation of hobbyists is approaching things differently than those who came before them. Are longtime collectors overlooking something? And is the hobby changing for better or worse? Another entertaining conversation about the psychology of collecting, the evolution of the hobby, and what keeps us coming back. Explore our projects and partners: Hobby Spectrum: Discover what drives you as a collector and explore your collecting identity at https://hobbyspectrum.com Pops & Comps: Jeremy Lee's book about the sports card hobby and the forces that shape our collecting decisions. Available on Amazon. AuctionWire.ai: Save 45% on your first year of membership using promo code SCL, bringing your first year to just $100. Visit https://auctionwire.ai Grail Guard: White-glove transportation for valuable sports cards with one dedicated courier from pickup to delivery. Don't trust your grail in the mail! Visit https://grailguard.io Mintink: Use promo code SCL5 for 5% off your first purchase. Mr. Minty: Save 25% on pre-grading products using promo code SL25 at https://mr-minty.com Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. Ratings, reviews, and comments are always appreciated! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a sports card truly iconic? Is it the price, the rarity, the player, its historical significance, or simply how many people recognize it? On this episode of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee is joined by David Chase, Joe Poirot, Chris McGill, and Joshua Adams for a wide-ranging conversation about the cards that define the hobby and how we decide which ones deserve that distinction. Chris challenges the way collectors discuss iconic cards, raising an interesting distinction between our personal opinions and what we believe everyone else thinks. The panel explores whether the hobby can objectively rank its most important cards, whether the general public should have a say, and how our perceptions of other collectors influence our own buying decisions. The conversation then turns to one-of-one cards and whether something so rare that almost nobody can own it could ever achieve the iconic status of a T206 Honus Wagner, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, or 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan. Does widespread visibility matter more than scarcity? And what's the difference between a card that's famous today and one that remains important for generations? Football cards take centre stage as the guys debate the 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski, 1965 Topps Joe Namath, 1933 Sport Kings Jim Thorpe, and other contenders for football's most iconic card. Can any football card truly stand alongside the biggest cards in baseball, basketball, and hockey? Plus, Joe Poirot shares an incredible new addition to his collection, a rare 1913 Pan Scrap Duke Kahanamoku, along with the amusing story of how he managed to win it at auction during his own birthday party. It's a conversation about history, recognition, personal taste, and the difference between a card being valuable, important, and iconic. Explore our projects and partners: Hobby Spectrum: Discover what drives you as a collector and explore your collecting identity at https://hobbyspectrum.com Pops & Comps: Check out Jeremy Lee's book Pops & Comps, exploring the sports card hobby, collecting, and the forces that shape our decisions. Available on Amazon. AuctionWire.ai: Save 45% on your first year of membership using promo code SCL, bringing your first year to just $100. Visit https://auctionwire.ai Grail Guard: White-glove transportation for valuable sports cards with one dedicated courier from pickup to delivery. Don't trust your grail in the mail! Visit https://grailguard.io Mintink: Use promo code SCL5 for 5% off your first purchase. Mr. Minty: Save 25% on pre-grading products using promo code SL25 at https://mr-minty.com Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ratings, reviews, and comments are always appreciated! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee and David Chase are joined by Al Crisafulli of Love of the Game Auctions and Joshua Adams for a fascinating discussion about eye appeal, third-party stickers, grading consistency, and the most important cards in the hobby. Al raises an interesting question about the premiums being paid for cards with eye appeal stickers. Are collectors paying more because a respected third party has identified a beautiful card, or would that same card have commanded a premium regardless? Jeremy and David offer their perspectives on why stickers can add value, the hobby's willingness to pay for third-party opinions, and the growing gap between cards that share the same numerical grade. The conversation also examines grading standards and how inconsistencies over time may have created a market for additional opinions on eye appeal. Are stickers here to stay, or will grading companies eventually incorporate eye appeal assessments directly into their grading process? Then the debate turns to the hobby's most iconic cards. Is the T206 Honus Wagner still the most important sports card in existence, or could the Green PMG Michael Jordan challenge its status? What belongs in second place? The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson, or perhaps a legendary Babe Ruth issue? And when the discussion turns to the dramatic appreciation of the 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson, Joshua raises questions about whether its recent popularity and price increases are entirely organic. Plus, Al shares a revealing story about grading inconsistency involving a 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski, and the panel considers whether the market is becoming too dependent on labels, stickers, and outside opinions. A thoughtful and entertaining discussion about what makes a card valuable, who gets to decide, and whether collectors are paying for the card itself or the opinions attached to it. Explore our projects and partners: Hobby Spectrum: Discover what drives you as a collector and explore your collecting identity at https://hobbyspectrum.com Pops & Comps: Check out Jeremy Lee's book Pops & Comps, exploring the sports card hobby, collecting, and the forces that shape our decisions. Available on Amazon. AuctionWire.ai: Save 45% on your first year of membership using promo code SCL, bringing your first year to just $100. Visit https://auctionwire.ai Grail Guard: White-glove transportation for valuable sports cards with one dedicated courier from pickup to delivery. Don't trust your grail in the mail! Visit https://grailguard.io Mintink: Use promo code SCL5 for 5% off your first purchase. Mr. Minty: Save 25% on pre-grading products using promo code SL25 at https://mr-minty.com Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ratings, reviews, and comments are always appreciated! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Al Crisafulli of Love of the Game Auctions joins Jeremy Lee and David Chase on Sports Cards Live for a fascinating conversation about vintage cards, auction history, and some of the hobby's most iconic collectibles. The guys take a close look at a heavily restored T206 Honus Wagner that's back on the auction block yet again. Why has this particular card changed hands so frequently? Why do altered and authentic Wagners seem to appear at auction far more often than numerically graded examples? And could we finally see a Wagner sell for less than its previous purchase price? David shares an interesting theory, while Al offers an auctioneer's perspective on the market for restored examples of the hobby's most famous card. Al also takes us behind the scenes of Love of the Game Auctions' extraordinary Topps 75th Anniversary Auction, featuring decades of baseball card history, rare variations, test issues, unopened material, and an ambitious catalogue designed to become a lasting reference for collectors. The story behind its creation, and the incredible amount of research that went into it, is worth hearing. The conversation also continues the debate over when collector passion becomes pumping, as Jeremy addresses the criticism he received for discussing his own Green PMG Wayne Gretzky. Is sharing your enthusiasm for a card the same as trying to influence its value? Al weighs in on where he believes the line should be drawn. Plus, would Jeremy trade his Green PMG Gretzky for a T206 Wagner? What about his Shoeless Joe Jackson AND the Gretzky? The answers might surprise you. Another great conversation about collecting, card values, hobby history, and the decisions that make this hobby so interesting. Explore our projects and partners: Hobby Spectrum: Discover what drives you as a collector and explore your collecting identity. Visit https://hobbyspectrum.com Pops & Comps: Jeremy Lee's book about the sports card hobby, collecting, and the forces that shape our decisions. Available on Amazon. AuctionWire.ai: Save 45% on your first year of membership using promo code SCL, bringing your first year to just $100. Visit https://auctionwire.ai Grail Guard: White-glove transportation for valuable sports cards with one dedicated courier from pickup to delivery. Don't trust your grail in the mail! Visit https://grailguard.io Mintink: Use promo code SCL5 for 5% off your first purchase. Mr. Minty: Save 25% on pre-grading products using promo code SL25 at https://mr-minty.com Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ratings, reviews, and comments are always appreciated! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Sports Cards Live, Jeremy Lee and David Chase discuss the excitement, stress, and anxiety of chasing a major grail card. Jeremy has his sights set on another significant acquisition, but what will he have to sell to make it happen? How do you decide which cards you're willing to sacrifice, how far you're prepared to stretch financially, and how do you manage the possibility of coming up empty-handed? The conversation also revisits Jeremy's 2025 Shoeless Joe Jackson acquisition and the emotional roller coaster of bidding on a dream card. SPA Grading is back with a couple of hilarious new announcements as the hobby's favourite fictional grading company continues to find innovative ways to serve collectors! The conversation then turns to a controversy following a recent episode of The Hangover. After discussing his rare Green PMG Wayne Gretzky and the substantial offers he's turned down, Jeremy found himself accused of pumping the card's value and manipulating the market. Jeremy and David discuss the accusations, the difference between genuine collector enthusiasm and deliberate promotion, and whether owning a card should prevent someone from speaking openly about its value and potential. When does passion become pumping? And has the hobby become too quick to question people's motives? Plus, the guys discuss collecting duplicate vintage cards, eye appeal, and the psychology behind major collecting decisions. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live for more conversations about the cards, collectors, and issues shaping the hobby. Check out our partners and projects: Hobby Spectrum: Discover more about yourself as a collector, what motivates you, and how your collecting identity shapes your hobby experience. Explore Hobby Spectrum and discover where you fit in the hobby. Pops & Comps: Check out Jeremy Lee's book Pops & Comps, exploring the sports card hobby and the forces that influence how we collect. Available on Amazon. AuctionWire.ai: Save 45% on your first year of membership using promo code SCL, bringing your first year to just $100. Visit https://auctionwire.ai Grail Guard: White-glove transportation for valuable sports cards with one dedicated courier from pickup to delivery. Don't trust your grail in the mail! Visit https://grailguard.io Mintink: Use promo code SCL5 for 5% off your first purchase. Mr. Minty: Save 25% on pre-grading products using promo code SL25 at https://mr-minty.com Sports Cards Live is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Please subscribe, rate, and review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would having unlimited money make sports card collecting better, or would it take away some of the magic? And is the ultimate hobby flex owning the most expensive cards, or finding extraordinary cards that others overlook? Jeremy Lee and David Chase are joined by Joe Poirot, Joshua Adams, and Chris McGill for the final conversation of the night, exploring the rules, limitations, and personal philosophies that shape our collections. Chris takes the discussion deeper, explaining how budget constraints, opportunity costs, and a childhood fascination with serial-numbered cards eventually led him to focus on collecting first one-of-ones of accomplished athletes. Then David poses a fascinating hypothetical: If you suddenly became a billionaire, how would your collecting change? The panel explores the ultimate hobby flex. Jeremy also shares the stories behind his Babe Ruth and Joe Jackson acquisitions, explaining why the experience of finding a card can matter just as much as the card itself. The episode concludes with reflections on collecting, friendship, and the shared passion that brings the hobby community together. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Discover your collector identity at The Hobby Spectrum: https://thehobbyspectrum.com Explore the hobby marketplace with AuctionWire: https://auctionwire.ai. Use promo code SCL to save 45% on your first year of membership, bringing the price down to just $100 for the first year. Track the sports card market with Card Ladder and use promo code SCL. Check out Pops & Comps, available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has the sports card hobby already experienced its golden era, are we living through it right now, or is the best still ahead of us? And what makes a collector decide that a card simply doesn't belong in their collection? Jeremy Lee, David Chase, Chris McGill, Joe Poirot and Joshua Adams have a thought-provoking discussion about the greatest eras in sports card history. From tobacco cards and Cracker Jacks to postwar baseball, 1990s innovation, and today's multimillion-dollar sales, the panel debates what actually defines a golden era. Is it the quality of the cards, the creativity behind them, the enthusiasm of collectors, or the historical significance of the athletes? The conversation also revisits some unforgettable record-breaking sales, from the Gretzky-McNall T206 Wagner to Stephen Strasburg and today's biggest modern stars, raising questions about which headline-making purchases will still matter years from now. Then Joe introduces an intriguing collecting exercise: Instead of asking why we want a card, what makes us reject one? Jeremy shares some of his personal collecting rules involving aesthetics, availability, and how cards were originally distributed, while David challenges just how consistently those rules are applied. A wide-ranging conversation about hobby history, collecting identity, changing tastes, and the decisions that shape our personal collections. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Discover your collector identity at The Hobby Spectrum: https://thehobbyspectrum.com Explore the hobby marketplace with AuctionWire: https://auctionwire.ai Track the sports card market with Card Ladder and use promo code SCL. Check out Pops & Comps, available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are sports cards art? Do they need to be? And what are collectors really saying when they compare their cards to fine art? Jeremy Lee and David Chase are joined by Joe Poirot, Joshua Adams, and Chris McGill for a fascinating discussion about sports cards, artistic expression, and the emotional connection collectors have with the objects they love. Jeremy revisits the recent debate about sports cards as art, clarifying what he means when he says that cards are his art. The conversation explores the distinction between fine art and graphic design, the creative work behind trading cards, and whether something needs to be displayed in a museum to qualify as art. Chris brings an informed perspective on how artistic frameworks can be applied to sports cards, while the panel considers everything from original sketch cards and iconic 1990s designs to the role of emotion, creativity, and personal interpretation. But first, Joe shares an incredible story about a spontaneous retail wax purchase that produces an unexpected Luka Dončić photo variation featuring none other than Chris McGill himself! Hodge explains how he first discovered he was on an NBA trading card. A lively mix of hobby philosophy, collecting stories, friendly disagreement, and plenty of laughs. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Discover your collector identity at The Hobby Spectrum: https://thehobbyspectrum.com Explore the hobby marketplace with AuctionWire: https://auctionwire.ai Track the sports card market with Card Ladder and use promo code SCL. Check out Pops & Comps, available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How beat up are you willing to let a card be just to get it into your collection? When does owning the card become more important than its condition? And how much confidence should collectors really place in Card Ladder's estimated values? Jeremy Lee and David Chase are joined by guest co-host Mike from Junk Wax Hero and Joe Perro for a lively discussion about low grade, high eye appeal, and the concept of "own appeal." Mike introduces a heavily damaged 1933 Sport Kings Babe Didrikson card he's considering purchasing, setting off a debate about affordability, patience, scarcity, emotional attachment, and whether a card with serious condition issues can still belong in a carefully curated collection. Later, Chris McGill joins the panel to explain Card Ladder's confidence levels, the limitations of estimated card values, and why collectors should understand the data before relying on it to make buying decisions. Plus, plenty of friendly debate, collector psychology, and a memorable send-off for Junk Wax Hero! Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Discover your collector identity at The Hobby Spectrum: https://thehobbyspectrum.com Explore the hobby marketplace with AuctionWire: https://auctionwire.ai Track the sports card market with Card Ladder and use promo code SCL. Check out Pops & Comps, available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would make a lifelong collector sell a collection he spent more than 20 years building? And is there a point where the premium for a PSA 10 simply stops making sense? Jeremy Lee and David Chase, joined by guest co-host Mike from Junk Wax Hero, welcome longtime collector Matt to share the story behind his decision to sell his remarkable vintage Edmonton Oilers collection, including PSA 10s, Wayne Gretzky cards, and a highly ranked PSA Set Registry collection. The conversation explores the emotional attachment collectors develop to their cards, the difference between collecting the card and collecting the grade, and the possibility that the hunt is ultimately more rewarding than the ownership. Plus, the latest SPA Grading Update introduces the guaranteed grade-increase Crack & Resub Program and the environmentally questionable SPA Permanents Program! A thoughtful conversation about collecting priorities, changing perspectives, and finding new ways to enjoy the hobby. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Discover your collector identity at The Hobby Spectrum: https://thehobbyspectrum.com Explore the hobby marketplace with AuctionWire: https://auctionwire.ai Track the sports card market with Card Ladder and use promo code SCL. Check out Pops & Comps, available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do hobby influencers actually need to know what they're talking about, or is being entertaining enough? And when content creators get things wrong, what responsibility do they have to their audience? Jeremy Lee and David Chase welcome guest co-host Mike from Junk Wax Hero for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of hobby influencers, the difference between entertainment and expertise, and whether popularity is being mistaken for credibility. The discussion explores accountability, admitting mistakes, the dangers of uninformed advice, and the responsibility collectors have to think for themselves. Plus, David reflects on the overwhelming community response to his incredible Satchel Paige acquisition and explains why the purchase price will remain private. The guys also check in on several fascinating vintage auctions, including the controversial signed 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle. Different perspectives, plenty of laughs, and some important questions about the people shaping today's hobby conversation. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Discover your collector identity at The Hobby Spectrum: https://thehobbyspectrum.com Explore the hobby marketplace with AuctionWire: https://auctionwire.ai Track the sports card market with Card Ladder and use promo code SCL. Check out Pops & Comps, available on Amazon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does a bull market actually do to us as collectors? Chris McGill introduces two great metaphors. In a bear market, we reach for the microscope. Every card in the collection gets scrutinized. Do I really love this card? Would I still want it if it lost half its value? Was I attracted to the card itself or what its price represented? But in a bull market, we reach for the binoculars. When the obvious cards become too expensive, collectors are forced to look farther and wider. We discover different players, sets, eras, sports and categories. We learn more about sports history. We go down rabbit holes we never expected to explore. And once you've expanded your collecting universe, do you ever really go back? Chris explains how getting priced out of Michael Jordan cards ultimately made him a broader and more knowledgeable collector, and why collectors discovering Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson and other previously overlooked players may continue collecting them even if the market eventually retreats. Then we challenge another piece of conventional hobby wisdom: are the biggest GOAT cards really as "blue chip" as everyone assumes? If wealthy newcomers and investment-minded buyers helped push iconic cards higher, could those same buyers become some of the first sellers when easy money disappears? We also explore the different ways collectors "flex." Owning an expensive card is one. But what about discovering an overlooked card, researching its significance and teaching everyone else why it matters? Chris breaks hobby knowledge into three areas: understanding prices and markets, understanding cards and sets, and understanding sports history itself. Maybe the ultimate hobby flex isn't showing everyone how much money you spent. Maybe it's showing everyone what you know. Check out The Hobby Spectrum at thehobbyspectrum.com and discover more about who you are as a collector. Visit AuctionWire.ai and use promo code SCL for 45% off a one-year membership. Check out Card Ladder for comprehensive sports card sales data, and use the Sports Cards Live promo code when you sign up. And check out Pops & Comps: A Sports Card Collector's Guide to Navigating the Modern Hobby, available on Amazon. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did David Chase actually pull off the biggest acquisition of his collecting life? We get the full story behind David's 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige, and it involves an extraordinary chain of events. Then Chris McGill gives Jeremy Lee, David Chase and Joshua Adams a two-part thought experiment. Imagine it's six months from now and the sports card market has fallen 30% or 40%. Volume has collapsed. Hobby content has turned pessimistic. Everyone thinks things are getting worse. You look through your collection. What are you thinking? Now reverse it. Prices have risen another 30%, 40% or 50%. Volume has doubled. Everyone is euphoric and the hobby is hotter than ever. What are you thinking now? Would you sell? Buy aggressively? Regret not selling at the top? Fear catching a falling knife? Audit your collection? Or discover which cards you actually love once their monetary value stops validating the decision to own them? The conversation ultimately gets to something even simpler: in a hobby where prices can become absurd, can a $5 card still make you happy? And if every card you say you "want" becomes too expensive, are you really interested in collecting cards, or are you chasing something else? Check out The Hobby Spectrum at thehobbyspectrum.com and discover more about who you are as a collector. Visit AuctionWire.ai and use promo code SCL for 45% off a one-year membership. Check out Card Ladder for comprehensive sports card sales data, and use the Sports Cards Live promo code when you sign up. And check out Pops & Comps: A Sports Card Collector's Guide to Navigating the Modern Hobby, available on Amazon. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are sports cards art? David Chase's acquisition of his dream 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige leads Jeremy Lee, Chris McGill and Joshua Adams into a completely different conversation about how we experience sports cards and where they might fit within the broader history of art. For David, the 1948 Leaf set isn't polished or perfect. It's raw, messy, inconsistent and unapologetically different. If the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is The Beatles and the T206 Wagner is Beethoven, David sees the 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige as The Ramones or the Sex Pistols. It's the punk rock of baseball cards. That leads us from Andy Warhol, Banksy and Shepard Fairey into a much deeper discussion with Chris about pop art, mechanical reproduction, mass-produced art and the fascinating relationship between scarcity and the machine that creates it. Could sports cards actually occupy their own place within art history? And did the introduction of intentionally scarce cards, serial numbering and eventually the one-of-one transform a mass-produced collectible back into something resembling the individual masterpiece? We also look at the wildly inconsistent printing, registration and colors that make individual 1948 Leaf cards feel almost unique, debate which cards and sets belong in the hobby's artistic top tier, and ask whether something needs to be conventionally beautiful to qualify as great art. Finally, we dig into the photograph used for Satchel Paige's legendary Leaf card and the historical significance behind the image, adding another layer to why a tiny piece of cardboard can mean so much more once you understand the story it carries. Check out The Hobby Spectrum at thehobbyspectrum.com and discover more about who you are as a collector. Visit AuctionWire.ai and use promo code SCL for 45% off a one-year membership. Check out Card Ladder for comprehensive sports card sales data, and use the Sports Cards Live promo code when you sign up. And check out Pops & Comps: A Sports Card Collector's Guide to Navigating the Modern Hobby, available on Amazon. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are today's sports card prices sustainable, or are collectors setting themselves up to relive the painful correction that followed the 2021 boom? Adam from Splendid Sports joins Jeremy Lee and David Chase to talk about changing your mind in the hobby. Months ago, Adam publicly said he was backing away from buying as prices became increasingly difficult to justify. Since then, he's jumped back in. So what changed? We discuss price exhaustion, the fear of buying at the top, whether collectors eventually become comfortable with higher prices when they persist long enough, and the lingering "PTSD" some collectors still carry from watching cards they bought during the last boom collapse in value. Then Joshua Adams joins the show and it's finally time for the moment we've been teasing all night. David Chase reveals his ultimate grail: ??? Not just another big pickup. Not simply another card on the want list. This is the card David ranked above everything else in the hobby, including a T206 Honus Wagner, and one he genuinely believed he would never own. David gets emotional explaining how years of buying, selling and consolidating ultimately put him in a position to acquire it without putting new cash into the hobby, why owning it makes him strangely uncomfortable, and what the card represents beyond its monetary value. We also dig into just how scarce the ??? really is, compare its availability with other major cards from the set, and examine David's PSA ? against a much higher-graded example. Which raises another question: when one copy has better centering, registration and overall eye appeal, how much should the number on the holder really matter? Check out The Hobby Spectrum at thehobbyspectrum.com and discover more about who you are as a collector. Visit AuctionWire.ai and use promo code SCL for 45% off a one-year membership. Check out Card Ladder for comprehensive sports card sales data, and use the Sports Cards Live promo code when you sign up. And check out Pops & Comps: A Sports Card Collector's Guide to Navigating the Modern Hobby, available on Amazon. Subscribe to Sports Cards Live on YouTube, and follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices