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Stacking Slabs

Brett McGrath

Welcome to the Stacking Slabs, a podcast for sports cards collectors. There's been a tremendous amount of change to our Hobby over the last few years and the one constant has been the passion from the collecting community. Stacking Slabs is built by the collector and lives to tell stories for the collector.

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  • #1137
    Today · 23 min

    What Makes Collectors Come Back?

    A set comes out. For a week, it’s all the hobby talks about. Months later, someone is looking for the card that finishes their rainbow. Who’s making something for that collector? On this flagship episode of Stacking Slabs, I talk about what gives collectors a reason to come back. I share what I saw when nearly 400 people came to the Wrestling Card Takeover at the National, why I want to hear what a collector sold to buy a Priest Holmes Superfractor, and what happens when a friend sends you a card you didn’t know existed. It’s a conversation about why I’m building shows around the cards you collect and what that’s taught me about growth in the hobby. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

  • #1136
    Yesterday · 1 hr 21 min

    The WNBA Card Podcast: The WNBA Card Insert Draft

    Katelyn and Mark each draft five WNBA card inserts. Katelyn opens with Impeccable Timeless Moments autographs. Mark answers with Select Color Wheel and Prizm Color Blast. Then 1997 Pinnacle My Town comes off the board before Mark can take it. Along the way, they talk about what makes an insert worth collecting, why Mark would build a binder page of Prizm Kaleidoscopic, and what collectors miss when case hits get most of the attention. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram Follow Mark | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1134
    Monday · 44 min

    Passion to Profession: From Sharing Packs to Building a Business with Steve and Nick Summers of Sports Cards Grading

    Steve Summers introduced his son Nick to collecting by opening packs together. Today, they’re building Sports Cards Grading as a family. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Steve and Nick join Brett to talk about turning their connection through cards into a business on eBay Live. They discuss Nick’s decision to leave his job, the work behind 50,000 auctions in 2026, and why knowing what someone collects changes how they serve them. They know the teams their buyers follow. They know their children’s names. And they buy cards at shows with those collectors in mind. It’s a conversation about building a business around the people who keep showing up. Passion to Profession is sponsored by eBay. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1135
    Sunday · 20 min

    Hobby Jobs: Be There When They Come Back

    A collector gives your business another visit. What can they count on? This week on Hobby Jobs, Brett explores the work behind earning that return. From Dick’s House of Sport card events to Bert Ryan’s approach at Grand Salami Sports Cards, he examines how shops, breakers, and creators give collectors a reason to come back. Brett shares what building Stacking Slabs has taught him about keeping commitments, learning from an audience, and making a business part of someone’s routine. Hobby Jobs is presented by BCW Supplies. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1133
    Saturday · 1 hr 16 min

    Booked to Last: Where We See Opportunity in Wrestling Cards

    What keeps bringing you back to a set, a wrestler, or a card that the rest of the hobby seems to pass over? Brett joins Adam to make their cases for 2019 Topps Transcendent, Chrome Sapphire, Revolution Galactics, Steve Austin, and Randy Orton. They discuss what draws them to these cards and how set history, design, and the wrestlers we grew up watching shape collecting decisions. They examine GemRate’s eBay sales data, the Alexa Bliss rookie autograph Superfractor at Goldin, and sales involving Austin, Cena, and Oba Femi. Plus, WWE booking, Demon Finn Bálor’s return, and what happens to a collecting community when more money and attention enter the conversation. 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 Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1132
    Friday · 1 hr 20 min

    The Football Card Podcast #72: Dez Bryant, Superfractors, and Knowing What to Sell

    You want the card. But are you willing to sell what you own to get it? Pack and Brett discuss a 2011 Topps Finest Dez Bryant Superfractor 1/1 PSA 10 and why collectors chase players whose careers meant something to them. Listener questions bring the conversation back to your collection. How do you get comfortable spending more on one card? What happens when your collecting interests change? And should you buy cards outside your player collection to help fund it? Pack shares how selling Damian Lillard and James Harden Select Golds helped him buy a Priest Holmes Superfractor. Plus, Bears and Colts fandom, football card sales, and a call to share your Finest football cards. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. 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 Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1131
    Thursday · 37 min

    Hobby Jobs: What Brings Collectors Back? With Bert Ryan of Grand Salami Sports Cards

    Bert Ryan wants to open a card shop in Seattle where collectors can meet, talk sports, and trade. He’s building the business that can pay for it through breaks. On Hobby Jobs, Bert tells Brett how Grand Salami Sports Cards sources wax without manufacturer allocations, prices breaks that can have 600 player spots, and helps collectors get images of their cards before the mail arrives. He explains why he kept buying 2022 Topps Finest Flashbacks and how he weighs the rest of a checklist when one card gets most of the attention. If you run breaks, you’ll hear where Bert puts his time to earn a second purchase. If you buy into them, you’ll leave with a question to ask before you pay for your next spot. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1130
    November 4 · 27 min

    Building a System Around Your Collecting Lane

    You know what you collect. How do you stay connected to it between purchases? In this episode, Brett explores building a system around your collecting lane. A conversation with Chris McGill on Card Ladder Confidential prompts a look at the searches collectors check, the sales they track, the people they learn from, and the information they keep. Brett shares how researching a 2005 Topps Turkey Red Philip Rivers Wood 1/1 gave him context for the purchase and a reason to keep studying the release. The episode covers search habits, keeping records, building relationships, and setting spending limits before a card appears. It also examines how collectors can keep learning and participating during months when they buy nothing. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1129
    November 3 · 37 min

    One of One Pilot: What Makes a 1/1 Worth Pursuing?

    You own the only copy. What made you want it? The athlete? The product? The season? The feeling of knowing another copy won’t come up for sale? Brett is testing a show about one of ones. An $818.88 Draymond. A reported $4.2 million Kobe sale. What can we learn from each? The pilot is in the Stacking Slabs feed. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1127
    November 2 · 51 min

    Passion to Profession: Building a Business to Keep Collecting with Bryan Denison of Cajun Cardboard

    Bryan Denison spent years teaching collectors about Michael Jordan cards before leaving his career in law to run Cajun Cardboard. His goal remains the same: keep building his Jordan collection. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Bryan joins Brett to discuss how sharing his research on YouTube led to collection purchases, an audience, and a business running six eBay Live shows a week. We talk about inspecting and selling raw cards, disclosing condition issues, hiring a team, and protecting the reputation behind every sale. Bryan shares why he consolidated his Jordan collection from around 1,300 cards to 30 and why those cards stay outside the business. Plus, Bryan gives his perspective on the Michael Jordan market and explains why he welcomes the chance to buy back cards he sold. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1128
    November 1 · 23 min

    Hobby Jobs: Owning a Business Changes What You Keep

    Believing in a card and believing in a business can mean competing for the same money. On this episode of Hobby Jobs, Brett examines what happens when collecting becomes part of someone’s livelihood. He discusses PSA’s service changes, how grading timelines affect cash flow, and the tension between keeping cards and funding a business. Brett shares a lesson from Chris Sewell’s experience owning a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, a question to help collectors evaluate what they keep, and why “reinvesting in the business” needs a plan behind it. The episode asks collectors and operators to consider what they expect their cards, money, and time to accomplish. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1126
    October 31 · 1 hr 4 min

    Booked to Last: What Makes a Wrestling Card Worth Chasing? Stadium Club, Goldin, and Pricing 1/1s

    You collect the wrestler. But that doesn’t mean you need every card with their name on it. Adam and Ryan break down what makes a wrestling card worth pursuing, from the photograph and autograph to the set, inscription, and price. They share their take on Topps Stadium Club WWE, debate the price of boxes, and examine a Roman Reigns flag parallel sale around $5,000. What happens when collectors treat a print-run estimate as confirmation? The conversation covers previews of 2027 Topps Chrome WWE and Goldin’s wrestling card auction, including an Alexa Bliss rookie Superfractor autograph and a 1999 Rock Comic Images autograph graded PSA 10. Plus, how to approach pricing 1/1s, why the numbering doesn’t tell you enough, and when to pass on a card of someone you collect. 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 Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1125
    October 30 · 1 hr 34 min

    The Football Card Podcast #71: When Your Team Moves On, Does Your Collection?

    You bought the card because you believed in the player. Then the trade happens. Do you want to keep it? Pack and Brett discuss what happens to team collections when players leave and the future you pictured doesn’t happen. They explore collecting memories versus collecting hope, deciding what stays, and giving yourself permission to change direction. The conversation also covers Kenneth Walker III’s Bowman Chrome Superfractor versus his Prizm Black Finite, collecting beyond release hype, and who should name a price when someone asks about a card you haven’t offered for sale. Plus, auction sales featuring Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, and Jerry Rice, and the research behind Brett’s 2005 Topps Turkey Red Philip Rivers 1/1 purchase. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. 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 Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    • Transcript
  • #1124
    October 29 · 1 hr 4 min

    Card Ladder Confidential #24: Why 1/1s Changed What We Want From Collecting

    Brett joins Chris and Josh from Card Ladder to discuss why they collect 1/1s and how those purchases changed what they want from the hobby. Brett shares how a 2014 Andrew Luck Prizm Black Finite reshaped his collecting priorities. Josh explains the appeal of owning a card whose auction appearances depend on his decision to sell. Chris discusses how researching sets and designs has expanded his appreciation for athletes and their careers. The conversation covers buying without a comp, looking beyond brand recognition, and interpreting the sales data behind 1/1 collecting. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 Follow Josh: | Instagram Follow Chris: | Instagram Follow Card Ladder: | Instagram | YouTube | Website ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1123
    October 28 · 28 min

    How Availability Shapes Your Collection

    You opened the app without a plan to buy. Five minutes later, you’re figuring out how to pay for a card. What changed? In this episode, Brett explores how availability shapes what we want, what we buy, and what we stop saving for. He examines auction deadlines, the fear of missing a card, and the purchases that leave us without money when a card we’ve been pursuing appears. He also shares questions to ask before buying and ways to expand your collecting through checklists, archives, and conversations. If both cards were for sale, which would get your money? Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1122
    October 27 · 1 hr 11 min

    The WNBA Card Podcast: The Cards You Sold, the Ones You Missed, and the Joy of Collecting | S6 E3 [Halloween Edition]

    What’s the card you sold that you wish you still owned? Katelyn and Mark celebrate Halloween with collecting regrets, hobby nightmares, and a question about what keeps us coming back to WNBA cards. Mark talks through selling cards to fund purchases. Katelyn shares how a trade with a friend brought her attention back to the players and cards she enjoys. They debate player-worn memorabilia, buying without checking comps, and letting go of cards they once planned to keep. They revisit Fleer Ultra and Rittenhouse, build collections around teams they don’t root for, and share the cards that still have them thinking about what might have been. Plus, WNBA Finals reactions and a Donruss pack opening presented by Great Lakes Trading Cards. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Katelyn: | Instagram Follow Mark | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1120
    October 26 · 40 min

    Passion to Profession: Loving the Cards. Learning to Let Them Go. With Chris Sewall

    Chris Sewall remembers owning a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle for about a week. He wanted to keep it. His business needed him to sell it. That tension is part of making your living in cards. On this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, Brett sits down with Chris of Sewall Sports Cards to talk about leaving filmmaking, building a business around buying collections, and learning to sell cards you love. Chris shares how he evaluates collections, why an offer needs to account for the work of selling, and how YouTube became a source of trust and collection leads. They discuss hiring, protecting your time, and building relationships that bring people back. If you’ve thought about turning your collecting into a career, this conversation gets into the decisions that come with it. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  • #1121
    October 25 · 1 hr 4 min

    Hobby Jobs: The People You Can Call + Building Vortex Sportscards with Andrew Caroselli

    Who do you call when you’re facing a decision in your business? This week on Hobby Jobs, I share how relationships with operators have helped me build Stacking Slabs. We talk about asking questions, learning from someone’s experience, and following up after you put their advice to work. Then Andrew Caroselli of Vortex Sportscards joins me to discuss the work behind his breaking business. What began with videos and boxes in his parents’ basement became a business with a shipping team and decisions that extend beyond opening packs. Andrew shares how he sources product without manufacturer allocations, evaluates pricing, and decides which releases to pass on, even when customers ask for them. We also discuss building software to understand his numbers and getting to know the people who return to his streams. If you collect, this conversation gives you a look at the decisions behind the breaks you buy into. If you’re building a business in cards, it gives you questions to bring into your next operator conversation. Hobby Jobs is sponsored by BCW Supplies. For over 45 years, BCW has helped retailers and wholesale partners stay stocked with the storage and display accessories collectors trust—backed by dependable fulfillment and consistency to keep shelves stocked and margins strong. Learn more at bcwsupplies.com/wholesale. Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip 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 Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    • Transcript
  • #1119
    October 24 · 1 hr 1 min

    Booked to Last: Stadium Club WWE and Knowing When to Stop Chasing

    What do you want from a box of wrestling cards? Adam and Ryan break down Topps Stadium Club WWE, from the photography and Beam Team inserts to the debate around box prices and print runs. They discuss where the release fits alongside Chrome, Universe, and Royalty, and why your approach should reflect what you want to collect. Adam shares the completion of his Becky Lynch Planetary Pursuit set. The guys review sales involving John Cena, Roxanne Perez, Penta, and AJ Lee, then discuss choosing breakers, setting limits, and when to stop chasing a pull and buy the card. Plus, thoughts on Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, and the storytelling on Raw. 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 Follow Ryan: | Instagram | Website | YouTube Follow Adam: | X | Instagram Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    • Transcript
  • #1118
    October 23 · 1 hr 38 min

    The Football Card Podcast #70: Building a Collection That Grows With You

    Are you buying a card because you want it or because you feel obligated to keep a project going? Pack and Brett talk about how fandom shapes a collection and what happens when your interests change. Brett shares why he’s reconsidering parts of his Colts collection while his Andrew Luck cards continue to mean something to him. The conversation covers collecting players versus sets, keeping cards you’re willing to sell to fund purchases, and what they’d tell themselves upon returning to the hobby. They revisit the Larry Fitzgerald shield autograph sale and the confusion around event-worn versus game-worn patches, debate 2012 Prizm and 1997 Metal Universe, and compare inserts across eras. Plus, Zack Martin and Art Donovan get the spotlight, followed by football card sales featuring Randy Moss, Barry Sanders, and Antonio Gates. Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. 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 Sign up for Hobby Jobs and The Weekly Rip for free Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok Follow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    • Transcript
Showing 1–20 of 118 episodes