Where are collectors actually buying sports cards right now? In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, I break down real December sales data showing over $381 million spent online, with eBay dominating nearly 80% of the market. We talk buyer trust, human behavior, scams, the adoption curve, and why Fanatics Collect could slowly gain ground over the next decade.

If you collect cards, sell cards, or are just getting into the hobby, this episode explains why the market looks the way it does and where it’s heading next.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Dentist shots, bad decisions, and sports cards
• 1:00 $381M in monthly card sales explained
• 2:00 Why eBay dominates the hobby
• 4:00 Comfort, trust, and buyer protection
• 6:00 A real eBay scam story (and why I still trust it)
• 8:40 The human adoption curve applied to sports cards
• 10:30 Where Fanatics Collect fits long-term
• 12:00 What the future of card buying might look like

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

Dr. Tyler Tarver breaks the hobby into three collector archetypes (no judgment, just labels), explains what each group contributes to the ecosystem, and argues the hobby is more of a spectrum than a war. Plus, a quick Chicken Nugget Nation giveaway at the end.

Timestamps (based on transcript timing):

• 0:00 Welcome + premise, “three types of collectors”
• 1:00 Gordy Bonkers clip, cards as a financially rewarding hobby
• 2:05 Comment reactions, “collect what fulfills you”, money risks, experience matters
• 6:10 The hobby as a spectrum, NBA analogy (rookies, ring chasers, franchise lifers)
• 8:25 Type 1: PSA Kaboom Boys (PKB), flippers and liquidity
• 11:15 Type 2: Capsule Keepers, forever collectors
• 13:00 Type 3: Portfolio Collectors, evolving collection and life seasons
• 18:30 Wrap up, why all 3 matter
• 19:40 Chicken Nugget Nation pitch + giveaway

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

In this episode, Tyler interviews Mike Gioseffi from Sports Cards Nonsense about his biggest hobby whiff (selling Ohtani too early), then Tyler shares his own all-time mistake: pricing a 1997 Skybox Z-Force Super Rave like a normal card and watching it walk away for $5, later comping around $1,000 to $1,500.

Timestamps (approx.)

• 0:00 Intro, biggest mistakes concept, Mike Gioseffi setup
• 1:30 The question, “Who did you whiff on?”
• 3:05 Mike’s whiff, selling Ohtani too early, lesson on patience
• 4:45 Mike’s buying range and liquidity philosophy
• 6:50 Tyler returns, travel setup, “here’s my worst mistake”
• 8:30 The $5 pricing mistake, 1997 Z-Force Super Rave context
• 10:45 The reveal, Super Rave is /50, comps explode
• 12:10 The lesson, check 90s numbered parallels, story value
• 13:30 Chicken Nugget Nation Patreon + giveaway plug, wrap

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

In this episode of Sports Cards Are Dope, Tyler ranks his top 10 predictions for how the hobby evolves in 2026, plus five honorable mentions, from AI reshaping grading to Topps owning the big three licenses to the hobby shifting into a full-blown experience economy.

Timestamps (approx.)

• 0:00 Welcome, what the episode is
• 1:33 5 Honorable Mentions (AI in grading, wax polarization, private deals, quality reset, kids re-entering)
• 5:29 #10 Live shopping gets organized (Whatnot, Fanatics Live, TikTok Shop, eBay Live)
• 6:44 #9 Grading companies polarize further (PSA vs the field, transparency pressure)
• 8:15 #8 Cross-sport concepts become normal (Topps “tests” ideas across leagues)
• 9:13 #7 Debut Patch becomes the “best card” for players
• 9:50 #6 Cards get treated like art (and more mainstream coverage)
• 11:25 #5 More athletes drive hobby growth (Fanatics effect)
• 13:44 #4 Card shops and shows become hybrid media spaces
• 17:16 #3 Creator-dealers become more influential than traditional dealers
• 18:53 #2 Topps football license reshapes the ecosystem
• 20:28 #1 The hobby becomes an experience economy (stories, access, community)
• 25:45 Giveaway + Chicken Nugget Nation plug, wrap-up

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

TAG got massive attention from the PSA 8 to TAG 9 Brady Kaboom crossover, now the question is simple, what do they do next? In this episode, I break down four practical moves TAG can make to grow sports card market share, without losing credibility, plus the playbook I’d copy straight from SGC (and why creators matter more than most companies realize).

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro, why this episode exists
• 1:25 Quick recap of the Brady crossover and why it mattered
• 3:00 Tip #1: Bulk and volume (without losing credibility)
• 5:45 Tip #2: Turn crossovers into public case studies
• 9:00 Tip #3: Earn trust in new communities (shows + creators)
• 13:40 Tip #4: Run the SGC playbook (service + turnaround time)
• 15:10 The wild idea, TAG grading “machine” at card shops
• 16:25 Chicken Nugget Nation giveaway + wrap up

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

A $660,000 Tom Brady Kaboom just crossed from PSA to TAG, and that single move says a lot about where the sports card hobby is heading. In this episode, I break down what actually happened, why transparency matters more than branding, and what this moment could mean for grading companies moving forward.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Intro & why this crossover matters
• 1:05 – What actually happened with the $660K card
• 2:45 – TAG’s grading approach vs PSA
• 6:10 – Why this was a vote of confidence, not a flip
• 7:30 – What this means for alternative graders
• 9:25 – The future of grading isn’t winner-take-all

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

What up, chicken nuggets? Today we break down the wild Wilt Chamberlain 1961 Fleer rookie that went from PSA 10 to PSA 9—and the ≈$800,000 value swing that followed. We dig into PSA’s insurance/upcharge logic, the fine print on compensation caps, how to protect yourself, and my own near‑miss with a 1997 Kobe “Score Board” auto.

Timestamps
0:00 Hook—PSA 10 → 9 on Wilt’s rookie
1:56 What actually happened (reholder → review → downgrade)
3:07 The ≈$800K difference (recent comps & context)
4:20 PSA terms: $250K per claim / $500K lifetime caps
6:00 My Kobe “Score Board” autograph scare (forgery risk)
10:12 How I exited the card + reallocated to a safer Kobe
11:58 PSA 9 Wilt comp, timing the market & risk math
12:55 FDIC analogy & practical takeaways
13:38 Giveaway + Chicken Nugget Nation shoutouts

#PSA #WiltChamberlain #1961Fleer #SportsCards #CardCollecting #PSA10 #PSA9 #SGC #PopReport

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain

didn't have time for timestamps so i'm sorry but i love you

• Azilllatheodd
• Klendathu
• Tatershed
• Justin Burch
• Always_Eaton
• Chris Crimminger
• Casey Miller
• Ryan Bruder
• Kevin Quiles
• Evan Hastie
• Donut
• Josh Stewart
• Zach LaFountain