Is the Hobby Recession Proof? Why the Hobby Keeps Growing When Other Investments Don’t

Summary

Collector Nation: "Is the Hobby Recession Proof? Why the Hobby Keeps Growing When Other Investments Don’t"

Podcast: Collector Nation
Hosts: Ryan Alford, Brian Purup, Brian Luther
Air Date: April 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of Collector Nation, the team debates whether the trading card and collectibles hobby is "recession-proof." The hosts dive into market trends showing the hobby’s continued growth amid broader economic uncertainty, breaking down why cards and collectibles are still surging while other investments may lag. The episode features discussion about March Madness, NCAA basketball cards, live unboxing of new product, and rapid-fire takes on valuation, strategy, and the “trade up” challenge—all wrapped in the hosts’ trademark candid, playful banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the Hobby and Market Growth

• The card and collectibles market remains robust, with a reported 20–27% year-over-year growth in participation, despite wider economic headwinds and recession anxiety.
• Even in a climate of negative sentiment—politically and economically—the hobby continues to attract both new and established collectors.

Notable Quote:

“The hobby is still growing 27% year over year, increase in hobby participation. So I don't think the hobby's going anywhere.” — Ryan Alford (00:04, 17:27)

Notable Stats:

• “40 cards have sold over $1 million since the beginning of 2025.” — Ryan Alford (14:06)

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2. Recession Insulation: Are Collectibles Safer than Stocks?

• The group discusses whether trading cards are insulated from economic downturns, especially at the high end.
• They highlight that top-tier cards (e.g., Honus Wagner) maintain strong demand from wealthy collectors, even if lower-end cards might be more vulnerable.
• The hobby’s stability is partly credited to passionate stakeholders and diversification across sports and types of collectibles.

Notable Quote:

“I think you've got some insulation from people and institutional money and other things ... I think you have more stability than you have in the past because it's spread out across more sports, more people. I think a lot of people are motivated for them to not go down. And I always like to bet on motivated people.” — Brian Purup (15:18)

• Discussion covers income tiers, emphasizing high-net-worth collectors' continued ability to buy during downturns.

Memorable Exchange:

“If you're a billionaire and now you're ... worth 800 million, you could still buy your 5 million dollar Honus.”
“Yeah, yeah. That 200 mil didn't like cash it in. No, no, no. You're ... still living pretty much the same.”
— Brian Luther & Brian Purup (16:06–16:16)

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3. Market Performance: Even During 'Negative Sentiment'

• Despite nearly two years of negative economic and political news, the trading card market has thrived. The hosts compare price appreciation in cards to other investment vehicles, notably pointing out that some cards have quadrupled in value in two years—outpacing many 401(k)s.

Notable Quote:

“A lot of cards that sold for a lot of money last year are selling for even more money this year. ... Stuff that sold for 3,000 in 2024 sold for 12,000 in March of this year ... Your 401k4X in two years? I don't think so.” — Brian Purup (18:20–19:12)

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4. NCAA Basketball: March Madness and the Women’s Game

• Brief deep dive into March Madness highlights, with Onnit Leonard discussing the iconic UConn buzzer-beater and the emergence of women’s college basketball stars and teams.
• Excitement about women's basketball collectibles on the rise, parallel with increased talent and visibility.

Quotes:

“That shot to win the game for Yukon ... that’s got to be up there with like Christian Laitner’s buzzer beater ... some of the best in NCAA tournament history.” — Onnit Leonard (01:41)
“There are a lot of players that are that big. Sarah Strong, Az Fudd, Lauren Betts ... Madison Booker ... some of the best guard play that we've seen on the women's side in a long time.” — Onnit Leonard (03:44)

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5. Live Unboxing: UConn NCAA Basketball Cards

Timestamps: 04:13–07:49

• Live “box break” of UConn men’s team product, featuring classic collector banter and excitement over rare pulls.
• Highlights the tactile pleasure of opening packs, thrill of autographs, and market potential tied to tournament outcomes.

Memorable Moments:

“Hey, look at there, guys. Autographed right out of the box. ... If you're a Yukon fan or you're watching this and you're going, hey, they're probably going to win, then you get out there and pick them up because those values are only going to increase. And it's a way to document the moment.” — Brian Purup (06:58–07:49)

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6. Rapid Fire Q&A: Investment Plays, Mispricings & Collector Hot Takes

Timestamps: 19:16–25:47

• Undervalued/Overvalued Cards:
  • Undervalued: Mike Trout, NBA Dream Team Hall of Famers (Shaq, Scottie Pippen, Barclay, John Stockton), Tom Brady “high value” cards, Ohtani international rookie.
  • Overvalued: Modern rookies, e.g., Jaden Daniels (“injury prone, probably still higher than he should be”), Jackson Dart, Drake May, “all the new guys who haven’t really done that much.”
• Buy/Sell/Hold:
  • Cards to never sell: Josh Allen Prism Silver PSA 10, low-numbered Ohtani rookie, Tom Brady high value cards.
  • Cards to avoid: Isaiah Thomas rookies (Chicagoan rivalry), Aaron Rogers/Jordan Love (Packers) cards.
  • If starting with $5,000 as an investor: Recommendations include Pete Rose, Willie Mays, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky rookies (“high PSA grade”).
• Discussion on “trade up” challenge: Starting with a base card, could you trade up to something major?

“If there's a good card show ... five days a week, give me 30 days. ... You’re gonna get sympathy flips at first. ... Game on from there.” — Brian Purup (26:13)

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7. Show & Tell: Custom Collectibles & Luxurious Displays

Timestamps: 29:09–35:37

• Hosts unveil custom Josh Allen Jordans (painted with game-worn patches, signature elements).
• Introduction of a “mint case” display (a luxury, high-end glass collectible card case); showcasing a Caleb Williams rookie and a Trevor Lawrence “downtown” low-pop card.

Notable Quote:

“This is like five grand, you know, but not ... 1.5 million. And it's in one, so the least thing you can do.” — Brian Purup (35:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Do you think if there's a recession, what happens to sports cards?” — Brian Luther opening the episode (00:00)
• “We have been in a negative sentiment environment for like the last 18 months and the hobby has ignored every bit of it and grown.” — Brian Purup (17:41)
• “Did your 401k 4x in two years? I don't think so.” — Brian Purup (19:12)
• “Custom. One of a kind. Never made before, never made again. Game worn. Patches affixed. Josh Allen Jordan ones. Custom for yours truly.” — Brian Purup (32:00)
• “Happy Easter to everybody, and we will see you on the flip side.” — Brian Luther (35:44)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time (MM:SS) | Segment Description | |--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-00:36 | Opening question: Cards & recession | | 01:06-04:13 | NCAA basketball, March Madness, and market for women’s collectibles | | 04:13-08:15 | Live UConn basketball unboxing | | 14:06-17:20 | $1M+ card sales, value density, high-end vs. low-end investment | | 17:41-19:12 | Negative economic sentiment vs. hobby growth — market analysis | | 19:16-25:47 | Rapid fire Q&A: mispricings, buy/sell/hold, what to avoid, how to start investing with $5k | | 25:50-28:49 | The “trade up” challenge: flipping a base to a grail | | 29:09-32:51 | Custom sneaker unboxing: Josh Allen Jordans | | 33:32-35:37 | Mint luxury case reveal and show & tell: Caleb Williams/Trevor Lawrence—collecting as lifestyle |

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Tone & Language

The podcast maintains a lively, conversational tone typical of passionate hobbyists. The hosts are knowledgeable but retain a sense of humor and inclusiveness—sharing personal anecdotes but keeping the focus on practical collector insights and community engagement.

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Summary Takeaways

• The trading card hobby has displayed remarkable resilience and growth—even in the face of economic uncertainty—offering unique insulation from recessionary forces, particularly for high-value and iconic collectibles.
• New and seasoned collectors are expanding market participation, with both tradition (vintage cards, Hall of Famers) and innovation (custom items, digital tools, luxury display) fueling momentum.
• Emotional attachment, nostalgia, and collector community keep values strong, while mainstream financial investments rarely match the top returns seen in blue-chip cards.
• The “trade up” mentality and live box break experience continue to be integral parts of the hobby’s appeal.

Closing words:

“We appreciate everybody for listening. ... Light episode today, just talking news, what's happening in the hobby Perspective showing off some of our goodies.” — Brian Purup (35:52)

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This summary captures the essence and most information-rich moments of the episode for hobbyists and newcomers intrigued by the question: Is the hobby recession-proof?

Transcript

[Brian Luther]

Do you think if there's a recession, what happens to sports cards?

[Ryan Alford]

The hobby is still growing 27% year over year, increase in hobby participation. So I don't think the hobby's going anywhere.

[Brian Purup]

We have been in a negative sentiment environment for like the last 18 months and the hobby has ignored every bit of it and grown. But a lot of cards that sold for a lot of money last year are selling for even more money this year. Stuff that sold for 3,000 in 2024 sold for 12,000 in March of this year or X in two years. Your 401k4X in two years? I don't think so.

[Ryan Alford]

I wish it did.

[Brian Purup]

Welcome to the Collector Nation podcast. Here on the Collector Nation Network. Whether you're chasing grails or calling bluffs, we take you inside the hobby. Here are your hosts, Ryan Alford and Brian Luther. Hey, what's up, guys? We are back with Onnit Leonard from the team there, the digital marketing producer. What's up, Leonard?

[Onnit Leonard]

What's up, Ryan? How you doing? It was a great week of college basketball, as usual in these tournaments.

[Brian Purup]

Hey, man, huge week. A lot of fun. I was watching Clemson baseball. I was a little bit down, but I was actually studying my cards more and appreciating the cards even more. But, but the big story of the week, honestly is the basketball I'm holding today. And we'll get to it in a minute. Of course, one of the biggest endings and I don't know how long, the Yukon Huskies men taking down the Duke Blue Devils. What a weekend of basketball, man.

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah, crazy stuff there. Unreal ending. I mean, that shot to win the game for Yukon with the scenario they were in, down by 1 point, 10 seconds. Duke has the ball to get his steel hit a 35 foot logo, three to win by one point. I mean, that's got to be up there with like Christian Laitner's buzzer beater, you know, is some of the best in NCAA tournament history. So. Yeah, and I mean, I think the scene too of the shot after where Hurley's walking around with half of his jacket hanging off the shoulder and he's just like swaggering. He got in the face of the ref, you know, like, I mean, it's just everything about that was such an iconic moment. That's why I love watching Yukon basketball on both sides because they're just fighters.

[Brian Purup]

I love watching. I mean, the women's, you know, the audit teams. I don't know what you guys did. I don't know who you paid off or they're just all the best. But they're. They're all crushing UConn. I mean, the average wins, I don't even know what they are. I can't count that high. The Gamecock women, ucla, Texas, all these teams still in it. It's been exciting as well.

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah, it has. Ucla, I think they scared me a little bit against Duke. They did not look great. They haven't looked great all tournament. I talked about that last week. Yeah, but they just keep finding ways to get the job done, you know, and that's kind of, kind of what we talked about with UConn. They're like, there's a testament to the UCLA women. They just keep shipping away. No matter what has to be done, they all do their jobs. They get the job done. That's why they're, of course in the Final four. You got UConn on the other side. Both of those teams are in. We talked about it for weeks now that we think that that's probably going to be the matchup. Ucla, one loss all year. It did come to Texas. So playing Texas in the Final Four, if that's the case for ucla, maybe they get their revenge. Maybe Texas goes through. I like Texas a lot. Madison Booker is a very special player. She's awesome. Joyce Edwards at South Carolina, another special player that we've talked about. I think on the women's side, it's really awesome because I don't know about you, Ryan, but I feel like on the men's side it's definitely more team based, which I feel like in the past it's kind of been flip flopped like this year. On the men's side, I feel like it's very team based and there's nobody who is necessarily heads and tails above the rest of the crowd in terms of they're bigger than their team. But I feel like on the women's side, there are a lot of players that are that big. Sarah Strong, Az Fudd, Lauren Betts, Gabriela Hawkez, Angela Dugalik. Like Joyce Edwards, Madison Booker. There's just so many amazing women's basketball players that are coming through and some of the best guard play that we've seen on the women's side in a long time.

[Brian Purup]

100%. But I'll tell you what, I did grab of our on it boxes here. I figured we'd do a little unboxing. This is the men Yukon team. Any commentary, Leonard, while I pop this one open?

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah, let's see who we get. I mean, there's definitely some big players here. For Yukon, Solo ball. Terrace Ray Jr. Who was a monster in that game against Duke. You got Alex Caraban, too. He's been amazing this season. Played his last game for Yukon at home a couple weeks ago. Got inducted to the. The ring of honor already. Which crazy to think, like, a guy's still playing. He might play for a national championship, and he's already in the Ring of honor, so. Yep. Love the names in the Yukon men's product, so hopefully you can pull something big.

[Brian Purup]

Maybe we can see a nice little auto here, see what we get. This one feels lucky. I don't know why.

[Onnit Leonard]

Okay.

[Brian Purup]

I just tell myself those things.

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah. I mean, you got to believe it, right?

[Brian Purup]

That's right. Yeah. Malachi Smith. Jacob Ross. Little ball lane. There's Jaden Ross. I'm not gonna, like, do disjustice to his name. Uh. Oh, we got one flipped around here.

[Onnit Leonard]

All right, what do we got? Oh, oh, nice silhouette there.

[Brian Purup]

Nice. Is that the silhouette? And that's. Who's the player? I don't have my good eyes in.

[Onnit Leonard]

I can't see it from here.

[Brian Purup]

Eric Rube Rebay. Eric R I E B E. There we go. Okay.

[Onnit Leonard]

And, yeah, Eric Rebay plays a little bit off the bench.

[Brian Purup]

Silas.

[Onnit Leonard]

Oh, yeah, we'll take that.

[Brian Purup]

Jaylen Stewart. And Silas, again, a different variation. Cool. I really love the feel of this silhouette.

[Onnit Leonard]

Silhouette.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. It's got that suede, for lack of a better word, y feel. Okay.

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah, those are one of the. Those are one of the base inserts, but they're the shorter printed base inserts, so you don't find as many of those around. People are generally looking for silhouettes, so not. Not too shabby.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. We got here. On the next pack, let's see something huge.

[Onnit Leonard]

See a banger.

[Brian Purup]

Alakai Smith. Couple very different variations of photography in action. There's the same Eric guy that we had. Silas. Hello. Oh, okay. Boom. Hey. Hey, Leonard, you know how to call him there? Out of one that 135 or 195. Bella's your eyes better than mine. Autograph. And the player's name there, Bella. Silas.

[Onnit Leonard]

There we go. Silas to Mary junior.

[Brian Purup]

Yep. Silas to Mary junior. That's sweet, man. That. That is a cool refractor on that. It's got kind of like a shimmer. I don't even know how I describe it. How would we describe that refractor I'm seeing there?

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah, we call it a shimmer auto.

[Brian Purup]

Perfect. Shimmer auto. Okay, There we go. Now we're getting the color on the thing. Yeah, very sweet. Hey, look at there, guys. Autographed right out of the box. Couple others here, look, they've very cool. I don't know if our camera's picking up the white there. Very fusion there. Clean look. Love it, man. Hey, I'm going to end on a. We'll end it there on a bang. We got the autograph right there. Only took two packs in. Still got more packs in the box. Telling you these are awesome. If you're a Yukon fan or you're watching this and you're going, hey, they're probably going to win, then you get out there and pick them up because those values are only going to increase. And it's a way to document the moment. That is an incredible final four for the Yukon Huskies men and women. Fun, man. Those are fun to open.

[Onnit Leonard]

Yeah, they're a blast. So we appreciate it. And if, you know, anybody from any of our on it schools ends up winning on the men's or women's side like we had with the Penn State wrestling box we talked about last week more than likely have championship boxes too. So kind of commemorating the whole season. So we got our fingers crossed that Michigan UConn win on the men's side and then any of those four number one seeds win on the women's side. And then we'll have a bunch of fun with these commemorative boxes too.

[Brian Purup]

Get out there and pick them up, guys. You can get them at Collector Station, you can find them online and you can find them at many of the retailers Walmart's mothers do carry it O n I t. We appreciate our partnership with them and go support these athletes and the college game with our good friends at on it. Thanks, Leonard. Really appreciate it, man. We'll see you next week.

[Onnit Leonard]

Thanks, Ryan.

[Brian Purup]

What's up, guys? Welcome to Collector Nation here on Good Friday. It's always Brian and Ryan here on a Friday. What's up, Brian?

[Brian Luther]

How you doing, Ryan? How's the weekend?

[Brian Purup]

Hey, the weekend was great. We're recording this early for Good Friday. We've got stuff to do, people to see, babies to kiss and Easter eggs to find. So we had to record a little early here in the week. Did I cover all the gamuts? Did I offend anyone or not? If anyone or possible Easter celebrations.

[Ryan Alford]

Doing anything fun with the fam, you know.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, this is an interesting year for Easter isn't offered. Yeah, you went there. So I'm gonna go. Good story. Not. It's a pretty quick story. I will be alone all weekend until Sunday at 2pm wow.

[Brian Luther]

That's kind of awesome.

[Brian Purup]

Literally, I have a Brian. How long has been since I've been alone? That long.

[Brian Luther]

You'll be all right. Call me.

[Brian Purup]

I was doing the math. Call me. Ten years.

[Brian Luther]

I will.

[Brian Purup]

I mean, I really could use some help. Maybe I'm. Let me be like, what do I do with all this time minutes anyway.

[Ryan Alford]

Start a new project.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, I mean my, you know, my two boys are with my ex this weekend. My STEPSON. We have two. We. We had two two year olds and a four year old that we brought together that are now 12, 14, 15, you know, 10 years ago. And they're at their away. And Nash, who's Nicole and I's only together. We have the his, hers and ours. He and Nicole are going to Legoland with her sister and her son.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, that's.

[Brian Purup]

We went with the older boys to Legoland like five or six years ago. Nash wasn't old enough to really experience that, so Nicole's taken. They're doing the, you know, sisters thing with their sons. I voted all in for yes. Y' all should go do that. And not because I want them to go away, but like, yeah, that's great. Perfect. I don't fit well on those rides, you know, I'm 65275. Like dude, big dudes don't belong at Legoland. And anyway, so I'm alone all weekend until like they come back early on Sunday. So we'll do our little Easter family thing. So probably good I'll hit church up, you know, on Sunday.

[Ryan Alford]

So I should be prepared for things to all be changed in the studio.

[Brian Purup]

You. There could be things for sure. I will be running audio, video to all the TV so that when people are coming through, when we're recording, they can watch in here. Right now they can. They look over here and they know what's going on, but they can't. We don't have it playing through the monitor. So anyway, but that's my Easter plan. That's. It is a unique Easter weekend for me.

[Ryan Alford]

What about you, Brian?

[Brian Luther]

I. I'm alone all week, which is great. So during the week I am totally solo, which is, you know, I work. Anyways, it doesn't really change much, but it does. Let me.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. Brian's like, yeah, son of a son down at the office.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

I'm like, what really changed?

[Brian Luther]

And then the weekend, the family comes back on Friday night and then we'll do an Easter family Easter brunch on Saturday, go to church Sunday, and then I'm heading out to the tops Industry conference on Monday morning.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, that'll be fun.

[Brian Purup]

So it's been an interesting week. In sports, you had on one hand march madness sweet 16 stuff. Then you had kick baseball in full swing. Pun intended. How are the White Sox kicking off the season?

[Brian Luther]

Oh, exactly like you thought they would. Oh, and three.

[Brian Purup]

Wow. I didn't pay attention.

[Brian Luther]

I didn't pay attention because my fighting A line A are going to the final four.

[Brian Purup]

Yes. Big week for the fighting A lion eye out of Illinois. Yes.

[Ryan Alford]

Go Huskies.

[Brian Purup]

Ah, what a game. Yukon

[Brian Luther]

fella, you and I are gonna pull a wager on this one.

[Ryan Alford]

I got five bucks for you.

[Brian Purup]

All right, well, five bucks, you're really going all in there.

[Ryan Alford]

Okay. I can. I can.

[Brian Purup]

I'll give you 50.

[Brian Luther]

She got locked out of her apartment, so she had to pay 250 bucks for that. So five bucks is fine. It's more of, like, bragging.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, I'm like 300 in the toilet from this weekend just on having to

[Brian Purup]

pay, I think for you gu. More like. All right. The other person has to wear the other person's hat or something. Like, you know, like. Or.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, okay.

[Brian Purup]

That'd be more fun. For the show.

[Brian Luther]

The mascot head. I gotta wear, like, the.

[Brian Purup]

The mascot head.

[Brian Luther]

And she has to dress up as an Indian.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. What is the fighting A lion eye. Is that.

[Brian Luther]

It was Indian.

[Brian Purup]

So surprised you guys haven't had that name removed yet.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah, there are. Well, we can't. There used to be a chief that danced.

[Brian Purup]

Oh, no more dance.

[Brian Luther]

I don't think he's dancing anymore. But, yeah, you know, it's a. It's a tribe. It's a tribe from central Illinois because

[Brian Purup]

Indians didn't do Indian dances. Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I read some books. I'm pretty sure they did.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

Just like we did, you know.

[Ryan Alford]

Well, we've had some interesting statistics that we. We've been able to pull. So 40 cards have sold over $1 million since the beginning of 2025.

[Brian Luther]

Believable.

[Ryan Alford]

And like, 40 doesn't even seem like that much. But when you think about probably half of those were, you know, five, six, $7 million, and the other half were over that. Like, it's. It's crazy.

[Brian Purup]

Five, two and a half by three and a half pieces of cardboard.

[Brian Luther]

That is crazy.

[Ryan Alford]

And I. I'm curious because I. I like. It's only getting bigger. So I'm curious how much that number increases by the end of 2026 by

[Brian Purup]

square inches and weight. Are collectibles the most value, you know, are those 40 cards, the most valuable thing on earth by weight.

[Brian Luther]

100.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, yeah. The 3 ounces.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

Unless it's diamond encrusted.

[Onnit Leonard]

Question.

[Brian Luther]

Do you think if there's a recession. Because there could be. Well, there will be again. What happens to sports cards? Are we insulated or do they go down the same as other assets or less?

[Brian Purup]

I think you've got some insulation from people and institutional money and other things that I don't think their sentence gonna hit every segment the same. So you got that going on. I think you have more stability than you have in the past because it's spread out across more sports, more people. I think a lot of people are motivated for them to not go down. And I always, I always like to bet on motivated people.

[Ryan Alford]

I also think it depends like if you're talking about like high value cards, there's always going to be a demand for like a Honus Wagner or you know, any high value card. I think lower value cards might be impacted way more.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah, I agree. If you're a billionaire and now you're, you're not worth a billion, you're worth 800 million. Like you could still buy your 5 million dollar Honus. Like sorry, but like.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, yeah. That 200 mil didn't like cash it in. No, no, no. You're, you're still living pretty much the same.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

And if you may, if you've got 50 mil or 10 mil, like it changes, but it doesn't change that much.

[Brian Luther]

A mill does.

[Brian Purup]

A mill? Yeah. If you got one mil and your

[Brian Luther]

house isn't great, your house is going down. You know, you, you're worth 800.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. And you don't. Or you, your house isn't paid for or something. Yeah.

[Brian Luther]

If your house isn't paid for.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. But yeah, these are good.

[Brian Luther]

Good question. Good stat there below it is.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

We also, I think, I do think, I mean bigger issues like we gotta get this gas under control. Like all like tell me about like let's not force ourselves into like. I think sometimes the news will try to talk us into a recession even though we're not really there. But you know, if there's no gas to be had, things get interesting.

[Ryan Alford]

Yep.

[Brian Purup]

Can we all just get along? Brian, that's it.

[Brian Luther]

It's pretty simple put bombing each other.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

But I don't think we're, we'll be, you know, the Hobby's still growing 20% or 27% year over year increase in hobby participation. So I don't, I don't think the hobby's Going anywhere. Even here's.

[Brian Purup]

I mean, here's what I'll say. All right, let me. This, I'll encapsulate this. This will make sense. I think we've been in a environment where no one has on, you know, like a 50% of the country at least hasn't liked the outcome of the presidential election from last year. And we've been in it, and the news is controlled primarily by that group. So we have been in a negative sentiment environment for like the last 18 months for, like, news. Would we. Would everyone agree with that statement?

[Ryan Alford]

I would probably push it to 2016.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. So, like, we've been trying to get talked into a recession and had negative sort of vibes for almost two years in the news. And the hobby has ignored every bit of it and grown. But nonetheless, a lot of cards that sold for a lot of money last year are selling for even more money this year. So, I mean, I'm looking at some of these numbers, like, literally, stuff that sold for 6,000 in December sold for 10,000 in March. Stuff that sold for 3,000 in 2024 sold for 12,000 in March of this year. So two years, is that 4x? Am I doing my math right? 3 times 4 is 12. Yep. 4x in two years.

[Ryan Alford]

That's crazy.

[Brian Purup]

Did your 401k 4x in two years? I don't think so.

[Ryan Alford]

I wish it did. Okay, I have some rapid fire questions for you both and for the audience, they don't know these questions yet.

[Brian Luther]

Who should answer first?

[Ryan Alford]

Whoever. We'll give it to the passionate.

[Brian Luther]

We'll give it to Ryan first.

[Ryan Alford]

Okay. A card or player. You think the hobby is mispricing? That can either be that they're priced too high or too low.

[Brian Purup]

Jaden Daniels, do you have a reason? I think he's injury prone and I think he's probably still higher than. I think he's got the talent to be worth more and he's showing the inner injury bug to be worth a lot less. I don't think he could play eight seasons in the NFL and not stay off that. So, I mean, that's the modern. And then honestly, any player that's in the hall of Fame, like, from like the last 20 years, I'd say they're undervalued because I. There's some cards that just don't make any sense, how undervalued they are.

[Ryan Alford]

All right, Brian.

[Brian Luther]

I would go undervalue. I think Mike Trout, I think his price has dropped a lot recently. So I think that's. He's undervalued. And I mean overvalued. I mean, it's just. It's all these new guys. I mean, it's all the new guys who haven't really done that much that could get hurt. Like the high. It's a high volatility market, but also

[Brian Purup]

Jackson dart making, being like the highest valued card, you know, like being worth, I don't know, 20x. What a bo, Nick. So like this season or rookie, it's

[Brian Luther]

like, yeah, Drake May or like Jaden Daniels, like throw whoever, just name the guy. And then also undervalued, I think are like you said, especially the NBA Dream team Hall of Famers. I think they're undervalued.

[Brian Purup]

Yes. Yeah. Shaquille o', Neal, Scottie Pippen, I don't even know Barclays. Way underrated and undervalued. Yeah, a lot of those I have. John Stockton, rookie. It needs to go up.

[Brian Luther]

Needs to go up.

[Ryan Alford]

What is a card that you'd sell immediately if you had it?

[Brian Purup]

You know, this is hard for me because I would sell anything to make that makes money.

[Ryan Alford]

Okay, fair enough. Bad question for a card shop owner.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, like, other than like a few Josh Allen and. And Trevor Lawrence cards that I have, like, I would sell anything for the right price. But if I know why you're asking it for a different reason. I'm trying to think of, like, I think any one of one Jackson Dart I'd sell right now.

[Ryan Alford]

Okay. Brian.

[Brian Luther]

I would say the Pokemon Illustrator for 16.5 million if I had that.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, absolutely. Especially if I bought it way less.

[Brian Luther]

I'm just, you know, rapid fire. Just whatever comes to my mind.

[Ryan Alford]

What came to my mind immediately was the BAM cards. The. The player that.

[Brian Purup]

Well, that moment's coming. Gone. You needed to have bought and sold like, immediate, like that same day. The one 24 hour opportunity. I think.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, that was just immediately what came to my head. Card that you would hold no matter what. Like, there's not a price. Well, I know that there's always a price, but theoretically no price that you would sell it for.

[Brian Purup]

Josh Allen, Prism Silver, PSA 10. Rookie pop is like 30, because they just made cards that year out of Prism and there's just no PSA 10s of it. And I wouldn't. And I. I'm gonna buy that cart this year because I think he's gonna be a Hall of Famer and win a Super bowl eventually.

[Brian Luther]

I would say Ohtani. I would say any Ohtani. I think he still has room to grow. Plus internationally, you know, he's, he has a market. So any low numbered rookie by him, I would hold on to it.

[Brian Purup]

I think Tom Brady cards are still underrated, even though they're not undervalued. Like I. In some ways, I actually think they're undervalued for what he really did and how, how good he was.

[Brian Luther]

He played so long.

[Brian Purup]

I think Tom Brady.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah, he got. It got diluted because he played so long.

[Brian Purup]

Yes. But high value Tom Brady cards, Safe bet. Yep.

[Ryan Alford]

What's a card that you would never buy even if it like got really popular?

[Brian Purup]

Isaiah Thomas rookie cards.

[Ryan Alford]

Do you have a reason?

[Brian Purup]

Because he was kind of the foil of like the, the Bulls trying to get over the hump when I was a kid. And the bad boys, I just really had a disdain for the Detroit Pistons. And when Chicago finally got rid of them, we got Pippen and like KU coach and freaking. I mean, of all people, what's his name? Can you think of it? Craig Hodges. I mean, like, dude, I hated the Pistons with every ounce of my being. Like Bill Lambert cards, Adrian Dantley, all those good John Sally, they can all never go up and I never want any of them.

[Brian Luther]

Brian, that's a true Chicagoan. I like that. But I would say mine are, mine is Rogers, Aaron Rogers cards and Jordan love cards. I don't care. I'll never own them. I don't want them. If that, if I get them, I'm selling them.

[Ryan Alford]

Okay, last question. If you had $5,000 and zero collection, zero card collection, and you wanted to get into the hobby as an investor, what would you start with?

[Brian Purup]

Pete Rose rookie card, Probably. I don't. I think that's under five, like a highest PSA grade. I get Pete Rose, Willie Mays, like first five year, something at a high grade and then like whatever. My favorite players rookie card is.

[Brian Luther]

Okay, mine is any Jordan rookie, whatever that is. Maybe it's a 4, 5. Whatever it is, that's what I would get. Or Wayne Gretzky.

[Ryan Alford]

I, I just thought of this do. I don't know if this trend ever hit y', all, but there was a trend for a while where people were like trading a bobby pin until I get a house. And they like just trade up and up and up and up. And it, you know, it takes a while but like they eventually would get like a cheap house that's like foreclosing or whatnot. I'm curious if you started out with like a base card, how long it would take you to like trade up to like a really good card.

[Brian Purup]

And so what year the base card is. If it's modern.

[Ryan Alford]

No, no, you. But you got to start with something that's like valued as a bobby pin. Like a piece of junk. And you just trade up and up and up and up and see how

[Brian Purup]

long it would take and where you're living.

[Brian Luther]

Where are you living in the meantime?

[Brian Purup]

Yeah,

[Ryan Alford]

just. It's for the content.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah.

[Brian Luther]

A long time.

[Brian Purup]

Give me 30 days if I can do a card. If there's a good card show, five days a week, I'm somewhere where I'm guaranteed. I know that's tough ask. But if there's five day a week card show, give me 30 days. Okay, I can. Because you're gonna get sympathy flips at first. Somebody's gonna give you a dollar or something that's worth a nickel. There you go. I'll give you a dollar, you know, and then game on from there. I mean, you give me a card show. If I had nothing to do at a card show but go flip through some bins and make some deals on the floor and had no other op. You know, no kids that I'm watching, making sure some creepers not doing something or like taking advantage of them in a deal. And no show and no Brian to have a beer with and have fun with. You know, like, I was just focused. How can you make some deals happen?

[Ryan Alford]

I think somebody. I know it's probably not us, but I think somebody should do it because I'd be curious.

[Brian Luther]

Well, it's got to be someone who lives in. Not in Chicago or New York or la. Like we have different levels of what houses cost to get into. Like.

[Ryan Alford]

Well, no, you don't have to get to a house. But just like that was just an example. It could just be like, start at a base card, try to get to like in a thousand dollar card.

[Brian Purup]

If I do, I have a laptop. Yeah, okay. Yeah, that. Two weeks.

[Ryan Alford]

Maybe we'll make a bet about it.

[Brian Purup]

It would take a lot. Look, I could. Yeah, I could scrap on the Internet and between Facebook market, if I have the Internet and laptop and card shows available to me.

[Ryan Alford]

Well, you also could post it for content. So you have the whole. Literally the whole Internet.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah.

[Brian Luther]

So sounds like a challenge.

[Brian Purup]

I guess. Yeah, I think I could. I'd be in that contest. I don't know if I want to do it.

[Ryan Alford]

Like better things to do.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. And like, I mean, I can. I will work that hard, but I don't want to necessarily work that hard.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

Like on that you'll work like, you know, like I get you work 500

[Brian Luther]

hours in a week, in a. In a month. Just 900 bucks.

[Brian Purup]

I know. I mean, you can make it happen, but man, it's tough. And that you could get some snowball stuff. I've watched enough YouTube videos of my kid that my kids watch of these guys that supposedly do similar things. Hey, you never know, you know, go to these foreign countries and they're flipping and doing things like. And I mean, some of it looks made up, but I don't know. I got some. I got some decent pointers.

[Ryan Alford]

You find some. Some good gems on Facebook Marketplace?

[Brian Purup]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

I like. It's.

[Brian Purup]

I could like a living off of Facebook more. I am very good at Facebook Marketplace, even though I hate it. I hate it and love it. But I can. I find the deals on there. Let me just say that. And I go sniff it out.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. You. You didn't tell Brian about our goal post we got in our corner now.

[Brian Purup]

Exactly. That thing is this awesome. We got a freaking field gold in the building.

[Brian Luther]

Was that your new project this weekend?

[Brian Purup]

Absolutely not. That thing's already turned. That thing's turnkey in the door in the window. It's like a.

[Ryan Alford]

It's like bud light.

[Brian Purup]

It's probably like 1/10 the size of one, but it's pretty awesome.

[Brian Luther]

That's awesome.

[Brian Purup]

We got some competitions still like 8ft tall.

[Ryan Alford]

Yep.

[Brian Purup]

We'll have to show that. Maybe. Maybe point your camera over there or something.

[Ryan Alford]

You can't really see with.

[Brian Purup]

No, you can.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. But we also did from the grand opening, we had a live shoe painter.

[Brian Purup]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

Come and paint some really, really cool shoes. And I think this is a good closer here. Oh, yay. But Ryan got Josh Allen Jordans

[Brian Purup]

and

[Ryan Alford]

we're gonna do an unboxing.

[Brian Luther]

All right.

[Brian Purup]

I haven't seen. I have not seen these. I saw them getting painted. I have not seen them in person.

[Ryan Alford]

So this is done by a local Greenville girl. Her Instagram's AP customs.

[Brian Purup]

Oh, she's. Look at that.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, she even branded her box.

[Brian Purup]

We got like a stamp on the inside that's a tear off my.

[Brian Luther]

That's pretty cool.

[Brian Purup]

See that?

[Brian Luther]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

Okay.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. So she's an architect that does this kind of as like a little side gig.

[Brian Purup]

We have cards that. That were here on top that had game worn Josh Allen patches in them that are now gone that she gled into. And.

[Brian Luther]

Those are sweet.

[Brian Purup]

17. We have the patch. One patch here built into the blue that you can see game worn. We have auto on the shoe pulled from. And then we have the number 17 built into the side and this side.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, they look so cool.

[Brian Purup]

Got some splash. What's this called?

[Ryan Alford]

Splatter paint.

[Brian Purup]

She pulled that from one of the. His signatures on the card.

[Brian Luther]

We should get his. We should have him sign him.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, we can and we. You know anybody that knows him?

[Brian Luther]

I do.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, man.

[Brian Purup]

Patch here. Game worn. Got the Buffalo behind the Nike swoosh and 17 on the Shooto. Yes. Custom. One of a kind. Never made before, never made again. Game worn. Patches affixed. Josh Allen Jordan ones. Custom for yours truly.

[Brian Luther]

And if you're watching on YouTube, I need Chicago Bears.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, we can make that happen.

[Brian Purup]

We can make that happen. She's awesome, dude.

[Brian Luther]

We'll get an air locker for him.

[Brian Purup]

These were. These were solid white. So 100 white. All there was. No. She painted the red, the blue, everything.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, it was really cool.

[Brian Luther]

Well done.

[Brian Purup]

These will go in. I have these displays. Brian will. We'll show this next week where it sits in there and it levitates and turns. There's. There's literally no, like, space below it. So both of them will be showing and levitating.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah. Whoever listens this on radio is really missing out because they're awesome.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, you gotta watch the YouTube to get these custom to see the custom.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, they're. They're awesome. And Alexis, if you're listening to this, you did a great job. And they.

[Brian Purup]

Fabulous.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. Came out better than could have ever expected.

[Brian Purup]

Yep.

[Ryan Alford]

Last thing from the grand opening.

[Brian Purup]

Oh, yeah. This is the mint case with the Caleb Williams. This is Mike Baker graded and on the blockchain. Officially engraved on the side. We've got nine. It was graded 9.5 by Mike Baker. Authenticated. Mike Baker was the lead grader. PSA now does Mike Baker authenticated Kayla Williams color blast 2024 rookie in this hefty, like 7lb glass and adamanium. I made that second part up, but it's definitely glass case.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, we there. So Brian Purup makes these cases with the mint and he. He was on the show and came to the grand opening and hand delivered it to Ryan. It was pretty awesome.

[Brian Purup]

First ever one hand delivered and this video probably doesn't even do justice. You really need to be watching. If you're listening today, go check out the YouTuber, go check out the collector nation app. Watch the whole thing. You'd see how pretty Brian is in real life and see how good looking this card is. Pretty cool, right, Brian?

[Brian Luther]

I love it, man. You got some good stuff.

[Brian Purup]

Have you seen these things? Did you.

[Brian Luther]

Have you seen these Cases I have, they're amazing.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, they have some really add. I mean, you know, I think there's, you know, a long way to go for the hobby. Like, there's been like. Okay, how can we display these things? More interesting and more, I don't know. Custom and luxury is not the word I'm looking for.

[Ryan Alford]

But, like, high end.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah, high end. Substantial.

[Ryan Alford]

Like putting a 1.5 million dollar card

[Brian Purup]

in a. Yeah, that belongs in that case.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. This is like five grand, you know, but not, you know, but not 1.5 million. And it's in one, so the least thing you can do. Yeah. And I did get one other card I wanted to show. I've been waiting on this one. This is Trevor Lawrence, rookie, downtown, low pop. There's like 20 of them. PSA 10, my boy.

[Ryan Alford]

That one's pretty even from like, here. I can see the. The refractor on it. Yeah, that one's really nice.

[Brian Luther]

Yeah, that's cool.

[Brian Purup]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

Any final words, Brian?

[Brian Luther]

No. Happy Easter to everybody, and we will see you on the flip side.

[Brian Purup]

Yeah. We appreciate everybody for listening. We know you have options. Light episode today, just talking news, what's happening in the hobby Perspective showing off some of our goodies. And of course, you know, here in Brian breaking it down, everything that's happening up there in Chi Town. We always appreciate him. And Lud X L U D E X. Go to the app store, download the app. Thank me later. Best scanning tool in the hobby and for digital collection management, ebay selling all of the above. I've been using it all weekend, so let me tell you. Go get it. Go check it out. You'll love it. We love you. We appreciate you. We appreciate Bella always for being the producer with the mostest I try. We'll see everybody next time on Collector Nation. Thanks for tuning in to the show. Be sure to follow us on your go to podcast platform and catch the full video episode over on YouTube. Visit us at collectornation. Com and follow Ryan on Instagram at Ryan Alford. Now get out there and collect yours.