Stacking Slabs

Brett McGrath
  • 5.0 (1)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

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.

  1. Passion to Profession: From Facebook Breaks to a 4,800 Square Foot Card Shop with Matt from 941 Sports Cards

    18 HR AGO

    Passion to Profession: From Facebook Breaks to a 4,800 Square Foot Card Shop with Matt from 941 Sports Cards

    Many collectors think running a card business starts with inventory. Matt from 941 Sports Cards will tell you it starts with people. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett sits down with Matt to talk about how a hobby side project turned into a growing sports card operation built on live breaking, community, and relationships. Matt shares how he moved from ripping boxes in a small room at home to running multiple streaming channels and building a storefront designed to bring collectors together. Along the way he talks about the hard lessons that came with scaling too fast, trusting the wrong people, and trying to operate across multiple states. You will hear how Matt thinks about: • Building trust with collectors through consistent service • Managing allocation and inventory as a breaker • Hiring breakers who represent your brand the right way • Balancing online live streams with the in-store experience • Why mentorship and outside perspective matter for operators Matt also shares why community is the real goal behind his next step: a 4,800 square foot card shop designed to host collectors, events, watch parties, and live breaks under one roof. If you care about the future of hobby shops, breakers, and collector communities, this conversation delivers a clear look at what it takes to build something real in the hobby today. A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card. Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    53 min
  2. The WNBA Card Podcast: Franchise Players — Stewie, A'ja, and the Power of Dominance with Mike (@mikeksportscards)

    1 DAY AGO

    The WNBA Card Podcast: Franchise Players — Stewie, A'ja, and the Power of Dominance with Mike (@mikeksportscards)

    What does it mean to collect a franchise player? In this episode of The WNBA Card Podcast, Katelyn sits down with Mike (@mikeksportscards) to talk about building a collection around greatness. The conversation centers on A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Two players who define the present era of the WNBA. Two players whose dominance shapes how collectors think about cards. Mike shares how he began collecting A’ja Wilson after watching the league in 2021. What started as curiosity turned into conviction. He walks through the mindset behind building a focused player collection and why he aims for cards that represent peak moments. The discussion explores the difference between prospecting and collecting established players. The role of championships and MVP seasons in creating cards that collectors hold long term. And why the best collections often come from patience and intention. They also examine how products like 2020 Prizm helped establish the modern WNBA card market. Which cards from this era carry long term significance. And how collectors can identify the cards that matter before everyone else does. Mike also shares some of the centerpieces of his A’ja Wilson collection and explains the thinking behind each card. This episode is a conversation about dominance. Dominance on the court. Dominance in collecting. And the discipline required to build a collection that reflects both. If you collect the WNBA or want to understand how serious collectors approach franchise players, this episode will give you a clear framework for how to think about the cards you pursue Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of The WNBA Card Podcast Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram  Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Katelyn: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    54 min
  3. Booked to Last #10: WrestleMania Shockwaves, Topps Chrome First Day Issue, and Wrestling Card Shop Owner Chad Weldon Joins the Show

    2 DAYS AGO

    Booked to Last #10: WrestleMania Shockwaves, Topps Chrome First Day Issue, and Wrestling Card Shop Owner Chad Weldon Joins the Show

    Adam and Ryan open Episode 10 with a week that flipped expectations heading into WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes walks away with the championship after a result that few fans expected. The hosts break down the booking decision and what it means for collectors who track championship momentum and long term hobby demand tied to top WWE stars.  The conversation then shifts to one of the biggest hobby announcements of the week. Topps revealed that the first ever WWE Topps Chrome First Day Issue release will be sold through a Dutch auction. Adam and Ryan talk through what this format means for collectors, how they plan to approach buying, and why demand for the product will likely be strong. They also spend time discussing the Topps Now dual autograph featuring John Cena and Shohei Ohtani. The hosts explain why crossover cards like this matter and how a card like this could become one of the most important wrestling card sales of the year. Later in the episode they welcome Chad Weldon of Sports Card Junction to the show. Chad shares what he is seeing on the ground from the shop side of the hobby. The conversation covers collector demand for wrestling cards, how modern wrestling products perform at the shop level, and what products collectors are asking for most right now. Topics in this episode include WrestleMania storylines and their hobby impactCody Rhodes and championship driven demandTopps Chrome First Day Issue auction strategyThe John Cena and Shohei Ohtani dual autograph cardWrestling card sales moving the marketA shop owner perspective with Chad Weldon of Sports Card JunctionCheck 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 | YouTubeFollow Adam: | X | InstagramFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    1h 22m
  4. The Football Card Podcast #38: Free Agency Frenzy, Prizm Year Rankings, and the Million-Dollar Football Card Debate

    3 DAYS AGO

    The Football Card Podcast #38: Free Agency Frenzy, Prizm Year Rankings, and the Million-Dollar Football Card Debate

    Free agency opened the floodgates across the NFL and collectors felt it immediately. On Episode 38 of The Football Card Podcast, Pack and Brett break down how roster moves ripple through the football card market. From Travis Kelce returning to Kansas City to quarterback movement across the league, they explore what actually moves collector demand and why hype often follows opportunity. They also tackle a debate circulating across the hobby. No football card has crossed the one-million-dollar mark since the Tom Brady Contenders Championship Ticket sale in 2023. Does that mean collectors have lost interest in football cards? Or does it reveal something deeper about how the high-end market works across sports? Other topics in this episode include: Ranking every year of Panini Prizm football from 2012 to 2025The free agency moves that matter most to collectorsWhy some collectors sell their player cards when the player leaves their teamThe psychology behind keeping cards tied to memories, not jerseysMarket sales including Randy Moss, Caleb Williams, and Barry SandersThis episode blends the NFL offseason with real hobby insight. If you collect football cards, free agency season tells you one thing. Opportunity creates demand. 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 [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Pack: | Instagram ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    1h 38m
  5. $481 M in One Month: The Trust System Behind the Hobby’s Biggest Sales Month

    4 DAYS AGO

    $481 M in One Month: The Trust System Behind the Hobby’s Biggest Sales Month

    Card Ladder tracked $481 million in online card sales in one month. Most collectors see the cards. This episode looks at the system behind the number. Brett reverse engineers the $481M month by examining the infrastructure that allows collectors to transact at scale. Marketplaces, pricing data, grading, and vaults all play a role in building the trust required for buyers and sellers to complete transactions online. Collectors chase cards. Operators build the rails. Both rely on trust. This episode explores the infrastructure powering the modern hobby and what it reveals about the future of the market. 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 ★

    20 min
  6. Second Chances in Collecting: When a Miss Turns Into a Win

    5 DAYS AGO

    Second Chances in Collecting: When a Miss Turns Into a Win

    Every collector has a card that got away. In this episode, Brett shares the story of a card that came back around. Earlier this year he lost the 2020 Crown Royale Crystal Platinum Tyrese Haliburton 1/1 at auction after spending hours researching it and building conviction around the card. Then the card appeared again. A second chance. Brett breaks down what happened next and explores the psychology behind second chances in collecting. Why missed grails stay with us, how auctions influence decision making, and how reference prices shape the way collectors experience wins and losses. The first time the card sold for over $1200.The second time Brett set a max bid of $1701.The auction closed at $775. Sometimes the hobby gives collectors another opportunity. The real question is what that second chance reveals about the collector. Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you. 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 ★

    24 min
  7. The Staging Area #20: Big Sales, Non-Payers, and What It Means for Your Cards

    6 DAYS AGO

    The Staging Area #20: Big Sales, Non-Payers, and What It Means for Your Cards

    In Episode 20 of The Staging Area, Brett McGrath and Tory from dcsports87 discuss the current state of the consignment market. The conversation starts with several notable sales across the hobby. A 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle PSA 8 set an all-time high at $23,700. A 2013 BBM Shohei Ohtani promo PSA 9 jumped from $3,500 to nearly $20,000. An Aaron Judge Bowman Draft Chrome Auto PSA 10 sold for $7,500 as baseball season approaches. The episode then shifts to a topic many collectors experience but rarely discuss openly. Non-paying buyers. Brett and Tory break down what happens when auctions end and buyers fail to pay, how often this occurs, and what steps platforms and consignors are taking to reduce the problem. The episode closes with a look at the scale of the current market, with dcsports87 moving $14M in January and $17M in February. For collectors who buy, sell, or consign cards, this conversation offers a clear look at how the system works behind the scenes. A special thank you to dcsports87 for supporting this series. Check out dcsports87 for your eBay consignment needs and visit the dcsports87 eBay store to find great cards ending every night. Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow dcsports87: | Website | eBay | Instagram | Twitter  Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    46 min
  8. Passion to Profession: Building Lasorda’s Card House on Trust, Football, and eBay Live

    9 MAR

    Passion to Profession: Building Lasorda’s Card House on Trust, Football, and eBay Live

    Tommy Lasorda didn’t inherit a card business. He got fired during the pandemic and decided to bet on himself. In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, Tommy shares how he went from working as a breaker in someone else’s shop to launching Lasorda’s Card House in March 2025 We talk about: Why he walked away from allocation and buys only what his customers wantHow repacks, done right, protect value and trustWhy football became the focusThe Gold Kaboom Mahomes moment that accelerated growth Why customer care matters more than short-term marginIf you care about trust, reputation, and playing the long game in this hobby, this one is for you. A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card. Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon [Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    40 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Brett McGrath
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    898
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Stacking Slabs
  • Show Website
    Stacking Slabs

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