Behind the Breaks

Welcome to Behind the Breaks, the ultimate podcast for trading card enthusiasts, collectors, and hustlers.

Every card tells a story, and we’re here to share them. In this kickoff episode, hosts Matt and RJ pull back the curtain on what makes the trading card community so special and share their vision for this exciting new show.

From wild pulls to the grind of growing your collection, this is your front-row seat to the stories, tips, and strategies that fuel the hobby.

Plus, we’re inviting YOU to join the conversation. Whether you’re ripping packs, flipping slabs, or just starting out, this is your home.

Subscribe now and let’s build the community together!

Justin Verlander announces retirement — we break down what it means for his rookie card values, PSA 10 pricing, and Hall of Fame speculation. Plus: Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes the first player to reach the 20-20 club in 2026, and we compare his card market movement to Junior Caminero using Card Ladder's Player Index.Then we dig into the hobby news that matters this week:- Topps removes shrink wrap from Chrome Basketball mega boxes — is this real transparency or a workaround for scalpers?- PSA's $200M investment push and new hiring campaign, straight from their in-house magazine- PSA backlog tracker update: still sitting at 12M submissions with 5M+ in the $80+ value tier — what it means ahead of The National- Whatnot's new custom/fan art card problem — sellers blurring the line between real and reproduction cards- Whatnot's new swipe features for cleaner live-show viewing- A North America trading card market report calling the hobby an "alternative asset class" — fractional card ownership, institutional money, and what it means for collectors vs. investorsTimestamps:00:00 Intro00:55 Justin Verlander retirement & rookie card market06:24 PCA vs Junior Caminero — Player of the Month card price comparison15:29 Trading card market report: hobby as an "alternative asset class"20:28 Topps removes shrink wrap from mega boxes25:41 Custom & fan art cards on Whatnot — the disclosure problem33:08 PSA magazine, hiring push & $200M investment35:49 PSA backlog tracker update ahead of The NationalBehind the Breaks is your weekly deep dive into sports card grading, hobby news, market trends, and card values — covering PSA, Topps, Panini, Whatnot, eBay, and everything moving the sports card and trading card market right now.#TradingCards #SportsCards #PSAGrading #CardCollecting #Topps #JustinVerlander #Whatnot #HobbyNews #CardInvesting #BehindTheBreaks

The Knicks just ended a 53-year championship drought — and New York celebrated by torching school buses and racking up 63 arrests. We break down the full history of championship riots (Bulls '92 still holds the all-time record at $10M in damage), ask why cities keep doing this, and wonder why a cop-greased pole in Philly was somehow the most reasonable response anyone's had.Then we pivot to the World Cup, and honestly? Total vibe shift. Fans from all over the world showing up, cleaning up trash (shoutout Japan), falling in love with America, and reminding everyone that the problem isn't people — it's the politicians. We also celebrate the first-ever VAR mistaken identity call in World Cup history, punishing a guy for flopping. Do it more. Red card next time.On the hobby side: PSA's backlog tracker just hit 14 million cards. We do the math — that's close to $400 million in cards sitting in their facility, with a year and a half of work already queued up. Meanwhile they're opening PSA Europe and building out international infrastructure. Great. Cool. How about the people who submitted eight months ago? TAG isn't off the hook either — they just announced a Brazil expansion while their own backlog is at a standstill and customers who paid upfront are still waiting.We also dig into 2025 Topps Inception dropping today. Cool patches, interesting design — but sticker autos at $285 a hobby box? Come on.Topics covered:Knicks championship riots + full history of sports riot damage (Bulls, Lakers, Pistons, Canucks, Steelers)World Cup 2026 fan culture, VAR diving crackdown, US team run, card market moversPSA backlog hits 14 million — the math is staggeringPSA Europe: $200M infrastructure investment, 30% of submissions already internationalTAG Grading expanding to Brazil while the backlog sits2025 Topps Inception: the good (patches), the bad (sticker autos), the ugly (price)Shaq paid back the city of LA for riot damages. King behavior.Got a take? Drop it in the comments. Want to come on the show? Shoot us a note — we want to hear from you, even if you think we're wrong.

PSA and Collectors Holdings filed a motion to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit — and their defense? "We did it to meet demand." We break down the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), the actual Department of Justice standard for measuring monopolies, and why PSA's score of 6,728 is 3.7X the federal threshold for anti-competitive behavior.Plus: SGC's grading volume collapsed 61% within two months of the Collectors Holdings acquisition — and those numbers come straight from the lawsuit. We call it what it is.Also in this episode:- The latest weekly grading numbers: PSA, CGC, Beckett, SGC, and TAG- TAG saw an 81% single-week drop — what's going on?- Is the PSA Value tier pause driving a surge to competitors?- Target breaks factory seals on Pokemon ETBs to stop scalpers- On this day in baseball history: a 15-year-old faced Stan Musial in the majorsThe hobby is moving fast. We're keeping up.Subscribe so you don't miss weekly card market breakdowns, grading news, and hobby deep dives.---TIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Intro & On This Day: Joe Nuxhall, baseball's youngest pitcher (June 10, 1944)3:11 – PSA/Collectors Holdings files motion to dismiss antitrust lawsuit4:50 – Breaking down the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) — the DOJ's monopoly test6:49 – The "murder of SGC" — 61% grading drop after acquisition8:09 – Discovery, deflection, and what happens if this goes to court13:33 – Weekly grading numbers: PSA up 31%, TAG down 81%19:40 – TAG 2026: newcomer worth it after PSA's pause?24:14 – Target breaks seals on Pokemon products to stop scalpers34:08 – Chicago Bears to Hammond, Indiana — good or bad for the community?40:08 – Wrap-up---Behind the Breaks is your weekly source for MLB sports card hobby news, grading industry analysis, card market trends, and the occasional baseball history deep cut.

The sports card hobby never slows down.In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest stories in the hobby: the reported controversy surrounding PSA grading and the growing debate about card cleaning, grading consistency, submission backlogs, and collector trust.We also break down the massive private sale of the Victor Wembanyama Black Prizm 1/1 that reportedly sold for $5.1 million, discuss what it means for the modern card market, and whether now was the perfect time to cash out.Plus:• PSA grading controversy and hobby reaction• The Victor Wembanyama $5.1 million card sale• PSA vs TAG grading discussion• Card cleaning, restoration, and grading ethics• Sports card market trends in 2026• Roman Anthony, Jac Caglianone, Chase DeLauter, Jacob Misiorowski and the MLB prospect market• Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal trade rumors and MLB storylines• World Cup 2026 excitement and soccer card opportunities• Collecting vs investing in sports cardsWhether you're a collector, investor, flipper, grader, or just love the hobby, this episode covers the biggest sports card news and baseball conversations happening right now.Subscribe for weekly sports card market analysis, hobby news, grading discussions, prospect investing, vintage cards, modern cards, and collector stories.

The sports card hobby just posted a staggering $606 million month, but is that a sign of a healthy market... or something else?In this episode of Behind the Breaks, we dive into the latest hobby headlines, including:• The massive surge in card sales and what it really means• A Josh Allen redemption card that sold for $1.35 million before the card even exists• The acquisition of Collect-A-Con and what it means for the future of card shows• The mysterious "Card for Justin" eBay strategy designed to hide sales from public comps• Ongoing concerns around grading, transparency, and trust in the hobby• RJ's evolving vision for a more transparent grading companyIs the hobby entering a new golden era—or are we ignoring some major warning signs?Drop your thoughts in the comments.#SportsCards #TradingCards #PSA #JoshAllen #PokemonCards #CardCollecting #SportsCardInvesting #CollectACon #CardMarket #BehindTheBreaks

RJ’s at it again! You have to hear this one!

What started as a normal drive from Phoenix to Vegas quickly became an off-road survival story through the Arizona desert after wildfires shut down the highway. Dirt roads. No signal. Google Maps failing. Semi trucks disappearing into the wilderness. And somehow… RJ still made it to Vegas.But that was only the beginning.

In this episode of Behind The Breaks, we dive into:

The insane Arizona desert detour story

PSA controversy and the growing “No PSA May” movement

TAG grading transparency and their first EVER perfect 1000-point card

Beckett’s new logo revealSports card grading frustrations

The future of AI grading in the hobby

Could collectors build their OWN grading company?

Baseball talk, Cal Raleigh struggles, Yankees prospects, Cubs pain, Connor Griffin hype and more

If you’re into sports cards, Pokemon cards, grading drama, PSA, TAG, Beckett, Fanatics, Topps, eBay flipping, baseball cards, hobby investing, or card collecting culture… this episode is packed.

SUBSCRIBE for weekly hobby news, grading debates, sports card investing, baseball card talk, and complete nonsense. ⁨

@taggrading⁩ 

#sportscards #psa #taggrading #pokemoncards #baseballcards #sportscardinvesting #thehobby #beckett #tradingcards #sportscardpodcast #sportscardcollector #mlb #baseball #cardgrading #sportscollectibles

RJ is 80% ready to liquidate his entire sports card collection… and we are here for it. The process has already started... but listen to this one and hear his rationale.

With fears of an MLB lockout, changing card prices, and too much cardboard piling up, we debate:

• Selling grails

• Keeping sentimental cards

• Market timing

• One-of-ones

• Starting over as a collector

This is every collector’s nightmare conversation.

Would you hold… or cash out?

Comment your answer below.

#sportscards #baseballcards #cardmarket #cardcollecting #tradingcards #sportsinvesting #aaronjudge #ohtani #cardcommunity

The hobby is booming… but something feels off.In this episode, we break down everything happening around PSA right now—from a new antitrust lawsuit to missing high-value submissions, price hikes, and ongoing controversy around grading consistency.Even more surprising? PSA just set a record with over 2 million cards graded in a single month.So the real question is:If everyone is frustrated… why is nothing changing?What We Cover:Whatnot’s new seller cancellation policy (and why it matters)eBay making auction sales final (huge shift for the market)PSA’s lawsuit and what it actually meansThe missing card story that sparked outrageUpcharges, grading inconsistencies, and trust issuesTAG’s transparency vs PSA’s “black box”Why submissions are still skyrocketing despite all the noiseThe proposed PSA boycott in May — does it stand a chance?Key TakeawayThis isn’t just about PSA.It’s about trust, transparency, and where the hobby is headed next.Join the ConversationAre you still submitting to PSA?Would you switch graders?Is a boycott even realistic?Drop your thoughts below — we read everything.If You Enjoyed This EpisodeLike, subscribe, and share with someone deep in the hobby.

RJ drops a bombshell—he’s seriously considering selling his entire sports card collection. Years of collecting, rare cards, one-of-ones, and serious value… all potentially gone.Is this a smart move ahead of a possible baseball market dip?Or a decision he’ll regret instantly?We get into:What his collection might actually be worthThe cards he refuses to sell (for now)The “keep only five” challengeWhy starting over is so temptingAnd whether he can actually pull the triggerThis quickly turns into part strategy, part therapy session.Should he sell everything… or walk it back?