Behind the Breaks

This week on Behind the Breaks, RJ goes solo—broadcasting from the car during track practice—and dives deep into a personal reset for the hobby in 2026.With product releases piling up, grading timelines stretching out, and breaking formats evolving fast, this episode focuses on buying with intent, budgeting the hobby, and finding ways to let smart flips help fund a personal collection.RJ breaks down:Re-centering the hobby: collecting vs. flipping vs. breaking evenSetting a fixed budget and treating cards as a zero-sum hobbyLessons learned from grading with PSA, exploring TAG, and long turnaround timesWhy prospecting (Bowman, farm systems) isn’t for everyoneThe rise of single-player and wheel-style breaks—and what it says about breaker economicsWhy some products feel overprinted and others still matterHow card design, photography, and innovation could improveStrategic collecting plays for 2026 (soccer, World Cup timing, Parkside NWSL cards)Finding value in second-tier cards instead of chasing flagship hypeThis episode is part hobby reflection, part business reality check—and part real-time card sorting therapy.If you’ve ever asked yourself:Why am I buying this card?Is this for my PC—or to flip?Is the hobby getting too expensive?This one’s for you.As always, appreciate you riding along—literally—and we’ll be back next week with Matt.

The final episode of the year — and we couldn’t script this if we tried.In this episode, we break down everything shaking the hobby right now:• The ongoing PSA controversy and why trust is becoming the real issue• The shocking sale of Beckett and what it means for grading competition• SGC’s collapse post-acquisition and why “independence” may be an illusion• Fanatics, Hobby Box UK, and accusations of juiced boxes• Why big breakers keep hitting while small collectors don’t• PSA grading frustrations, vault delays, and wildly inconsistent buy-back offers• The real cost of grading mistakes for collectors• MLB free agency chaos, deferrals, and what it means for card values• Why scandals keep surfacing — and what the hobby needs in 2026We also reflect on an incredible first year of the show, the guests we met, what worked, what didn’t — and why we’re stepping back briefly before coming back stronger.Is grading broken?Is consolidation killing competition?And does the hobby still serve collectors — or just corporations?This episode says the quiet part out loud.Subscribe, drop your thoughts in the comments, and tell us what stories YOU want covered next year.

We're back from vacation and stepping straight into hobby chaos. PSA buybacks DRAMA. Lawsuits flying. Products getting worse while prices stay the same. And collectors left asking the same question:What the hell is going on in the hobby?This episode pulls no punches as we break down the biggest stories shaking the sports card world right now — and why none of this should be ignored.In This Episode:PSA Buyback ControversyDid PSA really buy back 9s that later became 10s? We explain what happened, why it matters, and what it means for trust in grading.Topps Museum Collection ChangesSame price. Fewer hits. What Fanatics changed, why collectors are frustrated, and whether this is the new normal for premium products.Panini vs. Fanatics LawsuitPanini claims collapse in court while telling buyers everything is fine. We unpack the contradictions and what this legal fight means for the future of licensed cards.MLB Winter Meetings FalloutDodgers dominance, Mets frustration, Cubs trade rumors, and how offseason chaos impacts card values and collector sentiment.NFL Overreaction CycleBears heartbreak, Justin Fields uncertainty, Kyler Murray questions — and how fast the hobby turns on players.A Hobby Reality CheckWhy breakers screaming at buyers, forced hype, and manufactured urgency are bad for the long-term health of the hobby.This isn’t rumor chasing. It’s context, perspective, and straight talk for collectors trying to make sense of a hobby that feels increasingly unstable.Drop your biggest “WHAT THE HELL?” moment in the comments — we’ll read the best ones next episode.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music.Subscribe for unfiltered hobby conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.

Get ready for a fast, funny, unexpectedly deep dive into MLB Winter Meetings, the offseason card market, and PSA’s grading chaos — all while Matt records from “vacation camouflage mode” and RJ slowly loses his mind over Yankees pitching - and BUD SELIG.In this episode of Behind the Breaks, Matt and RJ break down:• MLB Winter Meetings PredictionsThe real trade dominoes, the teams actually ready to spend, and why this year might get spicy despite the “nothing ever happens anymore” crowd.Cody Bellinger rumors, Devin Williams fallout, and why Katel Marte might be the most underrated offseason card play.• Yankees Pain & Pitching PanicWhere Judge stands, what Cashman won’t do, and the uncomfortable reality of trading Dominguez for pitching.Plus: the Marlins pipeline, why the Blue Jays are suddenly aggressive, and whether the D-Backs should hit the reset button.• Card Market Strategy: RIGHT NOW Is the Buy WindowWhy baseball card prices feel frozen, how offseason timing works, and the exact reason you should be buying before spring training.We also look ahead at mail-day madness as Matt sends half of eBay to RJ’s doorstep.• PSA Grading Delays & the Business Behind ItRJ goes off — rightfully — on PSA stretching turnaround times to 95+ days, what that means for collectors, and why CGC is quietly taking market share.We also talk:– PSA’s offer program on graded cards– Vaulting + GameStop partnerships– The very near future of digital-first collecting– How PSA could fix most of this tomorrow if they actually wanted toThis episode has everything: offseason strategy, market predictions, grading hot takes, and a little unintentional comedy from two guys trapped between baseball optimism and hobby realism.If you’re into cards, baseball, or just want to see Matt and RJ argue over who’s right about the Mariners…you’re in the right place.Subscribe for more weekly episodes of Behind the Breaks — your source for trading card insights, MLB chatter, and hobby reality checks.

We finally got our hands on the new 2025 Topps Holiday Balls and decided to open a couple on camera to see what the buzz is about. We walk through the full checklist, the Hidden Elf variations, and what collectors should expect from these retail balls.The break takes a few funny turns—some oddly similar pack sequencing, a surprise Santa card, and plenty of solid names in the mix. If you’re curious about what’s inside these or just want to see the real-world experience of opening them, this is a good first look.Highlights:– First impressions of the 2025 Holiday Balls– What to know about the Hidden Elf short-prints– Card-by-card reactions– A couple of unexpectedly familiar pack orders– Our best pulls from the sessionSubscribe for more breaks and baseball talk.

RJ opens a 1987 pack of baseball cards and immediately decides the ancient stick of gum is a good idea. Spoiler: it’s not.But the real chaos starts when he tells the story of how, earlier that same day, he blasted swimmer’s ear solution up his nose thinking it was nasal spray. Burning nostril. Pink eye. Full meltdown. And now 37-year-old gum.This episode accidentally turned into an outtake reel of medical misfires, hobby nostalgia, and two grown men questioning every decision that led them here.If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix vintage baseball cards with questionable life choices, this is the one.Watch to the end to see whether RJ survives the pack, the gum, and his own decision-making.New episodes weekly.

In this episode of Behind the Breaks, Matt and RJ sit down with Zack Eustis — the creator behind “Zack’s Bowman Hacks” on TikTok — for one of the most detailed breakdowns of Bowman prospecting strategy in the hobby today.Zack explains how he identifies undervalued $5–$10 Bowman first autos before they move, why he has shifted heavily into pitcher prospects, and how he uses minor league data, strikeout rates, injury patterns, and tools like Big Bob’s Cards to stay ahead of the broader sports card market.The conversation also dives into Zack’s other competitive edge: he’s a national Wiffle ball standout and the 2016 National Pitcher of the Year in the HRL Twin Cities league. His data-driven mindset from competitive Wiffle ball translates directly into his approach to Bowman Chrome, Bowman Draft, singles buying, break strategy, and long-term card investing.Whether you’re new to Bowman or already deep into the prospecting ecosystem, you’ll get actionable tactics on when to buy new releases, how to evaluate pitcher risk versus upside, why Bowman paper remains one of the most overlooked value plays, how to time call-up spikes without over-holding, and why certain systems (like Miami) are quietly producing outsized pitching value.Zack also shares his creative “past self vs. future self” video format, how he turns hobby mistakes into content, and the bankroll rules that keep him disciplined in a volatile card market.Segment Timestamps (Optimized)00:00 – Cold open and Target Field story01:26 – Introducing Zack’s Bowman Hacks04:45 – Early Bowman lessons and why prospecting hooks him07:02 – HRL Twin Cities and Zack’s Wiffle ball background13:40 – Bowman vs Topps: why prospecting offers more upside18:07 – The value of Bowman paper and why it’s overlooked19:13 – Breaks vs singles: buying windows and strategy21:32 – Pitcher prospecting and why arms are undervalued26:06 – Underrated systems: why he loves Marlins pitching28:46 – When to sell and how to avoid over-holding32:00 – Rapid-fire prospect takes40:10 – Bankroll discipline and avoiding hobby pitfalls44:26 – Content creation: “past self vs future self” format47:27 – Bottom of the Ninth lineup draft50:17 – Where to find ZackLinksFollow Zack on TikTok: Zack’s Bowman HacksSubscribe to Behind the Breaks on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Share your Bowman prospect wins and whiffs using #BehindTheBreaks and #BowmanHacks.

Behind the Breaks sits down with one of the most important voices in the hobby today: Caroline Pougnet, Head of eBay Live. In this rare long-form interview, Caroline gives a detailed inside look at how eBay Live is transforming the trading card and collectibles market and what sellers, breakers, and collectors should expect next.Caroline breaks down how eBay moved from beta to full launch, why trading cards lead all categories in live shopping, what makes eBay’s audience uniquely valuable, and why the company is being highly selective as it expands its seller base. She explains the full onboarding process, quality standards, seller requirements, shipping expectations, live programming strategy, global growth plans, and how eBay is building the most trusted live shopping platform.We go deeper on seller economics, fee structures, price realization, collector behavior, and how eBay’s data and trend insights give live sellers a real advantage. Caroline also walks through eBay Live’s growing lineup of programs, from Dollar Watch Club to major singles events, fashion drops, Golden’s weekly shows, Pokémon releases at MSRP, and more.This interview also highlights the culture behind eBay Live — the account managers, the white-glove onboarding teams, and the company’s intense focus on seller feedback. Caroline shares new insights on how eBay leverages trends, personalization, and buyer intent to drive stronger conversions and higher selling prices.Whether you are a breaker, a live seller, a collector, or someone considering entering the hobby professionally, this conversation explains exactly what is happening inside one of the largest marketplaces in the world and where live commerce is headed next.Topics Covered:How eBay Live evolved and why trading cards lead all categoriesThe application process and how the platform chooses new sellersWhite-glove onboarding, account management, and quality standardsThe trust factor: shipping expectations, fraud protection, and buyer guaranteesFee structure, take rates, and why sellers often get higher prices on eBayLive shopping behavior vs traditional marketplace behaviorGlobal expansion and growth plansKey live programs: Golden, Vogue, Gem Nights, Dollar Watch Club, Pokémon drops, international channelsHow eBay’s trend and personalization data support sellersCommunity building, consistency, and platform expectationsCaroline’s own collecting background and connection to Formula OneEvents coming in 2026: The National, Comic-Con, and moreIf you want to understand where the hobby is going next — and what it means for collectors, sellers, and breakers — this is the interview to watch.

We’re back with a midweek episode of Behind the Breaks — and this one’s a good one. Matt and RJ break in the new studio, recap recent guests, and tackle the biggest headlines shaking the hobby.From Panini’s rumored sale to Fanatics’ growing monopoly, to World Series free agency, we’re diving deep into what collectors, sellers, and investors need to know right now.

We also talk:The  ⁨@1KCardProject⁩  with Coach Mac and why “deliberate collecting” might be the future.

The rise of  ⁨@eBay⁩  Live and how it could change live selling forever.

Downtowns vs. Box Toppers — are case hits worth the hype?

Why Pat Tillman’s Downtown might be the perfect storytelling card.

How free agency and player trades affect card values.

And of course… RJ’s Card of the Week: a stunning 2020 Bo Bichette Stadium Club Chrome Refractor that just might be the prettiest card in the hobby.

This episode’s equal parts fun, debate, and insight — perfect for collectors who love to nerd out on the stories behind the cards.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome back + New studio reveal

03:30 – Catching up on the 1000 Card Project (Coach Mac)

07:40 – eBay Live: what sellers need to know

12:50 – Panini sale rumors + hobby monopoly talk

20:15 – Downtowns, Box Toppers, and the Pat Tillman card

28:50 – World Series recap:  ⁨@Dodgers⁩  vs.  ⁨@bluejays⁩ 

36:00 – Free agency predictions + card value impact

47:30 – The state of football cards mid-season

55:10 – RJ’s Card of the Week: Bo Bichette 2020 Stadium Club Chrome Refractor

01:04:00 – Closing thoughts + community shout-outs

Links & Mentions:

Listen to Coach Mac and The 1000 Card Project — https://youtu.be/E5EXyAwrEmY?si=J7Yc3qVZ8IamieVh

Next week: Head of eBay Live joins Behind the Breaks!

Join the conversation: Comment below — are Downtowns overrated or iconic?

This week, host Ron “Coach Mac” McKeefery — legendary NFL and college strength coach — reveals how he’s applying elite performance principles to the hobby, turning 1,000 one-dollar cards into 1,000 one-hundred-dollar cards.Whether you’re deep into the dollar box hustle or scaling your eBay Live business, this episode is loaded with next-level tactics for sourcing, grading, and selling cards like a pro.In This Episode:How to turn a $500 card investment into a $7,500+ portfolio using Coach Mac’s “Thousand Card Project” system.Spotting undervalued rookies with insider scouting insights from decades in the NFL, MLB, and NCAA.Advanced card flipping strategies — from prospecting and grading to pricing, liquidity, and exit timing.Pro hobby tools like CardDealerPro, Whatnot, and eBay Live to automate listings and boost profits.Locker room stories from legends like Carlos Beltrán, George Brett, Warren Sapp, and Maxx Crosby.Why Watch:If you’re serious about sports card investing, flipping, and collecting, this episode gives you the blueprint for building long-term value in your hobby business. Get insights trusted by elite coaches, athletes, and industry insiders who understand both sides of the game.Key Topics:Sports card market trends for 2025Prospecting and scouting insights (NFL & MLB)Grading and flipping strategyCard liquidity and portfolio managementNFT and digital collectible investingBusiness systems for scaling your hobby side hustleSubscribe for more:Weekly interviews with top collectors, sellers, and sports business leaders. Learn how to master market cycles, find undervalued cards, and grow your collection on eBay Live, Whatnot, Fanatics, and beyond.Drop a comment: What’s your biggest flip — or toughest loss — in the hobby?