Global Card Collectors

What happens when a lifelong collector turns his hobby into a business and then moves to Turkey?In this episode of Global Card Collectors, we sit down with Jake, a collector and card dealer we first met at Collectors Fest in Istanbul.Jake takes us through his collecting journey, from destroying a box of 1989 Bowman as a kid and owning a beat-up Ken Griffey Jr. rookie, to rediscovering the hobby as an adult and eventually building an eBay inventory of around 300 slabs and 100,000+ cards.And then comes the story that every collector will feel in their soul…Jake pulled Patrick Mahomes rookie cards in 2017 — and sold a Prizm rookie for just $10.We talk about the lessons he learned from that mistake, the difficult balance between being a collector and a dealer, and the painful reality that sometimes you have to sell cards you genuinely love if you want the business to keep moving.We also dive deep into the Turkish card market after Jake's first experience selling at a card show in Istanbul.Why are Turkish collectors so focused on PSA, autographs and patches? Why are some incredible inserts and parallels still misunderstood? And how can American sellers find cards that are undervalued in the US but potentially much more desirable in Turkey?Jake also shares what it's like trying to introduce his 9-year-old son to collecting — including the unexpected decision to get into Pokémon because his son isn't interested in sports cards yet!There's plenty of discussion about buying and selling across international markets, grading cards from Turkey, finding bargains on eBay, the future of the Turkish hobby, and what the next generation of collectors might look like.A really enjoyable conversation about collecting, dealing, family, international card markets — and some very painful lessons along the way.What was your biggest card-selling mistake? Let us know in the comments.

In this week's episode Justin sits down with PJ, long-time collector and communications director for one of the hobby's biggest auction houses: REA (Robert Edwards Auctions). PJ not only discusses his collecting roots, but also how working for REA has influenced his personal collecting. Justin and PJ conclude the episode by discussing what new and future trends are on the rise in the hobby, and, of course, PJ shows off some pieces from his personal collection!

John (@istanbulcards) and Nathanael catch up on what they’ve been doing in the hobby lately, from set chasing to the surprisingly satisfying world of de-slabbing cards.

Then they turn to Luka Dončić and one of the great modern rookie-card classes. With so many releases, parallels, and designs from Luka’s 2018-19 rookie season, which cards actually look the best? John and Nathanael run through some of their favorites—from Prizm and Select to Court Kings, Impeccable, Status, Upper Deck, and more—and discuss what makes certain Luka rookies stand out beyond price and scarcity.

A conversation about collecting what you like, appreciating great card design, and why sometimes the best-looking Luka rookie isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.

Is the sports card market starting to look a little too familiar?In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the warning signs we’re seeing in the hobby right now. From the return of extreme confidence and “cash is dead” mentality, to cards suddenly moving at prices that don’t seem to make much sense.We also talk about the last major sports card market downturn, what it felt like when cards were being bought purely because people believed they could sell them to someone else for more, and why that experience has changed the way we collect today.And then there’s Fanatics Collect…After receiving some cards that weren’t necessarily cards Ryan wanted to keep, he decided to test just how quickly they could be turned into cash. He had a PSA 10 2018 Luka, a 2008 Lebron Chalk Toss and a 1992 Jordan Beam Team PSA 8 and each sold remarkably quickly, not even offers, just dudes smashing the Buy Now button, raising some interesting questions about liquidity, current demand, and whether the market is healthier than it looks… or whether we should be paying attention to the warning signs.Are we heading toward another major correction or is this simply a different market with a different set of dynamics?

Global Card Collectors is back and after stepping away from the hobby for a while, John and Will have plenty to talk about.

Will has just returned from New Zealand, where he attended the Auckland Card Show and experienced what he calls the best card show he's ever been to. From meeting old collecting friends and interviewing bare-knuckle boxer Haze “The Huntsman” Hepi, to watching a kid pull a 1/1 on stage and finding $1 rookie cards that are now worth around $100, it was a reminder of what makes card collecting fun in the first place.

But back in Turkey, the hobby feels very different.

John has taken a noticeable step back from the modern card market, while Will talks about the growing obsession with comps, PSA 10s, autos, breaks and the latest “hot” cards. Have sports cards become too focused on money?

We also talk about:

🏀 Michael Jordan cards: including a card Will bought for around NZ$50–70 that's now averaging around US$800

🔥 Whether Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley or another NBA legend could be the next player to explode

📉 Why John has stepped back from the modern card market

🏆 The return of 90s and early-2000s basketball cards

🇳🇿 New Zealand sports cards and why cards featuring the Kiwi flag are so special

🏉 Will's new “ghost card” chase: a Dan Carter autograph from his playing days in Japan

🇯🇵 The rabbit hole of Japanese rugby cards and BBM

👨‍👦 Collecting with your kids and rediscovering the fun of simply ripping packs

🐐 John’s growing International Treasures collection

🐲 Pokémon, the 30th anniversary and whether the current hype can get even crazier

And finally, Will reveals a Dennis Rodman & Trinity Rodman card that has a much deeper story than simply being a father-daughter card.

This is a conversation about collecting, nostalgia, the changing hobby and perhaps most importantly, remembering why we started collecting cards in the first place.

Welcome back to Global Card Collectors.

Is the sports card hobby becoming more about money than collecting?In this episode of Global Card Collectors, Will sits down with Jeremy from Totally Football Cards for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of the hobby and where it might be heading.We talk about the explosive growth of the modern card market, rising pack prices, breaks, collector fatigue, the growing focus on card values, and whether the hobby is slowly becoming more like an investment industry than a hobby.But it's not all doom and gloom.Jeremy shares his approach to collecting, including why he prefers playing-days cards, how he chooses which post-playing-days cards are worth owning, and some of his favorite cards of Gareth Bale, Luka Modrić and Allen Iverson.We also get into some talk about seriously underrated football legends, including Rivaldo, Ruud Gullit, Clarence Seedorf, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry, and discuss whether players like Bale, Rooney and Harry Kane are underappreciated by collectors.And if you're thinking about starting (or restarting) a collection, Jeremy has some excellent advice, including what he would do with $2,000 today, why he says to stay away from breaks, and how to build a collection around cards you actually love rather than cards the market tells you to want.Most importantly, we come back to a simple question: Are we still collecting because we love the cards or have we become too obsessed with what they're worth?

A simple trade offer turned into a masterclass in card collecting.

In this episode of Global Card Collectors, Justin is joined by passionate collectors Sam and Logan to dissect one of the most fascinating trade proposals you'll see: a 2018 Bowman Sky Blue /499 Shohei Ohtani in exchange for a 2003 Finest LeBron James rookie card.

Would you make the trade?

Rather than relying on gut instinct, Sam and Logan break down every factor that serious collectors and investors should consider. They examine the rarity of each card, grading nuances and subgrades, population reports, long-term market dynamics, historical significance, global popularity, player legacies, and what ultimately creates lasting demand.

More importantly, they reveal the framework they use whenever they're faced with a major buying, selling, or trading decision—a process that has shaped many of the biggest cards in their own collections.

Whether you're collecting for passion, investing for the long term, or simply love hearing experienced hobbyists debate the toughest decisions in the hobby, this episode offers a rare look inside the mindset of elite collectors.

Would you keep the LeBron... or take the Shohei? Let us know!

In this episode John is joined by two of the hobby's most respected baseball collectors: Ryan (@rookiemoonshots), whose Barry Bonds collection has become one of the most admired on Instagram, and Dave (@iowa_dave_sportscards) a familiar voice in the hobby podcasting world, beloved through his podcast The Shallow End and one of the sharpest minds when it comes to the baseball card market.The conversation begins with the recent volatility surrounding Caitlin Clark cards before Ryan shares the story behind an incredible Albert Pujols pickup and discusses his stunning Shohei Ohtani Padparadscha Sapphire 1/1 currently listed through Fanatics Collect. From there, the discussion takes a hilarious turn as the guys compare cards we've sold to ex-girlfriends—once they're gone, you can't help but watch them thrive with someone else while wondering what might have been.From there, the episode dives deep into Barry Bonds and the strength of his market today. Has collector sentiment finally shifted? Can Bonds ever reach—or even surpass—the heights of Ken Griffey Jr.'s market, or will his legacy always place a ceiling on his values?The episode wraps up with a broader conversation about legacy, longevity and how the final chapters of an athlete's career can shape their collectability. Using examples like Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tom Brady and Vince Carter, the guys debate whether stars are better off retiring while still near their peak or continuing to play for as long as they can. Does longevity add to a player's legacy, or can staying too long actually diminish the way collectors remember them?It's a thoughtful, funny and wide-ranging conversation packed with hobby insights, great stories and plenty of debate for collectors of every sport.

In this episode Will and John are joined once again by fan-favourite guest Jon @eurofractor for an episode packed with incredible pickups, NBA draft talk, and the stories that make collecting so rewarding.We open the show by discussing two of Spain's most exciting young NBA prospects. Jon gives his thoughts on what the future could hold for Hugo González following Boston's offseason moves, before sharing his expectations for Oklahoma City's No. 12 overall pick, Aday Mara, and how he thinks the talented big man will fit with the Thunder.Then it's time for everyone's latest pickups!Jon kicks things off with two absolute monsters. First, he unveils a stunning Sergio Rodríguez Essential Credentials Rookie numbered to just /31, one of the hobby's most iconic parallel sets. He follows that with a breathtaking Star Rubies Tariq Abdul-Wahad, a true '90s grail. Jon also shares the story behind why he collects Abdul-Wahad, touching on his European roots, his trailblazing NBA career, and the social activism that has made him such an inspiring figure.John is up next with two incredible additions of his own. He celebrates picking up his very first Exquisite card—a gorgeous Dual Scripted Swatches autograph featuring Peja Stojaković and Mike Bibby—before showing off an absolutely massive 2024 Optic Gold Vinyl Domantas Sabonis, one of the most coveted modern parallels in the hobby.Will rounds out the pickups by explaining why he's recently fallen down the Spectra rabbit hole. From the premium chrome finish and incredible game-used patches to the on-card autographs and consistently low serial numbering, he shares why Spectra has become one of his favourite modern products to collect.To finish the episode, the guys discuss their collecting goals moving forward, what they're chasing next, and where they see their collections heading in the months ahead.If you love basketball cards, rare pickups, international collecting, and hearing the stories behind the hobby, you'll love this episode.Don't forget about signing up to Card Ladder and using the promo code: GLOBAL10.Take care everyone!

In this episode Will sits down with All Black #1085 Scott Waldrom for a fascinating conversation that goes far beyond rugby.Scott reflects on his professional rugby career, including memories from the infamous Munster clash that remains one of the most talked-about matches of his playing days. He shares stories from life at the elite level, what it meant to wear the black jersey, playing alongside Jonah and some of the toughest moments he experienced on the field.The conversation then shifts to another passion that has become a major part of Scott's life: collecting. From building his own card collection to helping former players generate income through the sale of game-used jerseys and memorabilia, Scott has become a key figure in New Zealand's sports collecting community.Will and Scott also discuss the growth of the hobby, the Wellington Cards & Collectables Show, the unique stories behind game-worn items, and why collecting continues to connect fans with the athletes and moments they admire most.Whether you're a rugby fan, a memorabilia collector, or someone who loves hearing great stories from elite athletes, this is an episode you won't want to miss.