Stacking Slabs

In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett sits down with Michael Osacky from Baseball in the Attic, one of the most trusted voices in sports memorabilia appraisal. Michael shares stories from the road, from emotional appraisals in small-town basements to unexpected discoveries in forgotten collections.

They talk about the current state of the appraisal business in 2025, the rise in institutional requests, fraud detection, and what collectors often overlook when it comes to storage, insurance, and preservation.

Michael opens up about delivering tough news, maintaining integrity in a business full of bias and emotion, and why relationship-building matters as much as expertise.

This one is a must-listen for anyone who collects, buys, sells, or simply wants to protect what matters most.

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

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We’re live and in person from The National.

For the first time ever, Brett and Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) sit down together—bags still packed—to talk WNBA cards at the biggest show of the year.

You’ll hear the sounds of the floor, the latest updates on what’s showing up in showcases, early signs of how the WNBA market is shifting, and what it’s like seeing Caitlin Clark jerseys on collectors all over the show floor.

We talk pickups, missed targets, and real conversations with dealers and collectors who are turning their attention to the women’s game.

From Sarah Strong to A'ja Wilson, Gold Ice to Origins 1/1s, and the rising heat of 2020 Prizm, this episode captures a moment in time as WNBA cards start getting real traction in the hobby.

Shout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide!

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Pack and Brett are back—recording from family vacation and prepping for The National—to talk all things football cards.

In this episode, they tackle:

• The collector psychology behind non-rookie-year cards tied to milestones
• The underrated power of card backs
• Favorite card photography and why art cards deserve more respect
• Black Pulsars, downtowns, and why Kabooms get hate
• The Herman Moore market moment and why Keith Van Horn outselling Curtis Martin says a lot
• What it takes for Burrow and Jaden Daniels to justify gold vinyl and true gold prices
• A $2,500 Reggie Wayne Prizm Gold chase story that completes a 2012 Colts team set
• Joe Horn’s journey from Bojangles to Pro Bowls
• And why Hakeem Nicks’ 2011 playoff run makes his 2014 Prizm Gold worth overpaying for

This is an episode for the collectors who care about stories, not just comps.

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. 

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Follow Pack: | Instagram

Kevin (@dacaptain37) joins Smashing BIN during National week to talk about one of the most meaningful cards in his collection: the 1998 Fleer Brilliants Peyton Manning 24KT Gold.

He shares the full story behind the card—how he bought it for $1,250 nearly a decade ago, why it’s remained in his collection all this time, and what it means to now share it with his son.

We also go deep on how Kevin moved major pieces like his Manning PMG and 2018 Brady Stained Glass Gold Mojo in the lead-up to The National.

This is a collector-driven conversation about rare cards, strong offers, and what it takes to hold onto grails when everything around you says sell.

Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today

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In this Passion to Profession episode sponsored by eBay, I’m joined by Brian and Jesse from Arena Club. Their presence is everywhere in the hobby right now—and that’s no accident. We get into the early feedback that shaped Arena Club, the big announcement around their new physical slab packs with eBay, and their mindset around building a collector-first platform.

We also talk about:

• Why repacks exist, and how they’re trying to make them better
• The importance of taste, curiosity, and team when building a new company
• The role of live, blockchain, and global expansion in hobby innovation

Whether you’re skeptical of new platforms or already exploring Arena Club, this one will help you understand their 'why.'

Learn more about Arena Club Slab Packs on eBay 

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

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Follow Arena Club | Instagram | Website 

It’s the day before the biggest card show of the year, and Tory from the dcsports87 team is back in The Staging Area. We’re talking about everything you should be thinking about ahead of The National in Rosemont—from buying strategy and budgeting to leveraging your network and protecting your grails.

We also run through some of the hobby’s hottest players by sales volume, including Aaron Judge, Steph Curry, Tyrese Haliburton, Messi, Anthony Edwards, Peyton Manning, and Josh Allen.

We close the episode with a conversation on what to expect from content, business deals, consignment activity, and the ripple effects post-show. This one will help you get in the right headspace before walking into the convention center.

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 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  
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The flagship episode is coming to you early this week. A new Passion to Profession will drop Wednesday. 

We just zoomed past 700 episodes of Stacking Slabs. What a run.

In this flagship episode, I’m being honest with you.

We’re days away from The National, and while the excitement is real, so is the anxiety. The scale, the people, the pickups, the pressure — it can all feel like too much.

Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, I want to talk through the mental game plan I’m putting in place to show up with intention and purpose.

You don’t have to be everywhere. You don’t need to meet everyone. You don’t need to make the perfect pickup.

What matters most is that you feel like yourself.

This one is for any collector who’s ever felt overwhelmed in the chaos of a convention hall. Let’s walk into The National with a clear head and remember why we’re in this hobby in the first place.

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

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Katelyn (@coldlunchcards) returns from an unforgettable All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis with stories from the front lines. From diving headfirst into all of the activations to A'ja Wilson bumping shoulders at WNBA Live, she shares what it felt like to be surrounded by the game’s biggest stars—and what that kind of access means for the league.

Brett brings data: a 237% year-over-year increase in $1K+ WNBA card sales (excluding Caitlin Clark). What does this spike mean? Are grails becoming more universal? Is the market expanding in a sustainable way? We break it all down.

Plus:

• Collector tips for The National
• What’s next for Donruss
• Who’s the future face of the WNBA hobby?

Shout out to our good friends at Great Lakes Trading Cards for supporting The WNBA Card Podcast and WNBA collectors worldwide!

Follow the WNBA Card Podcast on Instagram 

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

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Follow Katelyn: | Instagram

Is longevity overrated in football? In Episode 5, Pack Nicholson and Brett McGrath tackle this listener-submitted question from Andy (@byebyebabycards) and explore how short bursts of brilliance stack up against decades-long careers in the hobby. From Terrell Davis and Frank Gore to Barry Sanders, Andrew Luck, Deshaun Jackson, and Dante Hall, the conversation cuts deep into what actually drives collectability.

They also break down:

• The psychology of collecting short-career legends
• Bringing the right cards to The National
• A real-time Colts Prizm chase
• A shoutout to Philip Rivers’ legacy and love from the hobby
• Cards under $100 worth owning

If you’ve ever struggled with whether to chase stats, accolades, or moments that matter, this is your episode. And yes—there’s a Chad Johnson gold refractor sighting.

Follow The Football Card Podcast on Instagram for memes and stuff. 

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

Check out Card Ladder the official data partner of Stacking Slabs

Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok
Follow Pack: | Instagram

Paul (@colts808stable) returns to the pod to talk through two of his favorite BIN smashes: the 2006 Finest Gold XFractors of Colts legends Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, both out of 10.

This isn’t a casual pickup story.

It’s a story about focus, maturity, and collecting with intention.

Paul shares how he transitioned from buying everything in sight to consolidating down to what matters most: iconic sets, rare parallels, and the Colts players that defined an era.

We talk about:

• The importance of pairing cards
• How consolidation led to clarity
• Why the Reggie and Marvin /10s are forever PC
• Missing out on the Stokley and learning to live with it

If you’re trying to figure out your own collecting lane, this one hits close to home.

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

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