The NFL Draft is Here!

Clever Cuban Cards and Trent dive into the upcoming NFL Draft and take a closer look at Fernando Mendoza. Does he have true franchise potential, or are expectations getting too high?

We also break down the current state of Topps Chrome Football, from skyrocketing box prices to what the singles market is telling us, and whether ripping wax still makes sense right now.

Next, we respond to recent concerning comments from Trey Yesavage, about signing cards for fans, and discuss what that means for collectors in the hobby.

Finally, with less than 100 days until the National, we talk about what you need to do NOW to prepare!

00:00 – Intro

Tune in to Clever Cuban Cards' upcoming ⁠eBay Lives on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm ET⁠.

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Topps Chrome Football is finally here, and the hobby is already reacting in a huge way.

Clever Cuban Cards and Trent break down release day prices, early singles sales, Breaker’s Delight buzz, and whether Topps Chrome Football is already getting too expensive for collectors. They talk through hobby boxes vs. Breaker’s Delight, the Fanatics credit card debate, and the bigger question of whether this kind of wax appreciation is actually healthy for the hobby.
They also react to early sales for stars like Jaxson Dart and Cam Ward, discuss whether ripping or selling sealed is the smarter move right now, and look ahead to other major upcoming releases including Bowman Baseball, Topps Chrome Black Baseball, Topps Chrome Cosmic Basketball, Select WNBA, and more.
Later in the episode, they get into eBay and Whatnot policy changes around cancellations, debate Bowman’s new design, touch on Jac Caglianone's slow start, and throw around a fun MLB rule-change idea.

Tune in to Clever Cuban Cards' upcoming eBay Lives on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm ET.

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In today's episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards  breaks down the biggest takeaways from Day 1 at the Topps Industry Conference, including Fanatics’ focus on wax health, more entry-level products, and what a sustainable hobby should actually look like.

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Clever Cuban Cards and Trent are back for another wild week in the sports card hobby. They start with Bowman’s Best, including recent pulls, break ROI, standout patch autos, and why the product has been getting so much attention from collectors and breakers.

Then the conversation shifts to the Huntsville card show, where Alex shares an unbelievable story about someone leaving behind a cash bag with more than $20,000 inside. From there, they get into hobby advice on carrying cash, protecting inventory, and avoiding costly mistakes at shows.

They also talk about retail vs. hobby wax, why Topps has done a better job than Panini of keeping retail exciting with real chase cards, and what that means for collectors priced out of more expensive hobby boxes. They also touch on release-day website issues and whether local hobby shops should get more consumer-friendly product allocation.

Later, they discuss the current baseball prospect market, including why some Bowman autos may be peaking before more rookie cards hit the market.

They close with another Kevin O’Leary hobby story, as Mr. Wonderful claims he had a major card deal done before the seller backed out, and says he is ready to sue everyone involved to try to get the card.

⁠Be sure to tune into the next Clever Cuban Cards eBay⁩ Live Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm ET.

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In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards and Trent break down the Bowman Basketball release chaos, including massive wait times, checkout issues, instant sellouts, and the growing frustration around bots grabbing product before real collectors can get it.

They also dive into the Yoshinobu Yamamoto market debate after a massive recent sale, asking the big question collectors are wrestling with right now: is Yamamoto a buy, a sell, or a hold? The conversation touches on pitcher risk, Dodgers hype, the international market, and whether there’s really that much upside left at current prices.

Plus, they’re joined by Steven Galdis of The Flip Show for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a big card show. From vendor setup and customer service to security, staffing, food options, venue quality, and creating a clean, family-friendly environment, the guys discuss it all. It's a great look at what separates a great show from an average one.

Be sure to tune into the next Clever Cuban Cards eBay Lives Thursday and Friday!

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Clever Cuban Cards and Trent break down a huge week in the hobby, starting with the fallout from the World Baseball Classic, including Team USA’s loss, which players could see a card bump, and how collectors should think about selling into short-term hype windows.

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In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Alex aka Clever Cuban Cards and Trent aka JetBreakersTrent dig into one of the biggest collector questions in the hobby: if you had real money to spend on Shohei Ohtani, which rookie card would you buy and why? They debate flagship vs. Chrome, paper vs. refractor, pitching image vs. batting image, and which Ohtani cards feel strongest as long-term holds.
They also get into the hobby trends happening right now, including Konnor Griffin’s exploding market, Lucas Ramirez spikes tied to the World Baseball Classic and spring training, whether now is the right time to sell ahead of The National, and why some hot prospect cards are better moved quickly than held too long.
Plus, they talk through Topps Now, the Shohei Ohtani and John Cena card, an Arena Club trade, Topps taking over the football license, concerns around Jayden Daniels autos, and why Bowman’s Best remains one of their favorite baseball releases of the year.

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Clever Cuban Cards kicks off a new era of The Hobby Handbook by officially introducing a new co-host: Trent Litjes (AKA JetBreakersTrent)
First, Alex and Trent do a quick Trent deep dive, including his background as an active-duty U.S. Air Force captain, how he got into collecting, and why he keeps cards as a fun side hustle (plus who he’s chasing right now and why).
Then they jump into the hobby chaos of the week, including the latest Whatnot “crashouts” and the bigger conversation around live-selling behavior, misleading comps, and what platforms (and buyers) should learn from it. They break down the Steph Curry 1 of 1 plate situation, the dangers of “value talk,” and why sellers need to control risk with proper starting prices.
Alex also shares a major update: Clever Cuban Cards’ eBay Live debut, plus a promo he’s running to give every buyer a free Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, or Bobby Witt Jr. card with purchase.
From there, they hit more hobby craziness: a retail theft story (involving taco seasoning, yes really), a warning about AI-style Facebook scams claiming you can get a “free sealed case” for a shipping fee, and practical tips to avoid getting burned.
To close, they answer a great listener question: How do you price cards after you comp them? They talk cash-now vs. hold strategies, eBay fees, supply on the market, rare card pricing, and why you can’t get anchored to what you paid if the market moves. Plus, a quick tease for a Hobby Handbook March Madness bracket challenge!

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In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down the Topps Pristine “missing hits” situation and what happened after Topps confirmed five missing autographs and tried to make it right. The turnaround was fast, but the replacement autos and their value raise a bigger question: What does “making it right” actually mean in a $470+ box product?

Then we pivot to a full recap of the Nashville Card Show from both sides of the table: what it’s like as a dealer, how to negotiate as a buyer, and practical habits that help you get better deals without wasting your time. We also get into favorite pickups, the “go find another one” pricing mindset for rare cards, and why checking what’s currently listed matters just as much as checking comps.

To close it out, CCC recaps an Arena Club massive hit, talks through the buyback decision, and teases a big update coming next week. If you're new to Arena Club, use code SCN for 20% off your first purchase.

Drop your take in the comments: If a company shorts guaranteed hits, what’s a fair replacement?

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This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Jetbreakers Trent to break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 MLB season.

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