Baseball cards are the subject of a feature story in The Atlantic, one of the few surviving magazines that actually pre-dates the first baseball cards. The piece is called “How Baseball Cards Got Weird: A very analog hobby finds a way to thrive in the digital age.” Writer Eric Moskowitz chronicles the changes in collecting over the years, with an emphasis on the … [Read more...]
Real Breaks Grows With Family Friendly Approach
A few years ago, collectors Ryan Holland and Tom Kulczewski didn't even know each other. Now they're best friends, business partners and run one of the largest sports card case break websites by volume on the internet. Their philosophy behind Real Breaks? Keep it fun...and family friendly. Holland says their business is growing thanks to the hobby's overall … [Read more...]
Recent Hobby Innovations Have Been Fast, Numerous
The concept that gave us the internet turned 30 earlier this month. As with any new invention, there have been moments of greatness associated with this watershed change in communication and moments when we wish it had never been invented at all. It's changed how many of us live, how we shop, how we communicate and really changed how we learn. It's also … [Read more...]
Sportszilla Breaks’ Clay Parks Among Aurora, Ill. Shooting Victims
Last week, an employee dismissed from his job at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Ill. opened fire against several of his co-workers, tragically killing five people. Among the victims was the company's Human Resources Manager, Clay Parks. The shooter was ultimately killed by police. Sports card collectors may be familiar with Parks, who operated the popular group breaks … [Read more...]
Notes: Jeter SP Soars; MHCC’s New Auction; Live Case Break Opens Shop
A PSA 10 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter rookie card is on the auction block and has already set a new record for the grade, sitting at $66,200 with the auction not set to conclude until mid-week. The SP Jeter has become the future Hall of Famer’s most popular—and pricey-- rookie card and ranks is among the most valuable cards of a modern era in high-grade. There … [Read more...]
Notes: Paper’s Story on Box Breaking; Roquan Smith Ripped Off; Big $ for LeBron; Singer Trades Tix for Cards
Work crews have torn up the street in front of his shop but as long as there’s an internet connection, Steve Palmer of BreakRoom Sports Cards and Autographs in Cape Coral, FL can get through the day. He’s one of a legion of online case and box breakers who are helping keep the modern collecting hobby afloat. Breakers tear open newer products and the cards are … [Read more...]
Break and Flip: Box Breaker Launches Instant Inventory System
Call it “no fuss, no muss” breaking. A newcomer to the game has launched a new way for collectors to sell cards pulled from its daily box and case breaks within minutes—without ever touching them. The concept is the brainchild of Maine Sports Cards owner Dan DeCosta, a long-time collector and former shop owner who launched his site in May of this year. While … [Read more...]
Notes: Case, Set Breaks at NSCC; ’55 Koufax Giveaway; Shop Owner Profile
The National Sports Collectors Convention will have a Case Break Pavilion again this year, this time keeping some longer hours and including an area for vintage set breaks. Show organizers say the area will open for a “Preview Night” on Tuesday, August 2 from 6:30 PM -12:30 AM. Attendees interested in joining breaks or there to watch and/or learn will be admitted free. The … [Read more...]
US Distributor, Case Breakers Look to Asia for Business
A crew of case breakers from the United States is bringing the concept to Asia this month. Eight representatives from GTS Distribution, along with Ripping Wax Inc., which encompasses Ripping Wax, Jaspy’s HobbyLand and Nasty Breaks are currently spending eight days in the Asia-Pacific region in an effort to further develop breaking initiatives and expose shops in those … [Read more...]
Case Breakers: Good or Bad for the Hobby?
Last week, in our discussion on Case Breakers and the Value Cycle, we noted how the rapid emergence of the case breaker has created increasing pricing pressures on the initial secondary market for new releases, squeezing case breaker profits. Worse, combined with Topps' “print to order” policy, increasing case breaker demand has also pumped up the supply of new issues, … [Read more...]