Cards Aren’t Investments? You’re a Moron + Three Gretzky Rookies + Selling Cards You Love

The episode opens with Jeremy reflecting on his performance as a card seller at the Saskatchewan Card and Collector Experience in Saskatoon. He realizes he's not a strong 'flipper' because when he buys cards to resell, he falls in love with them and wants to keep them for his personal collection (PC) rather than sell them. He explains that he only found one card in his entire PC he was willing to part with at this show. Jeremy discusses his inventory strategy, noting that most of his resale stock comes from old collections he's bought over the years rather than cards he specifically purchased to flip. He describes how he missed out on a valuable vintage collection at the show due to insufficient effort and made a weaker-than-expected offer.

Jeremy shares that at the Saskatoon show, he made a significant purchase: three ungraded 1979 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie cards. All three have minor flaws but excellent eye appeal. He describes the details of each card's condition issues and explains the story of acquiring two of them from a seller who initially approached his neighbor with a higher asking price. Jeremy negotiated the purchase, demonstrating his willingness to pay premium prices for cards he genuinely wants for his personal collection, even above what dealers typically offer.

The conversation pivots to a major debate: whether sports cards are investments. Jeremy argues forcefully that cards ARE investments by definition—whether for businesses building inventory, collectors managing assets, or individuals with estates. He contends that anyone claiming 'cards aren't investments' either has a limited definition of investment or is 'a complete idiot.' David offers nuance, suggesting that context matters: a person's personal perspective on whether a card is an investment depends on their financial situation, whether they plan to eventually sell, and their individual values. They discuss how some collectors buy cards purely for enjoyment with no regard for resale value, while others must consider cards as financial assets. Jeremy emphasizes that no external voice should dictate whether someone's cards are investments—it's a personal decision.

David shares his own card purchases from the show, including two $10 cards (1994 Donruss Elite Pavel Buret and Sergey Fedorov) that he bought purely for the joy of ownership, with no investment consideration. He also purchased a Mario Lemieux artifact patch card for his PC for a couple hundred dollars. David explains his philosophy: he doesn't care if his PC cards appreciate or depreciate because he intends to keep them long-term.

The final major topic covers David's consolidation process to acquire his grail card: a 1952 Leaf Jackie Robinson. David has sold significant portions of his collection via eBay auctions, including a Wilt Chamberlain rookie card. He describes the emotional rollercoaster of watching auctions, seeing cards he loved sell to others, and checking prices constantly. However, he's able to manage the emotional difficulty because he has a clear goal—acquiring his ultimate grail. David explains his internal framework for which cards are 'untouchable' versus which he could part with given the right situation. He's now in the anticipation phase, having completed his auctions and awaiting payment and coordination to pick up the Jackie Robinson card in person, likely the following week. He describes waking up at 3:30 AM thinking about the card and is now in the excitement phase rather than the nervous phase. Jeremy encourages David to 'milk' this moment of anticipation, as it represents the peak emotional experience of the entire acquisition process. David plans to announce the pickup on Sports Cards Live the following Saturday and via Instagram. The episode concludes with both hosts emphasizing that collectors should buy what they love and recognize that card collecting can be an investment based on individual circumstances.