Deciding Which Sports Cards To Sell...

The episode opens with hosts Greg Miller and David discussing the stigma around selling cards in the collecting community, with some people criticizing those who sell. They bring on guest Joe Perotta to discuss a topic they believe deserves more attention: when and how to decide which cards to sell. The discussion is prompted by commentary from collectors like Lou Rock and Dylan Double D about consolidation—selling cards to fund new purchases rather than just pursuing a specific trophy card.

The hosts explore different reasons for selling: raising capital for larger acquisitions, replacing inferior copies with better versions, reducing collection bloat, and managing investments that have grown to unrealistic prices. David shares his personal process of categorizing cards into groups based on how much he loves them: untouchable cards, cards he likes but can live without, and cards ready for sale. He organized his selling in phases of increasing difficulty.

The first phase involved selling duplicates and triplicates of cards David already owns multiple copies of, including a Nasty Nick Garbage Pail Kids card (PSA 8), an Abdul-Jabbar rookie, Willie Mays 1951 Bowman, Wilt Chamberlain 1961 Fleer, and Bob Gibson 1959 Topps. These were easier to part with despite loving the cards because he has superior or equivalent copies.

The second phase included 1948-49 Leaf cards. Although David loves the Leaf set and collects extensively, he realized he doesn't need every member to appreciate the set. He's keeping his favorite cards (Joe DiMaggio with multiple variations, Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial) while selling duplicates and cards that don't evoke as much emotion.

The third phase involved modern cards from the Stadium Club Beam Team series and Chrome sets featuring Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. David admits to having a small investment streak, buying undervalued modern cards that appreciated dramatically (some 13x their purchase price). However, he's concerned about their sustainability and feels they're now overpriced relative to his emotional attachment.

The fourth phase covered non-sports cards, particularly Marvel superhero and Batman cards that experienced explosive growth. David watched some cards grow 10x faster than Jackie Robinson cards, making him uncomfortable with their volatility despite liking them. He sold most of these after the market peaked.

The fifth phase included cards he genuinely loves but only owns one copy of: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird rookies, Abraham Lincoln from the Great Americans set, and various pre-war and vintage cards. These were harder to part with.

The sixth phase involved 1948 Leaf baseball cards with players like Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Honus Wagner, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, and Enos Slaughter. Though David loves Leaf cards and collects them extensively, he's rethinking his completionist approach and willing to pare down duplicates.

The seventh phase included Venezuelan Retro cards from the 1960s. David loves retro cards and believes in their long-term value, but questioned whether he needs 15 of them. He's keeping his three favorites (Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Sandy Koufax) plus Babe Ruth while selling others, discovering that having fewer cards from a set makes each one feel more meaningful.

The final and most difficult card is the 1933 Gum Inc. Mickey Mouse card—the first color Mickey Mouse card. David bought it at a National convention, but it experienced explosive price growth after Gary Vee mentioned it on his podcast (growing 8-9x in 45 days). Despite loving it and being willing to pay double what he paid, the rapid appreciation scared him into selling. He only decided to part with it because he's acquiring an even more significant card.

Throughout the discussion, Joe emphasizes that the process helps maintain internal narratives about collecting. Greg notes that some people criticize rapid price growth as evidence of manipulation by influencers, though Joe and David suggest the prices reflect genuine rarity and quality. The hosts discuss how Jackie Robinson cards have dramatically increased in value (up 76% in a year), noting that younger collectors value Robinson's cultural significance differently than older collectors who prioritize Mantle.

The episode concludes with card recommendations: David Chase suggests a 1947 Leaf Larry Dobie card as an underrated alternative to the expensive Mantle rookie, while Greg recommends his childhood 1981 Topps Larry Bird card, which he's owned for 35 years and graded as a PSA 8. Joe shares that he found the same Bird card among his late mother's possessions.