The Hobby Drama You've Been Waiting For! + HUGE Pickups + A $5,000 Mistake

Summary

About this episode

Jeremy Lee and David Chase are back for another episode of The Hangover, and this one's got it all. Well, almost everything. Jeremy returns from the inaugural Calgary Sport Card Expo with a seriously depleted inventory, some incredible new additions to his personal collection, and a renewed appreciation for everything that makes this hobby so much fun. From a spectacular Wayne Gretzky 1/1 to some surprisingly affordable Michael Jordan cards, one great weekend leads to a whole new collecting adventure. Meanwhile, David reveals a long-awaited Sandy Koufax pickup, shares an expensive lesson in greed and market timing, and provides an update on his ongoing collection consolidation. Plus, an encounter with an enthusiastic card doctor, another completely unnecessary visit to SPA Grading, and a conversation about finding happiness in the hobby without breaking the bank. Join us for another episode of The Hangover, exclusively on Sports Card Clubhouse! Subscribe to Sports Card Clubhouse, leave us a comment, and tell us about your latest pickups and collecting projects. Check out our friends and partners: AuctionWire: auctionwire.ai Grail Guard: grailguard.io Follow us on IG: Jeremy: @jlee_sportscardslive Jeremy's PC: @jlee_cards David: @davidchasecards

Key Insights

• Jeremy notes that the Calgary exhibition was the largest in the city's history with at least twice as many dealers and vendors as previous exhibitions, with three massive halls including two football fields and a gym.
• Josh Madigan pointed out that Gretzky 'Sign of the Times' cards from his playing career are undervalued dark horses, particularly the 1998 SP Authentic version, with the best autographs being the most desirable.
• Jeremy discovered that some rare jersey cards like the 2009 Upper Deck Big Playmakers Gretzky game jersey (25 copies) are surprisingly accessible when dealers hold them without price tags, allowing for negotiation.
• Jeremy argues that collectors are not pushed out of the hobby due to budget constraints, but rather must adapt by finding alternative collecting paths, citing his purchase of two Topps Finest Jordans for under $400 Canadian.
• The Topps Finest Michael Jordan project emerged spontaneously after finding two cards at an exhibition, leading Jeremy to research population data and create a targeted collecting goal of acquiring all six cards graded PSA 8.
• Jeremy encountered a dealer at the exhibition who openly discussed card restoration techniques including pressing, soaking, and stain removal, treating restoration as a legitimate hobby project rather than a controversial practice.
• David's 1967 Venezuela Sandy Koufax Retro Auto card shows album residue and scratches on the back but has a sharp, clear photograph on the front, demonstrating how collectors prioritize obverse condition over reverse condition for vintage Venezuelan cards.
• Jeremy refused multiple offers ($9,000-$11,000) for his Spider-Man PSA 5 gold sticker card based on seeing higher sales prices, but the market declined and the card ultimately sold for $6,000, demonstrating the risk of trying to time market peaks.
• Jeremy suggests that PSA grading costs appear higher than other services and feels he is being overcharged compared to UPS shipping rates, despite having a wholesale corporate account with PSA.
• David notes that card restoration services can achieve easy PSA 10 grades after processing album residue, suggesting restoration is increasingly common and accepted within the grading ecosystem.
• Jeremy emphasizes that finding vintage cards with both good centering and strong eye appeal at reasonable prices feels like finding unicorns, requiring patience and multiple exhibition visits to locate specific cards.
• Jeremy states that card exhibitions have become more valuable to him since he began looking for unexpected collecting opportunities, rather than shopping with a predetermined list, leading to spontaneous new projects.

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