The Start:

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of ripping a pack of sports cards. For me, that magic started as a kid when I opened a pack from Upper Deck and found a Michael Jordan autograph—yes, I still have it! That moment stuck with me, and years later, a random YouTube recommendation brought me back into collecting.

How I Got Back into Collecting

My return to collecting started when I stumbled upon Lootbox TV, which pulled me right back into the world of sports cards. From there, I found Packman (hands down my favorite YouTuber), whose passion and detailed descriptions keep me coming back. I also love watching IF Sports Cards—Ian’s ‘Top 10 Sports Cards Pulls of the Week’ is a must-watch every Monday.

The $10K Plan: What I Value in Sports Cards

Re-entering the sports card market today is overwhelming—so many products, players, and different types of cards to choose from. That’s why I’ve created a $10,000 Plan, focusing on collecting cards that meet the following criteria:

1. Scarcity and Uniqueness

• Avoiding overproduced parallels and focusing on true scarcity (rookies, autos, game-used memorabilia)
• Autographs: Prioritizing on-card autos over sticker autos
• Memorabilia Cards: Only game-used or player-worn (not unassociated jersey swatches)

2. Star Players

In the long run, only star players—and only really all-time greats once they retire—tend to hold their value. For my collection, I plan on focusing on:

• Football: Primarily quarterbacks, but I’ll consider legendary wide receivers or running backs if there is clear value
• Basketball: Guards and forwards primarily, but also centers if they’re on a truly historic path like Nikola Jokic
• Baseball: Hitters are my priority, but all-time great pitchers are okay too, as are unicorns who do both

3. Condition and Grading

While I’m open to purchasing raw (ungraded) cards, I’d prefer graded cards depending on how much of a premium they demand.

Given its reputation within the collecting community (whether justified or not), I consider PSA to be the gold standard due to its well-known grading standards, widespread recognition, and the premium it adds to cards when selling (even though the grading costs for PSA are outrageous).

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning of my journey. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my first purchases, breaking down the thought process behind each one, and tracking how my collection evolves over time. Along the way, I’ll also be sharing insights, collecting strategies, and lessons learned.