
Basketball
Listen now
Listen in the appEpisode context
Listen here or keep browsing the show and related sport coverage from here.
This week, Hank and Mick tackle the battle between collectors who play the long game and those chasing the latest hype. Along the way, we reflect on why we love the hobby so much, from the thrill of the hunt and building collections to the friendships, nostalgia, and joy that cardboard continues to bring years after getting back into the game.
We then shift to the grading boom currently sweeping the TCG world. With PSA turnaround times blowing out and lower-tier submissions being paused, Hank and Mick compare today's Pokémon and One Piece craze to the sports card madness of 2020–21. Is the hobby heading for another reality check, or just another chapter in the cycle? Mick argues that why should sports card collectors be impacted with grading restrictions because of people wanting to grade a pile of Papa Smurf cards :) Enjoy!

Next listen
EP 30 - Good Looking Cards: Eye Candy! What cards turn you on and why?
Listen guide
"EP 29 - Diamond Hands vs Tik Tok Hands: What sort of Collector are you?" is an episode of On The Cards - A Podcast about collecting sports cards.. Runtime 37 min. Published June 2, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.