Stacking Slabs

Are you collecting to impress or to connect?

In this episode, I sit down with Michael, known as @glenrice_90scards, to talk about what it really means to collect 90s cards in 2026.

We cover:
Growing up in Chicago during the Bulls era
Discovering Glen Rice in the 1989 NCAA Tournament
Living through the rise of serial-numbered cards in real time
The stress and relief of landing a 1997 Metal Universe PMG Green
Why some of the best 90s cards aren’t PMGs or Credentials
The reality of competing with deep-pocketed set builders
How to approach one-of-ones in the 90s
Why patience still wins in this category
Michael shares stories behind:
1998 Metal Universe Ryan Sandberg PMG
1997 Metal Universe Glen Rice PMG Green
1997 Flair Showcase Legacy Masterpiece 1/1
1997 Skybox EX2001 Michael Jordan Jambalaya
1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys
If you’ve ever felt priced out of the 90s.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re chasing status or chasing meaning.
If you’ve ever sent a message that said “Do you need this card?”
This one is for you.

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The hobby talks about buying.
It talks about selling.
It celebrates flips, upgrades, and big auction results.

It rarely talks about holding.

In this flagship episode of Stacking Slabs, Brett explores the power of keeping the right cards in a market that rewards motion.

He breaks down why holding is underserved in a culture built on velocity and why conviction matters more than constant movement. Drawing from his own collecting journey, Brett outlines the three buckets he uses before buying any card and the only three reasons he will sell.

The conversation moves into the psychology of ownership, the tension between attachment and arbitrage, and why not every 1/1 deserves long term status.

At the center of the episode is one grounding question:

If the market shut down for five years, which cards would you still be proud to own?

This episode challenges collectors to define their lanes, clarify their rules, and build alignment between their purchases and their purpose.

Buy with intention.
Sell with discipline.
Hold with conviction.

Check out the awesome software that InfernoRed Technology can build for you.
Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype
Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today
[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link
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In this episode, Brett examines a product that rarely gets treated like a true origin story.

2016 Donruss Optic was the first Optic.
The first Gold Vinyl 1/1 in the brand.
The first time Donruss moved to chrome stock.

Yet it does not carry the same cultural weight as 2012 Prizm or 2013 Select.

After spending time with his own Andrew Luck Gold Vinyl 1/1 run, Brett started asking a bigger question.

Why doesn’t 2016 Optic get debut chrome respect?

He breaks down:
• Why Panini launched Optic in 2016
 • How Optic fit into the product portfolio next to Prizm
 • The parallel hierarchy in football vs basketball
 • Why Gold Vinyl became hobby language
 • Why the market prices players first and sets second in this release

He also pulls real sales data from Card Ladder to frame the conversation.

Stephen Curry Gold Vinyl 1/1 sold for $25,000.
LeBron James Gold Vinyl PSA 10 once sold for $4,495.

Are those numbers reflecting origin status? Or is perception lagging behind structure?

If you care about first year anything.
If you chase Gold Vinyl.
If you value context over comps.
This conversation matters.

Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On Hype
Start your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today
[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this link
Follow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok2016 Donruss Optic: The Underrated Debut That Started Gold Vinyl

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What does it look like when a lifelong collector turns obsession into a career?

In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, I sit down with Dave Amerman, Head of Revenue at Goldin.

We cover:
The Logan Paul Illustrator sale and what this moment means for the hobby 
How Goldin scaled from $25M a year to nearly $500M
What changed inside the hobby after the pandemic boom
Why understanding how to sell is the key to learning how to buy
The risk Dave took leaving a stable finance career to start over
Dave shares stories from:
Buying collections in college for cash
Starting his own auction house in his early 20s
Turning a few hundred thousand dollar auction business into an $8M operation
Joining Goldin before the Netflix spotlight and helping fuel its growth
We also talk about sustainability in this market.
The 86 Fleer Jordan PSA 10 ride.
The flood of supply after peak hype.
The difference between pop 2 and pop 300.
If you collect.
If you flip.
If you dream about working in the hobby.
This conversation will hit.

A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.
Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon
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We’re on the road to WrestleMania. Elimination Chamber is set. Bron Breakker is injured. And wrestling card singles are moving in a way we haven’t seen in a long time.
Adam and Ryan break down:
What Bron Breakker’s injury means for his long-term market
Why Oba Femi might be the next major riser
The real impact of WrestleMania season on singles demand
A wild $4,100 John Cena Baby Milo 1/1 sale
Why Roman Reigns’ first FCW card still matters in any grade
They also answer listener questions, talk tough deal stories, and Ryan cuts a promo that you did not see coming.
If you collect wrestling cards, this is the time of year that tests your discipline.

Are you buying smart?
Or are you chasing noise?
Let’s talk about it.

Check out RbiCru7 for all your wrestling and sports card needs!
Join Adam's Main Event Wrestling Cards group for free
Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon
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