Cards on the table: Sports collecting industry acknowledges it’s more than just a hobby for some

Cards on the table: Sports collecting industry acknowledges it’s more than just a hobby for some

PHOENIX – Today’s sports card market looks different than it did during its inception, when cards were tucked into cigarette packs.

The cost of collecting: hobby or hustle?

What started as a niche hobby fueled by passion has turned into a competitive market where exclusivity and resale value are more important. For years, collecting was all about fans hunting for rare pieces just for the joy of it, but over time, the industry has shifted to hobbies becoming a high-stakes market. Limited-edition releases and social media hype cycles have made collecting more expensive and frustrating for the average consumer than ev…