PODCAST · sports
The Hobby Handbook
by Alex Llansó
Welcome to The Hobby Handbook, your go-to guide for turning passion into profit in the world of sports card collecting. Hosted by the Clever Cuban Cards, this podcast peels back the layers of the fast-growing trading card industry, showing how a simple hobby can become a side hustle or even a full-time gig. From flipping cards to grading, building community to leveraging market trends, each episode dives into the real business behind the cardboard. Whether you're ripping packs for the thrill or stacking slabs with intention, The Hobby Handbook is here to help you use the hobby to fund the hobby. Featuring collectors, creators, and industry insiders, the show offers inspiration, education, and behind-the-scenes access to a world full of potential. Because this isn’t just collecting, it’s building. Let’s get into it. Whatnot - https://whatnot.com/invite/clevercubancards YouTube - <a
Episodes
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Protecting Yourself After the PSA/FedEx Heist
Alex and Trent are back with Alex still on top of the SCN Challenge. There's an update on Trent's trade that brought him a Ken Griffey Jr. 1/1 Printing Plate Auto, and it isn't good. What side of the Topps replacement would you prefer? We wrap up with the seven-figure heist from a FedEx truck…
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Rarity Doesn't Equal Valuable, Cool Cards Carry a Premium
We open up the Hobby Handbook this week with an update on the SCN Challenge, as we have a new leader: Alex! Trent remains in second, and Brendan will eventually be third. Alex and Trent both had big weekends at shows. Discussing why the market doesn't always respond rationally to new products....
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Are We Past Worrying About the Grade of a Card?
Caden Favors is in the Guardians system and also a big card collector. He joins Alex and Trent to discuss his baseball journey and his card-collecting journey. Then we get into how Topps Cosmic Baseball isn't an EQL Drop, making it hard for collectors to get their hands on it. Both Trent and Alex...
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MLB Postseason Buy or Sell
Alex and Trent are back with another Hobby Handbook episode, and Trent has been listing cards like a madman on eBay the last few weeks. Alex and Trent go through some recent pickups. Trent is back on top of The SCN Challenge with Brendan right behind him. Plus, we go through MLB Postseason Buy or...
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A New Trend of Fake Cards?
Alex and Trent are back, as Trent is leading the SCN Challenge after Week 2. Alex had to make his first waiver move in the SCN Challenge. Plus, we have an update on a new trend of fake cards and what one consignor is doing about it. Wrapping up with the mailbag: how long is too long to hold a…
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Are Raw Cards Cool Again?
Alex and Trent are back, but what is with the slow breaks around Bowman Chrome? Alex bought a 100,000-card collection over the weekend and has spent most of the week sorting it out. What do you do with 100,000 cards? How many are worth re-selling? Plus, we get the latest on the Fanatics Collect...
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Where Does the Football Market Go From Here?
With football season here, Drake from Jet Breakers steps in for Trent this week as he and Alex preview the upcoming season, look ahead to Topps Football products, and discuss what exactly football fans should be chasing in the new products. Plus, Drake grades Alex and Trent's teams in the SCN...
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Yesterday's Price Isn't Today's Price
A packed show with Alex and Trent. Trent's wife is getting into cards during his "funemployment." Alex is a maniac who placed 500 bids on eBay over the last 24 hours. Diving into why pitchers just don't retain their hobby relevance as long as hitters. Plus, Sapphire products hold up after the...
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GPK's Place in the SSP Hierarchy
A busy show on the Hobby Handbook as Trent and Alex open up, discussing their pickups of the week and why people are sleeping on platforms that aren't eBay. Carl Abrams joins to discuss the GPK x MLB market. Plus, we look at Flagship Football and why everyone is wrong about it and why the…
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One of the Worst Card Shops Ever
Trent is back, teaming up with Alex, and he made some big pickups while he was out. Alex and Trent debate a Mega Box vs. Logofractor box. Why you should buy cards of PC players from lesser sets. Plus, Alex visited one of the worst-run card shops in the country and lived to tell the tale. We wrap…
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Have We Evolved Past Comps?
Alex is back solo this week with Trent in Mexico enjoying his time off. He dives into something that came up on The Ballcard Show last week - are comps dead? Plus, educating and protecting yourself in the hobby. 0:00 - Intro 9:00 - Are Comps Dead? 17:00 - Buying/Selling and how to use comps in...
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The National Was Bigger and Better Than Ever
Alex and Trent are back from Rosemont after a week at The National. We look back at what worked and what didn't in and around The National. Plus, plans to make it bigger next year? We dive into pricing around The National and whether it was as bad as some people said. Pickups of the show, Silver...
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Fanatics Fest Recap & Topps Chrome Release Day
A jam-packed Hobby Handbook today as Alex and Trent are back from Fanatics Fest, prepping for The National, and also getting ready for the 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball release day. 0:00 - Everyone is back from Fanatics Fest 7:00 - Is it okay to have cards that aren't for sale in your showcase?…
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Building The Best PC $20 Can Buy
Alex and Trent play a game where they start with $20 and a list of 15 players. They each need to build a PC of five players with their $20. Unfortunately for Trent, the exercise does not go well for him. 0:00 - Fanatics Fest week is here, and Trent is no longer staying at The Meadowlands 3:00…
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Card Show Etiquette & a Major Topps Announcement
It is very rare we get breaking news in the middle of a show, but after a major Topps announcement, we break down what their new pilot program with 2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball mega boxes means. Plus, going through card show etiquette, the mailbag, and more! 0:00 - Alex is back and...
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Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Card Business
On Hobby Handbook this week, Alex has another consulting session, this time with Zack's Bowman Hacks! 0:00 - Intro to Zack and his business 4:50 - Selling cards, but not live selling or at card shows, and a move to full-time in cards. 10:00 - The reality of being a live-seller and how Zack is...
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How to Make it in the Card Business with Brandon Stuff
Brandon Stuff has gone from zero followers to nearly 40,000 followers on Instagram in less than a year as he continues to build his card business. While he's focused on buying Shohei Ohtani and Paul Skenes for himself, he still moves cards at shows, online, etc. 0:00 - Trent’s intro with the...
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Nationals No. 2 Prospect P Travis Sykora on Collecting His Own Cards
On this episode of The Hobby Handbook with Alex and Trent, we discuss the release of Topps Dynasty and how with a product like this the singles market will always be your friend. Plus, Nationals No. 2 Prospect, P Travis Sykora, joins the show to discuss his own collecting journey and how…
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PSA Backlog Update; Is Performance Finally Trumping Potential for Collectors?
A loaded episode of The Hobby Handbook with Alex and Trent. Series 2 released today. The importance of having a relationship at your LCS. Plus, a case hit/SSP draft, PSA backlog update, and more! 0:00 - Series 2 release day, and Alex pulled a 1/1 for the first time himself, and it was a 1/1 auto…
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Where We Stand on the State of Grading; Wemby vs. Ohtani
In this episode, we welcome back Alex and Trent and dig right into the Wemby vs. Ohtani debate. Plus, a look at the state of grading in 2026, post-PSA shutdown of value tiers. What should you grade, where should you grade it, and more importantly, when should you grade it? 0:00 - The boys are…
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What's it Like Running a Card Shop in 2026 with Aaron from AAMint Cards
In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Doug breaks down the massive Wemby sale and is joined by Aaron Amarant of AAMint Cards. 0:00 - Intro 6:20 - Doug finished his latest set! 9:10 - Aaron from AAMint joins the show! 11:45 - How AAMint got on the map 19:00 - Starting a brick-and-mortar store…
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Is It Time to Buy, Sell, or Hold Wemby Cards?
In this episode, Doug takes a look at the greatness of Victor Wembanyama and his market. Plus, we dive into a debate about in-person autographs and look at the latest grading data from Gem Rate. 0:00 - Show intro and what is coming up on the show 04:30 - Buy/Sell/Hold Victor Wembanyama 13:00 -...
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What is REALLY Moving at Card Shows Right Now?
In the Hobby Handbook this week, Doug Plagens breaks down the names moving the most at card shows over the last month. Plus, how he consumes Bowman in the most boring way possible, but it is a money-maker. Doug dives into: The athletes moving the most at card shows right now The one athlete he…
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The Hype Around 2026 Bowman Baseball Is REAL
2026 Bowman Baseball is almost here and this episode of the Hobby Handbook breaks down EVERYTHING you need to know before release day. Trent dives deep into: • eBay’s new repack policy and what it means for sellers • Travis Bazzana’s new Topps NOW rookie card • Full 2026 Bowman Baseball product...
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Why Sports Card Prices Are Out of Control
Are sports cards becoming too expensive for the average collector? In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, we’re joined by Gary LeMaster and Jason Otero from The Ball Card Show to break down what’s really happening in the hobby right now. From skyrocketing wax prices and overloaded release…
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Fernando Mendoza: Bust or Breakout? + Trey Yesavage Sparks Hobby Controversy
The NFL Draft is Here! Clever Cuban Cards and Trent dive into the upcoming NFL Draft and take a closer look at Fernando Mendoza. Does he have true franchise potential, or are expectations getting too high? We also break down the current state of Topps Chrome Football, from skyrocketing box prices...
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Topps Chrome Football Prices Are Already Exploding
Topps Chrome Football is finally here, and the hobby is already reacting in a huge way. Clever Cuban Cards and Trent break down release day prices, early singles sales, Breaker’s Delight buzz, and whether Topps Chrome Football is already getting too expensive for collectors. They talk through…
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Why The Fanatics Credit Card Is Actually a Smart Move for Collectors
In today's episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down the biggest takeaways from Day 1 at the Topps Industry Conference, including Fanatics’ focus on wax health, more entry-level products, and what a sustainable hobby should actually look like. He also gives his honest reaction...
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Kevin O’Leary Threatens to Sue Over Card Deal + $20K Cash Bag Left Behind
Clever Cuban Cards and Trent are back for another wild week in the sports card hobby. They start with Bowman’s Best, including recent pulls, break ROI, standout patch autos, and why the product has been getting so much attention from collectors and breakers. Then the conversation shifts to the...
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Bowman Basketball Bot Mess + Inside How a Big Card Show Really Works
In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards and Trent break down the Bowman Basketball release chaos, including massive wait times, checkout issues, instant sellouts, and the growing frustration around bots grabbing product before real collectors can get it. They also dive into the...
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Optic Football Case Hit Controversy + Bowman’s Best Review
Clever Cuban Cards and Trent break down a huge week in the hobby, starting with the fallout from the World Baseball Classic, including Team USA’s loss, which players could see a card bump, and how collectors should think about selling into short-term hype windows. They also touch on a Jayden...
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Which Shohei Ohtani Rookie Card Is Best to Buy? Konnor Griffin Heat + Bowman’s Best
In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Alex aka Clever Cuban Cards and Trent aka JetBreakersTrent dig into one of the biggest collector questions in the hobby: if you had real money to spend on Shohei Ohtani, which rookie card would you buy and why? They debate flagship vs. Chrome, paper vs....
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Are Whatnot Sellers Ruining the Hobby? New Co-Host Reveal + This Week’s Hobby Chaos
Clever Cuban Cards kicks off a new era of The Hobby Handbook by officially introducing a new co-host: Trent Litjes (AKA JetBreakersTrent)First, Alex and Trent do a quick Trent deep dive, including his background as an active-duty U.S. Air Force captain, how he got into collecting, and why he…
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Topps Replaced 5 Missing Autos: This Is What They Sent
In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down the Topps Pristine “missing hits” situation and what happened after Topps confirmed five missing autographs and tried to make it right. The turnaround was fast, but the replacement autos and their value raise a bigger question:...
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2026 MLB Season Preview: Best Card Buys & Rookie Sleepers
This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Jetbreakers Trent to break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 MLB season. But before we get to the baseball, we have to talk about Clever Cuban's horror story about ripping 2026 Topps Pristine (missing 5 autos in 4...
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How to Figure Out the Value of Your Sports Cards
On this week's episode of the Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is diving deep into the most common question in the hobby: how do you figure out what your cards are actually worth? He breaks down the difference between list price and sold price, and walks you through the exact tools he uses…
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How Packman Could Have Avoided CRASHING OUT On-Stream
This week on The Hobby Handbook, @CleverCubanCards is joined by Nick from All Day Collectibles to break down the biggest story in the hobby: the Packman "Midnight Basketball" controversy (10:59). We look at the situation not to pile on, but to ask the real questions: how did a veteran...
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Did Topps Just Ruin Stadium Club? (Plus: Hobby Discord Drama)
This week, Clever Cuban Cards comes to you from a frozen Nashville to break down a week filled with broken trust in the Hobby. We dive into the 2025 Stadium Club pre-order fiasco. Topps originally marketed Hobby boxes as containing 9 Chrome cards, only to quietly change the packaging and announce...
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The Blueprint: How To PROFIT From Bowman Draft Baseball Cards
In this episode of the Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards recaps his first eBay Live, sharing insights from his first experience on the platform. He discusses the highs and lows of the event, including unexpected bidding wars and the challenges of extended bidding times. Alex also explores the...
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Topps Black & White Scandal? New 2026 Series 1 Design Reveal
This week on The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down a massive potential scandal involving the Topps Black & White set. Following a deep dive investigation by a Reddit user, the data suggests that the highly sought-after "Golden Hour" parallels were virtually impossible to pull from...
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2026 NFL Playoff Predictions & Sports Card Market Strategy
The NFL Playoffs are finally here! In this episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards and guest Brendan fill out their 2026 playoff brackets, debate their Super Bowl winners, and break down exactly how you should handle your sports card investments during the postseason. Should you sell…
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The Reality of Being Married to a Sports Card Content Creator
For this special New Year’s episode of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Mrs. Clever Cuban Cards (4:26). We pull back the curtain on what it’s actually like being married to someone obsessed with sports cards. She holds nothing back, sharing her honest perspective on the…
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MLB Offseason Best Buys: Prospects, Rookies & Vets to Target
Spring Training is less than 90 days away! In this Christmas Eve special of The Hobby Handbook, Clever Cuban Cards breaks down the MLB offseason market and shares his top targets to buy before the baseball hype cycle kicks back into high gear. From top-tier prospects like Roman Anthony and Walker...
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The Big Business Behind Low-End Sports Cards
Clever Cuban Cards is joined by Alex Biggs (aka @BiggzyRips) to break down the gritty reality—and profitability—of the low-end sports card market (8:40). While everyone is chasing five-figure slabs, Alex explains how he pays the bills with $2 cards by mastering volume and consistency. We dive…
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5 Tips for Becoming an Overnight Success Selling Sports Cards
In this episode of the Hobby Handbook, Alex sits down with Nick Morris, also known as All Day Collectibles, to discuss his meteoric rise in the card trading world. From his early days as a collector in the 80s to building a thriving community on Whatnot, Nick shares insights into the challenges…
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12 Bold Predictions for The Hobby in 2026
Welcome back to The Hobby Handbook with Alex, aka Clever Cuban Cards! In this solo episode, we’re dusting off the crystal ball to look ahead at what 2026 holds for the sports card market. But before we get to the future, we have to look back at the wild ride that was 2025. From Fanatics' total...
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Giving Thanks to the Sports Card Hobby, Probstein Reactions & PSA Changes
Clever Cuban Cards, AKA Alex, kicks off this week's episode with a discussion on the recent controversies surrounding the Snype auction platform, highlighting the technical glitches and questionable activities that have raised eyebrows in the community. He shares his skepticism about Probstein's...
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Hobby Hot Takes: Singles vs Wax, ARod vs Jeter & WWE Disregard
In this episode of the Hobby Handbook, Joe from Cut the Nonsense, joins host Alex, AKA Clever Cuban Cards, to talk hobby hot takes from singles vs wax, Jeter vs ARod, the relevance of WWE cards, whether the hobby actually wants accurate grading and more. They also share insights on the rising...
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Is it Still Worth Grading Cards With SGC?
In this episode of the Hobby Handbook, Alex AKA Clever Cuban Cards dives into the latest happening in the sports card grading market, focusing on the challenges faced by collectors and sellers in choosing between PSA and SGC. The discussion highlights the impact of grading turnaround times…
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Building Your Sports Card Hobby Network Like a Pro
In today's episode of The Hobby Handbook, @CleverCubanCards is joined by Alex AKA @armyatc22 , a great follow in the hobby space who you may have seen going viral on social media. Alex starts the episode by sharing a Learn From My Mistakes episode on timing your sports card pickups wisely and not...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to The Hobby Handbook, your go-to guide for turning passion into profit in the world of sports card collecting.
Hosted by the Clever Cuban Cards, this podcast peels back the layers of the fast-growing trading card industry, showing how a simple hobby can become a side hustle or even a full-time gig. From flipping cards to grading, building community to leveraging market trends, each episode dives into the real business behind the cardboard.
Whether you're ripping packs for the thrill or stacking slabs with intention, The Hobby Handbook is here to help you use the hobby to fund the hobby. Featuring collectors, creators, and industry insiders, the show offers inspiration, education, and behind-the-scenes access to a world full of potential.
Because this isn’t just collecting, it’s building. Let’s get into it.
Whatnot - https://whatnot.com/invite/clevercubancards
YouTube - <a
HOSTED BY
Alex Llansó
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Hobby Handbook have?
The Hobby Handbook currently has 62 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Hobby Handbook about?
Welcome to The Hobby Handbook, your go-to guide for turning passion into profit in the world of sports card collecting. Hosted by the Clever Cuban Cards, this podcast peels back the layers of the fast-growing trading card industry, showing how a simple hobby can become a side hustle or even a...
How often does The Hobby Handbook release new episodes?
The Hobby Handbook has 62 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Hobby Handbook?
You can listen to The Hobby Handbook on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Hobby Handbook?
The Hobby Handbook is created and hosted by Alex Llansó.
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