About this episode

Josh and Michael share insights and strategies for attending The National Sports Collectors Convention, including budgeting, buying tips, and grading decisions.

The countdown to The National Sports Collectors Convention is officially on!In Episode 201 of Talking Shop, Josh and Michael share everything they've learned from attending the biggest sports card show in the world—from budgeting and buying strategy to grading decisions and navigating the massive show floor.We also discuss whether PSA's grading slowdown could impact the raw card market, what products are hitting hobby shop shelves this week, and which cards we'd be chasing if we had a $1,000 budget heading into Chicago.Whether it's your first National or your fifth, this episode is packed with practical advice and collector stories to help you make the most of hobby week. In this episode: 🏟️ Preparing for The National 2026 💰 Budgeting before the biggest card show of the year 📦 What cards are actually worth grading? 🧳 National survival tips for first-time attendees 🏈 What we'd buy with a $1,000 budget 📈 Does PSA's grading pause affect raw card prices? 🛍️ New releases: Topps Finest Baseball & Topps Chrome Black Football 🤝 Trade nights, dealer strategy, and collector etiquette Story LinksPSA Discussionhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DaT5g79GI--/National Sports Collectors…

People in this episode

Hosts: Josh, Michael

Topics covered

• budgeting for sports card shows
• buying strategy
• PSA grading
• collector tips
• hobby shop products
• National Sports Collectors Convention

Keywords

• sports cards
• National Sports Collectors Convention
• budget tips
• PSA grading
• collector stories
• hobby week
• card buying strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PSA

Products: Topps Finest Baseball, Topps Chrome Black Football

Places: Chicago

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