AUTHOR: RANDALL CHROSITE | PUBLISHED: 12/1/24

About Me @Randallchrosite (Instragram, Twitter, Discord)

Cards are a hobby for me, not a full-time job, and I approach them with that mindset. I started collecting during the junk wax era, chasing players like Ken Griffey Jr., Bonds, McGwire, and Canseco, but stopped when premium products became unaffordable. Back then, I also set up at card shows, with Stadium Club being my favorite set (I remember chasing Jeff Bagwell). Although I never made money, it was a lot of fun as a kid. My favorite player was Will Clark, though my dad gave away my collection, which wasn’t worth much. Interestingly, the best Clark autos are only now appearing in anniversary and archive sets.

I returned to the hobby after convincing my dad to sell his PSA 9 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan at near-peak value ($45K, now worth about $3K). That card had been in the oversized PSA holders, showing how long we’ve been involved. My dad, a bit frustrated without a trophy card, had scoured shows for a quality MJ rookie back in the day. My interest also reignited after the sneaker market crashed, and I became intrigued by the gambling-like aspects of breaks, grading, and apps. It’s been a nostalgic and exciting journey back into the card world!

Why Bowman?

I focus on Bowman prospecting because it offers year-round stock market activity with consistent buying and selling opportunities across spring training, the regular season, and off-season leagues (AFL/Dominican/Complex). Bowman cards provide strong ROI, especially with on-card autographs and 1st Bowman cards, which hold iconic status without being diluted by rookie card oversaturation. Prospects have a 5-year runway for development, offering strategic selling windows, unlike NFL/NBA rookies, whose values are often realized quickly. Baseball's unique dynamics also allow players to break out unexpectedly, creating profitable opportunities. Sealed Bowman wax usually appreciates, and products like Bowman Draft are annual must-buys. I enjoy researching prospects, focusing on strong "makeup" players like Casey Schmitt, whose super auto plus others earned me a $10K profit. General Manager interviews also offer key insights into which players are worth targeting ahead of their call-ups.

What’s selling at shows (Personal Account)

I specialize in Bowman cards, making me a go-to person in this niche with a strong following in my area. My sales primarily consist of low-end cards, dollar box items, and inventory sourced from breaks and personal rips.

At large, multi-day “national type” shows, I typically sell over $1,000 worth of value box items, as these low-end cards are less affected by market swings, minimizing losses in unfavorable conditions. At local shows, I usually sell a few slabs from the case and occasionally receive buyout offers for my value boxes. Local team cards, such as SFG and OAK/SAC, and prospects from nearby high schools or colleges sell particularly well, with LAD/LAA cards performing similarly at Burbank.

I prefer vending at my mall shows for several reasons: free admission attracts regular customers, table costs are low (and splitting a table improves margins), foot traffic is high, and family members can shop while attending. Saturdays are the best-selling days at two-day events, and amenities like on-site security, clean bathrooms, convenient food vendors, and free parking add to the appeal. Bowman cards sell best during spring training or when prospects are called up, so I aim to attend more shows during these periods. On eBay, Skenes and Langford have been major sellers for me.

Selling 

When prospects reach the majors, I sell as much as possible, even if they aren’t ready, to avoid potential losses. For example, Victor Scott’s premature call-up due to injuries hurt me, and Ethan Salas’s rapid promotion cautioned my belief that rushed prospects are prone to fail.

I avoid buying MLB called up prospects unless it's a clear flip opportunity, similarly pitchers are particularly risky (e.g., Tommy John surgery). I prefer quick flips, like with Paul Skenes, though I missed peak profits around the All-Star break when he was a named starter.

When vending, my focus is selling, staying open to deals, and pricing competitively using tools like 130point and Bowman color multipliers. Bowman Facebook groups yield fewer sales than eBay, which often field better offers. For sets like Bowman Draft ‘23, where PSA 10s are scarce, I value slabs accordingly. Relationships matter—I disclose previous grades and share photos when selling cracked cards.

Buying

When I attend card shows as a buyer, I focus on value boxes, where I spend most of my money, though I occasionally purchase a hobby wax box if the price is reasonable. Value boxes often hold great steals, especially for those with the depth of knowledge to identify sleeper prospects—a skill that not every dealer or collector possesses. I also buy singles on eBay for convenience, particularly when searching for deep sleeper prospects, and I collect cards too, always on the lookout for team color or jersey number matches, which tend to sell better. For example, it was widely known that Crews wore #3 throughout his promotions, making those cards more desirable that usually do not follow “comps.” I also seek out short-print cards, such as those of Tre Morgan, Colt Emerson, Boeve, Bitoni, and Farmelo, as supply and demand drive their value.

I consistently buy a case of Bowman cards from Topps for their major releases. While I typically flip these cases to local breakers at cost or for a small profit, the more significant benefit lies in building relationships with breakers. Additionally, I stack Topps points and credit card rewards, which simplify the damaged card exchange process as receipts are already in the Topps account. For exchanges, the card must be graded 7 or lower and within the release year. A great strategy is buying damaged cards at a super deal, grading them quickly with SGC, and then exchanging them with Topps for unexpected rewards.

Draft wax is a must-buy for me since sealed draft wax appreciates in value (e.g., 2023 Draft Super Jumbos at $1.2k and 2022 at $1.05k as of November 2024). When purchasing from Fanatics, I maximize savings by using third-party cashback tools like Capital One, stacking rewards with credit cards and Fanatics gift cards, often bought at a discount (80-90%), or redeemed through credit card points.

I prefer buying raw cards to stay within my budget and play the grading game with PSA to add value. For submissions and preparation, I rely on resources like TheOnDeckTech. Playing the cracking game is also a strategic move; for instance, if a PSA 8 comp is too low, I’ll crack and resubmit to SGC to potentially get a 9, thus changing the comp entirely.

Trades

When vending at shows, I occasionally entertain trades but remain selective, focusing on Bowman baseball to stay within my niche and avoid unfamiliar markets. I also consider liquid items I know will sell. I move inventory through Veriswap, which offers a middleman service for a fee. Trades can be hit or miss, but I enjoy the gamble, sometimes trading to crack and grade cards, though it’s high risk. I prefer trading down to gain value from rare cards, but finding traders interested in Bowman can be challenging due to its niche. Trading helps move stale showcase inventory, and when I’m not vending, I trade for personal collection (PC) items, often letting dealers get value, as I’ve been on the other side too. While I don’t do trade-up challenges, I enjoy giving kids a free card from the dollar box.

Trade nights are also a good opportunity to trade and sell in person, get there early to grab a nice strategic spot for foot traffic and security or having to set up your own table.  I do these occasionally with great results when I have the hottest inventory combined with a selling window.

Breaking

Only join card breaks if you have extra money to spend. I participate mainly to chase rare "super" cards and support trusted breakers, especially on Facebook, where tax collection is less common and Bowman 1st Auto bounties increase. I prioritize PYT (Pick Your Team) formats for transparency and find deals in smaller or newer groups on apps. I avoid breakers with poor reputations or those who react negatively when breaks aren’t filling. Timing matters for Bowman releases, so I often choose in-state breakers for faster shipping. Breaks that fill quickly are ideal, as delays can hurt turnaround times.