I I am excited about this episode of Cards in Hand. Wanna shout out eBay for sponsoring the series. There's been a lot of amazing cards on this series. Also, shout out Card Ladder letting us host these conversations in the booth.

I'm with a long time hobby friend for this one. And if you have listened to any of the conversations we've had over the years, you probably can figure this is about a Peyton Manning card, and that is true.

We are going to be talking about, a very rare and scarce Peyton, and we'll get into that in a minute.

But I am with my good friend, Drake at Drake's PC. Drake, welcome to this new series. How are you doing? Brett, I'm doing fantastic. Thank you so much for having me back on the show.

I'm excited to, you know, just chat cards, and we're at the national. I missed you last year. I'm glad to see you back this year. And, yeah. And I'm excited to be a part of this new series. So thanks for asking.

So, let's maybe just talk about Manning collecting first. I feel like over this last year, the man Manning cards has kinda entered this maybe new tier or new territory. Feels like there's been more interest, more eyeballs.

You are have always been very adamant in trying to find the Manning cards you've needed. Like, what has been your, like, mindset mentality if you've navigated kind of this new Manning terrain?

Yeah. It's certainly super interesting. You know, Josh and Chris know that I've been, you know, a long time question asker on the crossover each week of what you know, I've tried to find these Peyton Manning cards, and I can't get them.

And, you know, and the people won't sell or they will sell or their price is too high and that whole sort of thing.

And so it's been an interesting road to hoe just kinda trying to find, you know, the exact cards I want and exactly what lane that I wanna settle in.

Because as I've shared before with people, you know, with Peyton, I'm not just a rookie card guy. I'm not just a nineties. I'm not Colts only.

I'm not Broncos only. I it doesn't matter what jersey he's in, what year it is, as long as it's a playing year card and it fits my collection. You know, I've certainly gotten into the rarer that and scarcer the better.

So it's been an interesting road to where I remember a couple years ago, to me, a card out of a 100 was really rare. Then I'm then it was out of 50. And then you move into, you know, gold's out of 10.

And then now I'm getting into the one of ones. And so it's just been interesting process going through trying to figure out exactly what cards I like and which ones I really want in my collection.

And then ones that I thought I would never have a chance to own have really in the last year or cards that, you know, I've had a chance to pick up.

So So when I think that's an interesting topic where you are trying to, like you're evolving as a Manning collector in real time.

I guess, going up the ladder, if you will, like, how has, like, the brand and, like, the legacy of card, like, in appearance and aesthetic and that buck and all those things, how have you navigated that, as opposed to, like, the rarity and scarcity?

Like, how do you think about that? Because I think, like, I've watched your collection evolve. You've the card we talk about, obviously, is a card you don't see every day.

You've picked up a lot of shields, one of ones. Like, how have you in, like, maintaining and managing your collection, like, how have you navigated all those things?

Yeah. I mean, it's been tough because there are certain cards that I picked up in the past. And I and I look at the card, and I'm like, man, this is a card that I would never move.

This is a great card. It's a game worn patch. It's an autograph card. You know, it's a it's a a card with a signature on it and it's a one zero one.

Like, why would anybody ever wanna give up a one zero one, you know, signed card? And then you get into it and you realize Peyton signs a lot. So what makes this card special? Like, is it from a special set?

Does he add an inscription? Things like that. Then you start looking at the game worn patch cards. And I'm like, well, yeah, it's nice. It's a piece of maybe his nameplate or jersey number or something like that.

That's really cool. But then you get into the shields, and then you get into the captain's patches. And then maybe you can figure out what game those were used in, and things like that.

So it's just been an interesting process navigating through that as far as, like, what are really for me, what are his most important and significant cards?

And I think one, you know, certainly that are super shiny, certainly that have a legacy in the hobby, and then ones that, you know, from the game use stuff.

Right? Ones that maybe, you know, what game they were used in or what season it was used in. And when you think about the number of shields that he has, right, I think we don't know an exact number, but it's probably in the thirties.

And so that just these cards are tough to find. And, you know, as I've walked around the national and folks have asked me, Drake, you know, you're you're here, like, have you found anything?

And I'm like, no. The stuff I want is not likely not going to be here. Which is an interesting spot to be in because it's like, then people are questioning, well, then why are you here? You know? Why are you here, Drake?

Well, you know, the main reason I'm here is just is honestly to meet up with people. Right? I mean, I I this is a must do hobby event for me every single year. And it doesn't matter to me if I show up here and I don't buy a single card.

I enjoy just walking around, meeting friends, seeing people that you talk to every single day, but you only see once a year. You know, you grab dinner with them, you grab drinks with them, walk around the show with them.

And just seeing significant pieces, whether it's historical memorabilia, you know, like, you see all the original Batman costume and, you know, there's just there's sick things you don't see really any place else in person except for the national.

And so that to me just the experience aspect is fun. And then it's also neat too.

And I you know, a lot of people don't like this, but I have some friends at home that, you know, asked me. They said, hey, you know, my nephew's into cards. My son's into cards, whatever. If you see this, let me know because I want it.

And that to me is a fun challenge. When you're looking for something that's not in your niche and you walk up to the table and say, hey, I'm looking for a a Nolan Ryan autograph or a patch game worn patch card.

And just trying to sort through that when it's an area that you don't really, you know, that you're not really a part of.

So that's neat to me. I love it. And I know that we'll jump right into the card. And you had a a reason to be here.

Certainly, Manning related last year. And I think a year ago to date, you acquired this card. And the card we're talking about is the 1998 Skybox EX 2,001 Peyton Manning, a central credential future, and it's out of Seven.

It's out of seven, which is you look at Manning's catalog, rarest, scarcest rookie cards. This card is a ghost card. You don't see it every day. I know you and Manning collecting.

You obviously had your eyes set on this one. I'm sure it was on your list. Maybe talk us through a year year ago today how it all unfolded for you to land this card in your collection. Yep. Absolutely. So I'm sitting in my hotel.

I was at the Embassy Suites in Cleveland, and I get a DM or or I woke up that morning. My phone was on do not disturb. I take it off of that and I had multiple DMs and said, did you see this? Did you see this? See this?

Well, and it was John who's at spur fan at tech, posted on his story that, hey, he's bringing these to national. And I'm thinking, well, I had asked him a few weeks ago about the card if it might be at national and he told me no.

So I reached out to John and I said, hey, a bunch of people messaged me and I saw your story and you're bringing it to national.

And he said, yeah, I'm, I'm just planning to get it reholder in the new slabs. He said, because I like the new thicker material and it looks nicer and that sort of thing. I said, that's fair, but let's let's talk about it.

Right? And he said, no. I'm not really wanting to move it and that whole sort of thing. So then I go to the National. And I don't remember exactly how I found out that he was maybe going to be moving it.

But I did find out through the grapevine that someone said that he had John kinda has a philosophy where if he brings a card to national, that means he's open to moving it.

Right? And so I learned quickly learned that. And so I reached out to him. I reached out to Nick through the WARF. I said, hey, I've got a chance to buy this card. I don't know what the price is yet, but we need to be ready. Right?

And so this this card, I had asked others in the hobby about it previously, but I was given prices that were, you know, astronomically higher than what I thought it was worth, and are are really more than what I was willing to pay.

And so when John came back with a price that was a significant price, it was less than anyone had ever told me, you know, that they would sell theirs for.

And when you know where every copy is and you know who's has the diamond hand, so to speak, that's holding them, I mean, you kinda just if you really want the card, you just you gotta pay what they're asking. Right?

And so I reached out to Nick. He connected with John. He wired in the money, I believe the next day. And then I you know, without having all my cards in hand, I, you know, I had to start thinking about what what I was going to move.

And, of course, Nick knew that I was good for it and, things like that. And so then that consolidation process started right then.

And so, you know, I went from, you know, in less than twenty four hours not even thinking that the card would be at national to finding out that it is going to be at national to securing the card.

So we have to make decisions quickly that are very expensive decisions for these cards that we want, especially you probably thought in your head.

I I guess, this is a question I don't wanna assume, but did you think that this was the only opportunity you had with John to acquire this card and that this opportunity might leave once we are all out of the same city?

Yeah. Yeah. It seemed like it was one of those because you were in person. I think that speaks to going to shows and being in person and being able to deal very quickly.

I think that played a part of that. Like, if I was just sitting at home, let's just say, and he's at the show and I'm like, hey, can we figure something out?

He's probably gonna sell it to somebody else. Because that was the other thing too, is he told me the price. And I said, well, let me think on it. Would you take an offer?

This sort of thing. And he goes, well, I've already mentioned it to someone else too, and they're considering likely buying it as well. So, again, that spoke to having to move very, very quickly. Right? So talk about the sacrifice.

Obviously, because you picked up this card and there was funding involved, like, your job on the other side of that is to go home and look at the collection and be like, how do I come up with these funds through cards?

And I would imagine part of the sacrifice was letting go of a bunch of Manning cards that were core cards to the first wave of your collection. We talk about judgment day a lot, sacrifice consolidation.

Like, how did you walk into when you got back home picking through the cards? Like, I'm sure it wasn't easy. It was probably painful, but, like, what mindset did you take when you got into it?

Yeah. The first thing I'll say, and I probably should have mentioned previously, is I had actually made a deal with, Steve, who's known as Diamond Card Collector before.

And he had the Peyton Manning, the Ultra Masterpiece rookie card series one and series two.

And I had just picked those up. And, you you talk about sometimes and you hear about you get a card in the mail, let's just say, and you look at it and it doesn't hit like you wanted it to.

Does that make sense? And whenever I looked at these cards, I was like, these are great cards and they're masterpiece, ultras. I should love everything everything about them.

But for me personally, and that doesn't mean I'm not talking anything bad about the card. But for me personally, for the price that we value them and the trade deal that we did, it, it didn't hit the way that it should.

And so I as soon as I got this card, the credentials, I knew I had those other two cards in hand, the of the masterpieces, series one, series two.

And I knew where where we valued it at. And so I was able to give those to Fanatics Collect through Nick at the show, and that took a monumental piece of the price away, boom, right then.

So then whenever I went back home, I had the number the the the number left over was about $25,000.

And that was much more easier for me to handle and manage. Right? And so what I do is is I keep a spreadsheet of all my cards. And I started going through it and I just was pulling things out, building to that number that I needed.

And once I got there, I was like, okay, stop it. Because what I try to do is not have to give away any more cards than I have to. And so that was the process that I took and what worked for me.

How long did this process take for you to get even? Yeah. And, like, what what did it feel like once you were finally even and you've kinda felt for the first time that this is my card?

Well, the process is stressful. I'll I'll say that. I mean, obviously, it's a lot easier to buy a card because then it's just like boom, snap, you buy it, whatever price point you're at.

But in this case, right, you things are selling over the course of a few months. And, you know, one was went to a premier auction in August.

The next was a premier auction in September, and then other cards were selling in weekly auctions throughout. And so, you know, you have in mind what about what you think the cards are gonna do, but it's for me, it's real stressful.

You know, just hoping that cards do what you think they're gonna do. But once that final thing hit and had on the spreadsheet and I pull up the spreadsheet and it said, you know, remaining, you know, left for funding $0, I was ecstatic.

I was so excited that I was there, and I was like, this is my card. I cannot believe a card that I never thought I would be would be able to own is now mine. Okay. So let's talk about the card itself.

And it's called cards in hand, and I've got this card in my hand. And it's just, a gorgeous card. It's a gorgeous card. What let's talk about, like, the set, the aesthetics, credentials, it being the rarest one.

Let's get into, like, what this card does for you as a collector. Yeah. So, you know, obviously, the '98 Skybox EX 2,001 essential credentials, you know, the these cards are made on an acetate type type surface.

And so it's a little bit different than the typical, you know, as far as, like, the paper and the cardboard and that sort of thing. And so first, that's that's the difference there.

So it's just it looks and it feels different. And then you get the design on there where it's kind of that, again, the clear acetate with the different colors with the pink and purple hues and that sort of thing.

And you can hold it up and look through the light, and it reflects refracts through the light, you know, in a certain way.

Certainly from a numbering standpoint with them being numbered out of seven, it's just it's it's it's a really neat touch. Right?

Because, you know, they have the future in this set is the lower numbered cards and then at least for the rookies. And then, so he's got a credentials now that's numbered out of 54, which then goes to the actual number of the card.

So I think it's neat the way they work the numbering around, you know, with the, with the rookies and or or the folks in the set as far as, you know, how they with the different parallels that they use and how the rookies were a different set structure than the veterans were.

Where does this card when you think about your Manning collection and all the great cards you have, where does this card sit?

Oh, it's at the very top. Very, very top. And it's not just a value thing. Right? I just you know, certainly value plays plays a huge part in that.

But I think just the sacrifices I had to make and then knowing that card was at, you know, the apex of Peyton Manning cards that I wanted and thinking that I would never have a chance to get it.

I think just being able to finally have the opportunity to get that and then knowing what I had to do to give up to get there, it just it means a lot to me.

So I, you know, with the rare and scarce nineties stuff, we've seen just especially starting last year, we've just seen, like, this, excursion of collectors picking up these cards, stashing away.

But then we, you know, we see this merino card that so got bought for a high price and got sold, you know, and got cut in half.

Obviously, like, I think the feedback is, like, if you got a card like that, don't try to sell it right away because the chance that people are gonna be out there to elevate it probably goes down.

But, like, obviously, like, this is your card and you love it. But, like, how do you when you see other stuff in the similar adjacent categories, does that, like I don't know.

Do you do you think about that? Or does that impact you? Or do you just, like, say, like, that's part of what happens in the market, and I'm just worrying about my card.

Like Yeah. I mean, for me, it's like it's like I'm just worried about my card, and, you know, I'm not planning to sell sell it anytime soon. You know, you get you get feedback a lot on different cards you have, and they're like, hey.

You know, such and such card did this or, you know, like, what what do you think about your cards? And it doesn't it doesn't have any bearing on me because this is a type of card that I'm not planning to move anytime soon.

Right? And so it's, it it it's it's just I mean, it's it's interesting to watch Yeah. What other cards do and things like that and try to figure out why, like you mentioned with the Merino.

Right? That's not a card you buy and sell in six months. Same thing with this card. If I bought it and six months later tried to turn around and sell it, you know, then maybe I'll lose money on it.

Right? And so that's not really my goal there. Right? And so you just have to understand and see what's going on. Yeah. Yeah. When you when you have a card like this, it brings a lot of attention.

Right? There's only seven copies. There's a limited pool. And I'm sure, like, even outside Manning group of collectors, like, might want this card, especially nineties rare and scarce collectors.

Have since you've had this card and it's been a year as we record this, like, have you been approached by anyone to try to pull this from you?

Well, not, not really. I mean, John is, he's we've messaged a few times, and he said, man, I regret selling that card.

He's told me if you don't, he's like, I shouldn't have sold you that card. I shouldn't have done it. So I know he he regrets moving it, but I think he knows it's in a great home and, and and that sort of thing.

But I think, you know, I think people know me and know that I just I don't make cards like this. You know? Like, I really don't move them. You know? Like, I always say people will message me, you know, and say, hey.

Is this card for sale? Or, hey, if you ever move this, let me know. And I'm like, it's it's not for sale. You know? And so I think people just finally get understanding that, hey, Drake's not moving this card. Yeah.

You know? And if I wanna if I really want this card, I'm gonna have to come really, really strong. And, you know, for the average collector, they're not willing to do that. So So this is going to be a tough question for you, Drake.

And I could I've never asked you this, and I I wanna know. You've got this card, which certainly, if you're ranking manning cards, would certainly be on the list of top 10 greatest Manning cards, this would be on the list.

In your mind, in the way you think about Manning cards, where do you what cards, if any, would you put in front of this one in terms of greatest Peyton Manning cards of all time?

You know, I don't know if there's any card I would put in front of this, you know, in terms of greatest Manning cards of all time.

You know, and some people may say, well, if you've gotten the greatest card of all time, then why would you buy other cards?

Like, why would you still want other cards? And I'm going, well, I'd still like to, as much as I can, complete his, you know, finest super factor run.

I'd like to complete his Topps Chrome super factor run. You know? One of the car one of the cards I was actually after here, the 1998 Bowman Chrome golden anniversary out of five was a card that was on my want list.

And, actually, mister Peyton Manning himself bought it before I had a chance to go do it. And so, obviously, if Peyton's buying his his own, cards now, that that's incredible.

Right? But it's certainly, it, it it it's it it creates somebody else that I have to compete with for his best cards now, which is which is, fun and terrifying at the same time.

Yeah. Let let's, like, obviously, this was an in person deal for the future.

But, you know, these higher end Manning auctions now, you just hear all these rumors of Peyton bidding and being in the active. He's got a son. They collect and which is great, but I don't know.

Does that change your mindset at all with, like, you trying to land a card knowing that the guy that you collect who's probably I don't know your financial situation, Drake, nor do I want to, but I'm annoying Manning.

Manning's doing pretty well for himself.

So, like, does that impact you at all with knowing that he's after these cards that you're after? You know, I I mean, it doesn't impact me from a, hey. I'm probably not gonna bid on this because he might be bidding.

But certainly, if it goes higher than a price that I'm willing to pay, right, then I'm just gonna stop and just kinda, you know, say, hey. Well, he he wanted the card more and that whole sort of thing.

So but but but no. It it is kinda something that anytime a high end Peyton Manning card comes to auction is gonna be in the back of my mind going, I wonder if he's also after this card as well.

So it's kinda neat from that aspect, but I also think it's it's really cool that he's a part of the hobby. He's wanting to get his own cards to, you know, leave a legacy for, you know, his son, and that sort of thing.

And then it's also been, the other thing I thought about too, and people have asked me this question is, like, well well, Drake, now that Peyton's in the hobby and he's buying his own cards, like, what if he approached you and said, hey.

I wanna buy your credentials or I wanna buy your super factor. Like, what would you say? And I'm like, I really haven't thought about that. Don't don't don't give an answer until the situation actually presents itself.

As we kinda round this out, we all have these moments during the week where we're like, alright. I just wanna spend, like, five minutes with my cards or ten minutes with my cards.

When you, like, are doing that and you're spending time with your cards and you pull out this card, like, what sort of thoughts, emotions go on in your head, you know, having this card for a year?

Does it still give you the same feeling as you did when you picked it up?

Talk about that. Yeah. I mean, it's the same feeling, and I'd probably say even better feeling. Right? Is, you know and I think that's why if you ever decide to move cards, that's probably why you move them.

Right? You pull them out and you're looking through it, and you're like, this just doesn't hit the same way that it did. But every time I pull this card, you know, from the case, I'm like, I can't believe I own this card.

And I I've shared with you before and some others and, you know, I'm I'm one of those people that any card in my collection, if someone asks, can you tell me the story about it?

I can tell you where I was and the story behind it and what I had to do, like, what I had to give up to get it, you know, what the person, like, where the previous person got it and that whole sort of thing.

And I'm I I try to preach all the time. I'm such a relational person in the hobby. I hate the transactional aspect of the hobby. I know it's a necessary evil. But, again, like we spoke previously about the national, that's what I love.

I love coming and just building relationships with folks in the hobby. I love to hang out, you know, with the guys around here, and and and and and and, and that sort of thing.

And so that's that's it's it still hits the same, if not better, today than it did a year ago. And I think a year from now, you know, it'll only increase that, you know, the love that I have for the card.

I am glad we could get Peyton Manning card on this series, specifically this Peyton Manning card. Drake, you're building one heck of a collection. Thank you for sharing the story of this amazing card. Thank you, Brett, for having me.