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I’m very excited to share interviews conducted with several sports cards hobbyists, enthusiasts, champions, and hustlers. Check out the entire interview series at the bottom of this page and let’s all learn, improve, inspire, and collaborate.
Today, I bring to you Agostino from New York known on Instagram as @a_m_centerpiece_investments.
Tell me a bit about your background, any other hobbies/interests
- Supervisor at a utility company
- Other interests are watching movies, music, sports, family, smoking meats, ribs
What is your sports card background, how are you involved today including your collection and what you love most about the hobby
- I started collecting as a kid during the junx wax era but only baseball. Vintage was always cool. I loved organizing my cards in binders and trading with friends. Sports cards wasn’t about value, it was about fun and saving up your money to buy packs.
- I came back to the hobby recently and really don’t “collect”. I enjoy buying, selling, and trading. It provides me my own getaway to having fun and making money at the same time.
- On Instagram I have made many sales, purchases, and trades all while making friends with people who share my interests in the hobby.
Biggest sports cards related regret or mistakes you’ve had and lesson learned to help others
- I have a story that is both a great past “investment” and a regret. Back in 2001, I purchased a 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols auto RC off eBay for $315. At the time the card was valued in Beckett at $350. Guys at the local card shop all said I paid too much. Short time later the card jumped to $750, then $950, and then $1,500. I decided to grade the card and it got a PSA 9. I held it for a short time and sold it to a kid on AOL instant messenger (no idea how that happened) for $4,000.
- This was definitely one of those times I realized I can make some money. My regret today though is that the card is valued way more, but I do know that profit is profit, and it’s a great story to tell.
How do you stay motivated, what keeps you going or excited in this hobby
- My motivation is the thrill of buying the “next big thing” or the excitement of trading cards just like I was a kid only for much more value. I can provide more for my family with an extra income.
When was the moment you realized you can make money with sports cards
- Read the story above. Once Bowman Chrome made autos, refractors, golds, etc, I would grade and sell them on eBay.
What’s your hope for the future of this hobby
- My hope is that the fun and excitement stay true.
- Less fraud and scams. Yes, making money is great, but we were all kids once. Many more kids today and tomorrow need to experience collecting, trading, buying packs. If they eventually chose to make money off this hobby, that’s fine as well.
What are your favorite specific, detailed ways to make money with sports cards
- I’m more conservative. I buy and trade more for established players such as Tom Brady, Mike Trout, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Drew Brees, Mickey Mantle, and well centered PSA vintage cards.
- I tend to stay away from current rookies and prospects. The risk is too high to invest in, but I do know the rewards are very high.
- I feel my theory on these established players will never lose in value and will always increase. They are recognized names everyone always wants.
Anything else you want to say or share
- Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this. It’s fun sharing these stories, advice, and info. I’m looking forward to reading others. Let’s continue to have fun and enjoy what we do.
I hope you found some helpful nuggets in this interview. My goal is to help the community because we can all be more open minded.
Check The Rest of The Sports Cards Interview Series
- John Newman of Sports Card Nation Podcast and selling 150 1993 SP Derek Jeter RCs way too early
- Kyle of Wax Museum Podcast as a full time teacher and leaning on one another to help grow each other’s collections
- Jon, the Basketball Card Guy, an emerging media field professional and helpful thoughts for the many new people entering the hobby
- Ron, founder of the largest sports cards scammers group on Facebook with 27,000 members and how a $25 deal ended up helping countless number of collectors
- Kyle of KWJ Sports Cards shares several ways to make money with sports cards
- Agostino of A&M Centerpiece Sports Cards Investments and what he learned buying, selling, and grading a 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols auto
- James AKA Awe_SomeProCards and how nostalgia kept him in sports cards and continuing to learn about the hobby
