High school card collector turns passion into profit

Sololiya Ebba | The Chronicle

Tyler Rini was just nine years old when he picked up his first pack of baseball cards at Target. He was not expecting much, but inside was a signed card, a rare pull that would spark a life-long passion.

At the time, collecting was just a casual interest, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, everything changed. As businesses, communities and corporations shut down, the world of sports cards skyrocketed. With people stuck at home searching for new hobbies during the lockdown, the market exploded; rare cards sold for record-breaking prices, and online platforms made buying, selling and trading more accessible than ever. What started as a niche pastime quickly turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry, and for young collectors like Rini, it became an opportunity to turn a passion into profit.

Now a freshman at Mason High School (MHS), Rini spends his time flipping high-value trading cards, live-streaming auctions and navigating the world of sports collectibles. It was not until about two years ago that Rini realized that his childhood fascination could become a full-fledged business.

Rini primarily buys and sells cards through eBay and Whatnot, a live-stream shopping network where users can buy and sell in online video auctions. On eBay, Rini utilizes the profit he has made off of past sales to buy new card packs, research past sales on high-value cards and ensure he is getting the best prices. Whatnot offers Rini a fast-paced, live auction experience where he can interact directly with buyers. In addition to engaging frequently on Whatnot, Rini occasionally attends card shows, where he is able to connect with other collectors, negotiate trades and discover rare cards that are not always available online. These shows provide him with the opportunity to network with experienced dealers, learn insider tips and sometimes score undervalued cards that he can later flip for a profit.

“I started [back in 2019] with $200 my dad gave me, and I’ve just scaled up and up and up,” Rini said. “Last year, I made about $5,000, but my collection is probably worth about $7,000, and that’s just the cards I want to hold. My goal this year is to hit $10,000, but I think I’ll surpass that by a lot.”

From buying undervalued cards on eBay to making big profits at card shows and through his own live-streaming channel, Rini has mastered the art of the flip. He carefully tracks market trends, checks recent eBay sales for pricing data and sends cards in for professional grading to increase their value.

“It’s like the stock market,” Rini said. “You have to know when to buy, when to sell and when to hold. One day a card could be worth $20, and the next, it could be $200.”

To determine the value of a deck, cards undergo a process called grading, which assesses their condition and overall quality while also allowing collectors and sellers like Rini to determine how much they can market a card for. Professional grading companies, such as Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS), evaluate factors like centering, corners, edges and surface conditions to assign a numerical grade, typically on a scale from 1 to 10.

“The lower [graded cards] will be vintage because they’re more beat up,” Rini said. “You definitely want a 10. That means it’s perfect. The centering [will be] left to right, and the corners and surface have to be clean for it to get a 10.”

A card graded as a 10, also known as a ‘Gem Mint’, is considered perfect, with flawless centering and no visible wear, making it the most valuable. Lower grades indicate varying levels of imperfections, with vintage cards often receiving lower grades due to their age and handling over time. The grading process significantly impacts a card’s market price, as even a slight difference — such as a PSA 9 versus a PSA 10 — can result in a drastic change in value.

To maintain cleanliness and keep up the grades of his cards, Rini ensures that his collection of baseball and football cards is individually sealed in protective plastic casings. These casings shield the cards from dust, moisture and physical damage.

“[The casings] protect the cards,” Rini said. “Even if a card isn’t super valuable, if it’s just sitting out, it can be scratched up. When it’s damaged, the value goes down, and then it’d be a lower scale card.”

For high-value cards, the condition is everything. Even the slightest scratch, bend or discoloration can significantly impact a card’s worth. Serious collectors often seek out pristine, well-preserved cards, with rare editions or autographed versions fetching thousands, or even millions, at auction. In 2021, a rare Honus Wagner card sold for $6.6 million, setting a record for the most expensive sports card ever sold. While not every card reaches such astronomical prices, Rini said he understands that careful storage and professional grading can make the difference between a good sale and a great one.

One of Rini’s most memorable purchases came from a Whatnot stream where the seller was not fully aware of the card’s value.

“The guy didn’t really know what he was doing or anything,” Rini said. “So [there] wasn’t a ton of people bidding, and he pulled up this card. It was [a] 1952 Willie Mays, which was his second year. He’s one of the greatest baseball players of all time.”

Rini’s impeccable knowledge of baseball cards allowed him to pick up on the fact that the card that was up for auction was a Bowman card, a line of sports cards that were highly popular in the 1940s. Despite a stain on the back, he recognized the card’s rarity and won the auction for $200. After having it professionally graded, the card received a 2, a low but expected score for an older card. However, he was still able to sell it for $1,200, making a $1,000 profit.

“For me, collecting isn’t just about flipping cards for profit; it’s also about the personal connection,” Rini said. “[Outside of baseball] I’m a Steelers fan, so TJ Watt is my guy. He’s part of my PC, [or my] personal collection.”

Beyond buying and selling, many collectors focus on specific players or sets, aiming to complete what’s known as a “rainbow.” A rainbow consists of every parallel variation of a particular card, each featuring different colors, print runs and levels of rarity. Some are numbered as low as one-of-one, meaning only a single copy exists in the world. For Rini, the 2020 Panini Prizm set is particularly significant because he first started collecting seriously in that year. His goal is to complete the entire 42-card rainbow for TJ Watt, a challenge that requires patience, deep market knowledge and a willingness to invest in the long game.

“The one-of-one Black Finite is going to be tough to find,” Rini said. “I think it’ll be around $1,700, so it’s an expensive set to complete. But I have around half of it right now, which is pretty impressive.”

Baseball is a huge part of Rini’s life, and not just through collectible cards. Since he was four years old, his love for baseball has been a defining part of his life, as he began playing Tee-Ball and is now a center fielder and pitcher. This year, he will be playing for the State-titled Comets on the Freshman team and hopes to make his way up to the Varsity level as he progresses through his high school career.

“[What I love about the Mason program] is how Coach Bly has done an incredible job and leads us all,” Rini said. “I feel like at Mason we care so much, which you don’t see at every other school. I’ve been proud to be a part of the team, and I’ve had so much fun during the fall.”

Tyler Rini is no typical MHS freshman. He has hopes and aspirations for his future as far as the eye can see, and his baseball card collection will play a major role in the achievement of his goals. With the money he makes off of individual sales, he not only reinvests into more cards but also keeps a wholesome end goal in mind — buying a house. Rini said that he hopes to have enough profit coming out of high school to buy a home at an early age.

Rini’s passion for collecting is not just about the thrill of the hunt or turning a profit. It is deeply tied to his love for the game itself. His dedication to both baseball and the card-collecting world fuels his ambition, blending his interests in a way that pushes him toward his future goals.

“One of my biggest dreams is to be on a baseball card,” Rini said. “To be able to collect myself [one day] would be crazy. I think that [baseball and collecting] both inspire each other. I love sports in general, so cards are a great way for me to immerse myself even more.”

As Rini continues to pursue his passions, he also dreams about the opportunity to meet one of his baseball idols. If given the chance to meet any player, past or present, his answer comes easily.

“It’d be Paul Skenes,” Rini said. “I’m a Pirates fan, and he just seems like an awesome, cool dude. Also, I could get some advice on pitching because he throws 100 miles an hour.”

Just as he admires athletes like Skenes, Rini hopes to one day leave his own mark on the sport, whether through playing, coaching or managing. And no matter where life takes him, one thing is certain: baseball will always be a part of his story.