BY MARK HALPERN
For over 40 years now I have been buying, selling and trading all different types of sports and non-sports cards. I truly focus on the big four : MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL Over the last few years we have seen the surge of MLS cards, partly because of the World Cup but, Soccer has gained so much popularity over the last decade that the want for more is definitely there. Now Nascar, F1, WWE and UFC are beginning to gain popularity and with new licenses will definitely challenge for a good part of this hobby.
There are so many ways to collect/buy cards these days but, I am here to talk about the companies that make the Dugout (my company) still noticeable after all this time. Breakers make it somewhat easy for you to try and collect your team or your player through different kinds of breaks. One thing you have to realize is that buying from breakers is the same as buying from your local LCS just you get to specify what you want to get and if your fast enough to comment for your team or player then kudos but, remember there are most likely a lot of people waiting to claim the same thing you are so timing is key. This article is dedicated to the companies below that I am still with to this day.
TOP NOTCH SPORTS CLUB
Top Notch was the first breaking company I ever joined. I had been watching for some time and I liked Anthony’s demeanor and personality so kept watching until I was ready. I have been breaking with Anthony for almost 10 years now and have built a close business relationship and friendship with Anthony and has been featured many times on the network for amazing pulls and we will feature some of them at the end of each company we use. Along with Anthony is Justin Valentini and they together make a great breaking duo. Justin has been featuring more of the autograph memorabilia side of the breaks and the it gives the company a well-rounded breaking team. John Selbuski is the man in charge of sorting, shipping and with his team get all of our eBay consignments up and done very quickly. Here are a few of the hits they have landed us over the past year.
HAT TRICK BREAKS
Hat Trick Breaks LLC chief breaker is Joe Knapp. Joe breaks anything his customers will pay for. This goes for older product to current product. Joe has been an amazing friend and business partner. Joe is a Super Dad. When Joe is not pulling The Dug Out of major pulls, he is securing autograph signings with some of today’s up incoming stars and celebrity signings as well. Joe also while doing all of this is coaching his sons ball team that travels all over. Joe like the other breakers I will mention have had a close friendship with me and during the time I was in the hospital dealing with yet another surgery on my back and wasn’t even buying would check in with a DM to see how was doing and also offering help if needed it. Mind you none of these breakers have ever met face to face and treated me as family. Joe has pulled me some big singles but what hangs in my bedroom is two of my most prized collectibles.
RBI BREAKS
RBI Breaks is run by Mark Mariano. I was recommended to Mark by Anthony Loparo from Top Notch. Mark has to be one of the most patient breakers ever. While Mark likes to do basic hobby cases, Mark also dabbles in Retail side of cases and opening these for a break takes longer than a random hobby case. Retail cases are more boxes and packs per case with much higher odds-on inserts, retail breaks give you the same chance at getting regular base and same rookies in the more expensive hobby packs at a more affordable price. Mark is the master because I just watched him do 4 cases of a retail product that took over 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES and then he has to sort it all and when the sorting is done time to throw up another 5000 card break to sort. We all tip our cap to Mark. Mark has been featured just like the two companies above me but, Mark has pulled me something that no other breaker has. While getting a 1/1 these days on a card is much easier then when they were first featured back in the end of 90’s. However, Mark pulled me a 1/1 for the ages. A SUPERFRACTOR 1/1 ON CARD AUTO OF FRANSICO LINDOR. (I believe that was what the article was called.) https://thesportsinsanitynetwork.com/2026/04/30/a-1-1-for-the-ages/
Card Breakers are everywhere from your local LCS to Facebook/YouTube and now Fanatics live which is an application for only Trading Card Breakers as breaking has become of the biggest part of the hobby that is collected today. It’s never to late to start and you may remember having cards when you were a kid just to have your mother or father throw them out when you moved away to your own spot. Breaking can be an expensive hobby but, in today’s market I think each breaker wants to be able to sell all products at affordable prices but, when you pay X amount you have to make a profit or what’s the point. Breakers don’t set the prices the Hobby does buy the prices they have to pay.
The Sports Insanity Network 