It’s 1992, you go to the store and on the shelf is a wax pack of Fleer ‘92 football. Opening the pack in hopes of finding an Emmit Smith, Barry Sanders, John Elway, Steve Young, or even a Reggie White. This excitement of opening a pack is something that Parker Phillips has thrived on and succeeded with over the past couple of years with today’s new products.
Parker is a Hamilton alumni and graduated from Hamilton in 2022. He has found a passion in collecting, buying, and selling sports cards around the country at some of the largest card shows in the U.S. He first got into the hobby through friends by opening packs from the store with them. He loved the excitement of opening and his passion for it has only grown. So much so, that he has started to make money off of buying and flipping cards to people around the country.
“It was a fun experience”(on opening packs with friends). “That’s what kind of got me into it, and it’s sort of an addicting process so it just took off from there.” Phillips reflected.
The way that Parker’s business is run is very interesting, he buys the cards ungraded and sends them to PSA to grade the cards. Always in hopes of them getting a Gem Mint 10, the best grade you can get. Then flips the cards to sell them at a larger margin than he has into it. ACE Sports Cards located in Holland has been very reliable for assisting his process by sending the cards to PSA which helps save on shipping, time, and other fees.
However, one of the biggest challenges Parker faces is the highly unpredictable market that fluctuates almost daily. For example, buying quarterback cards during the season almost solely depends on the performance they have week in and week out. He is able to slightly avoid this by predicting how players might perform during the season but nothing is ever certain.
The hobby is not always up, there are downs to it also, with player performance and public appeal. Parker recalls “ I have to assess what I think about the player and also the type of card and maybe hold onto them in case they get better but sometimes I just have to cut my losses.”
One of Parker’s best cards wasn’t even one of his personal purchases. He was gifted a Kenneth Walker III rookie autographed card.
“My mom got me that one for Christmas a couple years ago and that’s the only card I’ve ever gotten as a gift,” Parker points out.
Parker has flipped many cards to make profits but one of his most valuable cards he just recently sold two months ago was a Josh Allan rookie prism. The card was worth roughly $4500.
“I really don’t have much on me right now. I’m preparing for a show next week, so I will be buying heavy next week.” Parker has been preparing for shows to have the ability to flip more cards later on. Hoping for a good performance to increase the worth of all of his cards.
However, there is a bright future in selling and collecting cards for Parker. At this moment Parker is traveling around the country to big shows every month.
Parker hasn’t been going to a lot of card shows in past years. Going to the national card show in Chicago, Lancing a few times at a local show, and went to the national again in Cleveland. Also, he went to Dallas for a show. Coming up, Parker is planning to go to West Palm Beach Florida for another show.
“I really enjoy traveling and I want to stay like that at least find one big show in the midwest or a way, once a month, buy pretty heavy at those so that is what I like to do. I see a future doing that if the hobby actually upholds its value, it’s been up and down, up and down since covid, it’s been really high in covid now it’s a little below. It kinda depends if people stay and do it like they are right now. I can definitely see a future doing this,” Parker explains.
Parker has gotten to the point where most of the money is going back into the hobby. Allowing him to be able to make a profit without having to take much money out personally.
“A full time income,” Parker indicates.
His life doesn’t just consist of buying and selling sports cards though. He also has found a way of staying around Hamilton by coaching middle school football. Parker has played an important role on the team, working hard and developing, allowing him to get more playing time. Parker had been in the program since third grade to a senior he has been on a team. Sharing that his favorite moment was senior year against Allendale. The team is making a major comeback.
“It was really fun, we were at the point where we needed a win and that really turned it around for us,” Parker claimed.
Parker has been able to find a way to still live as a kid and not grow up. Coaching middle school football and collecting cards has allowed him to give back to the Hamilton community and make money by collecting and selling cards. Parker is a great example of a person who can still give back to the community and have a hobby that may seem weird to some people. But he is moving to bring back an old hobby that many people today have lost.