If you are a collector and haven’t yet discovered podcasts, you’re missing out. I am in the car a lot for work and it is pretty common for me to be playing a podcast during my drive time. Not only are all of them informative and entertaining, but they are all different in their own way. One of those podcasts is Lemme Get That Podagraph, with Drew Herndon as one of the hosts. I was lucky enough to meet up with Drew in person at this year’s National and asked him if he would do an interview for me. Luckily for me, he came through!
BU: Can you give us a little background on yourself?
DH: Absolutely. I’m 34 years old, and a single dad to the greatest little man in the world, Jude. I grew up in North Carolina and then South Florida (Wellington/West Palm Beach). I’m an avid golfer, and a die-hard football, hockey, baseball, and basketball fan. I’ve been working in print and broadcast journalism in some way, shape or form since freshman year of high school, and I graduated with degrees in Public Relations and Journalism from East Carolina University (GO PIRATES!!!). I have been involved in the sports journalism world for the last 12-13 years, and have loved every second.
BU: How were you introduced to the trading card hobby?
DH: My dad initially got me into the hobby around 1989-1990, going to the LCS in town (when it was still around), or the local card shows in the mall. A few years later I got serious into collecting when some kids on our hockey team all got heavy into cards. Like most, I took some time off during High School/College, but always collected in some way, whether it be sports memorabilia or setlists/gear from bands I opened for. I got back heavily into collecting about 4 years ago when Jude was born, and the hobby, as well as the community, has become a major part of my life.
BU: What are you currently collecting?
DH: I have a few different PC’s. My “Supercollection” is Carolina Panthers Topps Chrome. Every Color. Every Player. All 20 years. Beyond that, I collect Panther’s autographs and memorabilia, and any & all Thomas Davis cards/memorabilia. I also collect ECU Pirates alumni autos from all sports, as well as Patrick Roy, Tim Hardaway, Glen Rice, Alonzo Mourning, and other old-school Heat, Hornets, Marlins & Avalanche.
BU: Any favorite pieces you’d like to share?
DH: When it comes to cards, it would have to be my Thomas Davis Topps Chrome completed rainbow, as well as my Shaq Thompson Topps Chrome Auto Rainbow. Memorabilia wise it’s a three-way tie between a Patrick Roy autographed stick, a football signed by the entire Super Bowl 1 Green Bay Packers team, and a game used glove used in the Panthers Playoff run to the Super Bowl a few years back, signed by Mike Remmers.
BU: How did you decide to start a podcast?
DH: I had been wanting to start a show for quite some time now, and had planned on doing just a general sports show. However, after checking out some of the shows in the hobby, I thought I had an idea and vision that was different than the other shows out there. I went looking for a co-host and found one close by in Stu, and with encouragement from my friends Steve Grad and Brooke Francisco of Beckett Authentication I decided to give it a shot, and it took off pretty fast. I had zero expectations when the show began, I just knew I was going to work as hard as I could to bring an entertaining and insightful show to the hobby community. Hopefully, we succeed in that.
BU: What can you tell us about your podcast? What makes it different from others out there?
DH: It’s called Lemme Get That Podagraph. We just celebrated our year anniversary, and have some huge things in store for 2018. I think what makes us different would be our structure. A lot of the shows out there are more relaxed in their format, which I love as well. But when putting the show together, I set out to format it as a cross between talk radio shows you would hear on SiriusXM, and sports talk shows such as the original PTI, Dan Patrick, etc. Something with a structure and format, that’s fast-paced, brutally honest, and hopefully, informative and entertaining.
BU: Have you had any favorite episodes, or guests, that you would like to highlight?
DH: We have been blessed to have quite a few memorable guests on the show, but without a doubt the most memorable would be Steve’s first visit on the show. He was on the show discussing the Dak autopen situation from last year, and in addition to providing some new news on the Dak situation, dropped multiple bombshells regarding a HOF QB with “certified” Topps autographs on the market that are in fact autopen, as well as the Cowboys history of encouraging and providing their QBs to use autopens. It’s an incredible, and eye-opening listen. But honestly, all of our guests have been amazing, from Evan Kaplan, Director of Licensing for MLBPA, Tracy Hackler from Panini, Susan from Topps, Tom Fish, Tim from Signatures for Soldiers, the list goes on. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had the honor of speaking with many of the biggest names in the industry. I get excited for every single one.
BU: With the NFL season kicking off (see what I did there?), which rookies have surprised you, and who do you see taking off as far as cards go?
DH: Oh man, so many to choose from. The last few years have had monster draft classes, and this year is no different. As far as biggest surprise? Phillip Lindsey hands down. This kid is going to be incredibly special. If Denver’s offensive line holds up, he’s poised for a monster season. I also think Baker Mayfield is going to lead the Browns to quite a few wins this year, and in a weak AFC, I can see them contending for a playoff birth, although I don’t see them making it. DJ Moore, Cortland Sutton, Saquon Barkley & Dante Pettis are four more rookies I see carving out significant roles on their respective teams by the end of the season as well. Again, what a draft class. And that’s not including one of my favorite rookies, Derrius Guice. Next year I expect big things from Guice in Washington, as he was poised for a huge season before his unfortunate season-ending injury.
BU: How do you think social media has changed the hobby?
DH: I for one think Social Media has been excellent for the hobby. Collectors now have a massive community to engage with, and access to almost any card they are looking for, not to mention the amazing people you meet and become friends with along the way. It’s given collectors a way to be involved in the hobby even when they can’t make it to their LCS if they even have an LCS still. But perhaps the biggest way social media has changed the hobby is, along with eBay, creating the “day trading market” we have today, where prices fluctuate on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. Which could be good or bad, depending on your view of today’s market. But I think social media has been incredible for the hobby, especially for COLLECTORS, as they now have more access than ever before to help build their collection.
BU: Looking at the current state of the hobby, what is something that you would like to see change?
DH: Oh man, quite a few things, but I’ll limit it to a couple for the sake of your readers. For one, I’d love to see the community start to put an emphasis on SSP’s, low #’d parallels, cards that aren’t just relics and autographs. If the community would start to value those more, it would increase the value of the entire product.
Something else I’d like to see a change in the hobby is the end or adjusting of exclusive agreements. Competition is needed in any industry. I’m not saying 20 companies need licenses like in the junk era, I wouldn’t want that at all. But extending the license to two companies, possibly 3, and keeping the total # of products for that sport the same as it is now would lead to some incredible products, as the companies would be forced to focus on quality and there wouldn’t be as many “throw away” products in between the “must haves”.
BU: I completely agree, and have mentioned many times that I am not a fan of exclusive licenses. Anything else you’d like to share?
DH: How about some shameless plugs? Definitely check out our podcast, Lemme Get That Podagraph, available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, GooglePlay & Podbean, as we have some absolutely incredible stuff coming up. We have also partnered with Panini for Let Er Rip, a web show on the Lemme Get That Podagraph YouTube channel where we preview & review Panini products. I’m also working with Eric Norton from Beckett’s Fat Packs Podcast on a new LIVE show entitled “Driving The Donkeys”, where we are following the Broncos 2018 Draft Class and how their cards perform throughout the season. The show is Tuesdays at 9:30 EST, so make sure to head over and follow the page! We will be doing tons of giveaways and fun stuff.
Drew Herndon
Twitter: @LGTPpodcast
Storage Boxes for PSA Graded Trading Cards
PSA Graded Card Storage Box. 3-3/4 x 12-1/2 x 5-1/2″ (inside). Holds 25 PSA Graded Card Slabs. These boxes are made from high-quality paperboard that is wrapped in white paper outside. Boxes feature an interior rail system that the slabs slip perfectly into. The system keeps slabs separated and firmly in place.
