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We Told You We Had Something Cooking… Here's the First Reveal
👉 Watch the full behind-the-scenes video here:https://youtu.be/ooIHUUFtlS8?si=_Dl8eXOlm_BoyUCf Last week, as we prepared for the National Sports Collectors Convention, we hinted that we had been working on something special for this year's PSA Set Registry Awards. Today, we're excited to finally pull back the curtain on the first of two one-of-a-kind awards we had the privilege of creating. This custom Miguel Cabrera jumbo card was commissioned by PSA to honor one of the win

Eric Wagenmaker
4 days ago2 min read


We're Getting Ready for the National... Here's What We're Cooking Up
Every year, there are a handful of dates that get circled on my calendar. For anyone involved in the hobby, The National Sports Collectors Convention is one of those dates. This year marks my fifth National representing Reclaim Customs, and I can honestly say the excitement hasn't worn off. Every year brings new conversations, new opportunities, and new memories, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this year's show has in store. One of my favorite parts of attending the Na

Eric Wagenmaker
Jul 273 min read


The Night Stephen Curry Broke France: Preserving an Olympic Masterpiece
Some moments in sports deserve more than a box score. They deserve to be remembered. Stephen Curry's performance against France in the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics wasn't just another championship performance. It was one of those rare moments where the greatest shooter the game has ever seen reminded the entire world exactly why he's in that conversation. This custom Reclaim Customs card was built to preserve that memory. When the World Needed a Hero, Stephen Cu

Eric Wagenmaker
Jul 223 min read


Mickey Mantle, the 1962 World Series, and Preserving Baseball History
Some projects are built around a player. Others are built around a moment in time. This custom Mickey Mantle collectible celebrates both. At the heart of the piece is an authentic Mickey Mantle cut autograph, accompanied by three authentic relics harvested from genuine Leaf Trading Cards and an original ticket stub from Game 3 of the 1962 World Series. Together, they tell the story of one of baseball's most celebrated eras and one of the greatest Fall Classics ever played. Th

Eric Wagenmaker
Jul 172 min read


Reclaim CoLab: Where Athlete, Collector, and Entrepreneurship Collide.
Reclaim CoLab is the result of a shared vision between Reclaim Customs and NFL legend Herman Moore. Together, we believe the greatest collectibles are not defined by their rarity alone. They are defined by the stories they preserve, the people they honor, and the legacy they leave behind. Reclaim CoLab exists at the intersection of three powerful worlds. Athlete. Collector. Entrepreneurship. When those worlds collide, something remarkable happens. Experience, passion, creativ

Eric Wagenmaker
Jul 32 min read


Fake Cards vs. Custom Cards: Understanding the Difference
If you've spent any amount of time in the custom card world, you've probably seen the comment: "Those are fake cards." It's one of the most common criticisms directed at custom card makers, and unfortunately, it's usually rooted in a misunderstanding of what custom cards actually are. The truth is simple: A fake card and a custom card are not the same thing. In fact, they are often complete opposites. What Is a Fake Card? A fake card, also known as a counterfeit, is created w

Eric Wagenmaker
Jun 135 min read


We Made 100 Cards for Luke Combs… and Delivered Them in Person
This is one of those stories that almost doesn’t feel real when I look back on it. We actually documented the entire experience as it was happening, so if you’d rather watch it play out in real time, you can do that here: FULL VIDEO But for me, it started the way a lot of meaningful things in my life seem to start. Not with a grand plan, but with a quiet moment at home and a comment from my wife. Aimee was the first to notice it. Luke Combs had launched his own card collectin

Eric Wagenmaker
Apr 276 min read


A Day with Braden Smith at Purdue: Custom Card Reveal and Reflections on a Historic Purdue Career
We loaded up and made the drive down to West Lafayette with a clear goal in mind. Spend time with one of college basketball’s best point guards in NCAA history and deliver something truly personal. What unfolded at Mackey Arena exceeded every expectation we had. There is something special about stepping into Mackey. The history, the energy, the echoes of past games all seem to live in the walls. It felt only fitting that our time with Purdue point guard Braden Smith took pla

Eric Wagenmaker
Apr 73 min read


A Day in the Cardistry Cave with Herman Moore
Some days in this hobby feel routine. Others feel like something out of a childhood dream. The day Herman Moore came over to the Cardistry Cave was the latter. For anyone who grew up watching football in the 90s, Herman Moore was larger than life. A Detroit Lions legend. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro. The kind of player you remember not just for the stats, but for how he made you feel watching the game. So when we started talking about him coming ov

Eric Wagenmaker
Mar 253 min read


A Historic Opportunity: Babe Ruth’s Game-Used Pants and Reclaim Customs
Every once in a while, an email crosses your desk that reminds you just how special this hobby really is. Earlier this year, we were approached by a woman who had inherited a full pair of game-used Babe Ruth Yankees pants from her father. Not a replica. Not a swatch from a trading card. The real thing. The whole enchilada from the Sultan of Swat, the King of Crash, The Colossus of Clout... The Colossus of Clout! Shut up, Tommy. Items like this are not just collectibles. They

Eric Wagenmaker
Mar 64 min read


The Value of Aligned Partnerships
There is a difference between doing a project for someone and building something with them. Our affiliate relationships are not one-off autograph signings or temporary collaborations. They are long-term relationships with high-level athletes, teams, agencies, and organizations who trust us to help tell their story through meaningful collectibles. Athletes like Herman Moore , Evan Longoria , Blake Grupe , and Manager Pat Murphy are not just names attached to projects. They re

Eric Wagenmaker
Feb 233 min read


Where We’ve Been. Where We’re Going. Together.
There are moments when I pause and reflect on what Reclaim Customs has become, and it genuinely humbles me. When I first started this journey, I simply wanted to create meaningful, one-of-one custom pieces that honored athletes, history, and the stories that make this hobby special. I never imagined that it would grow into what it is today. I certainly never envisioned working with All-Pro and Hall-of-Fame athletes, professional teams, the number one gaming company in the wor

Eric Wagenmaker
Feb 203 min read


Goldin, Heritage, and Pristine: How Three Major Auction Houses Are Shaping the Modern Memorabilia Hobby
The memorabilia and trading card hobby has entered a new era. What was once dominated by local card shows and collector-to-collector deals is now increasingly driven by major auction houses that bring global visibility, premium presentation, and record-breaking price discovery. It is also worth noting that the auction marketplace is much larger than just these three names. There are many outstanding auction houses and platforms doing excellent work in the trading card and mem

Eric Wagenmaker
Feb 64 min read


How My Collection Changed and What the Hobby Taught Me Along the Way
The way we collect rarely stays the same. It evolves with our lives, our resources, our priorities, and our understanding of what really matters to us. Looking back over the last five years, and really over my entire collecting life, I can see a clear shift. Not just in what I collect, but in why I collect. This is the story of how my collection changed, and how the hobby slowly taught me to let passion lead instead of hype. Where It All Started Like a lot of collectors, my

Eric Wagenmaker
Jan 234 min read


Fractional Ownership, Corporate Consolidation, and the Future of the Hobby
The collectibles hobby is no stranger to evolution. Over the decades, it has shifted from neighborhood card shops and shoe-box collections to global auction houses and seven-figure sales. But today, the pace of change feels different — faster, heavier, and more capital-driven than ever before. Two forces in particular are reshaping the landscape: fractional ownership of elite memorabilia and corporate consolidation across licensing, grading, and marketplaces . Together, they

Eric Wagenmaker
Jan 224 min read


The Quiet Power of Provenance: How Collecting Preserves Stories, Not Just Objects
At its highest level, collecting has never been about objects alone. It has always been about stories . The artifact is simply the vessel. What truly gives a piece weight, meaning, and lasting value is its provenance — the documented, verifiable story of where it came from, who touched it, and why it matters. Provenance is the quiet force that separates ordinary collectibles from historic artifacts. It places a moment in time, anchors it to a place, and ties it to real human

Eric Wagenmaker
Dec 29, 20254 min read


The Psychology of Collecting: Why One-of-Ones Inspire Emotion and Demand
A thoughtful look at scarcity, storytelling, and why custom cards create deeper personal connections than mass-produced parallels. Collectors know the feeling — that electric moment when you pull or acquire a one-of-one card. It’s not just cardboard or ink. It’s the idea that this is the only one on Earth. Nothing else exists quite like it, and nothing else ever will. This emotional response isn’t accidental. It’s deeply rooted in human psychology, tied to rarity, ownership

Eric Wagenmaker
Dec 19, 20254 min read


When Graders Consolidate: What the PSA-Parent Company Acquisition of Beckett Means for the Hobby
The trading card and memorabilia hobby is undergoing a significant structural shift. In December 2025, Collectors — the parent company of the industry’s largest grader, PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) — announced an agreement to acquire another major grading authority, Beckett Authentication and Grading Services . Yahoo Sports Collectors already owns PSA and, through previous acquisitions, SGC and others, meaning the company now controls multiple pillars of the gradin

Eric Wagenmaker
Dec 16, 20255 min read


Actual Rarity vs. Perceived Rarity: A Collector’s Reflection on What Truly Matters
In a hobby filled with nostalgia, excitement, and big-ticket headlines, it’s easy to confuse value with rarity — and even easier to confuse rarity with perceived rarity . The trading card and memorabilia market has thrived for decades on this dynamic. But as the hobby evolves, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on what rarity really means, how it shapes collecting behavior, and how intentional choices can lead to a collection with more meaning, depth, and long-term satis

Eric Wagenmaker
Dec 11, 20254 min read


Collector’s Guide: How to Start Commissioning Custom Cards
Commissioning a custom card is one of the most rewarding experiences in the hobby. Whether you’re creating something deeply personal for your personal collection (PC) or crafting a unique, high-end piece to flip for profit , the process allows you to blend creativity, authenticity, and storytelling into one incredible collectible. At Reclaim Customs , we specialize in turning your ideas — and sometimes your existing memorabilia — into works of art that feel just as valuable

Eric Wagenmaker
Nov 17, 20254 min read
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