Sports Card Breaking Basics

Welcome to fun the world of sports card breaks. If you were a collector in the 1980s or 1990s, you probably remember heading to the corner store or card shop and ripping packs. Sometimes, you might have even gotten a box.

The hobby has changed since then, both the products and how you can buy them. Breaks let collectors split the cost of a product, usually by the box or case. This helps keep costs down and means you can chase cards of your favorite players and teams. You can also go after some big and valuable cards in a release you might not otherwise be able to afford.

The boxes are then opened via live-streaming so you can watch and follow the action.

Similar to a card shop, community is a huge part of breaks. You can meet other collectors in chat rooms and celebrate each other’s big pulls. Even if you’re not in a break, good ones like those on Fanatics Live are entertaining. 

How Do Sports Cards Breaks Work?

The host, or breaker, is basically the card dealer. They’re like the person behind the counter at a card shop. They list the product for sale, whether it’s a box, case, re-pack or something else. The buy-in period then opens. This is when you buy spots in the break. Some people like to buy one while others may purchase several.

Here’s what happens when the actual break begins:

• The breaker will open the product and go through what’s hit. 
• Cards are then assigned to the collector who has the spot. 
• So if it’s a team-based break and a Derek Jeter is pulled, it’d go to the person with the Yankees. If it’s Josh Allen, the collector who has the Buffalo Bills gets the card.
• This continues until all the packs or boxes in the break are opened.
• Cards are then shipped to collectors.

It’s important to note that in some breaks, not all cards are sent to collectors. Key cards like autographs and numbered cards are but sometimes base cards are left out. This keeps costs down, particularly on shipping. This often varies based on the style of product. Either way, it’s important to know what’s being sent out. Good, trustworthy breakers will make this very clear in their descriptions before you buy your spots.

Types of Breaks

Not all breaks are the same so it’s important to know what’s being offered. These are some of the most common:

Pick Your Team: 

If you have a favorite team and those are the only cards you want, a Pick Your Team (or PYT) break is probably the way to go. Likewise, there might be a rookie you’re chasing so you go for the team they play for.

How it works:

• In a PYT break, the buy-in is centered around a specific franchise.
• That’s your spot so all the eligible cards from that break from that team go to you. 
• Land the Yankees spot and you get the Yankees. Purchase the Kansas City Chiefs and you’ll get the Patrick Mahomes hits that might be found during that break.

Not all teams are priced the same in a PYT break. Those with the biggest rookies or lots of autographs from all-time greats typically cost more than teams that don’t have many stars on the checklist.

Random Team:

Random Team breaks are similar to PYT in that you’re buying into a specific franchise. You get the cards from a team. 

However, rather than choosing, there’s an element of chance. Teams are assigned randomly after the buy-in period. 

Because everyone has an equal chance at the more desirable teams, spots cost the same.

Division Breaks: 

Think of a Division Break as a team-based break on steroids. Instead of just one, you’re getting several teams in one go.

The upside is that with more teams, you have a greater chance at getting cards. Division Breaks do have a higher price tag as there are fewer spots to share the cost.

Player Breaks:

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Player breaks are similar to different styles of team breaks. However instead of going after the whole roster, it’s just one person per spot. 

Player breaks can be done by both picking and random. Because there are so many spots in these types of breaks, they can be among the most affordable. However, it’s also harder to hit.

Personal Breaks:

Want to bust a box right now? That’s what personals are all about. Many breakers have boxes or even cases available that you can buy and they will rip for you live. Everything goes to you.

Repacks:

Repacks provide an experience that’s similar to a traditional box break. However, they take existing cards that have already been opened and group them together as a new product. Think of them as a grab bag. 

Some repacks come with a theme like sport or rookies only. Others simply have a chase with the breaker stating a floor (minimum value) and ceiling (highest value) of what’s available. The top cards might be advertised up front as well.

Usually in these breaks you buy a spot and it guarantees you one of the packs. They’re typically numbered and each participant is randomly assigned a corresponding spot.

Are Sports Card Breaks Safe?

You can feel good about joining breaks on Fanatics Live. All sellers are carefully vetted and held to an industry-leading high standard.

Collectors are protected on Fanatics Live. While the hope is they don’t happen, Fanatics Live steps in to intervene if a dispute arises.

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