A Look Back at the Trading Card Industry

Rhode Island resident Peter Bria works as a systems engineer at Sea Corp in Middletown, Rhode Island. Outside of work, Peter Bria varied interests, including collecting trading cards.

Since the time of Babe Ruth and Sandy Koufax, collecting trading cards have been a fun way for fans to memorialize their favorite ballplayers. However, the trading game has exploded, evolving to adapt to changing times.

As of 2018, the memorabilia industry generates $5.4 billion a year. This figure includes sales from eBay, online retail venues, independent auction houses, and other retail outlets. However, this figure also does not include calculations for modern trading cards or cards produced in recent years.

While no set figures are signifying the popularity of the trading card industry, according to Forbes, trading cards are still a dominant force in the memorabilia industry. 98 percent of collectors have been collecting trading cards at some point in their lives. This major force has moved the whole trading card industry in new directions.

In recent years, collectors have formed group breaks as a way to connect the trading card community. Previously, collectors would find each other at hangouts, but at some point, these establishments fizzled out, leaving collectors with nowhere to go. When the internet became popular, collectors found a community, but unfortunately, these communities would not live up to the hangouts offline. Not until recently when the internet became faster would an online community of trading card collectors flourish.

Another evolution in the trading card industry is exclusive. Player exclusive cards are those that have player autographs or some other themed cards (hobby-only and special retail configurations). Additionally, exclusive licensing involves the major leagues licensing with one trading card company (Panini, for example).

The Health Benefits of Playing Ice Hockey

Red and white hockey goal
Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

A resident of Rhode Island, Peter Bria serves as a systems engineer for Sea Corp, the second-largest contractor to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport. In his spare time, Peter Bria enjoys playing ice hockey and following the USA Hockey team.

Not only fun, hockey provides a total-body workout that challenges both your cardiovascular and muscular systems. The fast-paced skating as you chase after the puck increases your heart rate and breathing, leading to a vigorous cardiovascular and aerobic workout. The benefits of such exercise include burning fat, preventing disease, and improving overall heart health. Since playing hockey includes periods of high activity and of rest, the elements of high-intensity interval training, your body reaps even more heart-healthy benefits.

In addition to being a good cardio workout, hockey requires you to use nearly all of your muscle groups, particularly your core and leg muscles. Exercise such as hockey leads to more muscle mass and enhanced athletic performance, coordination, and balance, as well as stronger bones and connective tissue that help guard against injury.