Philly Leader

Matt Strahm's passion for baseball cards just might get him into Cooperstown, N.Y. Strahm, who might have close to a million cards at home, famously collects rookie cards (many signed) of players who have homered against him in the big leagues. His enthusiasm extends beyond his massive collection.

Strahm also hosts the TV show “The Card Life,” which debuted in June 2021. It is the first nationally aired TV show dedicated to the sports card hobby. Each episode airs an average of 415 times every month on 26 regional sports networks across the country.

Strahm’s passion explains how he got a couple of baseball-card belts made for him for the All-Star Game last month in Texas. He wore one belt for the Home Run Derby and another for the Midsummer Classic. There is a chance one of them might end up at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

“I might be sending it there,” Strahm said recently. “Not 100 percent sure, but they reached out, asking about it. My brother asked me, ‘Are you going to give it to them?’ I said, ‘It’s probably my only way in there. Of course I’m going to give it to them. If they want it, I’d love to display it.’”

Strahm knew he could get baseball-card belts made because he previously featured the work of Card Belts owner Will Elmore on “The Card Life.” They were well-received in Texas.

“The one I wore in the game, it’s parallels of all the same card,” Strahm said, referring to rarer versions of base cards typically found in packs. “He went all the way down to the Independence Day parallel, which is numbered to 76. So, there’s only 76 made. Now there’s only 75 out there because one of them is on my belt.”

Topps released a baseball card of Strahm’s card belt as part of its Topps Now Series.

“I put in an order of 100,” Strahm said. They sold 1,843 overall.

“It’s pretty cool,” Strahm said. “Now I need a belt of the belt card.”

It was not his first time being featured on a Topps Now Series card; after recording the final out of Game 4 of the 2023 NLDS, Topps put him on two cards.

Strahm became emotional early last month when he learned he made his first NL All-Star team and would be featured on an NL All-Star card—a dream come true just months earlier.

“It’s surreal,” Strahm said. “I mean, still I’m playing baseball and opening baseball cards as my moonlighting job.”

Strahm grew up in North Dakota and collected cards until he turned 11 or 12 before resuming with his brother in 2018.

“I opened up one box, and it was like I was 12 again,” he said. “Now, I have a spare bedroom full of them."

He describes himself as a packrat who enjoys product releases without seeking individual cards for sale or trade: "I look at my collection as a hobby for me... hopefully one day it’ll be an inheritance for my daughter."

Strahm advises collectors: “Collect what you love... Don’t chase the dollar sign." He finds more excitement in personal connections than monetary value: "I got more hyped about a Tim Hill base card because he’s my best friend... It’s kind of cool."

“My teammates will say, ‘I have a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. What’s it worth?’” Strahm added humorously but emphasizes that collecting is more about enjoyment than financial gain: "There’s just something about getting a box and looking for that top rookie... It’s just an adrenaline rush.”