✍ The Collector’s Crossroads
by Brews & Breaks

There’s a certain kind of madness that comes with the words “Gold Vinyl 1/1.”
A glimmer in the eye.
A tightening of the wallet.
A sudden belief that this box, this pack, this moment… could be it.

Welcome to the colorful world of chasing rainbows, where collectors (read: cardboard romantics) try to assemble every parallel of a single card. From Base to Silver to Purple Shock to Dragon Scale to Disco to Downtown Vinyl Mojo Fusion Laser… yeah, it gets wild.

And somehow, that’s what makes it beautiful.

Why I’m Building a Rainbow (Even if Nobody Else Cares)

Right now, I’m chasing every version of Demario Douglas’ Donruss Optic Rated Rookie. Yup—Pop Douglas. A guy most of the hobby probably scrolls right past on eBay.

Why?

Because I’m a Pats fan and I believe in his upside.
Because I love the look of Optic this year.
Because seeing all those colors together just hits.

And maybe most importantly, because building a rainbow is a hobby within the hobby. It’s not about comps or flips. It’s about connection.

You start with the base.
You find a holo at a show.
You snag a /99 on a 2 AM auction.
You get lucky with a /25 in a break.
You trade for the /50 from a guy in Ohio who also collects Patriots.

That’s the real game.
That’s collecting.

The Lost Art of the Long Game

Somewhere along the line, chasing rainbows became a bit of a lost art.

These days, we’re obsessed with case hits, comps, and color blasts.
It’s all “rip and flip,” “grade and dump,” “what’s the ROI?”

Collectors became investors.
Binders became slabs.
Stories got replaced by spreadsheets.

But not all of us are buying into that.

Some of us are still out here saving searches for Teal Velocity.
Still checking checklists.
Still trading doubles just to help another collector finish theirs.

Rainbow-chasing isn’t dead, it’s just quieter now. More personal.
And maybe that’s exactly how it should be.

There’s a Rainbow for Everyone

Some are chasing Brady or LeBron rainbows for the flex.
Others are deep in the weeds on 2019 Marvel Vibraniums.
And then there’s me, getting hyped about a $3 Purple Shock of Pop Douglas.

That’s the magic.
Rainbows aren’t about market value, they’re about meaning.

They're about creating something no algorithm can predict.
A collection built with heart, patience, and a little luck.
And when you finish it? That final slot filled? The one that took months (or years) to find?

No dopamine hit from a one-touch slab can match that.

Keep Chasing 🌈

Even if you’re missing the /10.
Even if Topps decides to add five new parallels next year.
Even if no one else gets it.

Because chasing a rainbow is chasing joy.
Chasing memories.
Chasing why you got into the hobby in the first place.

It’s not just about finding the end.
It’s about everything along the way, the people, the packs, the patience.

Lets us know in the comments what rainbow are you chasing. Pics of the chase encouraged.

So keep sipping. Keep ripping.
And never stop chasing your rainbow. ☕💥🌈

— Will @ Brews & Breaks 🍻

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