My name is Alan, and I’m a recovering collector. When I started collecting (e.g., stamps, baseball cards, Star Wars figures, comic books), these items signified a moment when life was good and full of warm feelings. In Michael Dault’s documentary Hobby Hustle, he dives really deep into the collecting world.
From the start, filmmaker Dault gets right into why people collect anything and, in this case, why people collect sports memorabilia. The film opens at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago and follows young Luke Kooy, who is looking to build his sports card inventory with the help of his family and friends. Hobby Hustle covers the ins and outs of collecting, why people collect, the history of collecting — especially during COVID, and even the gender gaps and how female collectors are a rare but unique breed. The Meat and Potatoes is the story of forger Cliff Panezich and “treasure hunter” Karl Kissner.
Cliff Panezich was a struggling baseball player trying to make it into the big leagues. While injured, he discovered he had a penchant for copying the signatures of famous athletes, aka forgery. His scam involved driving across the country to collector conventions, getting athletes to sign memorabilia, taking a photo for authenticity, and then forging the signature on balls, photos, cards, etc., and selling them for a massive profit. Cliff made millions…until the Feds started sniffing around.
Karl Kissner’s story is much more wholesome. After his aunt passed, she left her home and belongings to Karl and his 19 cousins. Her instructions were that everything she owned would be split evenly. Karl’s aunt was a massive hoarder, and there would be weekend parties where the cousins would tackle a small portion of the mess.
“…covers the ins and outs of collecting, why people collect, the history of collecting — especially during COVID…”
One weekend, a lone box was about to be thrown out as trash, and at the last minute, Karl decided to take a look. Inside were dozens of old baseball cards, including several T206 Honus Wagner cards. This card is considered the rarest because Wagner did not like the fact his card was sold as tobacco packs to children. Not only did Karl possess several of these cards, but one of them was rated a perfect 10 by Professional Sports Authenticators. Karl and his cousins held over 200 cards worth millions.
There are a lot of stories and information in Hobby Hustle, which accounts for its two-and-a-half-hour runtime. It’s also an indie production, which is probably why the film is not split into parts. As I’ve mentioned, the film2 goes deep…almost too deep at times. I would love to have it split into three parts, separating the love of collecting with Cliff and Karl’s story. That said, Cliff and Karl’s story is the film’s gold. Cliff’s story plays out like a crime thriller, with him, his mother, his associates, and one of the agents chasing him down, each telling their side of the story like a suspense-ridden radio play.
Karl’s story is one of positivity and hope. Don’t throw away your stuff…or at least the collectibles. For me, it was just fun to hear a story of an unassuming man finding his personal pot of gold and then sharing it with 19 other people. This single story is everything you need to know about the collectors market and how sports memorabilia is graded and authenticated. It’s both excellent information to learn from and nerdy information to get giddy over.
Hobby Hustle isn’t just a documentary about collecting; it’s a comprehensive look into the passion, obsession, and even the dark underbelly of the memorabilia world. While the film’s length might test some viewers, the stories of Cliff Panezich and Karl Kissner make this journey worthwhile. Whether you’re a lifelong collector or just fascinated by human nature, this film is a compelling reminder that sometimes, the things we cherish most are more than just objects—they’re stories, investments, and, in some cases, life-changing discoveries.
"…worthwhile..."
