Brandon Steiner just collects memories

November 27, 2023 Andy Furman

Brandon Steiner. Photo courtesy of Brandon Steiner

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Brandon Steiner says it’s all about memories.

He knows – better than most.

The Dewey High School grad revolutionized the sports memorabilia and collectibles industry during 32 years as founder of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia and transitioned from the company to transform the industry again with the 2019 launch of CollectibleXchange.com — giving the advantage to the buyers and sellers of collectibles, and for athletes to sell product directly to fans.

“The collectible business is bigger than ever,” he told the Brooklyn Eagle. “More people – and that includes adults as well as kids. And the prices are up. In fact,” he added. “Right now, the market is the largest all-time.”

And if anyone would know about collectibles it’s Steiner.

In fact, the kid who was raised in Flatbush – Kings Highway and Ocean Parkway and attended P.S. 215 – recently acquired StarStock.com – a marketplace for sports card collectors to buy, sell and invest in their favorite sports cards.

StarStock houses more than 1.3 million sports trading cards including superstars from every sport and league — from Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani to LeBron James and Nikola Jokic to Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers.

“There’s a card for every budget,” he said, “With prices ranging from as little as one-dollar to 10’s of thousands of dollars.”

Steiner says he obtains his items from many Baby Boomers. “They’re the most fanatic,” he said. “And now that they’re older, they may be downsizing and selling their collection.”

He says now is a fun-time to collect. “And I just love parents and kids doing their collecting together – it’s a fun thing to do,” he said.

And as for kids, he notes, there’s two things they always like – athletes of all kind and vintage – older players.

Through today’s technology, StarStock is able to provide a one-of-a-kind user experience – low fees, and rapid speed for every transaction. “Star Stock stores each individual collection in a centralized vault and issues a digital; version of the card inside each person’s StarStock portfolio,” Steiner said.

This allows users to trade players instantaneously, at scale and at a substantially lower transaction cost than other markets.

“Our goal is to help service collectors with a white glove device. We will help them, organize, store (vault), grade and evaluate for collectors to buy and sell cards,” Steiner said. “Too many card collectors are confused with the market,” he said. “StarStock will help them, to understand what to do with their cards.”

Steiner’s CollectibleXchange now has over 150,000 pieces of memorabilia in stock, not to mention collectibles in regularly scheduled auctions. “The ‘BidCx’ platform has really taken off, and now we’ll be adding trading cards to our auction platform,” Steiner said.

The website – CollectibleXchange.com – allows both collectors and athletes to set their own price on one-of-kind memorabilia or an entire collection – to sell individually to buyers or at auction. Steiner and his team will authenticate and determine the value of each collectible.

So how did his collection grow?

“I managed the Hard Rock Café back in the ‘80s in New York,” he said. “And later at the Sporting Club – New York City’s first full-service sports bar. I hired athletes as ‘guest bartenders’ for charity events.”

Steiner was quick to learn most of these athletes didn’t have representation for speaking engagements or corporate appearances – and a business opportunity was born.

Steiner Associates was formed in 1987 – later renamed Steiner Sports – with only $4,000 in a one-room office and an intern.

By the late ‘90s, Steiner Sports had dozens of employees and represented most of the big-name athletes in New York.

Steiner claims baseball items, jerseys and signed baseballs continue to top the list in popularity.

As for the top athletes, names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Wayne Gretzky easily roll off his tongue.

“Alex Morgan is becoming really strong,” he said, “Everything Yankees is collectible. But for me, I move what people want.”

Steiner’s Top 10 include: New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart autographed jersey; Mets and Yankees World champion Darryl Strawberry autographed baseball; Knicks Hall of Famer Earl “The Pearl” Monroe driving vs. Lakers autographed photo; Tennis great Martina Navratilova autographed tennis ball; Villanova University NCAA champs authentic 2016 piece of the court; Ohio State Turf Plaque with authentic piece of Ohio State stadium turf; Yankees World Series champ Paul O’Neill autographed Topps 2000 #67 baseball card; Brittany Griner Women’s’ Basketball Team USA autographed photo; Jockey Victor Espinoza Triple Crown champ American Pharoah ’15 Kentucky Derby autographed photo and Donruss Baseball cards 1994 Series 1 Sealed Hobby Box.

“Steph Curry can drop 100 points tonight – and all of a sudden he’ll be the hottest item,” said Steiner.

For now, at least in this business, no one tops Brandon Steiner.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. Her may be reached at: [email protected] Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR