Meet Doctor Collectible
From East St. Louis, Illinois, to Atlanta, Georgia, Darryl Garner, AKA Doctor Collectible has been making waves in the trading card industry. He has become a prominent figure in The Hobby by spreading positivity, creating content, and amassing a following of over 19,000 on Instagram. His popularity and success have opened doors to various opportunities, including his inclusion in 2024 Topps Big League Baseball. We sat down with this rising star to delve into his journey, his place in the 2024 Topps Big League Baseball set, and more.
How does it feel to be included in the 2024 Topps Big League Baseball collection?
It’s a mind-blowing experience. I never thought that the product I grew up loving and collecting with my father would include me in one of their products as an adult. It’s surreal. Aaron Abrams, Topps Product Director, contacted me on Instagram. His message was actually in my request messages for a while until my friend Slab Strong told me to add him. He noticed what I do for the kids in the hobby and felt like I deserved my flowers. And here we are. It is truly a blessing and a testament to some of the hard work and positivity I’ve contributed to The Hobby.
When did you start collecting, and what inspired you to begin?
I’ve been collecting since 1997. Ever since I was young, I watched my dad take care of his cards. I never understood what he was doing until he explained it to me one day. He would only bring out his cards to look over them and keep them intact. As a collector, I took on my father’s morals and values, which contributed to moments like this: talking RIPPED and getting a card in Big League. You get to know yourself better as a sports fan, and that’s just with sports cards. I’ve collected many things since I was little, such as video games, comics, coins, sneakers, art, and more. It’s like an endless journey, and I’m never satisfied. It’s always something new to collect.
How has immersing yourself in the hobby impacted your personal and professional life?
Collecting has opened doors for me in my personal life and my professional life. For example, my father and I have much in common in collecting, which helps our relationship enjoy things together. At the same time, professionally, it has opened doors for me to become the first African American media ambassador for The National Sports Card Convention and share some of these special moments with my father. Like, my dad got a chance to meet one of his favorite baseball players, Derek Jeter, through The Hobby.
What are you currently collecting, and why is it significant to you?
I have been working on a Kobe Bryant Pop 1 Collection (an auto card from each year he played in the NBA that’s a Pop 1 in PSA grading). I started with his early years and worked my way up. Most of the graded cards I have were signed by him through interactions with fans. I find them to be the most rare Kobe cards to find. Most people aren’t giving up those cards, especially graded ones.
How do you foresee the future of The Hobby?
I’m looking forward to innovation in trading cards. This generation of collectors will push that envelope. What I do for The Hobby now can spark the brain of the young individual that can elevate trading cards to the next level. I plan to push the culture to new individuals. A hobby can be a great way to keep kids off the streets. We don’t have a card shop in my hometown. Where I grew up in East St. Louis, most kids enjoyed sports through actually playing it. Trading cards can be a gateway to that enjoyment as well. That’s how you push a culture.
