APL Cards Owner Shares His Collecting Story
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Artie Lewicki’s journey from The Show to running his own breaks is a tale of passion, persistence, and a deep connection to The Hobby. A former big leaguer, Artie has his own channel on Fanatics Live. In this exclusive Topps RIPPED interview, he shares his background, inspirations, and what fans can expect from his channel.
How did you go from professional baseball to breaking cards?
My background is in baseball. I played professionally from 2014 until 2021. Growing up, my dad was in the card business, so cards were always around, but I wasn’t actively involved. After my playing days ended, one of my dad’s old customers reached out with an opportunity to buy some cards. At the time, I didn’t know much about the hobby, but my dad convinced me to go for it. Then COVID hit, and I sold cards during a tough time in the mortgage business. From there, it just snowballed.
So you weren’t always a collector?
Not really. My dad was the collector. He’s in his seventies now and grew up a big Yankees fan—Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, all those legends. He taught me about vintage cards, which is where I started. Over time, I’ve expanded my knowledge into modern cards, especially now with breaking.
What do you collect personally?
Mostly vintage. That’s where my dad’s expertise is, so that’s what I gravitated toward—Mantle, Mays, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige. I’ve got a soft spot for players like Jeter and Jordan, too. But vintage is my foundation.
How did you get into breaking? Did your baseball career influence that?
Being a former MLB player definitely gives me a unique connection with the community. People love to ask about my experiences in the league, and I think it makes me relatable when I’m live on stream. I got into breaking by doing repacks, especially with vintage cards. Since you can’t just find sealed boxes from the ‘70s, we create our own products, which have been a hit.
Artie Lewicki pitches against the Angels in 2018 (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
For those who don’t know, what exactly is repacking?
Repacking is when we take graded cards—think Mantles, Mayses, Jackie Robinsons—and create mystery packs. Every pack has a guaranteed hit. Unlike traditional breaking, where you’re not always guaranteed an autograph or a rookie card, it’s a way to ensure people get value. With our repacks, someone might walk away with a Mickey Mantle or a Jordan rookie.
What’s the coolest repack you’ve put together?
We’ve done some monster packs—50s Mantles, Jackie Robinsons, Joe DiMaggio’s 1941 Play Ball, and Jordan rookies. Last week, we had a LeBron rookie, a Brady rookie, and more. The excitement in the room is incredible.
What can fans expect from your Fanatics Live streams?
We recently went live with our first repack show on Fanatics Live. The chase card was a Jordan rookie, but we also had a Jeter autograph, a ’62 Mantle, and more. Going forward, fans can vintage grails and more in our repack shows.
How can people join the action?
First off, make sure you join our streams on Fanatics Live. We set a floor and a ceiling for the repack values and then auction them live. Prices fluctuate based on what’s left, and sometimes, they’ll sell out fast, especially if the math works in the buyer’s favor. It’s a dynamic, exciting process.
