Billions of dollars are generated each year in the sports memorabilia and trading card industry, but who are the buyers and sellers? This is Michael Dault’s documentary, Hobby Hustle.
The sports memorabilia and trading card industry has exploded recently, attracting collectors of all ages. Becoming a multi-billion-dollar market, it includes many items, from vintage baseball cards, autographed jerseys, caps, and balls to game-used equipment and rare photographs. The appeal of collectibles lies in their connection to sporting legends and iconic moments, offering fans a link to their heroes and triggering emotional responses and memories. Whether driven by nostalgia, investment, or simply the thrill of the hunt, collectors are drawn to the unique history and potential value hidden within each piece of memorabilia.
Director Michael Dault’s “Hobby Hustle” documentary delves into this fascinating and sometimes controversial world by covering the lives of three people and their families whose paths have all led them to the industry in unexpected ways. The first character we meet is Luke Kooy a teenager and son of a pastor. A young entrepreneur Luke has managed to turn his passion for collecting into a thriving online presence and when we meet him is looking to open a successful physical store, his success in social media captures the attention of collectors and those in the digital world.
Our second introduction is to Cliff Panezich a former professional baseball player and now convicted felon. After his playing career, he became a con artist whose elaborate schemes to forge and sell counterfeit memorabilia led to him becoming involved in one of the largest sports memorabilia fraud schemes of all time. A crime that landed him in prison but also an incident that reveals the darker side of collecting and the lengths some will go to for fame and fortune. Meanwhile, our third story is about Karl Kissner and his family who stumbled upon a hidden treasure trove of vintage baseball cards in a relative’s attic, transforming their lives overnight and thrusting them into the high-pressure world of rare collectibles. A discovery that became known as ‘The Black Swamp Find’.
Beyond these main narratives, Daunt’s direction sees “Hobby Hustle” weave in other stories from more collectors and he manages to showcase the diverse spectrum of experiences within this passionate community. From the thrill of the chase to the pain and heartbreak of deception, the film explores the human element behind the collectibles, revealing the inspirations, risks, and enduring appeal of a unique and popular obsession.
The cinematography in “Hobby Hustle” becomes key to all of this because among the usual static talking head sections that occur in most documentaries, Daunt at times uses a vérité style, where the filmmakers capture their subjects without too much manipulation or staging. He also uses clever and well-timed cuts to underline some of the points made in conversations, with all of this helping to keep us interested, creating an authenticity and intimacy that draws us into the lives of these people.
At 2 ½ hours, ‘Hobby Hustle’ feels somewhat drawn out. I found myself thinking it might work better as a limited series. More disciplined editing would have tightened the pacing and strengthened the film but despite its length, it still offers a captivating glimpse into the world of collecting, providing us with insightful observations on what it means to be a collector along with what motivates and shapes their behaviours.
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