Former Big Leaguer Phil Hughes Runs YouTube Channel For Card Collectors

Phil Hughes is no stranger to performing in front of a captive audience. The right-hander plied his craft before stadium crowds hundreds of times over a 12-year career in the big leagues.

A former All-Star and World Series champion, the 33-year-old has transitioned from breaking bats and ripping off fastballs to breaking cases and ripping packs. Hughes threw his last pitch as a professional in 2018 and has since taken a childhood hobby to the next level, launching a YouTube channel that showcases the ex-hurler opening boxes of cards hoping to land valuable treasures ranging from Mike Trout autographs to pricey Pokémon. 

Box and case breaks have become widely popular within the card-collecting community, as they allow folks to buy-in on a piece of high-end or rare offerings that they might not otherwise have an opportunity to get their hands on. In instances where spots in a break aren’t up for sale, viewers simply enjoy watching the packs get ripped open, hoping to catch a glimpse of a “monster” card in the process. 

Just as gamers flock by the masses to watch pros like Ninja play Fortnite, many card collectors get their kicks from break streams and videos. This burgeoning form of entertaiment has been a major driving force behind the popularity of Phil’s Pulls, which boasts just north of 15,000 subscribers and has tallied over 600,000 views since its first video was posted in September. 

“I participated in a few group breaks before I decided to start my channel. It almost inspired me in a way,” Hughes said in a recent interview. “Some of the breaks can feel so mechanical and lifeless. I wanted to make videos where the only interest was the cards and not worrying about filling spots and making money, just showcasing the hobby.”

The allure is obvious, as viewers get to watch and sometimes chat with an accomplished major leaguer who just so happens to be as passionate about the pastime as they are.

“That's really 99% of why I do this. Interacting with people who share a similar interest,” Hughes said. “One of the best comments I receive on Twitter or YouTube are the ones where people say they got back into the hobby from watching my videos. I don't care how many views the videos get, just hearing that makes it worth it.”

Hughes’ laid-back personality helps, as does the California native’s mix of witty sarcasm, self-deprecating humor and most of all his genuine appreciation for the card community as a whole.

These traits, along with the regularity in which he responds, led to him becoming one of the more popular Twitter follows among baseball fans and card collectors — two groups that naturally intersect — long before he launched the YouTube channel. A self-proclaimed “wannabe chef,” the one-time 18-game winner went viral last summer after his tweets depicting a peanut butter and pickle sandwich sparked the Phil Hughes Challenge.

“I've actually thought about doing a how-to peanut butter and pickle sandwich video,” Hughes exclaimed. “It's definitely on the list.”

Others on that list include a Throwback Thursday series, where Hughes recently cracked open a box of 1987 Donruss baseball straight out of the Junk Wax Era, as well as giveaways and mystery boxes. There are also mailday videos, a fan favorite in which the former first-round pick unveils all of the various cards he’s ordered over a period of time — recently featuring around $10,000 worth of products in one recording.

“A buddy of mine actually first gave me the idea to do mailday videos. I'm already buying stuff for myself anyways. I may as well wait a couple weeks or a month and open up everything on camera,” Hughes said. “People seemed to really enjoy it. I get questions all the time about what cards I’m currently chasing, and what better way to answer that than showing them on a video.”

In addition to mail order purchases, Hughes has another friend who drops in every couple of weeks with a variety of offerings.

“My buddy Stephen is a retail wizard. He has a calculated battle plan of hitting every Target and Walmart in the area when a new product drops,” Hughes said. “Depending on his haul he'll stop by a couple times a month. Other than that I go wherever has the best price.”

He isn’t in it for the money, though.

“Opening product is typically a losing effort financially,” Hughes said. “I try to minimize my losses by getting the best deal I can.”

Once a setup man for Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, Hughes has toyed with the idea of other ballplayers making guest appearances on Phil’s Pulls. 

“I would love to have more guests on the videos! Ex-teammates would definitely be a fun one,” said the righty, who suited up for the Yankees, Twins and Padres. “I’ve also played around with the idea of having a PSA grader come on with me and sort of give an insight into that process. We'll see what 2020 brings.”

Hughes’ first memory of collecting was as a six-year-old opening a box of 1992 Topps baseball, an experience that may have foreshadowed his future career.

“I wrote my name on the backs of the cards in an effort to prevent them from being stolen,” he said. “I guess I had a passion for signing cards at a young age.”

During his early teenage years Hughes took a break from the hobby, but his interest was revived the first time he saw himself featured on cardboard. 

“I didn't collect for a period of time. Probably from 13 or so through high school,” he recollected. “I remember in 2004 when the first cards of myself started coming out I thought that was the coolest thing. It sparked an interest in the hobby for me and engaging with other collectors.”

That initial engagement endeared Hughes to fans and hobbyists early on.

“The interesting thing about Phil Hughes is that many people knew he was a collector as he used to frequent the old Beckett Message Boards. This was many years ago, when he was a prospect,” said Susan Lulgjuraj, former Marketing Communications Manager at Topps. “He was already great to chat with even then and a great proponent of the hobby… In so many ways, he is a mirror of many current collectors: Collect when younger, take a break to do the adult thing and then come back again.”

Having spent a dozen seasons in The Show, there are plenty of Hughes’ cards in circulation, some which he still owns.

“They're in a storage unit now,” he said. “I’d like to go dig them out and make a video about what I have.”

As far as the ones he showcases on YouTube, Hughes typically sells or gives away the lion’s share.

“I've become a pretty picky collector. I'd say my personal collection right now consists of less than 100 cards,” said the first-time father, whose son Harrison was born in the fall. “It's great on storage and buys me a little more understanding from my wife.”

Hughes does have some guidelines when choosing what to keep.

“One major criteria is on-card autos. I can't stand stickers,” he said. “Besides that it's gotta be cards I feel have a chance to be one of the most sought after of that player. Names like Trout, Acuña, Tatís, Alonso. Real original, huh?”

It’s tough to pick a favorite brand or release in today’s crowded marketplace, but he’s got a few. 

“I always love Bowman Chrome and Topps Chrome. They're so classic and well done every year. I'm also a fan of the high-end stuff like Dynasty and Transcendent,” Hughes said. “Even though they're crazy expensive you can see how much thought and care goes into the cards, that it doesn't just feel like a money grab. I'm also excited to see some stuff make a comeback like Topps Sterling this year.”

What about a favorite card?

“I would say right now it's an orange auto (Fernando) Tatís (Jr.) out of Topps Chrome Sapphire. I opened so many boxes chasing the Tatís and finally hitting it was awesome,” Hughes said. “I probably have more valuable stuff but that one is definitely special.”

Many athletes struggle with the initial adjustment that comes along with retirement, especially those that played for as many years as Hughes did and succeeded on the biggest stage. He’s been keeping busy, though, and so far is happy to have more family time.

“I was actually telling my wife the other day that last year was the first summer I had spent at home since I was 16. I'm very much enjoying it especially with the baby boy,” he said. “That's not to say I won't get the itch eventually, but for now I’m content with this next chapter in my life.”

Another California right-hander that’s tasted success under the bright lights is 29-year-old Gerrit Cole, who recently signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with Hughes’ former club in New York. Back in 2008, Baseball America profiled Cole as the best high-school right-hander to be drafted since Hughes himself.

Although the Yankees selected Cole late in the first round that year, he instead opted for UCLA and ended up the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, signing with Pittsburgh. 

“I've known Gerrit for a long time and think he'll do great there,” Hughes said of the now-highest paid pitcher in history and his chances in the Bronx. “Obviously so many other factors like injuries can play into things, but he's got the head on his shoulders to really thrive there.”

While Cole gears up for his first spring training in pinstripes, Hughes aims to continue growing Phil’s Pulls.

“My only goal is to stick with it. Continuing three videos a week and putting out unique content I feel people want to see,” he said. “It can be easy to get caught up in the numbers and I don't want that to be my motivation.”

The crowds are cheering for Hughes yet again, his glove and ball substituted with a camera and plenty of sought-after cardboard. Will others follow suit?

“I never came across anyone during my playing days that shared an interest in the hobby. I feel like it's gaining in popularity now though,” he said. “It would be very cool to see fans able to connect with more players about cards.”

The card collecting community certainly hopes so.

“Whenever you see someone like Phil Hughes collecting, it brings legitimacy to the hobby. For a very long time collectors had a stereotype, which I won't get into, but it shows collectors in a different light and perhaps even makes it feel a little cooler,” said Lulgjuraj, co-editor of the trading card blog A Cardboard Problem. “When baseball players like Pat Neshek, Hughes, Brad Ziegler, Dmitri Young, Josh Donaldson and others show off their collections, it brings a bit of a coolness factor to it since Major League Baseball players also like cards. It adds a common interest.”

That common interest can be a boon for everyone involved.

“It also makes collectors feel as though they're aren't collecting in a vacuum. It adds community to the ever-growing hobby, which is always helpful because while collecting is personal, it shouldn't feel lonely,” Lulgjuraj added. “In the end, it also exposes the hobby to others and has the opportunity to bring more people into the hobby. To me, anything that grows the hobby is always a good thing.”