WEST SACRAMENTO - Shea Langeliers started this offseason with a simple idea: pass some time back home in Texas by ordering a pack of Marvel collectible trading cards.
He liked Marvel, figured it would be fun to chase a few cards of his favorite superheroes, and then the hobby kept snowballing. Less than a year later, the Athletics’ All-Star catcher says the collection now fills “Two suitcases full,” Langeliers said with a laugh. “So, a decent amount.”
That’s where the story really goes from harmless pastime to full-blown obsession. Marvel cards were just the entry point. After that, Langeliers branched into other sets, first football and then baseball, before eventually getting into collecting his own cards.
“Then I started getting into sports,” Langeliers said. “Football first. Then I started baseball, and eventually I started collecting my own cards.”
He’s built up a personal stash of his own baseball cards, but one pull stands above the rest: a rare Paul Skenes rookie card.
“My best card, I’ve got a Topps 2024 Dynasty Paul Skenes rookie card out of 10 signed,” Langeliers said. “It’s, like, a relic card, too. It’s awesome.”
For anyone not deep into card jargon, “out of 10” means exactly 10 copies of that card exist.
Langeliers’ hobby has also spread inside the A’s clubhouse. He’s gotten Nick Kurtz, another Marvel fan, involved, and the two have been known to rip packs with Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson during the season.
For Langeliers, the appeal is pretty straightforward.
“I think just the idea of collecting stuff and having your own personal collection,” Langeliers said. “The more you know guys around the league, you can ask them to sign cards. It’s just cool.”
The card world has even created a bridge with a division rival. During an A’s trip to Seattle earlier this season, Mariners right-hander George Kirby sent cards from his personal collection over to the visiting clubhouse for players to check out and possibly buy.
“It’s kind of, like, a cool way to keep up with guys,” Langeliers said. “There are some guys on the Whatnot channel watching those streams and bidding on cards and stuff. It’s pretty cool.”
And while his collection keeps growing, Langeliers already owns one card that sits in a different tier entirely: a 1-of-1 Dr. Doom Comic Cut card from his Marvel collection.
In Marvel card lingo, a “Comic Cut” card includes a real piece taken from a vintage or classic Marvel comic book.
“I’m super excited for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ to come out,” Langeliers said. “I was trying to get a Dr.
Doom card this offseason. It wasn’t the picture on the card that I necessarily wanted, but it’s still really cool.”
As for where all of this ends up, Langeliers already has the answer in mind. Not now, maybe not soon, but eventually.
“Eventually, when we get our forever home and I build my man cave, they’ll be on display,” Langeliers said. “Or, at least, all my good ones.”
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