Why Are Backyard Breaks Being Embraced At The National?

There was so much sanctimonious hand-wringing around the Backyard Breaks scandal involving Grant Telford.

It seemed that commentators were trying to outdo each other in criticizing the breaking outfit over the comments made by their owner and founder.

But just a few months later, it is as if nothing happened at all. The National, the world’s biggest sports card convention, is taking place in Chicago in less than a month, and front and center in this show will be, you guessed it, Backyard Breaks, despite all the scandals.

The role of Backyard Breaks At The National

It would have been surprising if Backyard Breaks had no presence at the National. Let’s be fair.

They are perhaps the highest-profile breaking outfit in the United States. However, they are playing an outsized role, to the point that it is very embarrassing, considering their recent scandals.

They have not one, two, or even three, but rather four booths at the pavilion. A huge amount. Tied for the most significant presence with fellow heavyweights: Swish Breaks, We The Hobby, CB47, Real Breaks, Black Tie Breaks, and Hit Seekers Sports Cards.

They also managed to secure what is, without a doubt, the most desirable location in the Whatnot Breaking Pavilion. The first thing you will see upon entering is their massive four-pronged booth.

It is not surprising that WhatNot is still promoting Backyard Breaks, considering its importance to the business model. But the National does not need them.

They have no real threat to their position as the top card show in the land (no, Fanatics Fest does not count) and can bypass any breaker.

Sure, their booths garner a lot of traffic. But so what? It is not essential for their organization, and Whatnot would be the one to lose out if they sat out the Nationals for that reason.

The Grant Telford scandal

The folks at Backyard Breaks are no strangers to scandal. We’ve covered them several times before—and that’s not even the complete list of accusations and controversies surrounding them. Many of their past issues were murky or unproven, but this time it’s different.

Grant Telford, the face of Backyard Breaks, crossed a line during a Whatnot livestream that’s reverberated through the sports card community.

He made deeply offensive comments, telling a long, disturbing joke about the sexuality of minors, including what acts he hoped to perform with a hypothetical daughter.

The video is widely available, but not something anyone should watch. Grant later posted an apology on Instagram, acknowledging he “crossed the line” and pledging to seek help and reflect on his actions.

Yet, Backyard Breaks disabled comments on the apology post, and notably, he didn’t address the core issue: the sexualization and violence toward minors, including implications of incest.

What’s worse, the troubling behavior wasn’t just Grant’s alone. Another person on stream agreed with and encouraged the comments, indicating a toxic culture within Backyard Breaks that goes beyond one individual.

The company released a statement condemning the remarks and promising to review streaming practices, but it came two days later and felt like damage control rather than accountability.

This wasn’t just distasteful—it violated Whatnot’s community guidelines, which have zero tolerance for any content that sexualizes or endangers minors.

Yet, despite the controversy and calls for suspension, Backyard Breaks continues to stream on Whatnot. The backlash in chat rooms and social media has been severe, with users urging Whatnot to take decisive action.

Still, the platform has only temporarily disabled Grant’s account, allowing the company to continue operating, while leaving many to wonder if money and audience size are outweighing ethics.

Backyard Breaks previous appearances at the National

Backyard Breaks has been a recurring presence at the National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) throughout the early 2020s, carving out a significant role as one of the key case break dealers.

They have held prominent booth spaces—numbers 1542 through 1545 in the Case Break Pavilion—demonstrating the event’s recognition of their drawing power within the hobby community.

Their participation is well-documented at major National Events, including the 43rd edition in Chicago and the 44th in Cleveland in 2024.

At these shows, Backyard Breaks went beyond simple card breaking by creating immersive experiences, such as the “Backyard Trade Zone,” which offered exclusive collectibles and interactive events designed to engage attendees and build brand awareness.

These activations showcased their commitment to delivering memorable moments for fans, helping them stand out on a crowded convention floor at the Interactive Party.

Not everyone loves having Backyard Breaks front and center at the National

However, reception at the Nationals has been a mixed bag. While many attendees and fans are drawn to Backyard Breaks’ energetic live breaks and the chance to pull big cards, a vocal contingent has long expressed skepticism and frustration.

Questions about fairness, transparency, and past controversies often shadow Backyard Breaks’ presence at the convention. Some collectors have openly criticized their business practices, highlighting issues such as withheld cards or unfair break outcomes that have been reported in the broader community.

These concerns have sparked heated debates on social media and collector forums, sometimes leading to tense exchanges between supporters and detractors during the events.

Despite this polarized reception, Backyard Breaks’ ability to attract large crowds and generate substantial sales has ensured their continued inclusion in the National.

This highlights a tension at the heart of the convention: balancing commercial success and audience engagement with the growing demand for ethical standards and trustworthiness in the hobby.

As the 2025 National approaches, Backyard Breaks remains slated to play a central role once again. Yet, with the recent Grant Telford scandal still fresh in many collectors’ minds, the question lingers whether the community—and the National itself—will continue to tolerate their presence unchecked, or if pressure will mount for change.

The history of Backyard Breaks at the National is a microcosm of their broader story: a company that excels at captivating fans and driving business, yet struggles with ongoing controversy and divided opinions within the sports card world.

Previous Backyard Breaks scandals before the Grant Telford Controversy

Backyard Breaks’ troubles didn’t start with Grant Telford’s offensive livestream. The company has a long history of controversies that have eroded its reputation in the sports card community.

One of the most notorious incidents involved the “Gold Kaboom!” Trevor Lawrence’s card in January 2024. During a live break, Backyard Breaks pulled this rare and valuable card and initially promised to give it away for free to a Twitch user who had paid $2,500 to participate.

But once the actual value—estimated up to $25,000—came to light, Backyard Breaks reversed course, deciding instead to donate $20,000 to charity. This sudden change sparked outrage over fairness and transparency, with many collectors feeling deceived and questioning the company’s ethics.

Beyond that, Backyard Breaks has been accused multiple times of withholding valuable cards from customers who bought spots in their breaks.

Collectors have alleged that certain high-value hits were withheld or manipulated in a manner that favored the company or insiders. These allegations have never entirely gone away and continue to shadow the company.

The company’s use of “mystery pack” promotions has also drawn criticism. These promotions, which mimic gambling mechanics by offering random card rewards for a fee, have been criticized as exploitative and misleading, especially to younger collectors who may not fully understand the associated risks.

In addition, there was an incident where an employee was caught stealing cards from Backyard Breaks itself, adding another layer of internal turmoil and raising questions about the company’s management and oversight.

Altogether, these scandals set the stage for the more profound crisis that erupted with Grant Telford’s livestream. They reveal a pattern of questionable behavior and a culture that has struggled to maintain trust and transparency with its customers.

Why is the National featuring Backyard Breaks?

That brings us to the National Sports Card Convention. Despite Backyard Breaks’ recent scandal and a long history of questionable behavior—including accusations of withholding prized cards, suspicious odds on hits, and even employee theft—this company has been handed a central role as a Case Break Dealer. They will be live-selling high-end sports cards in a prominent position.

This decision by the National organizers is baffling and troubling. The convention has a storied reputation as the premier event for collectors, dealers, and fans—an institution that embodies integrity and community trust.

Instead, by elevating Backyard Breaks amidst this controversy, it looks like the National is willing to overlook serious ethical failings for the sake of business or convenience.

Backyard Breaks remains one of the largest outfits in the industry, generating significant revenue for platforms like Whatnot and, by extension, the broader hobby ecosystem.

But the question is: at what cost? The hobby’s roots are in innocence and passion, especially for kids who once collected cards for fun, not as a profit game. What message does it send when a company whose leader jokes about the sexual exploitation of minors is still prominently featured and financially supported?

Other companies that have embraced Backyard Breaks

The grading giant, PSA, whose seal can make or break a card’s value. So when PSA threw its weight behind Backyard Breaks—a company riddled with controversy—it sent shockwaves through the community.

In early 2024, Backyard Breaks and PSA teamed up for high-profile live break events hosted at PSA’s headquarters in New Jersey. These marathon sessions featured the live opening of premium card products, with PSA graders on-site immediately grading pulled cards.

This level of collaboration was unprecedented, giving Backyard Breaks a credibility boost at a time when trust in them was fragile.

PSA actively promoted Backyard Breaks across its social media channels, showcasing the partnership and encouraging collectors to participate. This endorsement from the hobby’s gold standard in grading lent Backyard Breaks a veneer of legitimacy that many felt was undeserved, given their troubled past.

Money talks

The timing of PSA’s visible support, amid Grant Telford’s scandalous offensive comments, sparked intense debate and criticism. PSA’s silence on the matter—declining to respond to media inquiries or community concerns—only deepened doubts about their ethical stance.

What motivates PSA to maintain this partnership? Unlike Whatnot, which relies heavily on Backyard Breaks for revenue, PSA holds a near-monopoly in grading and doesn’t need the approval of live breakers to sustain its dominance.

Yet, by associating so closely with a scandal-plagued company, PSA risks tarnishing its brand.

This isn’t PSA’s first questionable partnership. Earlier in 2024, the company faced backlash over its branding on a controversial vending machine in Las Vegas that sold randomly graded cards in a gambling-like setup linked to shady operators. Though PSA distanced itself quickly, the damage to its reputation lingered.

Ultimately, PSA’s alliance with Backyard Breaks represents a significant misstep at a crucial moment in the hobby’s evolution.

By lending its brand and facilities to a company that many collectors view with suspicion, PSA undercuts the values of transparency, fairness, and integrity that the hobby needs to grow sustainably.

In an industry where trust is the most valuable currency, partnerships like this threaten to unravel the progress made toward professionalism and respectability.

Final word on Backyard Breaks appearance at the National

In the end, Backyard Breaks’ continued prominence at the National Sports Collectors Convention speaks volumes—not about their redemption, but about the hobby’s tolerance for controversy when it comes to big names.

No matter the scandals or the questions about fairness and ethics, Backyard Breaks seems untouchable, a sign that popularity and profit often outweigh accountability.

This sends a troubling message: if Backyard Breaks can keep their spot despite repeated missteps, what’s stopping other companies from following suit?

The National’s acceptance of this controversial player risks opening the door wide for more of the same, ultimately undermining the very profitability the hobby is chasing by alienating parents, families, and decent members of society who are essential to the hobby’s long-term health and growth.

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