My Son's PC

The "Blue Robins" and the Mini Helmet Moment

**As always, this is not financial advice. These are the actual moves I’m making with my own money, for my own goals. You should do your own research, understand your own risk tolerance, and make your own decisions. I’m not responsible for your choices—only for sharing mine honestly**

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Last Fourth of July, we were out in town celebrating—food trucks everywhere, kids running around, the whole summer-night vibe. At one point, my son spotted an Italian ice truck and made it very clear that he needed one immediately.

When we got up to the window, I noticed they served the Italian ice in those mini baseball helmets. You know the ones—small, plastic, completely unnecessary… and somehow the coolest thing in the world when you’re a kid.

The team selection was limited, but one of the choices was the Atlanta Braves.

Naturally, I assumed that was the easy win.

So I asked him, “Which team do you want?”

And without hesitation, he picked the Toronto Blue Jays—or as he called them, the “Blue Robins.”

I laughed. Hard. And of course I obliged.

From that moment on, he was locked in. For the rest of the season, he was dead set on cheering for the Blue Jays. Not because of standings, stats, or some deep baseball reason—because of a mini helmet and a name he made up that was better than the real one.

And honestly? That’s how fandom starts.

The Season We Watched More Baseball Than Ever

Here’s the part that still makes me smile: I bought a subscription for MLB Network around opening day. It came with a 7 day free trial. I “accidentally” forgot to cancel my trial subscription.

Good mistake.

We watched more baseball last year than I’ve watched in the last twenty years combined. He rooted with me for the Braves, and I rooted with him for the Jays. It became our thing—our little tradeoff. I’ll meet you in your world, you meet me in mine.

When the Jays made the World Series, he was pumped—even though he wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. He just knew it was important because it was on TV and people were excited. He also got to stay up late to watch as much of the playoff games as he could.

He generally made it to about the third inning most nights. Which, if you have young kids, you know is basically a full game.

How His PC Started

At some point during the season, he picked out four or five Blue Jays cards that he really liked. No “investment thesis.” No “buy low.” Just cards that made him happy.

I bought them, put them in one-touches, and we displayed them in his room like they were museum pieces.

And that’s when it hit me:

This is what really makes the hobby fun.

Not the flips. Not the comps. Not the strategy.

That moment—when a kid sees his cards on the wall and feels like they matter.

That’s the win.

Have fun in the wax, stay sharp in the market, and let it pay you back.