S2E8: Desert Island Slabs #16 with Al Jurgela (elrey_collection)

Welcome back to Desert Island Slabs, for the big one, the Season 2 finale, where once again I dig into the why of collecting, the rationale, the stories, the obsession, and what really makes a collector tick. As always, I give my guest the same daunting task, choose the eight items in their collection they would save above all others, the eight pieces they’d rescue if they were being banished, stranded, or marooned on a theoretical desert island. For this finale, I’m thrilled to welcome Al Jurgela, a.k.a. elrey_collection. Al is one of the most well-known, highly respected collectors in the hobby, someone whose passion, eye for detail and dedication have influenced countless others, myself absolutely included. It was an honour to have him on Desert Island Slabs. This episode is packed with insight, perspective, and the kind of collector storytelling we all live for, and it felt like the perfect way to sign off the season. Another fantastic conversation, another deep dive into the mind of collecting, and a huge thank you to everyone who’s come along for the journey this season, you’ve made it unforgettable. See you again down the road for Season 3! 00:00:00 - Introduction to Al Jurgela (elrey_collection) 00:04:33 - Item 1: 1910 Jack Johnson T226 Red Sun Cigarette Pugilistic Subjects SGC 35/2.5 (Card) 00:19:09 - Item 2: 1950-51 Joshua Gibson Toleteros PSA 7 (Card) 00:30:04 - Item 3: 1923-24 Oscar Charleston Cigarros Billiken (Billiken Cigarettes) PSA 4 (Card) 00:42:27 - Item 4: 1910 Jose Mendez Punch Cigarros PSA 1 (Card) 01:00:56 - Item 5: 1922 Arthur ‘El Tigre’ Friedenreich Figaros Castelloes Goal PSA 1.5 (Card) 01:08:27 - Item 6: 1928 Giuseppe Meazza Stagni Petazzoni PSA 2 (Card) 01:17:31 - Item 7: 1957 Pele Americana Ltda. Balas Futebol PSA 1.5 (Card) 01:35:49 - Item 8: 2002-03 Cristiano Ronaldo Panini Sports Mega Craques PSA 10 (Card) 01:50:16 - Final Thoughts and Concluding Remarks