Baseball Dad Hack: Buying, Selling, and Trading on SidelineSwap
Bryan Weston's journey into buying and selling sports gear started in a relatable way —as a dad trying to keep up with his son's evolving baseball needs.
With eight years of gear taking up space and a growing teenager constantly changing positions on the field, Bryan stumbled upon SidelineSwap while looking for a new glove. What started as a simple purchase quickly turned into a side hustle and passion that would connect him with athletes across the globe.
Throughout his son’s journey from t-ball to high school baseball, Bryan realized he had accumulated a stockpile of equipment—gloves, bats, cleats, and more. "I didn't want to throw it all away...and I'm kind of a hoarder anyway," Bryan admits. "So, I kept the gear sentimental to my son and listed the rest on SidelineSwap.”
Photo above contains “three gloves and three bats that my son Grady has used from Little League until now. He played in the Babe Ruth 14U World Series last summer and the memento included in the blue glove is a game ball and his Player of the Game Award from their first game, a win over Aruba.” Gloves include: 9 1/2” Rawlings Heart of the Hide inside of an 11.75” Nokona, inside of a Rawlings Pro Preferred 12.25”. Bats include: 29” DeMarini Glitch, a 30” Warstic Bonesaber, and Grady’s current bat, a 32” Combat Spec A1.
"I'm really kind of hooked on gloves."
What started as a means to offload extra gear quickly became an obsession. Bryan was drawn to the craftsmanship of baseball gloves. He began curating a personal collection, some of which he keeps for himself and others he resells for a profit.
"I would buy my son a glove, let him use it for a few weeks, and then sell it—sometimes even making money off the deal," Bryan recalls. "He loves it because he constantly gets new gloves to try out."
And as Bryan explains, it takes a while to break in a new glove; buying a used one allows his son to go straight to the field and play with it. Then he can decide to keep it, or sell it and try another.
Bryan and his son Grady showcasing their collection.
"We live in the middle of absolute nowhere."
Living in Del Rio, Texas—far from major sports retailers—SidelineSwap became essential for accessing equipment. "If you want to buy a glove in Del Rio, you must do it online," Bryan explains. "There's nowhere local to get the latest gloves, bats, whatever."
Del Rio lies on the edge of the Tamaulipan mezquital (also called the South Texas brush country), an area larger than the state of Alabama but with a population of less than 35,000. Although remote, this borderland is home to a thriving baseball scene.
Grady at the plate in the 2024 Babe Ruth 14U World Series vs. Aruba. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Salas Photography.
Over time, Bryan became known in his community as the go-to guy for baseball gloves. His son's teammates would turn to him for recommendations, and he would track down the best deals, selling at cost to help young athletes.
"Do you have any pink gloves?"
When Bryan first started buying and selling gloves, his son and teammates were all about bold, colorful designs—pink, blue, and flashy patterns were the hottest trends.
But as his son grew older and entered high school, the trend completely shifted. The once-popular vibrant gloves were no longer considered “cool,” the players began opting for more traditional, single-colored gloves that looked professional and mature.
Still, younger kids in his town often ask him—“Do you have any pink gloves?”—a reminder of how quickly trends change as kids grow up. Bryan laughs when he explains that while he doesn’t stock as many bright gloves anymore, he’ll still track one down if a young player wants it.
It’s all part of keeping up with the ever-changing world of youth sports.
"Don't try to hide any flaws."
One of Bryan's favorite aspects of buying and selling on SidelineSwap is finding hidden gems. Bryan scouts for unique and well-worn gloves, cleans and relaces them when needed, and ensures they're in top condition before listing them for sale.
Just some of the gloves that Bryan has sold from his locker: @GunRoomGloves
"I always make sure to clearly describe any flaws because honesty is key in keeping a good reputation," Bryan says. "And I really appreciate Sideline's built-in protections for both buyers and sellers."
Unlike other resale platforms, SidelineSwap provides a level of security that gives Bryan confidence in every deal. His experience buying gloves elsewhere hasn’t always been as seamless. He once purchased a glove off eBay, only to have it arrive stuffed into a flimsy envelope, completely flattened.
“It took me weeks to get the shape back,” he recalls, frustrated by how poorly it was packaged.
But his worst experience was receiving a glove from a smoker’s home. The moment he opened the box, the overpowering smell of smoke hit him. Despite multiple attempts to clean and air it out, the odor lingered. Eventually, he had to take the glove completely apart, remove the laces, and clean every inch to finally rid it of the smell.
For those looking to start their gear-selling side hustle, Bryan offers a few key tips:
- Be honest about the condition of the items. Buyers appreciate transparency, and it prevents unnecessary, costly returns.
- Package items properly. Never ship a glove in an envelope. Use a box to maintain the glove's shape.
- Ship quickly. Fast shipping leads to better reviews and return customers.
- Follow market trends. Kids' preferences for gear colors and styles change, so knowing what's in demand is important.
"I don't plan to quit my day job."
Bryan finds immense joy in this hobby-turned-business. He doesn’t plan on it ever being a full-time thing, and that's okay. Whether restoring a classic glove, helping another parent find affordable gear, or just indulging in his love for baseball equipment, SidelineSwap has provided an unexpected but welcome adventure.
As for his son? "He used to love getting a new glove every couple of weeks, but now he wants to stick with one," Bryan laughs. "We'll see how long that lasts."
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Want to start selling? Here's how Bryan did it.
Like Bryan, thousands of parents and players have turned their gear rooms into cash on SidelineSwap. Here are a few tools Bryan uses to fuel his selling strategy, increase sales, and maintain his reputable standing within the community.
- Seller Protection: SidelineSwap ensures that payments are securely processed and held until the buyer confirms receipt of the item in good condition. This system protects sellers from fraudulent claims and chargebacks, providing peace of mind throughout the transaction process.
- Advanced Insights: SidelineSwap’s "Insights" feature offers valuable data, such as average sales prices, sales volumes, and sell-through rates for similar items. Bryan can make informed pricing decisions, ensuring his listings are competitive and appealing to buyers.
- Messaging System: SidelineSwap's integrated messaging allows direct communication between buyers and sellers. This feature lets Bryan answer questions, provide additional item details, and build trust with buyers, leading to smoother transactions and positive reviews.
Inspired by Bryan’s story? Start selling today on SidelineSwap—turn your extra gear into cash and connect with the next generation of athletes!