Baseball Cards

[MCS]

Does anybody still collect them?

I remember when I was a little kid, the bubble gum in the packs, going to the card shows. I have a decent collection, some cool rookies like Ozzie Smith, Gwynn, Rickie Henderson, Griffey Jr. my crown jewel if you will is the 1958 allstar set, included Mickey Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Musial, Banks, Fox etc. I also got a bunch of signed balls but I will never get rid of them because me and my dad got them together and the memory of that plus shaking a HOFs hand is priceless. I was looking on ebay, the mantle gets about 100-200 and the rest are lucky if they get 5 bucks. also have quite a few Donruss and tops sets from the late 80's and early to mid 90's, got some Stan the Man and Cal Ripken memorabelia (helluva word to spell right there)

I contemplate saving them for my boys but what kid collects cards these days, and I remember when I quit collecting packs were rediculous, like 5.99 or 8.99 for 5 cards.

Should I just sell the lot? or save it for the kids or future? I don't see anyone younger than me, I am 31, really caring or collecting.

Just curious about any thoughts or memories anyone might have or want to share.

[MT2]

I collected in my youth as well. The first real cards I rember buying was the 1986 topps, I used a photo album to keep my favorite players sorted. From then till around the time I graduated (96) I was pretty hardcore in baseball, football and basketball and tinkered in NASCAR die cast and cards. In high school I worked at a card shop(anyone rember those?) and was known as a walking price guide. People use to test me all the time grabbing the latest issue of Beckett and just selecting a card at random, rarely was I off and never by much.

My 2 biggest pack pulls was I once paid $20 for 1 pack of 1984 Topps football, think the box said 35 cents a pack. The card before the gum was a perfectly centered Dan Marino rookie, the shop owner cussed me for that pull. I later traded it for a tattoo. My 2nd biggest pull was from a more recent issue. 2006 topps baseball, local shop owner bought the only left was giving me grief for buying retail said Id never pull nothing. $20 blaster box proved him wrong, as I pulled a Cal Ripken auto redemption card which I sold for $150, plus a Adam Wainwright auto rookie. No clue where that topped out at as he was still just a prospect in 2006.

I returned to the hobby in 2006 when my son was born. Thought Id build a collection together with him, but the hobby wasnt the same. So much new stuff out like #'d cards, game used swatch's and autographs among others that its next to impossible to collect one specific thing. When I left the hobby for good, Topps had a product out that was around $200-300 a box I beleive you got something like 10 packs and 4 cards per. Now there was some really cool stuff in there, could get cut autographs of alot of old timers, as well as swatch cards with guys like Pujols, Babe Ruth, Arod, Mike Schmidt on one card which I thought was really cool. No way I could afford that product though.

When I finally walked away and sold my collect I kept 2 small player collections. First one was Ron Gant had over 6,000 cards total and around 80% of every card beckett recongizes. My other was Scott Rolen which was about 3,000 cards deep and around 40%. Now days, when I want a peice of memorbilia I turn to bobble heads, and my 6 year old thinks those are alot cooler than the cards where.

If I was you, Id talk to your boys. If they are not old enough yet then hold on to them till they are. Let them decide what to do with them. Plus keep in mind late 80's-early 90's had to be the worst period for cards they was cheap and the volume of those cards far out weighs the desire. Ive been contacted by people still today who has "Nice big collections full of star rookies", only to look at it and honestly be able to tell them they'd do well to get $20-30 out of a huge collection. No one wants volume they want high end stuff.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I use to collect alot. I still have them all but am in your position also. I do not know anyone who collects them. We use to have a couple shops around that sold them. Not anymore.

[MT2]

I should of added, the best way to potentialy find guys that collect in your area is to join The Bench http://www.thebenchtrading.com/

I was there in 2006 was the quickest at the time to join there HOF. I was able to find a few shops within a hour or so drive as well as 4-5 collectors in my backyard. I wouldnt go there and try to sell, but if you wanted to get back in the hobby this is a great place to start.

[MCS]

Cool thanks for the info. I don't think I would ever get back into the hobby though, unless my boys were interested. Right now they are 5 and 3 so I have some time to hang on to these cards. I know what you mean about the era have most of my cards I mean it was crazy how many were produced then. Really even of the older cards I got the Mantle is the only one anyone wants. And it isn't about getting the most money out of it, but I know how much money and time I put in it just sucks to see that value so low, I kinda just want to get rid of it not to deal with storing them and the room. It is funny you mention Beckett, I forgot all about that magazine. I was just thinking about them, they are still at my parents house in my old closet, they are getting ready to move and were going to send everything to me. Your collect sounded awesome I couldn't even imagine 6,000 Ron Gants. Mine is probably a tenth of what yours was. I just don't know what to do with them.

[deaknh03]

I got rid of all my commons and minor stars, kept all the bigger stars. I have a decent collection still, add to it when I get a good deal. I have around 300 Gretzky cards, including rookies and tons of very early year O Pee Chees, Mario Lemieux rookies, Bird rookies, Dr J rookie, couple of Montana rookies, Elway, Marino, Brady and any major rookie in hockey, baseball, football and hoops in the last 40 years. I plan on passing my collection on to my son, each card I keep is with him in mind. He's only 1 1/2 now, and I am confident that when he comes of age, he will either cherish these, or use them to help himself if needed.

[Bluebasser86]

I collected a lot of football cards when I was a kid. I still have all of them in the binders in boxes. I've got a couple that are probably worth some money but never have bothered to really check into their value. Had a lot of fun doing it. Now I collect fishing lures

[MCS]

It's always seems like we are collecting something LOL.....I guess it is a good idea to hold on to them, worst comes to worst they can sell them and get some some gear or maybe a boat lol. Hopefully they will appreciate them. Maybe if enough pass them down to their kids it will keep card collecting alive. At least the stories of the greats pictured on the cards can be passed down. It is crazy how much it was part of being a kid for my father and me but now it is poof gone. Makes me feel old and out of date lol

[Bassn Blvd]

Keep you cards and pass'em down to your kid. It seem that card collecting is a fad that comes and goes. The fad will come around again.

[Bankbeater]

I collected a lot of football and baseball cards when I was a kid. I think that they may be in a shoebox somewhere in my parents house now.

[MT2]

Just curious what are some of the most memorable cards of your day? You didnt have to own them.

Mine?

1. 1988 Fleer Billy Ripken "F" Face card. Has to be one the most notorius opps issues ever.

2. 1989 Score Bo Jackson "Bo Knows" I think it was 89, it was the black and white card with him in shoulder pads with a bad across his shoulders. If I recall correctly that card hit $10-15 in Beckett for a short while.

3. 1985 Topps Eric Davis rookie card, pick em up for $5 a pop all day long on ebay now days but as a kid growing up a Reds fan when this card was at its peak I beleive $15-$20 it seemed like a far fetched dream to obtain one.

4. 1975 Topps George Brett rookie card, like I said offered my sister for one.

5. 2006 Michah Ownings topps, you think a releif pitcher who's floated around MLB. Heck I dont even know where he is at now. What makes this hit the list is I use to send cards through the mail to get autographed, not only did he sign it but he personalized it to my now 6 year old son.

Ive ended up owning every card on this list. Some of them several of each card. But those are the cards for me that recalls the most memorys.

[MCS]

I remember card no2 Bo Jackson was awesome.

I followed his comeback and had all his Angels and ChiSox cards. Remember the baseball game for sega? In 1994 the white sox had Thomas, Jackson, Franco and Ventura. Them and the expos were light years ahead of everyone then the strike.

My two where Ken Jr. Rookie card and Frank Thomas tops rookie card. I think he was in his auburn uniform. Took me a while I managed to get them. Ozzie Smith rookie with him on the Pads and the long sideburns. Was another. And of course being from Baltimore Cal's rookie card. But I never owned that one.

[MT2]

I rember a bo jackson game but I dont think mine was for sega. You mentioned Griffey Jr, I should of had that in my list. I rember when Upper Deck hit the market $1 for a pack, unheard of. I was with a buddy one day though early into the season and he got 2 Jr's in the same pack right next to each other. I did adventually own several of that card but never could pry one out of his hands. The Thomas rookie I recall chasing was out of Leaf, finally tracked it down to. Traded some diecast peices for it.

[MCS]

One I never owned but recall the McGwire USA uniform card. Think it was his rookie, but rose to life again with his chase for 61.

[Lund Explorer]

Here's a link to an interesting site.

http://www.checkoutmycards.com/