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FuriousGiorge
I remember digging through my grandparents' basement for my Uncle's old cards and being thrilled to find a 1977 Mike Schmidt Topps. I remember studying Beckett intently to determine which cards I should seal in plastic and which should go into shoeboxes. I remember owning both the card and the magazine featuring the black and white Bo Jackson football/baseball image and slowly watching the price erode over several months. I remember buying packs and packs of 1989 Fleers (a terrible design) looking for the Billy Ripken "Fuck Face" card or, later, the scribbled out version.
As long as I'm rambling uncontrollably (I'm feeling nostalgic - sue me) I'll flesh out the climax of this story - 1989 Upper Deck. Glossy cards, beautiful design. Cost more than any of the regular brands, and made the old pieces of cardboard look like junk. From 89-92 I bought Upper Deck cards almost exclusively (unless I had some spare change and couldn't afford them), to the point where I had checklists and boxes filled with only those cards in numerical order. As a birthday present one year I got the 89 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card (which is, hopefully, still at my parents' house). In hindsight it ruined the hobby for me (and probably a lot of people) - the cards were too nice, and too prone to the speculative nature of a fad collecting hobby. Old men would be in front of me in line buying full-set boxes, while I held a 15-card pack. I slowed down my buying - the cards had gotten too expensive anyway. At some point I just stopped altogether - the shoeboxes, the books with the good cards, the hard case Griffey card, all went into an unused nook at my parents' house. I always thought about bringing them down here with me and reliving the experience, but I doubt my wife would take too kindly to a shoebox full of Jose Oquendos and Larry Sheets. For all I know they've been sold, or thrown away, or given to some neighbor kids. I haven't had any desire to pick up the hobby since then, but it was a huge part of my life when I was 10.
If anyone has anything to add, or even actually read that whole thing, feel free to share your stories.
Baseball Cards
April 18, 2006 at 02:18AM View BBCode
I've been reading the posts on [url=http://baseballcardblog.blogspot.com/2006/04/card-critics-countdown-to-best-set-of.html]this website[/url] recently and it's reminded me of something - I used to be virtually obsessed with this hobby. I'd forgotten, but between about the years 1986-1992 I bought A LOT of packs of cards, back when you could get a couple of packs for less than a dollar. I remember very distinctly the first cards I got and the situation surrounding it - I was home from school with chicken pox and to cheer me up one of the neighbors brought over a handful of packs of 1986 Topps cards - a very nicely designed card that year after several years of crappy cards from Topps. This was back when they were still non-glossy cardboard, sealed in wax packs and including a stick of gum, both of which stained the cards that were too close to the outside of the pack.I remember digging through my grandparents' basement for my Uncle's old cards and being thrilled to find a 1977 Mike Schmidt Topps. I remember studying Beckett intently to determine which cards I should seal in plastic and which should go into shoeboxes. I remember owning both the card and the magazine featuring the black and white Bo Jackson football/baseball image and slowly watching the price erode over several months. I remember buying packs and packs of 1989 Fleers (a terrible design) looking for the Billy Ripken "Fuck Face" card or, later, the scribbled out version.
As long as I'm rambling uncontrollably (I'm feeling nostalgic - sue me) I'll flesh out the climax of this story - 1989 Upper Deck. Glossy cards, beautiful design. Cost more than any of the regular brands, and made the old pieces of cardboard look like junk. From 89-92 I bought Upper Deck cards almost exclusively (unless I had some spare change and couldn't afford them), to the point where I had checklists and boxes filled with only those cards in numerical order. As a birthday present one year I got the 89 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card (which is, hopefully, still at my parents' house). In hindsight it ruined the hobby for me (and probably a lot of people) - the cards were too nice, and too prone to the speculative nature of a fad collecting hobby. Old men would be in front of me in line buying full-set boxes, while I held a 15-card pack. I slowed down my buying - the cards had gotten too expensive anyway. At some point I just stopped altogether - the shoeboxes, the books with the good cards, the hard case Griffey card, all went into an unused nook at my parents' house. I always thought about bringing them down here with me and reliving the experience, but I doubt my wife would take too kindly to a shoebox full of Jose Oquendos and Larry Sheets. For all I know they've been sold, or thrown away, or given to some neighbor kids. I haven't had any desire to pick up the hobby since then, but it was a huge part of my life when I was 10.
If anyone has anything to add, or even actually read that whole thing, feel free to share your stories.
whiskybear
My favorite card in my collection is the first single I ever bought, a [url=http://www.astrosdaily.com/cards/1982D_Ryan_Nolan.jpg]1982 Donruss Nolan Ryan[/url] I picked up for $4, and I can't look at that card without thinking about little league baseball and the first Beckett I ever had, which my mom gave to me after a little league game: Rickey Henderson breaking for third, with a yellow border on the cover.
April 18, 2006 at 03:47AM View BBCode
I started collecting in 1990, which probably coincided with my first allowance. I missed the 1989 Upper Deck set but later pulled a Griffey out of a pack I bought for $5 a few years ago (I have another that I found, in a plastic sleeve, tucked in a huge shoe box full of cards at a garage sale, which I promptly bought for $10 and fled the premises). 1987 Donruss was my main pursuit, even three years later---the card shop in town, run by an old Vietnam vet, had boxes of them, and packs were $1 or maybe $2 a piece. I pulled a Will Clark rookie card from my very first one, which at that point listed at $15. It's probably $3 now.My favorite card in my collection is the first single I ever bought, a [url=http://www.astrosdaily.com/cards/1982D_Ryan_Nolan.jpg]1982 Donruss Nolan Ryan[/url] I picked up for $4, and I can't look at that card without thinking about little league baseball and the first Beckett I ever had, which my mom gave to me after a little league game: Rickey Henderson breaking for third, with a yellow border on the cover.
FuriousGiorge
April 18, 2006 at 04:41AM View BBCode
There were a ton of 82 Donruss cards in that pile in my grandparents' basement. The big one from that year was the Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card, I remember the picture distinctly because it was the one shown in Beckett, although I never came close to owning one. Whenever I see that '82 design I picture two players - [url=http://www.autograph-cards.com/Cards%5CBigCards%5C012412.jpg]Von Hayes[/url] and [url=http://207.21.255.52/images_sm/7191.jpg]Kent Tekulve[/url] (I couldn't find the 82 but you get the idea, his cards always looked just like that).
whiskybear
April 18, 2006 at 04:57AM View BBCode
Kent Tekulve is every boy's hero, and I await with bated breath the day when the advanced alien race that he was spawned from comes back to this earth to reclaim their prodigal son.
bobcat73
I have several things that have traveled from Wisconsin back to cali with me. My baseball signed by the 1980 Philles and my Will Clark baseball card binder. (sick I know) I collected over 200 Will Clark cards in my youth. Even bootleg cards like his Olympic card, which is a fake because he missed the photo shoot, and in my Will Clark binder is several cards I will never get ride of. Rookies of Randy Learch (his grandma gave me the Philles ball), Roger Clemons, Micheal Jordan* (only basket ball card I own), Nolan Ryan card from 1969 along with a Tom Sever, and a couple of very nice George Brett cards. Oh I almost for got I have like 10 Ted Simmons cards because before Will came along he was my fav player.
* edited to point out this card is a Fleer and has the gum stain on the back, Which makes it worth a fortune!
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by bobcat73]
April 18, 2006 at 05:20AM View BBCode
Very hart warming stories. I think we all share similar stories of collecting cards. I collected for 1985 until 1994. Cards got to expensive and to many people thought that cards should be a "for profit" hobby.I have several things that have traveled from Wisconsin back to cali with me. My baseball signed by the 1980 Philles and my Will Clark baseball card binder. (sick I know) I collected over 200 Will Clark cards in my youth. Even bootleg cards like his Olympic card, which is a fake because he missed the photo shoot, and in my Will Clark binder is several cards I will never get ride of. Rookies of Randy Learch (his grandma gave me the Philles ball), Roger Clemons, Micheal Jordan* (only basket ball card I own), Nolan Ryan card from 1969 along with a Tom Sever, and a couple of very nice George Brett cards. Oh I almost for got I have like 10 Ted Simmons cards because before Will came along he was my fav player.
* edited to point out this card is a Fleer and has the gum stain on the back, Which makes it worth a fortune!
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by bobcat73]
rkinslow19
Furious, I laughed about keeping them in"an unused nook at my parents' house". Since I'm graduating in may and will be moving into a more permanent living arrangement, I'm in the process of deciding what to take from my parents' house, and what I can convince them to hold onto. When I was home over christmas, I pulled out the card collection (shoeboxes, binders, those special cardboard card holders). It was especially nostalgic, as I could trace the shoes that were on my feet during the particular year I was collecting. For instance, '93 was the year of Topps, and LA Gear.
April 18, 2006 at 10:36AM View BBCode
I'm in the same boat as you guys.Furious, I laughed about keeping them in"an unused nook at my parents' house". Since I'm graduating in may and will be moving into a more permanent living arrangement, I'm in the process of deciding what to take from my parents' house, and what I can convince them to hold onto. When I was home over christmas, I pulled out the card collection (shoeboxes, binders, those special cardboard card holders). It was especially nostalgic, as I could trace the shoes that were on my feet during the particular year I was collecting. For instance, '93 was the year of Topps, and LA Gear.
BleedRed
Included in his binder were some cards I immediately recognized - I really collected '87 Topps - and bought cards thereafter, but it never had quite the same feel, it became much more commercial as was already mentioned as the Beckett became more interesting than putting together my favorite Cardinals, former Cardinals and the like ;)
So, I still remember the 1987 (I hope I don't negate my story by using the wrong year - brown wood-like border w/ box at bottom for name. And, I still remember a lot of the 1988, but then I was introduced to Beckett and boxes/complete sets and the like.
I still remember, however, taking my duplicates, triplicates, non-collector cards (Kraft, Kellogs, etc.) and lining them up and playing a purely imaginary game. I was 6 or so at the time - but let's still keep that under wraps ;)
April 18, 2006 at 02:54PM View BBCode
Over Easter weekend, one of my nephews was showing me some cards his father (my wife's brother) had given him.Included in his binder were some cards I immediately recognized - I really collected '87 Topps - and bought cards thereafter, but it never had quite the same feel, it became much more commercial as was already mentioned as the Beckett became more interesting than putting together my favorite Cardinals, former Cardinals and the like ;)
So, I still remember the 1987 (I hope I don't negate my story by using the wrong year - brown wood-like border w/ box at bottom for name. And, I still remember a lot of the 1988, but then I was introduced to Beckett and boxes/complete sets and the like.
I still remember, however, taking my duplicates, triplicates, non-collector cards (Kraft, Kellogs, etc.) and lining them up and playing a purely imaginary game. I was 6 or so at the time - but let's still keep that under wraps ;)
rkinslow19
No shame, I remember doing the same thing. My 6th grade algebra class had a project that really prompted my passion in fantasy baseball. Our teacher had several hundred different players' cards, and our class (about 30 people) instituted a draft. Each person (team) had to draft players for a lineup (C,1B,2B....DH). After you had your team, you made a wheel that had it's portions sized to the player's stats (i.e. if he homered in 10% of his plate appearances, he would have a 36 degree section for homers). When it was that player's turn to bat in your lineup, you'd put a spinner in the middle of the circle, and his spin would be his at bat. Pitchers were not included. We did a round robin style tournament, in which everyone kept score, like you would at a normal game. Once the champion was crowned, everyone had to compute their team's statistics, and compare them against what was represented on their baseball card.
Definately the coolest math class I ever had
Actually, that's probably the basis for simdynasty
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by rkinslow19]
April 18, 2006 at 03:04PM View BBCode
Originally posted by BleedRed
I still remember, however, taking my duplicates, triplicates, non-collector cards (Kraft, Kellogs, etc.) and lining them up and playing a purely imaginary game. I was 6 or so at the time - but let's still keep that under wraps ;)
No shame, I remember doing the same thing. My 6th grade algebra class had a project that really prompted my passion in fantasy baseball. Our teacher had several hundred different players' cards, and our class (about 30 people) instituted a draft. Each person (team) had to draft players for a lineup (C,1B,2B....DH). After you had your team, you made a wheel that had it's portions sized to the player's stats (i.e. if he homered in 10% of his plate appearances, he would have a 36 degree section for homers). When it was that player's turn to bat in your lineup, you'd put a spinner in the middle of the circle, and his spin would be his at bat. Pitchers were not included. We did a round robin style tournament, in which everyone kept score, like you would at a normal game. Once the champion was crowned, everyone had to compute their team's statistics, and compare them against what was represented on their baseball card.
Definately the coolest math class I ever had
Actually, that's probably the basis for simdynasty
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by rkinslow19]
BleedRed
Actually, more is coming back to me.
Sometimes I just drew the games from my own (very biased) imagination.
Other times, my grandfather (great baseball fan still) had created some small 1 inch x 1 inch tiles with various outcomes for me. They weren't weighted based on skill, but it was still interesting.
April 18, 2006 at 03:12PM View BBCode
Exactly.Actually, more is coming back to me.
Sometimes I just drew the games from my own (very biased) imagination.
Other times, my grandfather (great baseball fan still) had created some small 1 inch x 1 inch tiles with various outcomes for me. They weren't weighted based on skill, but it was still interesting.
Guvner
April 18, 2006 at 03:28PM View BBCode
I started collecting in 1972. My brothers had been collecting and trading for years, and the result of my youth (7), I put a Mickey Mantle card in the spokes of my bike tire rather than trashing a Johnny Briggs card. Heck, Mantle was never a Phillie, so I thought I made the right decision.
John61983
Damn I did that too that was the coolest little game. I actually learned fractions and percentages too.
But as for baseball card experiences, I remember when my grandfather died in Michigan. I was sent to clean up his multiple garages. He was a really big time junk collector.
Anyway I filled up 3 huge construction dumpsters of junk but in this one box I found about 1500 cards from the 1950's that held up fairly well in the weather of Michigan. Some of the highlights of that collection is a Topps Koulfax rookie card and a Kaline Rookie card. It was like seeing all the legends of baseball in a box it inspired me to start collecting late 80's/90's baseball cards.
April 18, 2006 at 03:32PM View BBCode
Originally posted by rkinslow19
No shame, I remember doing the same thing. My 6th grade algebra class had a project that really prompted my passion in fantasy baseball.
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by rkinslow19]
Damn I did that too that was the coolest little game. I actually learned fractions and percentages too.
But as for baseball card experiences, I remember when my grandfather died in Michigan. I was sent to clean up his multiple garages. He was a really big time junk collector.
Anyway I filled up 3 huge construction dumpsters of junk but in this one box I found about 1500 cards from the 1950's that held up fairly well in the weather of Michigan. Some of the highlights of that collection is a Topps Koulfax rookie card and a Kaline Rookie card. It was like seeing all the legends of baseball in a box it inspired me to start collecting late 80's/90's baseball cards.
DeVeau31
I collected cards from about 1985 to 1994 and my dad and grandparents always bought me complete sets for my bday and xmas. In 1987-88, 3rd grade for me, I received a 1986-87 Fleer basketball set. I didn't really follow basketball so it was fairly exciting to me. I had friends that followed it immensely. I brought the complete set into school for show and tell and outside during recess was taking cards out to show people.
A huge gust of wind came through and the set, along with some cards, went flying out of my hands. I grabbed as many as I could find but ended up losing 15-20 cards from the set. Take a wild guess as to which one I managed to lose? Yep, Jordan.
Anyways, I ended up stopping collecting cards because there were way too many to keep up with and prices just got too expensive.
Makes me just plain sad when I see things like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-86-87-Fleer-Michael-Jordan-RC-Rookie-BGS-9-9-5-x2_W0QQitemZ8796598851QQcategoryZ58000QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
April 18, 2006 at 03:50PM View BBCode
Let me briefly share a memory I wish never happened.I collected cards from about 1985 to 1994 and my dad and grandparents always bought me complete sets for my bday and xmas. In 1987-88, 3rd grade for me, I received a 1986-87 Fleer basketball set. I didn't really follow basketball so it was fairly exciting to me. I had friends that followed it immensely. I brought the complete set into school for show and tell and outside during recess was taking cards out to show people.
A huge gust of wind came through and the set, along with some cards, went flying out of my hands. I grabbed as many as I could find but ended up losing 15-20 cards from the set. Take a wild guess as to which one I managed to lose? Yep, Jordan.
Anyways, I ended up stopping collecting cards because there were way too many to keep up with and prices just got too expensive.
Makes me just plain sad when I see things like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-86-87-Fleer-Michael-Jordan-RC-Rookie-BGS-9-9-5-x2_W0QQitemZ8796598851QQcategoryZ58000QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
rkinslow19
April 18, 2006 at 04:02PM View formatted
You are viewing the raw post code; this allows you to copy a message with BBCode formatting intact.
Welcome back Tom!
DeVeau31
This is my 3rd post in about a month, but I'm not ready for a team yet.
April 18, 2006 at 04:04PM View BBCode
eh, wouldn't say "I'm back", but I've slowly been checking the boards at a more regular clip.This is my 3rd post in about a month, but I'm not ready for a team yet.
rkinslow19
On a related note, I've only purchased 2 packs of basketball cards in my life. In one of them, I got a signed Pippen card, that was worht $500. I took it down to the local shop, and since it was signed in blue ink, instead of black, he gave me $1000 in merchandise. For that day, I was in heaven. I've never given two shits about basketball.
April 18, 2006 at 04:05PM View BBCode
Originally posted by DeVeau31
Let me briefly share a memory I wish never happened.
I collected cards from about 1985 to 1994 and my dad and grandparents always bought me complete sets for my bday and xmas. In 1987-88, 3rd grade for me, I received a 1986-87 Fleer basketball set. I didn't really follow basketball so it was fairly exciting to me. I had friends that followed it immensely. I brought the complete set into school for show and tell and outside during recess was taking cards out to show people.
A huge gust of wind came through and the set, along with some cards, went flying out of my hands. I grabbed as many as I could find but ended up losing 15-20 cards from the set. Take a wild guess as to which one I managed to lose? Yep, Jordan.
Anyways, I ended up stopping collecting cards because there were way too many to keep up with and prices just got too expensive.
Makes me just plain sad when I see things like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-86-87-Fleer-Michael-Jordan-RC-Rookie-BGS-9-9-5-x2_W0QQitemZ8796598851QQcategoryZ58000QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
On a related note, I've only purchased 2 packs of basketball cards in my life. In one of them, I got a signed Pippen card, that was worht $500. I took it down to the local shop, and since it was signed in blue ink, instead of black, he gave me $1000 in merchandise. For that day, I was in heaven. I've never given two shits about basketball.
TimSchere
Here's an Ebay listing, proving it's lack of worth:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1988-Topps-complete-boxed-set_W0QQitemZ8796061691QQcategoryZ70380QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by TimSchere]
April 18, 2006 at 04:16PM View BBCode
I'm not a collector, but I got the 1988 Topps set for a present many years ago and have been carting it around since. Anyone want it? It's not worth anything, but I'm happy to send it to anyone that wants it.Here's an Ebay listing, proving it's lack of worth:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1988-Topps-complete-boxed-set_W0QQitemZ8796061691QQcategoryZ70380QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
[Edited on 4-18-2006 by TimSchere]
rkinslow19
April 18, 2006 at 04:38PM View BBCode
I'm going to bid...I have from 90-95, might as well add to the collection.
yankeekid
The guy that owns the baseball card store has one of the Mets world series rings I think it was the coaches that he bought from his wife or something.
April 18, 2006 at 04:40PM View BBCode
I am still collecting cards somewhat although I haven't gotten any new ones for a while. I have a piece of Ty Cobbs jersey that in one pricing magazine was listed as 250 dollars. I enjoy collecting a lot, fun stuff.The guy that owns the baseball card store has one of the Mets world series rings I think it was the coaches that he bought from his wife or something.
TimSchere
That ebay listing was just a reference point.
tim
April 18, 2006 at 04:48PM View BBCode
no bids guys, I'm trying to give it away. just u2u me with a mailing address.That ebay listing was just a reference point.
tim
folifan19
I bought a large box of cards that fall at a neighbor's garage sale, for a dollar. It had several hundred cards in it, baseball and football. From 1968 to 1974. To a 7 year old, it was a gold mine, and about tripled the size of my collection. The card of most interest was a Babe Ruth card. Condition was never a consideration at the time for me, so the fact it was a beat up 3-D card from a cereal box didn't matter. I had a Babe Ruth card. Also had a 72 Hank Aaron card, which I traded to my cousin for his prized 1976 Topps Mickey Stanley card, and a bunch of other stiffs. Good times.
I collected till about 1993 or 94, when the cards became overpriced and over produced. I have a binder of about 300 Ryne Sandberg cards, my fave while in JR high and high school. The first page in the binder is 9, 1983 Topps rookie cards.
Upper Deck has a fine product, but I blame them for the "premium" cards that everyone seems to make now and charge $3 or more for a pack. So, I agree with bobcat, it is a shame that the hobby is so profit driven. I've given my kids some of my old cards from the 90's that have no value at all, and buy them a pack here and there, and they really like them. Maybe it's a good thing the cost will probably keep them from getting a collection in the tens of thousands like I did.
April 18, 2006 at 04:59PM View BBCode
I started collecting in 1975, first grade for me. Ended up with a similar situation as DeVeau. Had a fair sized collection going, that originated that summer. My mother bought me a few packs of 75 Topps baseball cards, to look at in the car driving on vacation. Took my collection to school, along with prized Tim Foli card, and someone stole them! I was pissed beyond words.I bought a large box of cards that fall at a neighbor's garage sale, for a dollar. It had several hundred cards in it, baseball and football. From 1968 to 1974. To a 7 year old, it was a gold mine, and about tripled the size of my collection. The card of most interest was a Babe Ruth card. Condition was never a consideration at the time for me, so the fact it was a beat up 3-D card from a cereal box didn't matter. I had a Babe Ruth card. Also had a 72 Hank Aaron card, which I traded to my cousin for his prized 1976 Topps Mickey Stanley card, and a bunch of other stiffs. Good times.
I collected till about 1993 or 94, when the cards became overpriced and over produced. I have a binder of about 300 Ryne Sandberg cards, my fave while in JR high and high school. The first page in the binder is 9, 1983 Topps rookie cards.
Upper Deck has a fine product, but I blame them for the "premium" cards that everyone seems to make now and charge $3 or more for a pack. So, I agree with bobcat, it is a shame that the hobby is so profit driven. I've given my kids some of my old cards from the 90's that have no value at all, and buy them a pack here and there, and they really like them. Maybe it's a good thing the cost will probably keep them from getting a collection in the tens of thousands like I did.
FuriousGiorge
Ultimately, the boringest part of card collecting was the part I became focused on, and it lost its thrill because of that. When I think about the cards now I realize how I gradually pushed aside the fun part of collecting - the cards themselves. Goofy pictures, players who had their nicknames printed on the card, owning 6 copies of the Jim Deshaies "Most consecutive strikeouts to start a game" card. The realization that almost all the NL players on Fleer cards were photographed at the Vet (the only ballpark I'd ever been to until I was about 13). All the crap about "I had/have X card which is/was worth $1000 dollars" reminds me of how the life was sucked out of card collecting when I started caring more about the prices than the cards.
April 18, 2006 at 05:00PM View BBCode
All the talk about valuable rookie cards and ebay auctions is essentially the reason I got out of the hobby. When I think back about myself when I was 10, I remember that collecting issues of Beckett became almost as important to me as collecting the cards themselves. I'd read those prices and buy packs with daydreams about finding the $50 card which, by the time I was 18, would be worth 50,000 dollars and I would take my collection and sell the cards so I could go live in the Bahamas.Ultimately, the boringest part of card collecting was the part I became focused on, and it lost its thrill because of that. When I think about the cards now I realize how I gradually pushed aside the fun part of collecting - the cards themselves. Goofy pictures, players who had their nicknames printed on the card, owning 6 copies of the Jim Deshaies "Most consecutive strikeouts to start a game" card. The realization that almost all the NL players on Fleer cards were photographed at the Vet (the only ballpark I'd ever been to until I was about 13). All the crap about "I had/have X card which is/was worth $1000 dollars" reminds me of how the life was sucked out of card collecting when I started caring more about the prices than the cards.