Cumulative collecting experience....

[drdduet]

Just to get a rough estimation....

Post the number of years you've been collecting baseball cards. I'm just curious as to what is total years of experience in the hobby shared by this board.

I've been hooked for 34 years and there is no cure for me.

[slidekellyslide]

Hmmm...I don't know exactly, but I took about an 8 year hiatus between college and when I started up again with the advent of ebay. My best guesstimate is 25 years.

[jb217676]

drdduet, you've been collecting for more years than I've been alive! (just turned 33 in 2009) Started collecting vintage 2 years ago!

[tedzan]

We must of started in the same year, as this is my 34th year. I returned to collecting BB cards in 1977
after a 25 year break in this hobby.


TED Z

[B O'Brien]

I got my first Topps set in 1985 at the ripe age of 9, and bought my first old stuff in 1987 with grass money and have steadily moved back through the years since then.

25 years total of buying, selling, and using them to bet on wiffle ball games in the front yard with the neighbors.

Hope all is well,
Bob

[Orioles1954]

I'm 34 years old and have been collecting 23 years. Started in 1984-1993 (three year break for girls and punk rock) back from 1996-present.

James

[drdduet]

We're already up to 143 years of cumulative experience!

[Rob D.]

2010 marks my 38th year of collecting cards and memorabilia.

[Jim VB]

First set I remember collecting as a kid was 1961, but I took an extended sabbatical (Barry, can I take a sabbatical if I don't have "tenure?") from 1969-1985. So, I'm around 33 years as an active collector.

[docpatlv]

Have been collecting for 34 of my 40 years.

[ErikV]

Been collecting for 32 years total. (Started collecting cards in 1978 at the age of 10.)

[barrysloate]

Jim- around here you can do anything you want. There are no rules!

[CobbvLajoie1910]

1985. 7-years old. Recieved a box of rack-packs for Xmas.

All downhill from there.

25-years & counting.

[nebboy]

First started in 73 but with break it comes to 24 yrs

[cardinalcollector]

I bought my first pack of Topps in 1968 at the age of 7 and have collected non-stop.

My first card show attended was in St. Louis in 1976.

My first National was #3 also in St. Louis.

I also got to hang around Buck Barker when I was a youngster and had a column in "Sports Collectors News" in 1975-76 called Randys Ramblings.

[drdduet]

"bought my first old stuff in 1987 with grass money"

Hey O'brien, we'll keep that on the DL...;)

[Leon]

I bought my first pack of Topps in 1968 at the age of 7 and have collected non-stop.

My first card show attended was in St. Louis in 1976.

My first National was #3 also in St. Louis.

I also got to hang around Buck Barker when I was a youngster and had a column in "Sports Collectors News" in 1975-76 called Randys Ramblings.

Hey Randy,
I think you are close to my age but you didn't put in your # of years?

I am only going to count my current collecting as I collected when I was a little kid but not too long after that. So, I am only at about 14 yrs.....(but very addicted years!!)

[drdduet]

We're up to 371 years and counting....

[Howe’s Hunter]

41 of 48 years. Vintage the last 21.

[Anthony S.]

First started buying Topps packs at age 7 in 1975. That was the year they test marketed the Topps Minis in select areas. Could never figure out why the cards I bought in San Francisco were a different size than the cards I bought in Santa Barbara when we visited my grandparents. But it did make me very suspicious of my grandparents.

Stopped collecting in 1981 when I started high school. Started collecting again in 1998, but stopped in 2000. Decided to sell my collection in 2007. But the second I pulled my vintage cards out of storage and found this website I was sucked right back into collecting. I think this time for good.

So about 12 years of hardcore collecting as compared to 30 years of relative sanity.

[Robextend]

Started in 1987 as a 6 yr old but stopped when I was 13. Just got back into it via the vintage route a couple years ago, so I will say 9 years total.

[tonyk1975]

My first pack i bought was when I was 8 and it was 1983 Topps. Ive been collecting cards and memorbilia ever since. So thats 27yrs for me. Wow doesn't seem that long.

[steve B]

41 years since my first pack (Still have the Reggie Jackson rookie)
36 years since I started collecting more than about 1 pack a year.
33 years since I started collecting somewhat seriously
Moved to a town with a card shop in 1977. It was on the way home, and that got me into collecting older cards -I wish I'd bought more back then.

I've had a few stretches where I've been less active, but I got a few each year, so I count it as continuous.

Steve

[ecRich]

46 years for me, opened up a pack of Topps in 1964 when I was 5-6 years old and have not stopped.
Rich

[Chris Counts]

I bought my first pack in 1970, and by 1973 (when I was 12) I was pretty much only interested in vintage, which to me meant Topps cards from 1952 to 1969. The following year I went to my first card show (Anaheim '74), where I discovered you could buy something called a T206 for a dollar. I skipped most of the 80s and 90s, and I got back into collecting about 10 years ago ...

[cincyredlegs]

Got hooked in 1976 (was 5 years old) when my dad brought back a large box of 1973-1975 baseball cards back from the flea market. Sorted those cards 10 ways to Sunday and kept extra tight rubber bands on them so they wouldn't move around and get damaged....hmmm. Still have those cards but don't think I will be getting any PSA 10's from that lot.

Anyways, been collecting ever since - 34 years. Mainly vintage but still have a slew of junk from the 80's and 90's.

Mark

[Section103]

I bought my first "pack" (to this day I swear I got a batch of cards out of something close to a gumball-type machine and the card on top was a Pirate) in '74 and collected for about 10+ years. Missed the late 80s and all of the 90s (lucky!), and started again in 2000, right before my first-born. 20 years total.

[brianp-beme]

I collected a few packs here and there as a little bobble head from 1972-74, was gifted half of my older brother's collection around this time, and started collecting full bore in 1975. Started collecting vintage in 1981, the new stuff gradually dwindled to nothing, and have collected vintage for the past 29 years. So I consider it 35 years of constant collecting, although there were some lean years during college and shortly afterward.

Brian

[drdduet]

646....

[Peter_Spaeth]

1965-73 and 1992-now.

[rc4157]

Started in '67 with Topps at the age of 10, continued on and off through '81 or '82. Took some time off and really got back into vintage 3-4 years ago but never let any of my original collection go.

Years...... I guess would be about 20 actual years of collecting.

RC

[DixieBaseball]

-1975-1985 (Age 5 to Age 15) - 1975 Topps and Topps Mini's broke me in...
-10 year hiatus from age 15-25 - High School, Ball, Girls, Cars, College
-1995-2010 (Age 25-40) - Pre-War Vintage brought me back (Ebay helped)

Total Collecting experience 25 years

[albrshbr]

Bought my first packs in 1978. Been pretty consistent since then, with a few lean years mixed in. So I guess that makes 32 years.

[prewarsports]

Started collecting in 1986 at 10 years old when my older brother bought me a pack of '86 Topps cards at the gas station (2 years earlier if you count Garbage Pail Kids). With a few minor exceptions it has been constant ever since. I guess that means 24 years.

Rhys Yeakley

[Tim Fritz]

Total of 28 years. First pack was in 1976 and sold my collection in college. Started back up after graduating. I've been collecting pre-war for 4 years.

[Oldtix]

Got my first baseball cards from the backs of Jell-o and Post Cereal boxes back in 1962 at age 7. Got my first "vintage" cards in 1964 when I convinced my uncle to throw in all my cousin's cards (dating back to 1955) when I bought his old HO trains. Still have them all and have been collecting baseball and other stuff ever since...that's 48 years!

[Jacklitsch]

58 years though there have been temporary breaks for the Navy (1961-1964); College (1965-1968); Law School (1970-1974). So I guess that's a net of 48 years.

[E93]

Began buying packs in 1975.
Went to my first card show in 1979.
Took about a ten year break from '82-'93 or so. (Foggy memory... I will spare you all the details.)
Non-stop since then.
So I guess it is about 25 years, not counting the 10 year hiatus.
JimB

[FrankWakefield]

.

[DeanH3]

27 years here. Started in 1983 at the age of 14. Like others had periods of lower interest, girls can really mess things up :D, but never stopped competely.

[alanu]

About 20-25 years, not including when I collected in the late 60's, early 70's as a kid. Vintage for only about 10.

[HRBAKER]

First pack in 1966, collected steadily through 1980. Took a break until starting back up in 1984 and been at it ever since. So in total, 40 of my 50 years. First pre-war card was bought in 1989.

[joeadcock]

26 years

[JeremyW]

First pack of cards 1977. 10 year break from 1989-1999. 23 years here. Pre-war 10-11 years.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Dad bought me a pack of 78-79 Topps Hockey at a gas station after I scored my first goal. Collected solid until 1992. Then started slowly again in 1996 and haven't stopped since but did take a two year break in the 2000's so I guess that is either 24 or 25 years.

[Harford20]

Total card collecting years, 25 years. Total pre-war, 4 years.

[quinnsryche]

About 35 of my 43 years and still nothing to show for it!:D

[brickyardkennedy]

Adding together the years of buying packs as a kid, with my years collecting as an "adult", comes to 23.

[Jim VB]

Darren,

Don't forget to get a number from the Dorskind Group! Bruce alone is in his late 50's so I think their cumlative number must be pushing close to 200 years.

[judsonhamlin]

First rack pack: 1975
First Renata Galasso vending box: 1977
Completely hooked: About 2 minutes after the vending box arrived.

33 years here.

[Rickyy]

I first started collecting seriously in 1973 to try to get a complete topps set of that year... and have been into it ever since...started the type collection soon after I discovered this forum.... :)

[cwazzy]

I started in 1987 when at the age of 7 and have been collecting ever since. So I guess that makes 23 years this year. Of course my collecting interest has changed too many times to count but that wasn't the question. :)

[Steve D]

I bought my first packs of both baseball and football cards in 1970, when I was seven years old. Kept buying packs until 1975, except for 1971...still can't remember why I didn't collect in 1971 though.

In 1975, I bought my first cards through the mail: the 1975 Topps team sets of the Reds and Padres, through a Larry Fritsch ad in The Sporting News. Started buying baseball complete sets in 1976 from Fritsch.

Bought my first pre-WWII cards in 1979: T206s of M. Brown, Keeler and Bresnahan for $10 total.

I haven't stopped since :)


Steve

[toppcat]

Originally 6 years (69-75), then a five year break, then 29 and counting, so 35 years. To reference a post above, still have the girl, still dig the punk rock. ;)

[Doug]

I bought my first vintage card in 1998 so I've been collecting off and on for the past 12 years.

[HBroll]

Got my first pack of baseball/football cards in 1970 so its been about 40 years now and counting.......

[Kawika]

First learned of the existence of baseball cards when I was 6 in 1956, bought my first pack in 1957 and collected like mad until 1961 when we moved from NYC to Denver, and where cards didn't seem to have much traction with kids in those pre-expansion days. Bought a few vintage cards here and there in the '80's and '90's but really started hitting it hard around 2000. Let's say 15 years all told.

[Wite3]

32 years and I still love it!

Joshua

[jbsports33]

over 15 years selling and over 25 years collecting

Jimmy

[uffda51]

6 years as a kid. 30 as an adult.

[Rich Klein]

But this is my 42nd year of collecting in some fashion

Rich

[vintagewhitesox]

Started collecting when I was 9, in 1987, took a break in high school, and have been collecting ever since. So about 20 of my 32 years here.

[SteveMitchell]

Bought my first pack of baseball cards in April 1957 just before I turned 8 years old but I had picked up a Davy Crockett card or two the year before. (Didn't know baseball cards existed but it would not have mattered. Walt Disney's Davy Crockett was THE BEST to most any child of that era.)

Steve

[Kenny Cole]

Long story short -- 41 years, give or take a couple. Boy does that make me feel old.

[Jantz]

I started in 1977 and collected until 1979. All three sports (baseball, basketball & football).

Then started back up in 1994 and still at it today.


Jantz

[MVSNYC]

i collected as a kid in the '80's, then later in college thru the present...i'd say almost 25 years total.

[onlychild]

...about 30 years total.


Kevin

[ethicsprof]

'57-'77
'82-'10

'round 49 years

best,
barry

[Publius]

0 years collecting baseball, 17 years collecting football cards :)

I wanted football to represent!!

[HTBB]

started at 10 yrs old

1953 - 1960 cards
1975 - 2010 cards and memorabilia

still going - sort of - at 67 yrs old

Approx 42 years

Mike Ellis

[ValKehl]

1955 - 1960 as a kid.
Resurrected my collection, which Mom didn't throw away (she was going to do this sometime in the late 1970s, but fortunately, she first called and asked me if I still wanted them!) sometime in the mid to late 1980s, and been at it ever since.
Total of 25 - 30 years.

[btkpath]

Hard to believe that at age 45 I am one of the babies of the group in terms of years collecting. For me, I make a distinction between accumulating cards when I was a kid (mostly in the '70s) and collecting cards (with an eye to value, card condition, eye appeal, completing sets and historical perspective). Having said that, I have been collecting for the past 5 years and have enjoyed sharing the hobby with my family and friends. I no longer have to worry where any disposable income will go. I'll get off the soapbox now.

[martin neal]

Probably 30 of my 55 years

[Kotton King]

8 years as a kid collecting the junk from the 80's and 90's.

Just started collecting vintage cards 3 years ago. I'm 32 now, so I've got a lot of years to continue this!

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Like most of you I bought packs and clipped Post boxes as a kid (1960-65) with 1962 as my biggest buying year. After a few years off I was fortunate to find John England's card shop in Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1975. that day I bought 2 T206s and an Old Judge- Bushong for $4.00. I also purchased a copy of The Trader Speaks and the SCD. From there I purchased T206s from George Lyons and T205s from Wirt Gammons. In a fit of stupidity I sold my T205 set and 481 T206s in 1990. I just started back two years ago after getting energized while peaking at this forum. At age 55 I still find it fun.

[Rich Klein]

Who I think he is, say hello to my friend Mike Dugan (sic) (IIRC his name correctly) and one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Note his post count at 3, and I think the story he tells is one I remember him telling me in 2006.


Regards
Rich

[cardinalcollector]

Hi Leon, I was born in 1960, I'll turn 50 during the World Series this year. so I've been collecting for about 42 years. Collecting only Cardinals since 1992.

[Kalineman]

I still have my first Detroit Tigers card - Red Wilson - from the very first pack of Topps I opened in 1959. Luckily, my best friend's dad owned a dime store that carried Topps. At the end of the year, he gave me box after box of 1960 and 1961 Topps. So this marks more than 50 years collecting cards. And I remember setting up at my first show at the Troy Hilton in 1972. There is no other hobby like ours.

[Ladder7]

Apprentice collector for 42 yrs.

1967, with hockey and the Red Sox. I recall once flipping an Orr rookie for a Bucyk, Howe or Hull and "beating" the older kids :mad:. I just hope it suffered a nice ding.

[drdduet]

If my calculations are correct we thus far have accumalated 2035 years of collecting.

Hey Jim, good point!:o

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Hello Rich! Yes, it is Mike Dugan in Hot Springs, the birthplace of Spring Training. I have visited this forum as a guest too many times to admit to and am amazed at the depth of knowledge held by it's members. I recently joined, probably to praise postings more than contribute vital information. By the way the bi-annual SABR Deadball Era Committee "Boiling Out in the Springs" meeting is this weekend here in Hot Springs National Park. As Rich can attest many if not most of the SABR folks that wrote the bios for the wonderful pair of book on players in the deadball era for both leagues usually attend. I am also excited about the new T206 book coming out this year, I love to find about the real personalities of the people on the cards. By the way also this week in Hot Springs Farm Bureau Insurance company is sponsoring a Deadball Era photo exhibition at our convention center. They have procured 25 seldom seen photos of baseball here during the heyday period 1900-20. Included are two actual action photos of Honus Wagner. They will be on display for about three months so if any of you are attending the big race between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta next month you can take it in. By the way our A&P Commission issued two really nice collector cards of both horses yesterday. Sorry to ramble and get off track.

[sayhey24]

Please add 44 more years to the total. First purchased packs in 1966 as a 7 year old -- was lucky enough to buy Cracker Jacks, Goudeys and P2 pins while hitting antique stores with my parents. Have never really stopped collecting cards, although my focus shifted to memorabilia as an adult.

Greg

[Leon]

I am obviously biased but......I think anyone that says that this forum has gone down or there isn't a lot of experience on it, might look at this thread. It's really eye opening. I hope that in the future more of you guys that have been collecting for 30-50 yrs will chime in a bit more. Your experience is priceless. We all appreciate the wisdom that is shared. best regards

[GoldenAge50s]

Bought my 1st pack of cards in the corner store @ 8yrs old--1948 Bowman and collected actively until I graduated HS in 1958. Into the cigar boxes they went and into the closet until I returned north in 1980 & dug them out again!

Been at it ever since collecting the same years of cards I started with and adding to them, so call it 40 yrs active or 62 yrs possessing the same collection.

I'll be 70 in July and bought my 1st T206's this past fall.

[scooter729]

First cards were purchased as a 6 year old in 1979, and there's been no stop, so I guess this is Year 31 of the collecting bug...

[Dustanh1]

I've been collecting for 20 years. I started in 1990 when I was 8. I did take about 2 years off during high school, when I found other interests. I kept all my cards though, and picked it back up right before I turned 18 when I found ebay. I've been collecting vintage for 2-3 years. Oh how I wish I had gotten into vintage back in 1994, which was the first time I went to a National. Oh well.

[BleedinBlue]

Put me down for 34 years. Found a stack of cards in a nearby lot in the summer of 1976. Stole some quarters from my folks and bought some 1976 Topps Packs and got the Kurt Bevaqua Bubble Gum Card. Hooked ever since. Really got rolling in 1977 when I put my first set together from packs. I still have all those cards in my collection.

Brian

[drdduet]

Conservative tally--2204 years.....

[mets41]

I collected cards as a kid from 1960-64 (ages 8-13). From 1965-73 I'd buy 1 pack of cards a year to see what that year's design looked like. When I bought my 1973 pack (already in my 20's and working), the pack included a Clemente card. That's what got me back into collecting (and later selling as well) as an adult. I thought it was odd at the time that Topps would make a card of a dead man.

[carrigansghost]

Started in 74 but took a few years off. I would guess at 25 years.

Rawn

[sox1903wschamp]

First pack purchased in 1966 at age 5. Collected everything in sight as a kid through 74, took teenage years off and have had the collecting bug since 78.
8 years as a kid, 32 as an adult.

Quick story: I will never forget the owner of Zack's variety store in Watertown, MA switching 1969 Topps series on me as an 8 year old. I had all of the cards from the prior series and was relentless in asking him when the new series would be in. Well they finally came in and I only had maybe a quarter to spend as my allowance day was the next day. I purchased 5 packs of the new series and came back the next day with a dollar (yes, I spent every cent I had even then on cards) for 20 more packs. Well he still had the old series to sell and he switched them on me. After opening a couple I realized it, went back to the store to trade out and he would not do it. I mean really, you just don't do that do an 8 year old :(

[familytoad]

Super thread idea and I'd like to add my 33 years to the total.
1971-1980=10
1988-2010=23

Vintage (Pre World War II)= 22 as my Diamond Star Frankie Frisch was captured in 1989.

How many of us played (or still do play) APBA Baseball?
I used to play one of their "All-time Greats" seasons and grew to love the old HOFers. Once I saw a "real" card of some of the HOFers I rolled the dice with, I was hooked, lined and sinkered. (insider info: Who recognizes 66=1 ?)

What's really dumb is that I was collecting a HOF card every few weeks and boxes or packs of wax from Score/Donruss/Fleer/Topps and Upper Deck nearly every day in the late 80's. If wishes were fishes... I'd like the $$$ spent on that junk back or wish the money had been re-directed into my HOF collection.

Who can make that happen?