[pokerplyr80]

I'd say my collecting story is pretty similar to yours, only it started 3 years later in 89. I think most kids don't really care about condition, and I was no exception. I'm sure I would have been equally excited to have an old Mickey Mantle or Nolan Ryan card in a 5 as I would have a 9 or 10. Centering wasn't a very big deal either as you mentioned.

I also am into graded cards now, and do go after higher grade cards, or the highest I can afford any way. A big part of that is I feel they have better investment potential. And I do notice the difference in lower grade cards. Although I do admit it's sometimes hard to tell some 8s from 10s, nevermind 9s vs 10s. My tastes have changed a lot compared to what I collected as a kid. I attribute most of that to the fact that I didn't have much to spend back then.

Centering has become more important to me as well, mostly because the cards look so much better centered. They don't have to be dead centered, but I prefer them to be pretty close. On bigger cards I do settle for lower grades, because that's all I can afford. But I do still try hold out for good centering.