[Harliduck]

That's a lot to unpack there John...but good stuff...

I can speak to the first section...the "newer" cards of the all time greats. When I was a kid collecting in the early 80's I knew all those names, but had NO access to any of there cards. There was a kid at school who had a beat up 76 Hank Aaron and he was a GOD. Haha. That said, those cards you posted, I remember them all, and stuff by Pacific cards and such...were super cool just so I could have a Babe Ruth or an Aaron card...and possibly see their unworldly stats in all their full glory. Those cards were coveted by me and my age group...but as we get older...and of course with the advent of Ebay and other buying options...the world got smaller and cards that were unobtainable and only witnessed in books were now available, and being an adult, affordable...

I look at my collection now and I think my 12 year old self would have dropped dead in disbelief at what I have...and as you said, those "newer" cards now don't serve the purpose they once did. I have zero interest, and funny enough, they hold no nostalgic place with me...weird now that I think about it.

Anyway...good post!