Posted By:
AnonymousJustin,
I seem to be about your age. I also collected as a kid in the eighties. Of course my grandparents and parents all told me what a great investment sets would be, how they'd be worth a lot one day. About half my birthday/holiday gifts growing up where sets from my parents. 86 Topps, 87 Topps, 90 Topps Traded, 86 Sportflics, you name it.
Yesterday I went over to my mother's and thumbed through some of the old cards I had bought as a kid - you know, the 87 Fleer Will Clark rookie I paid $30 for, and the 87 Fleer Bobby Bonilla right behind it. Then you have the Jose Canseco's.
I'd say our generation didn't make out quite as well.
I like the advice above of taking out the valuable cards and giving the rest to charity (if they'll take them). You could probably legally write them off at book value (five cents per common, etc.) which is far more than you will ever be paid by anyone else for them.
Regards,
Jamie