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
