[rhettyeakley]

To be totally honest with you it may be a bit of a tough sell with your kids. Unless they have some interest in the game of baseball, history or a little bit of both perhaps baeball cards may not be anything more than a passing fad for them (if they show any interest at all).

My father was a VERY well known and studied Lionel and American Flyer train collector for most of his life. His collection rivaled that of any collection in the country HOWEVER I never had any interest in trains at all. When I was young I would almost cringe when my dad would talk to me about them b/c everything he told me went in one ear and out the other but he expected me to remember the stuff and would get so frustrated when I didn't know what he was talking about (I mean does anyone really care about the difference between the Lionel 390E and the 400E?)

What my dad did however do is instill in me the collecting bug. I chose to focus on something that I had a vested interest in... baseball and history. In the past I had tried many hobbies (for example I was a big Star Wars collector LONG before it was regarded as cool) but the one true constant in my collecting life has been vintage baseball cards and collectibles.

I admire anyone trying to instill that love in their children, my son is only a month old right now and believe me I will try. However, don't be surprised or frustrated if, in the end, it doesn't blossom into his passion. Heck, maybe he will become the world's foremost expert on vintage video games!

-Rhett