When did you quit actively buying packs of cards?

[darkhorse9]

I think it's safe to say most (if not all) of us got into the hobby buying packs of cards as a kid or teenager. When did that part of the hobby end for you? I'm talking one at a time in the local convenience store. Not boxes to rip. Just the casual buy to see what you can get.

For me, I started collecting in 1969. Took a short break in college but got back into it in the mid-80's

I stopped actively buying packs of cards in 1992. After that I would just buy complete sets to keep my run going.

It's sad that a kid can't go into any convenience store and buy a pack of cards any more.

When did the joy of buying a pack of cards end for you?

[rats60]

I bought packs from 1965-2015. After that I decided to sell off almost all of my modern and most of post-war vintage to concentrate of pre-war. The newest "base" card I have is a 1975 Topps Brett. I have a few newer cards that are autographed and some Clemente stuff.

[jamest206]

Baseball strike. Once that happened, as a kid, I had to find a different interest. Started working as well, so my dad wasn’t taking us to the card shop to buy boxes & boxes of packs to open all weekend anymore. Once complete Bowman sets were started again, and available at Big Lots, realized as well things were getting watered down. Probably 1995 was last time, when I was 15.

[obcbobd]

I started in 1967 age 5 (very few packs). By 6 I bought a few more and my 7 I was down to the corner store (4 houses away) every Wednesday with my allowance.

1974 was the last year I bought packs. I had 100's if not a 1000 dups but not a complete set. Starting in 1975 I bought complete sets. Stopping in 1978, just concentrating on older cards from the pint forward.

[steve B]

I guess it depends on what you think of as actively buying packs.

I rarely bought more than one box at a time, and then mostly buying 2-3 from one of the old stock of junk liquidators at a show.

But I still buy packs now and then.

[glynparson]

1991

[BCauley]

I'd say I went through a few rounds of stopping. I started actively collecting back in 1986 and this carried through until 1994. Started up again in ~1998 and stopped in 2004. This was the period I'd snag a few packs here and there and buy boxes occasionally at the card shops. Started again in about 2010 where I'd buy packs/boxes and stopped in 2013.

Once I started again in 2019, I just buy singles that I want but I'd say about 2-3 times a year will pick up a retail box of cards when I'm at Target just to scratch the itch of opening some packs.

[parkplace33]

2000

[G1911]

Never.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by glynparson

1991

+1

[Cmvorce]

From 1987 until 1991 (ages 8-12) I spent every cent I had on packs. Dabbled in 92, skipped 93, bought a box in 94 and then didn't buy another pack until 2008. Then stopped with packs again until this year, when I built a complete 2022 Topps set through packs. I don't think I'll be doing that again though - back to factory sets for me.

[BobbyStrawberry]

In the early 90s

[boneheadandrube]

1987 - Went vintage and pre war quickly after that.

[perezfan]

I bought packs from 1967 - 1970, and have not bought a full pack in the subsequent 52 years.

[MuncieNolePAZ]

1999

[oldjudge]

1962

[Griffins]

Never. Still put together the current Heritage set from packs every year. Will probably stop in 2 years after the '75 design, that year being the last year I bought packs as a (official) kid.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rats60

I bought packs from 1965-2015. After that I decided to sell off almost all of my modern and most of post-war vintage to concentrate of pre-war. The newest "base" card I have is a 1975 Topps Brett. I have a few newer cards that are autographed and some Clemente stuff.

For the longest time 1975 and Brett were my cutoff too, although I eventually decided to go up to the present for HOFers. I can't recall my rationale, it just felt like the right place to stop, maybe because there were no really compelling players until Henderson and he felt too new.

[JackR]

I quit buying packs in 1962, when Topps came out with the wood-grained simulated poster format, which I thought then and still think sorta stunk.

[DHogan]

I stopped buying packs in about 2002. I still have about 150 un-opened packs in all brands and sports from the 90's to 2002. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them.

[Bcwcardz]

2021. I only recently decided to solely focus on certain years only. I collected pretty much everything before. I’m 1959-1987 with main focus on 1971-1980. It’s nice not having to buy new packs and waste hundreds of dollars.


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[jingram058]

Stopped buying packs in 1972. Bought thousands of packs 1967-70, then a few 1971-72. Put together complete sets and many duplicates, according to the checklists 1967-68-69. A great many but perhaps not the complete set of 1970. All via pack after pack after pack.

[todeen]

I bought packs from 1992 when my mom would give me 50 cents at the grocery store. I used my allowance and work money 1996 - 2005. I lost interest in packs cyz I didn't feel like there was a ROI. I moved into vintage singles around 2008 and then pre-war in 2012. I bought my first packs again last year 2021 Topps Chrome Update to open with my son. Probably going to buy some again this year as we are in WA and we will look for a Julio Rodriguez base card.

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[Leon]

Probably around 1972....
.

[Hirbonzig]

First packs were from 1974 and last packs were from 1991, then went vintage only-mostly pre war.

[BioCRN]

Started in 1981, and slowed to a crawl after 2002.

I still buy a few hobby/retail packs or a retail blaster every once in a while. I rarely spend more than $100-$150 a year these days, though. that don't go far with current prices.

I bought my first hobby boxes since 2001 this year out of sheer to desire to bust some packs, 2022 Allen and Ginter. I buy some A/G every year, even if only a little. It's not the vintage look I'm drawn to as much as the oddball stuff they pack in there. It's a fun rip.

[LEHR]

I've never really stopped buying boxes/packs, I just stopped opening them for the most part. I have 5 unopened boxes of 2022 Heritage baseball sitting on a shelf have that I added to the pile this year but I've yet to open a pack, and most likely wont.

[ValKehl]

1960.

[CurtisFlood]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

1962

Hey, me too. I loved the 1961 Topps cards. When 62 came out I disliked them so badly after a couple packs I stopped buying cards until I returned to the hobby in 1987. Too bad I quit on them as Koufax, Clemente, and Musial were all in that first series. All I pulled were guys like Cuno Barragan.

[Bigdaddy]

1990, and then bought some of the Topps Heritage and Allen and Ginter's when they first came out.

[JustinD]

I technically never stopped buying packs but honestly it’s only a handful per year to toss it in the boxes for some later date or just on an urge at the time.

I gave up chasing cards in packs in the 80s as it always seems both more logical and economical to just buy the exact card I want via auction or other for any new players or specific items.

[EddieP]

Probably 1977 when I found it more cost effective to buy the year’s complete set from either Larry Fritsch or Renata Galasso.

[nineunder71]

Planning for June 2027

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

1984 stopped buying all sports in pack form... Briefly bought a bunch of basketball in 1992-93 during the Shaquille O'Neill rookie craze.

[refz]

Somewhere around 2009 I stopped. I got “gold fever” after buying a box of 2007 sp legendary cuts and pulling Jimmie Foxx.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by refz

Somewhere around 2009 I stopped. I got “gold fever” after buying a box of 2007 sp legendary cuts and pulling Jimmie Foxx.

That’s a better hit than anything I’ve ever pulled!

[campyfan39]

1998

[fkm_bky]

1990 Upper Deck were the last packs I really opened with any fervor. I still every now and then will pick up a few packs just for fun...but not very often.

Bill

[jingram058]

If anyone reads this, how about starting a thread "Why did you stop buying packs of cards?"

[inceptus]

Started 1970 (age 5)
Stopped 1980
Started 1984
Stopped 1988
Started 1993
Haven't really stopped again since...

[peterb69]

I also started in 1969. In the mid seventies I would bike ride to the corner store and spend my money for doing chores on packs of cards. Continued until 1979.

After 1986 and the Red Sox/Mets World Series, I got back into the hobby and went to Flea Markets and Card Shows where I discovered you had more options than just buying packs. I also discovered pre war cards which became my interest. I did buy a few packs but got quickly turned off with the overwhelming amount of new cards from what is now called the junk wax era. I got into packs again in the 2010’s when Topps did the heritage sets. New players on old style cards. But just a few packs of these to see the designs. Still turned off by modern with the overwhelming again total cards amounts and the shiny colorful chase cards. I do like the recent Topps Stadium club cards because of the originality of the photos. But once again, I just buy some single cards from eBay, not packs.

Pre war has now become out of my price range and my new focus has become vintage. Packs a long thing of the past.

[bmattioli]

I have always loved the hunt and finding them. Saving to buy a whole box was an achievement back in the day. Ripping wax reminds me of my youth and the good times..

[drmondobueno]

1962 through 1968, all baseball, then with my boys 1981 through 1987.

Bought my first T206 in 1984. Never could find packs of these guys...

[darwinbulldog]

1991

[Yoda]

1958, about the time I reached puberty.

[puckpaul]

I bought packs from 1970 (a few) through 1976. Then stopped. Picked up the hobby in 1989 and got into prewar but also finished the sets i had started 1971-1976. I would buy packs today if they were carried in my local stores and if i know which was the base set kids are interested in today. Way too much choice for me. I have only bought the newer cards of players i love (like deGrom…though i cant even identify what the set is that the cards are in).

[John1941]

I stopped in 2019 when I realized it was a waste of my money. Now I focus mostly on vintage, and for modern cards stick to dime boxes.

My dad stopped in 1973, and bought packs for a while in 1990.

[isiahfan]

1996...was setting up a bit and was basically tripling my $ on any mantles pulled. I guess when I lived in HI I bought a ton of packs in 1998 too...but that was because there wasn't a ton other stuff to do there....none since.

[EGreenwood]

1978 - 1987

[Tere1071]

1969-1975



Phil aka Tere1071

Complete 1953 Bowman Color, 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1975 Topps Baseball sets- always under revision

1970 and 1973 Topps Baseball- under construction.