OBC - Old Baseball Cards (collecting club)

[jchcollins]

I was an OBC member for probably about 3 steady years in the early 2000's, and then off and on again for another year or so before finally deciding to give it up shortly after finishing grad school a decade ago.

If you are concerned purely about the cards and the condition, OBC is not for you. I was actually very much concerned about these things, but joined OBC at a time when I was actively buying and selling mid- to higher grade cards through other outlets as well. OBC for me was a way to expand the comraderie aspect of the hobby as well as meet some folks online and get some different perspectives. The "random acts of kindness" I did find to be more or less true. I had come to know of OBC from another online club (VCT) where trades seemed to be arranged in more detail in advance, so some of this took a while to get used to. In the end I thought it was more or less fair, though I did find some difficulty occasionally when I actually tried to arrange a trade rather than just shipping cards off without worrying about it. In the end, I left OBC because I had just changed jobs, was starting a family and had less time and money for the cards in general, much less the ability to spend the proper time looking through the want lists of others to be able to send stuff out and pull my fair weight in the club. There were no rules as such or certainly any formal tabs on keeping up and doing your share, but I felt bad about it - and rather than just continue to sit back quietly and take cards without doing anything in return, I quit.

If you are looking for true fellowship among hobbyists, OBC is a great place. People literally do become lifelong friends there. I could never step it up quite that much. I will say if I were still single, less busy at work, or just had just a ton of time on my hands otherwise that would likely get plunged back into the hobby - I would consider rejoining OBC. I do think to really do it justice it does require a certain dedication of time, though.

-John

[markstalbot]

I’ve been in OBC since July 2000 and I have enjoyed many experiences while a part of the group. Enough guys have chimed in so I will do my best not to be redundant. Let me tell you about the OBC Swap meet at the National.

Imagine if you will 25+ guys hangin’ out chewin’ the fat pawing through everybody’s dupe boxes to find some cardboard gold, hollering out card numbers and literally throwing cardboard throughout the room. Some guys are pulling cardboard for someone who could not make it to the National and an auction is going on but the only acceptable bid is nothing – just stick your paw up and say I need that one and it comes your way. The pizza comes, more jawboning and collectibles fly – before you know it 4 hours have past, you’ve been forced to start 5 new sets and as much as you tried to leave with less than you came with it just never works out that way. To your amazement fans of the Tigers, Indians, Mets, Reds, Cards, Dodgers, Red Sox, Stankees and just about any team that’s hit the diamond can peacefully co-exist in this environment. It’s just a great night of camaraderie that is the highlight for my annual pilgrimage to the National year after year.

It was to this “event” that I invited Ed (a few posts ago) to, we had met through another trading group but I think that evening re-invigorated the hobby for him. You see OBC is a card collecting group but it really is more about the friends we make along the way and sharing our love for the hobby. It’s already been said “OBC is not for everyone” and it’s very true if you’re into collecting slabbed beauties and only 9’s or 10’s will do then we at OBC can offer you advice on how to liberate the cardboard from the plastic tomb but are likely to be able to help you with your collection. On the other hand, if you wish to return to the candy store steps where you ripped wax, stuffed your mouth with gum, flipped, traded, stuck a couple in the spokes of the bike and the rest in your back pocket –and those cards in “well loved” condition remind you of the friends you collected with then maybe you might want to check us out and the guys we collect with now.

See us at: www.oldbaseball.com

BTW – Ralph I have always enjoyed trading with you and will continue to do so whether you drink the OBC kool-aid or not. BE WELL!!!!

[saltire]

OBC is certainly a unique group in the world of card collecting. The "What goes round comes round" concept would definitely be tricky for some to get their head round, and as has already been stated its not for everybody. However, the satisfaction of helping out a fellow collector often outweighs the monetary "value" of a trade. Its easy to underestimate the feel good factor.

The cameraderie aspect of OBC is another big big plus factor. Whether its welcoming fellow members into your home, getting together at a game, meeting up for a bite to eat, or bombarding members who are in need of a good "pick-me-up" with cards in their time of need ("the healing power of cardboard"), OBC and its members always step up to the mark and never fail to amaze me.

As you can imagine, my own experience in OBC has been hugely positive. I've been a member since 1997, and the amount that I've learned about the hobby, the experiences I've had, the people I've met, and the encouragement they've given me to start new sets all add up to make me feel a part of the OBC "family".

There is no doubt in my mind that I have had more from OBC than I've managed to give back. I should add that right throughout my OBC life, I've lived in Scotland. My inability to "re-stock" regularly due to my location and ever rising postal and import tax costs has meant that I've not been able to return fire to my fellow members in recent years nearly as much as I would like. This is a real cause of embarrassment to me, and makes me appreciate the occasional envelope that drops through my mailbox even more. Despite my rather remote location, I've had the opportunity to meet dozens of OBCers over the years. I always seek them out when I visit the States, and they look for me when they head my way (I think I've met about 12-15 guys and their families right here in Scotland!). We've golfed, shared a dram or two, ate pizza, told stories (some taller than others!), BBQed, cajoled, supported, argued (of course that happens!!), comisserated, and even swapped a card or two along the way.

OBC is an amazing group. Not for everybody but, if you can adjust your card collecting/trading philosophy appropriately, it has the potential to really enhance your hobby experience.

Glenn
Glasgow, Scotland

[hoot-owl]

a friendly bump:

take a look--at the very least find some new trading partners,

http://www.oldbaseball.com