How will the impending lockout effect The Hobby?

[Snapolit1]

It's a fascinating aspect of American culture that the man on the street always takes the side of the billionaire against the millionaire. Every time.

[Snapolit1]

And I saw an interesting statistic recently that only 30% or so of major leaguers (can't remember the precise number) are actually making a million dollars.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

And I saw an interesting statistic recently that only 30% or so of major leaguers (can't remember the precise number) are actually making a million dollars.

Doesn't surprise me. There are certainly many more making the minimum (or pretty close) than there are making 8 figures.

I have a buddy who made it to the bigs with the Tigers and Red Sox, if you include the time he spent in the minors and before, doing what he needed to do to make it to the bigs for little or no pay, I made more money in the same time frame as a roadie for bands you guys never heard of than he made as a professional baseball player.

But, he had Topps baseball cards, and I don't, so he wins.

[Exhibitman]

The only thing I know for sure about the lockout is that Clayton Kershaw will spend at least 60 days of it on the DL.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The only thing I know for sure about the lockout is that Clayton Kershaw will spend at least 60 days of it on the DL.

And DeGrom more than that, and Trout all of it.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The only thing I know for sure about the lockout is that Clayton Kershaw will spend at least 60 days of it on the DL.

Harsh! Hahahaha

[Leon]

A lockout would make no different at all to me. I never came back from the '94 one. I don't think it will affect vintage cards if there is one.

and a card...
.

[FrankWakefield]

A continued lockout will affect old card prices.


Stop and think about it... when you initially started collecting cards, what were they. I don't think any of us would answer T206s, Old Judge's or American Caramels. Most likely, we started with cards contemporary with when we starting. For me, I bought a very few packs of 1964 Topps... in 1964. In 1965, I bought a bunch of cards, all 1965 Topps. And in 1965, as I could bicycle over to a contemporary collector friend's house, I could then trade cards. And he had some cards handed down from his older brother... wow, there were ballcards from 1959. I traded for a very few 1963 cards. And it would be 20 years more before I collected anything old enough to be of interest here on this board.


The point is, the collectors of the old cards were initially young collectors of contemporary cards. Some stay with it and eventually get interested in the old cards. Some pause, then come back to the hobby, sometimes with several pauses. Some stop collecting and abandon the hobby.

The lockout will sour some of the potential new collectors of the old stuff. I'm not saying the lockout will be significant or disastrous for the vintage market; but to think there will be no effect seems naive to me.

The lockout will really screw up players who were looking for "one more year" (like Wainright and Molina), it'll screw up everyone: owners, players, retired players, future players, workers at ballparks, parking structures and the like, front office people, StubHub, and others.

[Wanaselja]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

It's a fascinating aspect of American culture that the man on the street always takes the side of the billionaire against the millionaire. Every time.

One of many baffling aspects.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

It's a fascinating aspect of American culture that the man on the street always takes the side of the billionaire against the millionaire. Every time.

I don't want to be misunderstood, the Owners are the problem with this situation. Everything from how they abuse the luxury tax policies (from treating it as a salary cap, to just pocketing the money from revenue sharing), to manipulating players service time, to colluding to keep certain players out of the game (You're telling me no team could've used Bonds in 08?), the list goes on. I'm vehemently pro player, without them, well there is no baseball.

[Casey2296]

Every thread needs a card.
-

[Johnny630]

I think baseball will start on time without the lock out affecting any of the regular season.