How many times has this happened to you?

[Iwantmorecards77]

I've had people tell me they have old cards stashed away - or cards their grandfather had - but I never get to see them.

As for me - I have a small vintage collection. Some 19th century...early 1900's...a couple cards from the 30's and 40's...and some key rookies from the 50's. It's small...I'm on a budget...but I enjoy them.

As for newer stuff...I have some...I buy a couple boxes a year, but not much. Mostly hockey for the newer stuff though.

...and for the 1980's and early 1990's "junk"....I like it. Overproduced? Sure. But I grew up in that era. I collect all the key rookie cards from the 80's and 90's. If anyone has any Henderson, Ripken, Sandberg, Boggs, Gwynn, Strawberry, Mattingly, Clemens, Puckett, Griffey, Jeter, Piazza and Rivera junk rookies they wanna' throw out - send them this way! lol

Just last year, I sold off much of my modern baseball "inserts" and "game-used" cards on ebay. Made several hundred dollars - put it all towards 1980's-1990's rookie cards. Why? Because I wanted to! I find them more important to me (more valuable to me) than the modern shiny inserts, parallels, and game-used cards I had (not that I hate them - I just wanted something else!) That's what's great about a hobby.

[MikeGarcia]

What is your mailing address and how big is your basement ?

[Jewish-collector]

A stupid question, but what the hell, I'll ask it anyway: At what year & up, are the cards worthless junk 1986 ? 1987 ? How about early 1980's ?

[ScottFandango]

earliest 80's have value in high end condition, but only for the rookie cards

85 86 87 it gets dicey...the 90's were the WORST and after that is all junk until 2001

89 UD griffey in mint is worth $$

Mattingly 84D Gem Mint rookies are worth $500

[4815162342]

1980 is considered the beginning of mass production, I think. But 1986+ make good kindling.

[skelly]

I actually hashed out this topic with a local dealer at a show a few months back. He comes across 3200 & 5000 count boxes and throws them out at a dime a piece. You'll find semi-stars, team cards, etc... Once in a while a real gem. Basically he said that for baseball its really 1978 and earlier that will get a look. For whatever reason, he felt that football went to about 1982, and that generally his football 10 cent boxes from the 70's get a little more juice than the baseball that he throws out. He said that for both sports he really can't do anything with stuff from about 83 & up. Certainly this is just the opinion of one dealer, but figured I'd share.