Spells of nostalgia followed by depression

[jhyde77]

Matthew, I know what you mean. I'm in the same boat. I started collecting in '89 and miss the weekend long trades, in between playing RBI Baseball and Tecmo Bowl. The thing that made it alot of fun was that my friends and I each had a player we collected. If I had an Ozzie Smith or Canseco they didn't have, I knew I was going to add something to my Bo Jackson collection.

I think it was one of the best times to collect, because '80s rookies were still really hot and you had alot of new designs with Upper Deck and Stadium Club. Even though production numbers were through the roof, you didn't have 10 new sets each month. The hotel card shows were awesome too. I remember one show where '91 Stadium Club Football had been released. I didn't have the money for an Emmitt Smith, so I bought a pack and was able to pull it. Those were the days. Ebay just doesn't compare to being able to see the actual cards at a show. We didn't have to travel very far for a show either and they came about 3-4 times a year hear in Mobile.

[t206blogcom]

I was born in 1979 and have the same story as you Matthew; it's quite common. Collecting cards was a huge part of my childhood and I have lots of memories of collecting with friends, having Dad buy my first pack of cards and taking me to shows, and spending countless hours organizing and reorganizing my collection. Many of us have tried turning back the clock and buying old wax. I even buy the occasional new pack/box just to relive that excitement of opening a pack of cards.

We're no longer those spirited kids who cared only about getting a Ken Griffey Jr rookie. We're all now have to face the realities of life - jobs, marriages, kids, mortgages, health issues, and the like. It seems life today goes by much quicker, is far more complicated and too stressful.

[ALR-bishop]

My nostalgia runs from the late 50s to the early 70s, and my depressions stems from reading about all you young guys reminiscing about the ancient 80s. IZ old

Born in the early 1960's fortunate to see Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Al Kaline and others play baseball and get their cards from wax packs The late 60's ,mid 70's to me there was no rookie card craze. Also focused on picking up cards of Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and other great players from the past in the 70's. Today ask a kid about Joe Cronin or Eddie Matthews see what answer you get. Baseball is not just about today's stars but its the players who set the standards earlier, its everything combined

[GregC]

I can relate 100% to the original post. Growing up as a kid in the 80s was pretty amazing. We had some of the best toys (transformers, GI Joe), some amazing games (RBI Baseball, still playing it to this day) and while most of our cards are worthless now, there is still no better looking card in my opinion than a 1984 Topps Traded Gooden!

Growing up in Brooklyn, it felt like there was a card shop on every corner.

[MattyC]

I have one stinging regret from my childhood.

On Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn in the 80's, there was a store adjacent to the Fortway Five Theater called ALPINE ARMS.

This was a gun store. It sold guns. Racks and racks of guns, rifles, etc.

Bear with me. This gets to cards very quickly.

It also sold cards. Yes, in the front glass case once you entered and turned right: baseball cards. And crammed all along a corner of shelves: traded sets, boxes, etc.

Only in Brooklyn.

I must have been in that store for days' worth of hours-- and I cannot recall one image of a gun. I never looked at them. Only the cards.

I bought many cards there. My late grandfather, a notorious cheapskate, lol, purchased a $20 Strawberry 84D for me there, in about 1988. I still have it in a screwdown. My father bought us a box of 1988 Fleer wax.

Now, the regret.

I realize I would have loved to walk into that gun store wearing Terminator shades, and tell the guy at the counter, in a Schwarzenegger accent, that I'd like...

"The Uzi nine millimeeda, a phased plasma rifle, and a 1988 Donruss Gregg Jefferies."

[ALR-bishop]

Good one Matt

[MBMiller25]

"The Uzi nine millimeeda, a phased plasma rifle, and a 1988 Donruss Gregg Jefferies."

That made my laugh my ass off!