Things you hated when collecting cards as a kid

[SAllen2556]

When I was 10, it was simple: the more Tigers in a pack, the better.
I'd rather have Bill Freehan and Willie Horton than Rod Carew and Joe Morgan any day. I felt totally ripped off if I didn't get any Tigers.

And, I used to get way more of these than I see today. I wonder if most of these just got tossed, because there were a lot more really awful mis-cut cards in the mid-70's than you see around today. I had a '73 Al Kaline like this Toby Harrah.

TOBY-HARRAH-1973-Topps-Baseball-ERROR-OddBaLL-MISCUT.jpg

[pingman59]

I never could get Hank Aaron. In 1968, my first year of buying packs, my local store had 1st series, but then no second series (which had Hank) and then returned with 3rd series. In 1969, I missed out on the first three series (series one had Hank). In 1970, I did get to buy a handful of 5th series, but didn't get Hank. In 1971, my last of buying cards as a kid, I bought plenty of the first three series, but stopped after that. Hank was in the 4th series. I picked up the hobby for good in 1974 and never got a Hank that year despite buying at least 100 packs over the summer. Same problem in 1975 and 1976 with similar quantities. Then, I ordered a 500 count vending box from Ted and Linda Pina of FL and viola! Hank Aaron!

The other frustrating thing was getting plenty of Phil Roof every year.

I still had fun collecting and trading anyway!

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

When I was 10, it was simple: the more Tigers in a pack, the better.
I'd rather have Bill Freehan and Willie Horton than Rod Carew and Joe Morgan any day. I felt totally ripped off if I didn't get any Tigers.

And, I used to get way more of these than I see today. I wonder if most of these just got tossed, because there were a lot more really awful mis-cut cards in the mid-70's than you see around today. I had a '73 Al Kaline like this Toby Harrah.

Attachment 344584

I know exactly what you mean Scott. You'd put down your hard earned dime and get some mis-cut piece of crap plus a checklist and a team card! What the heck! These cards would just get stuck in the bicycle spokes or tossed into the trade pile. I still can't understand anyone wanting these poorly cut mistakes. But I guess there's always a collector out there for almost anything.

[Harliduck]

Fun to read all these and agreed with many. I started buying packs as an 8 year old in 1978...so never dealt with the series issues. Here were my frustrations..

1. 1981, my little corner store started carrying Donruss instead of Topps...I was ticked! You would literally get doubles in the same pack! Made mom travel into town. It was hard enough getting your complete set, now I had to do 3?? (Which I reluctantly did)

2. As mentioned, Team cards, checklists, multi rookie card, manager cards (unless they were HOF players), lack of Mariner cards (felt like it to a Washington kid)

3. Living in north Western Washington...O-Pee Chee SUCKED! They were a problem, some stores had them...I refused to buy them. Then when you trade with your buddies and they whipped them out...burn em! Haha...hated O-Pee Chee

4. Baseball cards gone, in came Football. Hated football cards. Still don't collect them.

5. Double, triple checking all the Hostess boxes...SAME ONES!!!

6. I swear I would get the same disc card for every Slurpee I bought...

7. ANY card with a player not wearing a hat. I still can't stand cards with hatless players. My WORSE card still is the 1961 Harmon Killebrew...my favorite all time player...terrible card...lol.


That's enough...everything else about cards as a kid was AWESOME.

[onlyvintage62]

Getting thoose incipid 1972 Award cards, what a waste...

[Hot Springs Bathers]

John the 1981 Donruss mention reminded me of two stories from that year. I pulled one pack that had 8 Pete Rose cards and 9 Mike Schmidt cards. I remember sitting back and thinking is this good or bad?

I got so tired of having to throw one card away out of each pack because their gum literally sealed itself to the top card that I wrote a letter to the company complaining. One afternoon I got the mail with a letter apologizing for that fact and a small Super Bubble decal was enclosed. I thought wow that was a weak effort of their part. About an hour later a UPS truck pulled up out front and the driver delivered a large box with four wax boxes inside! Then I really thought wow!