New Vintage Collector.. Help me get started

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by Shortstopguy12

Thanks for the responses everyone. I am looking to get some iconic cards. The ones that will be conversation pieces. Obviously, some of the big iconic cards are nowhere near my grasp at this time. I'm interested in the 4 major sports. Right now, I am looking for a high grade 1955 Jim Thorpe as one of my first pieces as his story fascinates me. Baseball is my true passion, so I will want a 54 Aaron, an early Jackie Robinson and many others. I am not in this to invest, but rather to build some history that I can share with friends and family. Graded is a must for me to ensure authenticity, and to keep it protected. I want people to be able to hold these cards. I am also a teacher, and would love to share this history with my students. I teach at an alternative high school where students struggle for every reason imaginable. Getting them into sports has literally saved many of their lives. I doubt any of them will get into card collecting, but some of them have developed a real passion for the game and its history. Thank you all for your wise words. If you have anything that you think might fit my criteria, please send me a message. Stay safe everyone!

Sounds to me like you already have answered your own question and know the direction you want to head in. That's such a great basis for wanting to collect. Purchase what you know about, and what means something to YOU. I myself am a retired teacher, and as I'm sure you know, while it's important to know your subject, it's also important to have a passion for it. That passion can reach your students. And if that's how you collect, getting cards about athletes that mean something to you and hold significance for you, those cards will help you reach your students. And so many great things can come out of that.

I would only say that you don't necessarily have to purchase graded cards, although I understand the concern. And some of the most historical cards, you might not always find in great condition. Also, some of the most soulful cards are not mint.

[mrmopar]

The question that probably needs to be answered at this point is what is your motive? Are you wanting to collect with the intent of making a gain in the future or are you simply doing it because you enjoy the hobby. That is easy to answer when you are buying 15 cent packs new and holding on to them for years, but when you are plunking down $3-5K and more to buy old cards you never had, then it becomes a much harder call.

$5K will buy a lot of iconic cards if you are willing to accept flaws and lower condition copies. If you are "investing" at this point, you are probably going to have a pretty small collection with that budget.

I'd say I am somewhere in the middle. I want cards that are enjoyable to look at (no major flaws that detract from the overall appearance) but won't break the bank. I don't do graded cards and I don't insist on gem mint cards either. I also don't buy much in the way of vintage anymore either, having grabbed up most of what I have now years ago. Knowing what I know though and with all the recent talk of trimming and the proliferation of counterfeit and reprints, it makes buying that stuff ungraded now even more risky though.

Good luck whichever way you go. I know I couldn't build the collection I have now if I started today and wanted to be budget conscious.

[cardsagain74]

I think some are overestimating what 3000 will get from his wishlist at the moment though. Any graded Aaron rookie and "early" Jackie Robinson will use up most of that budget immediately. Unless it's a low grade '54-'56 Robinson, and then you'd still have about half of it left (and even that's only if the Aaron was PSA 1).

If I were in your shoes, I'd get closer to the $5000 limit that you mentioned. That will probably make a major difference in meeting your goals

[Shortstopguy12]

Thank you. $3000 is just my immediate starting budget, not my lifetime budget. I plan to save up and regularly buy cards over the years, but I’m probably looking at a few thousand each year.

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

I think some are overestimating what 3000 will get from his wishlist at the moment though. Any graded Aaron rookie and "early" Jackie Robinson will use up most of that budget immediately. Unless it's a low grade '54-'56 Robinson, and then you'd still have about half of it left (and even that's only if the Aaron was PSA 1).

If I were in your shoes, I'd get closer to the $5000 limit that you mentioned. That will probably make a major difference in meeting your goals