I'm Sick And Tired

[Mountaineer1999]

I get where the OP is coming from. Many have been priced out of cards they want. One may have to alter their collecting habits to a "cheaper" version of collecting. However, this many times is not the answer as one has to try and create a passion for certain sets or grades, and that usually falls flat. Baseball cards have become more of an investment than a hobby. Personally , I would love to see a huge correction so I can finish off my 1953 Topps set (mantle, robinson, mays). Not going to hold my breath.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer1999

I get where the OP is coming from. Many have been priced out of cards they want. One may have to alter their collecting habits to a "cheaper" version of collecting. However, this many times is not the answer as one has to try and create a passion for certain sets or grades, and that usually falls flat. Baseball cards have become more of an investment than a hobby. Personally , I would love to see a huge correction so I can finish off my 1953 Topps set (mantle, robinson, mays). Not going to hold my breath.

People can always try to cast a wider net. While I would love to someday collect prewar HOF'ers, I largely haven't since getting back into the hobby about 8 years ago because most of the stuff I would want there has gotten so stupid expensive. I can get one beater marquee HOF'er from Goudey or T206, or I can get several nice, upper midgrade HOF'ers from the 1950's or 60's for the same price. To me that's a no brainer, I'm always going to choose the larger collection over only having just a few super pricey cards. So, with that situation - I could choose to be ticked off at what I can't afford (or more likely what I don't want to move to afford certain things), or I could just find other things to collect that still hold my interest.

In doing the latter, I've realized that there is still enough stuff postwar, 1950's - 70's that I don't have that I'm still interested in that I can probably stay busy for at least a couple of decades to come. So instead of worrying about pricey prewar, I'm going to finish my '72 Topps set, and maybe get to work on something fun and cheap like a '73 Kellogg's set. I guess some people get fed up and don't want to do that, but if you are open to casting a wider net and figuring out more stuff that you like within your budget, I think most collectors would be surprised at what they can make happen. But each unto their own.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer1999

Personally , I would love to see a huge correction so I can finish off my 1953 Topps set (mantle, robinson, mays). Not going to hold my breath.

I'm working on the set as well, and I was rereading some old emails between me and another collector about it. I can't count all the times I mentioned passing on a card I still need at prices that seem quaint now.

[Rad_Hazard]

I primarily collect 19th century cards and what I've found to be a fun, and much cheaper, is to create starting lineups/teams with the cards. I've been able to research a lot of non-HOF players who've had amazing careers with the bonus of putting together a solid mostly non-HOF team.

Forgotten stars like Dave Foutz, Adonis Terry, Mike Tiernan, Chief Zimmer, Oyster Burns, and Mike Griffin.