Does Anyone Still Just Collect Cards?

[Snapolit1]

Like a lot of people on the board, I’ve busted my ass my whole life, working like a dog, nights, weekends, etc, and now I am at the point where this hobby brings me a lot of joy and it’s about me doing something for me, not for family, not for friends, etc. and it feels good to “indulge” and do something for me. Do I like collecting rare things in nice condition, yep. I like beautiful preserved cards over a bunch or dog eared cards in a rubber band. I like nice photos better than one’s that are ripped. I like holding stuff in my hands that are one of a kind and I’ve never seen another. I like sometimes having the nicest graded copy of something. I don’t need to touch an old card to enjoy owning it.

No one type of a collector is more of a collector
Or a better collector than anyone else. People need to move on from the idea there is some pure true collector.

Make yourself happy. Stop worrying what others are doing. Hobby has a big tent.

[Republicaninmass]

Lots of dealers out there who fit the narrative of single or divorced. Its a cruel hobby that can consume you. I wish my son showed more interest, alack, he seems to like coins and Pokémon more.


Don't let it take time away from loved ones, and try not to leave them with boxes of $5 cards and auction house won't take.

I don't think anyone's last wish would be... they bid one increment more to win a card.

Anyone can find balance. It doesn't matter whether it is a hobby or a job. Some, allow their job to take time away from loved ones.

I will say, without the advent of ebay, people who "just collect" would have never seen, nor been able to find a great many number of difficult cards. Even 1952 topps hugh numbers are/were scare at shows and those are "easy"!

[Mike D.]

It is fun when it still happens. Not pre-war, but my brother, who's in his 40's, recently bought some lots of the "less than big name" players he was a fan of as a kid off eBay. 140+ card lots of Julio Franco cards with lots of oddballs, for example. I think it cost him less than $10 delivered, which is pretty good for a bit of fun considering you can't buy a fast food lunch for that anymore.

I wrote an article a while back on the different types of collectors.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

I wrote an article a while back on the different types of collectors.

Fun read.

It does seem to leave out some of us. For example, I found myself not really falling into any of the groups described, although I suppose I’m kinda sorta sometimes in some of these groups. It almost seemed like the article suggested that there’s a pure play collector who cares not one whit about value, a la Jingram, and then a whole bunch of different investors, who take different approaches to their hold period and focus.

Personally, I collect what I like, and I collect it because it brings me joy. Value is definitely secondary. But because so much of my personal fortune is tied up in cardboard, I can’t be completely agnostic as to value. At the same time, I certainly don’t buy it because I expect it to go up in value. And when I buy, I generally plan to hold it for decades. If investing for a return was important to me, I probably would have sold everything about a year or two ago.

But with so much invested, barring a really strong run from my more traditional investments, it will almost certainly be a part of the value that funds some portion of my retirement. The value also matters because of not having to be on the receiving end of grief from my wife. She’s convinced that I’m going to lose my shirt, and it helps with our relationship that it hasn’t happened yet.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by raulus

Fun read.

It does seem to leave out some of us. For example, I found myself not really falling into any of the groups described, although I suppose I’m kinda sorta sometimes in some of these groups. It almost seemed like the article suggested that there’s a pure play collector who cares not one whit about value, a la Jingram, and then a whole bunch of different investors, who take different approaches to their hold period and focus.

Personally, I collect what I like, and I collect it because it brings me joy. Value is definitely secondary. But because so much of my personal fortune is tied up in cardboard, I can’t be completely agnostic as to value. At the same time, I certainly don’t buy it because I expect it to go up in value. And when I buy, I generally plan to hold it for decades. If investing for a return was important to me, I probably would have sold everything about a year or two ago.

But with so much invested, barring a really strong run from my more traditional investments, it will almost certainly be a part of the value that funds some portion of my retirement. The value also matters because of not having to be on the receiving end of grief from my wife. She’s convinced that I’m going to lose my shirt, and it helps with our relationship that it hasn’t happened yet.

Mike D's article was a fun read.

You, sir, seem to have a very clear grasp of all of this "collecting".

[ALBB]

I like to say I want to walk away from the hobby with just one small milk crate of my stuff

[raulus]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Mike D's article was a fun read.

You, sir, seem to have a very clear grasp of all of this "collecting".

HA.

I appreciate the praise. At the same time, I’m not convinced that I’m all that special or admirable.

And personally, I’m in the camp of being a big believer that we shouldn’t place limits or constraints on how anyone collects. Sometimes we can seem just a little too much like the high priests of cardboard running around and pronouncing people unclean because their motives or approach are insufficiently pure.

But I suppose we’ve got to talk about something on a chat board. We can only debate pricing and grading and AHs and card alterations so many times before we get back around to how we collect, and our sensitivities to the various approaches we see.

Edited to add: I suppose we can always stick to calling each other names and engaging in mutual ridicule, because that’s good fun too!

[homerunhitter]

Wouldn’t it be cool to just pull out an old cigar box with a stack of vintage topps cards rubber banded together and just hold them and smell that old card smell?

If you said yes, you’re a true collector. If you said no then you’re an investor! Am I right?

[Mike D.]

Thanks folks for the comments on the article. Hopefully the fact that there are lots of ways to collect and none of them are "wrong" came through. That way my intention anyway.

I also think that buying what you like and enjoying it is awesome...and hey, if it goes up in value, or at least holds it's value, that's an amazing bonus.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

It is fun when it still happens. Not pre-war, but my brother, who's in his 40's, recently bought some lots of the "less than big name" players he was a fan of as a kid off eBay. 140+ card lots of Julio Franco cards with lots of oddballs, for example. I think it cost him less than $10 delivered, which is pretty good for a bit of fun considering you can't buy a fast food lunch for that anymore.



I wrote an article a while back on the different types of collectors.

Mike, that was an enjoyable read. You nailed a bunch of types. I think you missed a bunch, though, too.

How about the guy that goes back to collect all the cards from when he was a kid, to maybe relive his joy when he first discovered baseball.

What about the collectors who like cards from the turn of the 20th century and before, in order to appreciate what baseball, and our country, was like back then.

Or those who find obscure and under-appreciated corners of the hobby and focus on them, in order to make them better known for the rest of us.

There are collectors who focus on their favorite player, or their favorite team. Some goofy guys even focus on error cards.

There's a lot of us out there, and the great thing about it is there is a card for every collector.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

There's a lot of us out there, and the great thing about it is there is a card for every collector.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

goudey33ruthbabe 001 (337x400).jpg

My two piece bikini Babe agrees with everything you mentioned, but he especially understands that he found the right collector.


Brian

[jingram058]

Bumping this thread to see if anyone's collecting opinions have changed?

I still collect raw, low grade cards because 1) I can afford them, 2) I can enjoy them by handling them (which is a big deal to me), and 3) I myself don't care about investing (I have other investments).

[steve B]

I must have been busy in March, I didn't reply originally.

I'm a bit of both.
Nearly all my cards are not graded. For many of them it's mostly pointless.

I do have a few graded ones, and have sent some in.
I only sort of thought about value when I did, aside from a few modern cards I was going to sell.

My wife and I have talked about this a bit.
She thinks I like the hunt more than the catching. And that's sort of true.
It is nice to see cards I thought were really nice get recognition of that through grading.

When we talked about value I explained it as "It's sort of a hunting game, and the value of the catches are just the way of keeping score. "
So more points for finding something at a low price, or something that is special in some way. That goes across all my collecting.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Lots of dealers out there who fit the narrative of single or divorced. Its a cruel hobby that can consume you. I wish my son showed more interest, alack, he seems to like coins and Pokémon more.


Don't let it take time away from loved ones, and try not to leave them with boxes of $5 cards and auction house won't take.

I don't think anyone's last wish would be... they bid one increment more to win a card.

Anyone can find balance. It doesn't matter whether it is a hobby or a job. Some, allow their job to take time away from loved ones.

I will say, without the advent of ebay, people who "just collect" would have never seen, nor been able to find a great many number of difficult cards. Even 1952 topps hugh numbers are/were scare at shows and those are "easy"!

Well said Ted,
My goal is to leave 4 suitcases full of mostly significant cards that will sell quickly at auction.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Like a lot of people on the board, I’ve busted my ass my whole life, working like a dog, nights, weekends, etc, and now I am at the point where this hobby brings me a lot of joy and it’s about me doing something for me, not for family, not for friends, etc. and it feels good to “indulge” and do something for me. Do I like collecting rare things in nice condition, yep. I like beautiful preserved cards over a bunch or dog eared cards in a rubber band. I like nice photos better than one’s that are ripped. I like holding stuff in my hands that are one of a kind and I’ve never seen another. I like sometimes having the nicest graded copy of something. I don’t need to touch an old card to enjoy owning it.

No one type of a collector is more of a collector
Or a better collector than anyone else. People need to move on from the idea there is some pure true collector.

Make yourself happy. Stop worrying what others are doing. Hobby has a big tent.

[theshowandme]

I must be doing things wrong

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Like a lot of people on the board, I’ve busted my ass my whole life, working like a dog, nights, weekends, etc, and now I am at the point where this hobby brings me a lot of joy and it’s about me doing something for me, not for family, not for friends, etc. and it feels good to “indulge” and do something for me. Do I like collecting rare things in nice condition, yep. I like beautiful preserved cards over a bunch or dog eared cards in a rubber band. I like nice photos better than one’s that are ripped. I like holding stuff in my hands that are one of a kind and I’ve never seen another. I like sometimes having the nicest graded copy of something. I don’t need to touch an old card to enjoy owning it.

No one type of a collector is more of a collector
Or a better collector than anyone else. People need to move on from the idea there is some pure true collector.

Make yourself happy. Stop worrying what others are doing. Hobby has a big tent.

Well said! I'm in the same camp as you but everyone should just collect what makes them happy.

[G1911]

Here's my Woody, which I got back when I was a kid at a local show as my first '34 Goudey. I remember General Alvin Crowder (a pretty darn good stat line for a totally forgotten player) was my first Goudey card from the 1933 set. He's seen some rough days, and unfortunately this one has a normally printed back instead of a blank reverse.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by G1911

Here's my Woody, which I got back when I was a kid at a local show as my first '34 Goudey. I remember General Alvin Crowder (a pretty darn good stat line for a totally forgotten player) was my first Goudey card from the 1933 set. He's seen some rough days, and unfortunately this one has a normally printed back instead of a blank reverse.

That is an awesome Woody English, sir. With the backstory, I would rather have it than one in pristine condition, because the story is truly priceless.

[BioCRN]

When it comes to graded, my wheelhouse is "Looks nice for a low grade."

My lane is a bit wider than others because surface is more important to me than centering. While some are out there willing to pay a bit more than the number for great centering, I'm out there trying to pay less than the number because I'll sacrifice on centering for a sharp looking card.

I'm not concerned about resell. While I do make occasional upgrades I'm mostly out there looking for a card I don't mind having for the next 20-30-50-whatever years.

[StraightRaceCards]

Love the English cards. There is a great story about his pranks in his SABR bio:

But he also had an impish side: English “was like ‘Peck’s bad boy’ in the grade-school books of the day. He looked innocent but wasn’t. English’s favorite prank was to crawl across the floor of a hotel lobby and sneak up on an unsuspecting businessman reading the newspaper. English would light the bottom of the paper and slip away as the newspaper caught fire.”

[brianp-beme]

Looks like English is the hobby language spoken on this thread. But if you want to broaden your linguistic horizons, I suggest going after this Woody in the 1934
World Wide Gum set to add a dash of French to your English.

Brian (oui oui messieurs)