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Posted By: Mark B.

One of the better things about sport cards is the ability to collect so many different (focused) collections. The worst thing that could ever happen is that we all tried to collect the same 2-3 cards out of each set (which sounds a lot like collecting in the late 80's).

I started (seriously)collecting around 1985-1986, although like most things sold that collection years ago. I was really into watching baseball around then, and living in Kansas while the Royals were still a good team likely helped.

I recall when that kid McGwire was hitting all those HR's in 1987. I think when he was up to around 25, all but his 1985 Topps was a common and I think it was a quarter. I can't remember summer 1987 Beckett prices well now, but I was able to go all around town and buy almost every single McGwire card. Boy did I appear to be the genius when the next guide came out.

I remember the pine tar incident, the Bill Bunker error, how unstoppable Dr. K was, the earthquake before the world series game in Oakland, that Pete Rose was Mr. Baseball and that nobody swung like Bo Jackson.
got

In the 90s my interest switched to football and, along with a small circle of friends, we begin buying football cards.

Flash forward what seems like a second lifetime of chasing meteorites, writing for magazines and journals, attending trade shows, traveling the world and creating a log of stories I could tell, I find myself semi-retired and once again playing with sport cards.

Due to cheap autograph shows of the 80's and early 90's I met Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, and I could go on and on. But my interest is more in the players I routed for, not those my father or grandfather routed for. No offense Mick (or Mick collectors). In fact, I owe Mick one. I was once "charmed" by a female Yankee fan because I knew the Billy Martin Shot a Cow story.

Anyway, I understand many here see modern cards as a waste of money. I also think that 99% of the people in the world would see spending over $1000 on a card as a waste of money. But you will never see me question another's purchase. After all, I once purchased the side of a house hit by a meteorite and on another occasion, a space rocket/capsule that had exploded upon liftoff.

Thanks for the friendly comments,
Mark