the hobby can still be fun.

[Centauri]

As a collector who started in 1986, some of the top cards were the 85 McGwire, 84 donruss Mattingly, 82 Ripken, etc. but easily the coolest card of my youth was the 89 Upper Deck Griffey. I bought packs as a kid, and occasionally since, and bought plenty of other stuff as singles, but never got the Griffey for whatever reason.

So the other day I broke down and bought an unopened box. And I decided to open a pack day. On day nine, I finally got my white whale. In the grand scheme, pretty meaningless, but for me that was a moment 25 years in the making.

This hobby can still be fun.

[TAVG]

Im 24 and remember buying cards in 1998/1999 i know im a youngster on this site lmao

but, ive been going back and picking up cool 90s inserts i remember seeing in beckett back when i was a kid. most of the 90s cards and rookies you can get for pennies compared to what they were.

random weird or cool inserts like this



or rookies of guys i liked

[DHogan]

Congratulations

[CW]

Great pull, Ben! That Griffey Jr card is iconic.

It seems like the cards we used to collect as kids often times strike the biggest emotional chord. I bought 5 unopened '77 Topps packs awhile ago on a CU forums box break, and opening those old wax packs really takes you back (I only had the heart to open 2 of them, saving 3 intact).

If the hobby ain't fun, what's the use?

[mrmopar]

Unless you are doing it as a business, then it should be fun.

Sometimes coming to sites like this can be intimidating for newer or lower budget collectors, as people are showing off or talking about these great items they own or bought. This site is more focused on the vintage cards, so I assume most members are older and have collected since the early 70s or before or are those with a decent amount of disposable income. Hopefully everyone gets something from the site, such as knowledge, connections or something else useful.

Everyone just needs to buy/trade for what they like and can afford and not worry about how you stack up to everyone else. That is what the PSA site is apparently for!

[t206blogcom]

I did the same thing with 89 Fleer a couple of years back and finally got my Ripken FF.

[Eric1977]

I was 12 years old when '89 Upper Deck came out. I remember them being .99¢ (a small fortune) a pack at the local gas station and the other brands were .50¢. My friends and I would go in there with a few bucks and either get 4 packs of Topps hoping for a Gregg Jefferies or splurge and get 2 packs of UD praying for a Griffey Jr. I never could get one. My Dad was filling up his truck one day and I begged him for a dollar to go in and buy a pack. He gave in and gave my kid sister a dollar to for whatever she wanted. I go in and buy a pack and for some reason she did to...and pulls a Griffey. I was SO pissed. Lol. I think it was the only pack she ever bought. I begged and begged her for about a month for that card and she finally gave in. I'm sure she made me do her chores or something for a week but it was worth it. I always think of her when I see that card.

[Sportsguy20]

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

I did the same thing with 89 Fleer a couple of years back and finally got my Ripken FF.

That Ripken FF Card was selling for near $100 shortly after it was released! I remember dealers flipping them and making a fortune.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

Unless you are doing it as a business, then it should be fun.

Sometimes coming to sites like this can be intimidating for newer or lower budget collectors, as people are showing off or talking about these great items they own or bought. This site is more focused on the vintage cards, so I assume most members are older and have collected since the early 70s or before or are those with a decent amount of disposable income. Hopefully everyone gets something from the site, such as knowledge, connections or something else useful.

Everyone just needs to buy/trade for what they like and can afford and not worry about how you stack up to everyone else. That is what the PSA site is apparently for!

+1 Great post.
I spent several hours with one of our younger members yesterday. He is 21-22 and I am 53. The hobby should be fun. A lot of the fun is the chase and hanging out with friends. Yes, some of us older guys have a bit more discretionary income and some (not me) started collecting in the 60s-70s. Just make of it what you want and be happy. Collecting can still be fun.