New collector tips and advice?
Rofles
Posts: 753 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hello everyone! So I’ve recently had a renewed interest in collecting, and I’d like to get (somewhat) serious about it! I have a baseball collection from when I was a kid, 88-93 Tops/Donruss/Score/Fleer, and some Upper Deck! I would love to hear some advice and tips that a new collector would need to hear! I’ll share what I’ve learned browsing all your posts and some questions I have:
1) Buy sealed if possible- The BBCE really seems to be THE go-to as far as legitimacy is concerned. If not sealed, find out they’re reputable?
2) Don’t expect PSA 10’s in every single thing you open (as evidenced by that Mega 80’s rip thread that’s so cool!) Don’t expect star players in EVERY SINGLE pack/box. Be prepared for anything.
3)Research before you buy - I’ve been researching baseball years back to 1960, and I have learned SO MUCH! Rookies, All-stars, etc.
4) Collect within a budget; as of right now I can afford basically what I’ve posted above, and I’d say that’s probably what I know the most about!
5) Scan/Take pics of anything sent in for grading.
I can’t really think of anything else, and I’m basically starting from scratch (Gotta start somewhere right?)
Questions:
1) When you’re ripping packs, do you put on latex gloves or anything as to not leave fingerprints? How would I clean possible prints off? Microfiber maybe? Do you only handle cards by the edges? Does any old surface work to set them upon?
2) what’s the best sleeve to keep cards in that I would consider having sent in to be graded? Is there a thread that covers the best way to send cards in for grading?
3) How does one determine value of cards that have misprints/errors, and are they worth sending in? (Frank Thomas NNOF) does rarity of error play a big factor? Are OC cards even worth having graded?
What I have coming:
After going through many posts here, I have the following coming:
6 boxes of 1990’s Topps. They are from a case purchased 28 years ago in New Jersey. I don’t have the case number unfortunately, but I’m not expecting any infamous errors either. These boxes are not sealed (BBCE). The seller took them out of his case on Sunday, I bought them Monday. It’s a leap of faith I know, but they were 20$/box.
I also have a sealed (BBCE) 1990 Topps traded Tiffany coming as well; is that the box that will be more valuable as far as grading?
And finally I have a 1989 low series upper deck factory sealed box coming as well!
What I have now is a couple Chipper Jones Rookies id be willing to send in; I need to see what else I have. I also have a 1992 Donruss Americana 2 George H.W. Bush Gold Proof Swatch numbered 5/100. Does PSA Grade those as well?
Thanks for taking the time to read my first post; I look forward to reading any and all advice y’all have!
Comments
Welcome. That’s quite a first post!
Others will have a lot better advice. I’m also fairly new back into the collecting game (the last 2 years or so after being in the same 1988-1993 range you mentioned).
To find market values of PSA graded cards, one good resource is the auction price search tool:
https://www.psacard.com/auctionprices/
It should also help you find examples of PSA graded items.
Good luck and look forward to seeing your future posts.
Don't do it. It gets too addictive and time consuming. Then you end up talking to strangers on message boards at all hours of the day!!
Thanks so much! I’ll definitely bookmark that site!
Sweet! Sounds like a great time! LOL
Welcome!
What's your first name?
If I were starting in the hobby and wanted some really "simple" and IMO good advice?
Stone's Three Rules of Collecting:
One: Establish a very, very "narrow" Focus. (this will keep you from trying to "corner the market on anything and everything")
Two: Establish a Budget and stick to it! (this will keep you from waking up with night sweats that have you screaming into the night!
)
Three: Never ever, Never ever break rule 1 or 2.
I wish you all the best - IMO there's a thin line between a hobby and insanity - very nice first post buddy.
Don't be a stranger.
The name’s Blaine, I hope to be actively engaged here in the future! Thank you!
This. Seriously.
Commissions
Check out my Facebook page
Two things come to mind; Stay within a budget and more importantly, collect what you like, so that if it turns out your "investment" didn't make a profit, you have a collection you are happy with.
Like plastic sleeves? Lol
It’s best to buy graded cards but I get the fun of opening packs. Do some cheap stuff to get it out of your system. You can also buy ungraded cards and try to grade them. It’s easier for very recent cards but a needle in a haystack when you try to find something that will end up costing less than had you bought one already graded. Needle in a haystack might be over dramatic, but it is tedious.
This. Run away, Fast. J/K
Welcome back to the hobby! I left too for 12 years ..... it's so much fun to get re acquainted.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I break rule #2 on the reg.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
I have been combing these forums ALL day! I think I’m gonna focus on putting together a 1990 tops psa 10 set! Some good prices out there on unopened content! Have A TON on the way! Maybe I’ll do a rip thread on them?
Most definitely Blaine!
I always enjoy when packs are ripped.
It'll be a fun challenge to see how many 10s you can get graded.
1990 was a favorite year for me - the boomers went nuts and exploded the hobby - I think the card industry as a whole was doing a Billion bucks per - something that might never happen again.
Unfortunately people were "stocking up" on 90D e.g. by the carload - I remember a dealer in 1992 telling me that he had 10 cases in his garage that he couldn't give away.
Still, with the explosion of hobby shops and sellers at flea markets? Kept me very busy for sure.
Welcome. Many outstanding points made.
I started collecting in the late 1970s and stopped in 1996. Returned back to the hobby in 2005.
I will add the following:
Are there opportunities to get autos and whatnot at the National? Where is it?
Hiya Blaine
Here's a LINK to get started - the official site (cheapest way to book a room IMO)
Also Sports Collector's Digest - LINK
Another SCD LINK - let the signing begin
I'm not going to Chicago this year - I like staying at the Hilton - I book thru the "show" for a good deal and you can walk directly from the hotel to the convention center (not the only one).
Rooms go fast - so if serious? Now is the time to book your room.
There'll be plenty of chatter on this in a few months - time flies!
Check out those links and then ask questions.
One thing? This will not be a cheap trip unless you live nearby?
It would be a tough drive, but doable. Also, I do not think that I can make it this year just with stuff going on but in the future looks like a great opportunity! Thank you for sharing this!
To the OP, this is the proper way to open a pack...okay, it's a joke obviously but you still gotta see this.
And have you ever thought of doing the factory sets/complete sets? That's what I do and it's MUCH cheaper than buying boxes/packs...though OTOH it does make it a bit boring
I must be the most boring collector on this whole forum... 
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
That is hilarious!! I’ve ordered quite a few complete sets that will be here later this week for me to go through! I’m quite excited! Naa you’re not boring! I’m sure everyone collects their own way!
Get a run of the late 80s/early 90s factory sets (especially Topps)...that was how I got started with my sets in albums collection back in my college days (1999-2003) and it is fun opening and sorting them (for some reason even today Topps factory sets don't come in sequential order). They are quite affordable.
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars