The Biggest Threat To Sports Memorabilia Collecting Is...

Gonblott

There should be a topic "How to Save The Hobby".

chaz43

The biggest threat is definitely a nice looking, big breasted girl freind or wife that keeps you from buying all the great stuff out there and wants you to spend it on her. Now you tell me, who's gonna win????? chaz

Gonblott

<< <i>The biggest threat is definitely a nice looking, big breasted girl freind or wife that keeps you from buying all the great stuff out there and wants you to spend it on her. Now you tell me, who's gonna win????? chaz >>



Tell her it supports a charity auction for the poor and all money goes to them.

chaz43

<< <i>

<< <i>The biggest threat is definitely a nice looking, big breasted girl freind or wife that keeps you from buying all the great stuff out there and wants you to spend it on her. Now you tell me, who's gonna win????? chaz >>



Tell her it supports a charity auction for the poor and all money goes to them. >>




Unfortunately, she's not that dumb. chaz

Publius

It does get hard justifying spending alot of money on cards.

I have a card allowance each month. I can save up for a card, or blow it each week.

When I run that out, I have to write checks from my business account that she doesnt have access to. I just have to explain it to my accountant. Office decorations is the typical slot they get earmarked into.

4SC is going to have to get a 1099 from me one of these years

ORANGE

<< <i>I What's this about limiting card makers sets? It seems Topps puts out about 30 sets a year. >>



I think there are more than that... so they kill donruss?
What's it like to be a player having to sign all those autographs thousands and thousands of them for the card companies... That's gotta be kind of tiring. And probably the real reason for them killing donruss and the others.

Topps Finest
Topps chrome
bowman originals
Topps 52
Topps heritage
Triple threads
Allen & Ginter
Topps
Bowman
Bowman Chrome
Bowman Chrome Draft
Bazooka oops looks like they went over the limit here
Bowman Heritage and just kept on going
Bowman Sterling
Topps Sterling
Aflac (Not MLB?)
Turkey Red
Co Signers

I guess there aren't thirty after all. What's the limit supposed to be? I heard 11.
Any others I missed for 2006

ORANGE

Of course if you call Bowman another company then topps comes to 11 total:

Topps Finest
Topps Co Signers
Turkey Red
Topps Sterling
Bazooka
Topps chrome
Topps 52
Topps heritage
Triple threads
Allen & Ginter
Topps & Topps Update

Morgoth

If that's how they are getting around it, that's pretty weak. Just think how awesome the regular sets would be if they put all of their focus and resources into them.

PuertoRicanFogBank

Biggest threat:

PSA GEM MINT 10.

A crock.

Mint is mint.

Alfonz24

I voted rising prices.

The modern card collecting is totally different from growing up in the 70s. One company and the cost of a pack of cards were .15 to .35 cents.

BigDaddyBowman

I vote shrinking base of childhood collectors. Based on the percentages, it looks like that is the most popular choice. I agree with several of you who have alluded that being a kid now is drastically different than being a kid in the past. Too many diversions, high-tech gadgets, etc. We played from sunrise to sunset in the yard, park etc....football, baseball, basketball, kickball, running bases, wiffleball...even badminton and croquet....anything that was competitive and was a sport. Even swimming in the pool was a sport...races, water fotball and basketball. I don't see that happening now. When we were done playing sports...we were going to the store on our bikes and buying cards.. then trading them. In my suburban Cleveland neighborhood, I see very young kids out playing(under 7), but a void of older kids. I think they are all indoors playing video games...don't know for sure...but most are not outside. I also think that parents are much more protective now. I can remember being gone for 12 hours a day without my parents knowing my whereabouts. Back then there was trust in our society, now as a parent of 3 young kids...we watch them all the time...too many bad guys out there. That is just our society today. Nonetheless, we need to encourage the development of young sports fanatics......that will encourage kids to take up the hobby.
How can we promote collecting in our kids...well....by promoting sports and sports heroes. Put free cards in cereal boxes again, and even in sports video games. Offer cheaper kid friendly products. Promote the history of each sport more, so that kid learn to appreciate the history of the sport. Offer FREE admision to card shows for kids, to encourage mom and dad to take them. Little League programs could offer free cards to kids who sign up at registration. Schools could offer free packs as awards for attendance, good behavior etc.

Now how can these be accomplished...well it takes one collector and one kid at a time. Takes one store in the community who is willing to sponsor the free pack giveaways. One teacher who is willing to start a card trading or card reward program at school. One Dad who takes his kid to a card show. One Mom who gets her kids to turn off the t.v. and go outside and play. One uncle who promotes the sport and hobby to his neices and nephews. It will really be a grass roots effort to help us promote the greatest hobby. The one previous post that stated that he is not encouraging his kids to get involved in the hobby really surprised me. All of us who love the hobby, need to pay it forward, and pass the opportunity on to future generations. As most of us know, the value of collecting (not talking about fiscal value) is tremendous. OK I am done rambling now!