This is my first Ripken card... this among others given to me in 1985 when my step-brother was leaving for the Army. I still have it, and I actually carry it in my wallet.
That's still in pretty nice shape for having it when you were 7.
My wife says I must have been the neatest child ever! I was always weird about condition. I wouldn't let my Dad look at my Sports Illustrated's because he wanted to fold the cover back. I used to hate it when anyone used a magazine as a coaster!
Great thread ... can't believe I didn't see this before. I also can't believe you guys remember your first card ... WOW! I'm not even sure of the first YEAR, but I am guessing it was around 1965 ... I was 7 then ... I'd ride my bike to the local candy store ... put together my 5 pennies ... and buy a pack.
I've mentioned it before, but I was always excited to wake up on the morning of my birthday as my parents would spend $1.20 and buy a FULL WAX BOX ... put it at the end of my bed early in the morning ... and the first thing I saw was that box when I woke up. I'd rip into those 24 packs before I even got out of bed. Man, those are great memories. That probably happened each year between '65 and '69.
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
I dont remember my first card, but I do remember the first one I paid real money for other than packs.
It was a 1970 Nolan Ryan #712
I paid $26 for it in 1989......saw it go up and down in value over the years. It has a small paper loss in the upper left corner, almost looks like a corner ding. Without it, it would grade 9, with it, it is a 5. I still own the card, finally had it graded
First pack was 1974 Topps baseball - two cards I remember from the first pack were Phillies - Dave Cash and Danny Ozark. First card I ever bought as a collector was a 1956 Topps Vic Wertz that I bought at a local antique store. I remember the guy also having a 33 Goudey Ruth and wanting $100 for it. Way to rich for my 9-year old blood.
First actual card, I have no idea. Most likely something from '87 Topps. The first card I remember wanting to buy was at a local card shop in the summer of 1989. An '89 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. My dad, however, couldn't see me spendig something like $8 for a single card so he bought me a box instead thinking I could get several, sell all but one and then have money leftover. Gotta love that logic. Unfortunately I only pulled one, single, solitary Junior from that box. Not too long after that I remember spending $13 (my $10 allowance and $3 in change I scrounged up around the house) on an '89 Upper Deck Griffey which I still own.
Not to date myself but 1954 Topps. I have no idea of the first card but I do remembering trading twenty five 54 Topps for a 52 Mantle. Of course my mother threw out all my cards years later.
The very first single card that I purchased was a 1980 Rickey Henderson rc. Bought it at the flee market for $5.00. Instead of using price stickers on the toplaoder, the seller wrote the price in pencil on the back of the card. Luckily it was light enough and I was able to erase it. The card ended up grading PSA 7.
If I remember correctly, the first pack/packs I started buying were the 1990 Upper Deck Comic Ball Looney Tunes cards. Yup, still got a whole binder full of those babies...Just waitin to cash in now!!
I don't recall my first card. But my first bunch was from the city bus driver who had the same route every day, where my friend and I took home from school gave us a mixed bag of mostly 1950's and 60's football and baseball cards. About 100 all together. One was a Joe Namath rookie. I gave my share of them (including the Namath card) to my younger cousin when i hit 17. God stuff.
Comments
My wife says I must have been the neatest child ever! I was always weird about condition. I wouldn't let my Dad look at my Sports Illustrated's because he wanted to fold the cover back. I used to hate it when anyone used a magazine as a coaster!
My 13 year old is the same way. It's a sickness.
Steve
I've mentioned it before, but I was always excited to wake up on the morning of my birthday as my parents would spend $1.20 and buy a FULL WAX BOX ... put it at the end of my bed early in the morning ... and the first thing I saw was that box when I woke up. I'd rip into those 24 packs before I even got out of bed. Man, those are great memories. That probably happened each year between '65 and '69.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
First inherited card:
1955 Bowman 121 Rufus Crawford
Later came first card acquired in my first pack when I actually started collecting:
1982 Topps Jorge Bell
It was a 1970 Nolan Ryan #712
I paid $26 for it in 1989......saw it go up and down in value over the years. It has a small paper loss in the upper left corner, almost looks like a corner ding. Without it, it would grade 9, with it, it is a 5. I still own the card, finally had it graded
My Hoard of 93 Finest Refractors and 94 Pinnacle Artist Proofs and Museums
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject