I started collecting around 1985. My dad was huge into collecting at the time, so wanting to be just like my dad, I would go with him to every card show (he would set up as a dealer), and I tried to soak up as much knowledge from him and others as possible. I remember just reading becketts cover to cover (remember I was 9 or 10, so I had yet to discover girls...ha ha). I remember my dad told me when I was about 12 years old, "You are a walking beckett baseball card monthly!". It was probably the best compliment I had received...up until then! I also remember a funny story that I shared with my wife the other day, and we were talking about what our parents did to punish us when we were younger. I still remember very vividly, I had gotten in some trouble (harassing my sister or something..yeah know), and my dad came downstairs while I was pricing cards for the show the next day and said, your mom told me that you were picking on Krista, and your punishment is that you are not coming to the show tomorrow. I was FLOORED!! I started bawling, pleading, the whole nine (the shows were monthly but a month to a 12 year old can seem like an eternity, right??? ha ha...I can laugh about it easily now, but at the time, that was about as big of a crisis that I had faced!
After losing interest around 18-19 through about age 27, I started collecting again. I wanted to save up for a mickey mantle 1956 topps card which was always my favorite card of all time. A few years ago, I purchased one, and then decided that I would build the entire set and learn about the players of that era. Also, all you people here got me interested in the unopened market, and I've made a lot of purchases there which have been a big part of my focus. I was just commenting to my wife the other day how much joy the hobby brings me and one of my favorite things to do is to go to the sun times shows with my dad or the national and just talk cards.
Okay, that was a little bit more than simple answer but I love talking about cards so it usually ends up going longer than I anticipate sometimes!
As a card collector, I have always either been "all in" or not in at all. I have had three distinct time periods as a collector:
1) 1976-1981 2) 1988-1993 (the "lighting money on fire" period) 3) 2006-present
'Sir, I realize it's been difficult for you to sleep at night without your EX/MT 1977 Topps Tom Seaver, but I swear to you that you'll get it safe and sound.' -CDs Nuts, 1/20/14
I started in 1980 with Topps Baseball. I used to carry them around in a shoe box and make trades with the local kids. My favorites were the Pirates cards with their cool yellow uniforms. I loved the Omar Moreno, Dave Parker and Tim Foli. The Pirates were the team then coming off the 79 World Series. Then I would buy packs here and there until 1985 when I started buying football. I went with my parents to Florida during Easter break and bought the 1984 and 1985 Topps football sets. I remember sitting at my Grandma and Grandpa's house and putting them in sheets. I thought it was cool that the football sets were in team order. I never understood why they didn't do that with baseball. My favorites from those years would have been the Dallas Cowboys. Probably because they were always on CBS in the 80s. I also liked Dan Marino. After that I got really back into cards when I started my paper route in 1987. It was the year that Mark McGwire hit 49 home runs and he became my favorite player. I used to go to B-Kwik convenience store for packs of 87 Donruss. Good times!!
1961. The ice cream truck that came around every day in the summer carried baseball cards most of the time and I'd buy a pack or two whenever I could. That lasted til around 1965. Those were great days to be a kid!
First pack: 1981 Topps baseball First box: 1982 Donruss that I got for my birthday. First set put together from packs: 1983 Topps First year bought multiple boxes: 1984 Topps First year bought complete set: 1985 Topps
Hard to believe I spent more money on cards back then than I do today.
I started buying football cards in 1982 as a 7 year old kid since it was my favorite sport to watch and play. I then remember getting totally into Garbage Pail Kids from 1985-1986. After that sticker madness, I found my senses and continued buying football cards. I got into baseball cards and basketball cards in 1987 and the rest is history. Unlike many collectors, I never stopped or took a break. I think I must have been born with a collecting bug since I have always collected things as far back as I can remember. It must be genetic since my 7 year old daughter is the same way. If she gets something, her immediate instinct is to collect them all.
Bought first pack in 1957. Collected from 1958-63. Got back in around 1979.
1958-63 memories: 1958 Topps All Star cards, Hartland statues, 1960 Fleer football, bubble gum, reading stats on back of cards and cartoons on back, World Series and the Yankees, watching The Three Stooges and TV westerns, Home Run Derby, Little League, Cub Scouts, elementary school, etc.
Oops. Sorry, I got carried away..
Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.
1987. Parents bought me boxes of 1987 Topps at Price Club (Costco now) and I was hooked. Of course buying bulk at a warehouse club was writing on the wall that everything was way overproduced at the time!
I started as a kid collecting in the late 80's and early 90's trying to hoard Canseco, McGwire, Mattingly and Griffey Jr. cards. I stopped around 1993/94 during junior high and just got back into the hobby around mid-2012.
I started collecting baseball cards in 1959 and it was sure exciting. My team was the Dodgers and I really got excited when I got any Dodgers in any packs I got. I collected through 1963, after I hurt my knee high jumping in school I had to quit playing baseball and buying cards stop for me then. Because of this message board I decided to start collecting 1955's 45 years later.
OK, good. There are lots of replies that don't make me the oldest one replying here!
I started in 1962 -- which is why the only complete PSA set I have is the '62Ts. I love that set! I have fond memories of going to a local drug store in Southern Minnesota to buy penny and 5-cent packs and then trading with neighbors and my cousin who still collects today.
My first packs were '78 Topps football purchased from Charlie's 5 & Dime in a little town in West Michigan. I wasn't necessarily enamored with the cards, so I probably spent my money on candy the rest of the winter. I picked up a few packs of '79 baseball, but again, my focus was on ruining my teeth. But in the early fall of '79 I fell hard for my new cardboard girlfriend. I took every penny to Charlie's and loaded my paper bag (used as my card carrier) with pack after pack. Wash, rinse, repeat, though the mid-80s.
Recently, my mother, who was dating my stepfather at the time (1979) told me that they were excited that I wanted to buy cards because she could hand me a couple bucks and I'd go to Charlie's long enough to leave them alone. I was both grossed out and grateful to hear this.
I would say I probably bought packs as far back as 74-75, as I had some of those in my "Card Box" as a kid. My first complete set was an 82 Topps set I bought from Kit Young, I still remember the day the UPS truck brought it. It only took 4 weeks to arrive.
WOW ... nice to see that there are more than just a couple of guys on this board who are older than me (born 1958). HAHA
Not sure of the exact year, but I would guess the first packs I opened were in 1965. For about the next 5 or so years, on my birthday, my mom and dad would buy a wax box and put it at the foot of my bed. When I woke up it was the first present I saw. Man , I would rip that box open as fast as I could (sorry Mike ... LOL). Great memories!
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 am 36 years old now, I started collecting back in 1985 and continued with a passion until 1990. I took a break being a teen, college years passed then I discovered collecting again in my 20's for one simple reason....
Ichiro!
The year was 2001 and baseball card collecting was on fire, it was an amazing time with Ichiro and Pujol's coming onto the seen.
2001... I honestly can't think of a more exciting time for collecting, I was like a kid again, SP Authentic, SPX, Heritage. I had more money to spend this time. This led to vintage baseball cards and now I have a lifelong addiction that will never go away.
I really think Ichiro and Pujols in 2001 kept baseball card collecting alive.
<< <i>Bought first pack in 1957. Collected from 1958-63. Got back in around 1979.
1958-63 memories: 1958 Topps All Star cards, Hartland statues, 1960 Fleer football, bubble gum, reading stats on back of cards and cartoons on back, World Series and the Yankees, watching The Three Stooges and TV westerns, Home Run Derby, Little League, Cub Scouts, elementary school, etc.
Comments
It hurt when I sold this set:
'77 set
Good times.
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
After losing interest around 18-19 through about age 27, I started collecting again. I wanted to save up for a mickey mantle 1956 topps card which was always my favorite card of all time. A few years ago, I purchased one, and then decided that I would build the entire set and learn about the players of that era. Also, all you people here got me interested in the unopened market, and I've made a lot of purchases there which have been a big part of my focus. I was just commenting to my wife the other day how much joy the hobby brings me and one of my favorite things to do is to go to the sun times shows with my dad or the national and just talk cards.
Okay, that was a little bit more than simple answer but I love talking about cards so it usually ends up going longer than I anticipate sometimes!
Jeremy
1) 1976-1981
2) 1988-1993 (the "lighting money on fire" period)
3) 2006-present
-CDs Nuts, 1/20/14
*1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
*Clemente basic set: 85.0% complete, 7.89 GPA
"Molon Labe"
First box: 1982 Donruss that I got for my birthday.
First set put together from packs: 1983 Topps
First year bought multiple boxes: 1984 Topps
First year bought complete set: 1985 Topps
Hard to believe I spent more money on cards back then than I do today.
1958-63 memories: 1958 Topps All Star cards, Hartland statues, 1960 Fleer football, bubble gum, reading stats on back of cards and cartoons on back, World Series and the Yankees, watching The Three Stooges and TV westerns, Home Run Derby, Little League, Cub Scouts, elementary school, etc.
Oops. Sorry, I got carried away..
Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.
I started in 1962 -- which is why the only complete PSA set I have is the '62Ts. I love that set! I have fond memories of going to a local drug store in Southern Minnesota to buy penny and 5-cent packs and then trading with neighbors and my cousin who still collects today.
Fun thread to read!
[Edited to add link to '62Ts in Set Registery.]
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
Recently, my mother, who was dating my stepfather at the time (1979) told me that they were excited that I wanted to buy cards because she could hand me a couple bucks and I'd go to Charlie's long enough to leave them alone. I was both grossed out and grateful to hear this.
<< <i>You guys are old. >>
This why it is so darn hard to explain things to you Arthur. You are just a kid
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Not sure of the exact year, but I would guess the first packs I opened were in 1965. For about the next 5 or so years, on my birthday, my mom and dad would buy a wax box and put it at the foot of my bed. When I woke up it was the first present I saw. Man , I would rip that box open as fast as I could (sorry Mike ... LOL). Great memories!
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 was collecting non-sport cards before, but in terms of sports cards, it was the 1980's for me... 1981 to be precise.
For some reason, I started spending part of my allowance on hockey cards despite having zero interest in the game.
Baseball and football were to follow later that same year and I collected all three throughout most of the decade.
I dropped out of the hobby in 1988 and when I picked it up again in 1993, I started collecting exclusively football.
Snorto~
I took a break being a teen, college years passed then I discovered collecting again in my 20's for one simple reason....
Ichiro!
The year was 2001 and baseball card collecting was on fire, it was an amazing time with Ichiro and Pujol's coming onto the seen.
2001...
I honestly can't think of a more exciting time for collecting, I was like a kid again, SP Authentic, SPX, Heritage.
I had more money to spend this time. This led to vintage baseball cards and now I have a lifelong addiction that will never go away.
I really think Ichiro and Pujols in 2001 kept baseball card collecting alive.
CU Ancient Members badge member.
Collection: https://flickr.com/photos/185200668@N06/albums
<< <i>Bought first pack in 1957. Collected from 1958-63. Got back in around 1979.
1958-63 memories: 1958 Topps All Star cards, Hartland statues, 1960 Fleer football, bubble gum, reading stats on back of cards and cartoons on back, World Series and the Yankees, watching The Three Stooges and TV westerns, Home Run Derby, Little League, Cub Scouts, elementary school, etc.
Oops. Sorry, I got carried away.. >>
CU Ancient Members badge member.
Collection: https://flickr.com/photos/185200668@N06/albums