How old were you when you realized cards had monetary value?
rcmb3220
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I had been collecting cards since 1981 when I was 5. I only had about 50-75 from 81-85, which means that all year long I only bought a few packs. That could have been because I was cheap or I liked going through my older brother's cards better and didn't feel I needed many more. I didn't really get into collecting until 86 and by 88 I had purchased a lot less cards than I had in the prior two years.
Then in April of 89, at age 13, someone at school mentioned cards can be worth money. I don't remember that event, but I remember that night finding out where the LCS was and buying a Beckett - the one with Greg Jeffries on the cover. I sat down with all my cards and my brother's cards, which were stuffed into a vintage Detroit Lions duffle bag that if I still had it would probably be worth more now than all the cards in them, and priced things out. I was hooked for the next few years.
Up until that time, I knew some cards were better than others. If you wanted my extra 1986 Topps George Brett, I would at least need a Kirk Gibson in return. I thought my 85 Topps Darrell Evans was special because he led the AL in home runs that year. But to pay for cards beyond what a pack costs? I had no idea.
Kind of sad that's what got me back into the hobby as a kid when I was losing interest, but I did enjoy it a lot.
Then in April of 89, at age 13, someone at school mentioned cards can be worth money. I don't remember that event, but I remember that night finding out where the LCS was and buying a Beckett - the one with Greg Jeffries on the cover. I sat down with all my cards and my brother's cards, which were stuffed into a vintage Detroit Lions duffle bag that if I still had it would probably be worth more now than all the cards in them, and priced things out. I was hooked for the next few years.
Up until that time, I knew some cards were better than others. If you wanted my extra 1986 Topps George Brett, I would at least need a Kirk Gibson in return. I thought my 85 Topps Darrell Evans was special because he led the AL in home runs that year. But to pay for cards beyond what a pack costs? I had no idea.
Kind of sad that's what got me back into the hobby as a kid when I was losing interest, but I did enjoy it a lot.
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Dwight Gooden's rookie was on fire and it was like hitting the lottery to a kid.
<< <i>The first year I collected which was 1985. I was 6 years old at the time.
Dwight Gooden's rookie was on fire and it was like hitting the lottery to a kid. >>
1985 Fleer Dwight Gooden was worth $7 at the time and it was the most expensive book value card I owned.
I was around 10 years old at the time the value of cards was discovered . My friend and I tried to acquire as many collections of cards from neighborhood kids as we could. We were pretty successful .
I didnt collect much after 1981... Thank god.... And got back into the hobby in 1999 when my son was born. I collect 1950 60s and 70s
Scott
<< <i>The first year I collected which was 1985. I was 6 years old at the time.
Dwight Gooden's rookie was on fire and it was like hitting the lottery to a kid. >>
Those were the days.
Then 1986 and the Donruss Jose Conseco card came along. I am not sure there has been more hype for a card since then.
In 1989 or 90 a friend in my college biology class showed me a price guide (can't recall which one), and showed me the value of 52 topps mantle and mays.
I was blown away.
The next Christmas while I was visiting my parents I pulled out the shoeboxes filled with cards. Most were beaten up bad. I did find a pretty nice Eddie Murray rookie that didn't seem to be as beat up as the others. I later found the card shop in my college town and traded that rookie for three packs of shiny new 1989 upper deck.
<< <i>The television show "Hart to Hart " had a episode when they searched for stolen cards at a card show in LA. This opened America up to the idea cards had value. This was the mid 1970s It can be viewed on YouTube Not sure how to post a link. Also it could be "heart to heart " but I Think it was "Hart" >>
It was actually from 1982. Here's an excerpt:
Hart to Hart
The 3 cards were the 1975 Brett, Rice and Lynn (Yount who?)
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.
-George F. Will
and it was then I first realized that they had value but honestly couldn't have cared less I just wanted as many as
I could. I would say it really wasn't until 85ish or maybe later that the other sports started to get attention?
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