This 1980s One to Grow On PSA starring Mr T is a lot like my collecting journey

Estil · December 5, 2015 1:21AM

One to Grow On PSA starring Mr T about taking things one step at a time

As you can see in the above link, I think this PSA is a lot like my own and I'm sure most all of the rest of you regarding my collecting journey. To reword the PSA in more relevant terms:

Other guy: LOL!!! You gotta be kidding me with those cheap $5-$10 sets! And you're actually putting them in binders/pages!? The binders/pages cost more than the set!

Estil: Well, I am on a tight budget (especially true in the 2000s decade or so) and this is the best I can do for now, besides those older vintage sets and such are a bit out of my price range...

Other guy: Well it's no trouble at all for the big vintage collectors and top PSA Registry guys!

But just like Mr. T pointed out, I have no doubt that those of you who are high rollers and PSA Registry guys and so on didn't build your dream collections nowhere near overnight. I have no doubt that just like with my journey, it took you guys many years (maybe even decades) of slow and steady and patient progress (even if money is little to no object it still takes much time and patience to track down the cards you're looking for). And really, I think this goes for most anything that you want to achieve greatness in and being the best you can be.

Like Mr. T says, you gotta start small (in my case in the 90s as a teen when all I could afford at the time was a few packs here and there), then you go on up to the next size (which in college (early 2000s) when I had reasonable spending money for the first time and could start doing sets, 80s/90s mostly of course). And now recently, thanks to my generous wife and a small portion of her inheritance from her late mother, I finally got my 73-79 graded cards caught up mostly (still need the raw part of the 1973 & 1974) and I've now started on 1971 & 1972 PSA 7's, which for me is kinda like the semi-big time

Now, whether I'll ever be able to move on up to what I personally consider the true big time (being able to do 60's sets!), well I don't see it in the near future (I gotta finish 70s first obviously) but then again, I must remember I'm only 35 (next birthday is March 22) so God willing (as long as I don't get hit by a bus or something) I should still have plenty of time hopefully, right? Yes I'm well aware of that whole "you can't take it with you" cliche but the journey and the challenge of the hunt still counts for something right?

DanBessette · December 5, 2015 5:28AM

I pity the fool.

Stewie · December 5, 2015 5:35AM

I wonder what he does with his bellybutton lint.

slum22 · December 5, 2015 7:30AM

Good luck. Enjoy the journey and post your pickups along the way. While it is great to see all of the high end stuff, I enjoy just as much seeing the full range of what people collect. I have cards that cost a lot (to me) and cards that cost a lot less. I've posted both kinds on here before and I wish more people would post cards that they enjoy in their collection even if they aren't "high end" or high dollar.

thebaseballcardkid · December 5, 2015 11:26AM

Do you call into the Dan Patrick show? Good luck on your journey. Make it fun.

Estil · December 5, 2015 12:00PM

So far I think it is! Though I also do retro gaming and I've FINALLY gotten started on collecting the UK Cats Pauses and Media Guides as well. Maybe I'm getting spread a little thin but what can ya do?

Do any of the rest of you also have other hobbies (especially collecting ones) besides cards?

This 1980s One to Grow On PSA starring Mr T is a lot like my collecting journey

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