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07/07/2006 02:12:31 AM · #1 |
Greetings...
I have recently decided that I want to collect baseball cards. I don't really know anything about it and I have never done it in the past. My interest in this was spurred when I provided photos for the local Minor League baseball team's cards this year. I got those cards and got them all autographed, so I want to continue by collecting some other cards.
I have looked at a few types of baseball cards so far and I really like the Fleer Ultra cards.
My questions:
Is there any particular brand of baseball cards that are better to collect than others? I would like to just collect one brand.
Where should I buy my cards? I have been told that I need to buy hobby boxes but there are no 'card shops' around where I live so I need to mail order.
My objective is rather simple. I just want to pick a brand/type of cards to collect and work on getting the entire set for each year, starting with 2006.
Thanks in advance :)
John Setzler
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07/07/2006 02:24:16 AM · #2 |
I can't help you very much, but I would recommend against limiting yourself to one brand. However, since you are focusing on starting with a collection from 2006, I would recommend picking up a catologue magazine that will list what each value of each card is and you can get an idea of what is hot on the market.
I seem to rememebr Upper Deck being very popular, and they would release limited editions of collections. For example, with hockey, they released a series where the players would talk about a bit about there personal lives as opposed to their on ice personalities
I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be able to give you more info! |
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07/07/2006 02:31:31 AM · #3 |
Beckett Baseball was one of the resources that I used when I collected them 15+ ago.
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07/07/2006 02:31:32 AM · #4 |
John,
I have always loved collecting cards myself, and a few years back I decided to go into vintage cards, as so many card companies today compete against each other, and there are just so many different types (glossies, refractors, special editions, the list goes on) within each and every card company themselves. It just got to be too overwhelming to keep up with the new stuff. I liked Upperdeck myself mostly - vivid and often times unique images.
I wanted to go back and start collecting old cards. At first, I figured I would collect Topps cards and start with my birth year (1966) - only to find some of those cards are very high dollar. Then I was introduced to a great group of collectors (OBC) who love to collect old cards and simply work off the trading motif. You list your wish list of cards, years, etc and then folks just start sending you there duplicates - you in turn send others your duplicates. Keep in mind, these cards are not mint, but a wonderful way to build a collection. Some very old cards are acquired this way too. I had several T206(1908) cards as well.
Good luck with the endeavor - it can be a great hobby to share with a family member too. If you are interested in the old cards, be sure to check out the site of the group I mentioned (//www.oldbaseball.com) |
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07/07/2006 06:50:53 AM · #5 |
| I collected baseball cards 15+ years ago, but I didn't stick to just one particular set. Like Pidge, I seem to remember Upper Deck being the big name in cards, but the best suggestion would be to pick up a pricing guide and see what's available nowadays. |
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07/07/2006 07:23:07 AM · #6 |
If you like the Fleer, stick with them. At this point in time the market is so saturated, it's hard to say one is "better" than the other. I personally happen to like Upper Deck.
I focused on collecting particular players, and then focused on teams. I also focused on some of the odder things. As an example- I have a complete set of Mark McGwire cards, including his rookie and Olympic cards. I've also got the complete NY Yankees roster from 1983 through 1993.
You may try Toys R Us to get started with. :) They should have basic starting box sets. I'd hit Becketts website and check the forums there for buying reccomendations. |
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07/07/2006 08:56:14 PM · #7 |
John, our Kmart up here in Michigan has what I call "Bargain Sets" in our checkout lanes (right under the gum and candy), they usually sell for like 12 bucks or cheaper and have sets of cards in them-- I have found quite a few valuable cards in these boxes..
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07/07/2006 09:42:55 PM · #8 |
Ok first off you are starting out all wrong. Totally wrong.
1. you don't know anything about it. Do some research
2. You are asking what 'THE BEST' are to get. There is no answer to this no matter how hard people may try and sway you to one brand or another.
3. Figure out what you want to do exactly.
Ok, now my opinion on the matter. First, I never cared for sports cards. Simply because there are so many of them.
But, I did pick up a couple sets. The Marlins and Rockies first sets.. (inogular Spl???) years. Mainly because I grew up in Colorado.. and Marlins came out the same year. Think they were Topps or Donruss.
Anyway, I collected non-sport cards for many years, as well as other things.
First of all, what type of collector do you want to be.
A Horder, someone who buys duplicates of everything, locks them away for a payday in the future.
A Displayer, someone who buys the cards to show them off to anyone and everyone.
A Collector, Someone who goes out of their way to get every piece they need for the set, no matter the cost, and than they protect each and every piece and only show them for those 'special' ocations.
Avid Fan, Someone who likes a certain team or sport, and collects what they can to add to their team collection of stuff. They don't go crazy about it, but they don't pass over something with their team logo on it very easily.
Than you have what I like to call,
FunCollector, this is someone who collects what they like, no matter how undermainstream it is, and it doesn't matter if their are complete sets or such. They just get what they like.
Ok, now you decied what type of collector you are, you need to figure out how you will store and/or protect your cards. I used old Valveta cheese boxes. Perfect size and kept them upright, and would store those in a larger box, maybe a comic box or other similar collector box.
Those were for extras/traders. For my sets I would put them in Acid free clear 12mylar 9 card sheets. and D-ring binders.
Or those uber special sets whent into the acidfree single card protectors. Stiff enough you could almost shuffle the cards without bending them. Than stick them into a cardbriefcase
Anyway, To pic a brand you would basicly, choose from a few things. First one being how much money do you want to put into this new hobby?
Than you can go and start priceing the wax boxes (factory sealed unopend boxes) There are tons of brands. Topps, Donruss, Dunlap, Penticle, Fleer, Ultra Fleer, and others.
Normaly if you get wax boxes, unless you get a case of them you probly won't get a complete set, so you might have to trade/buy the pieces you need. Another reason I didn't care for sports cards. 1000 piece set, as aposed to 100 piece set for super heros.
Anyway, so you need to do your research on players, and what is moving in the collecting circles. Start going to shows and conventions. Listen and don't let the people pull the wool over your eyes about the value of your cards. A lot of people tend to be shady when it comes to money and cards.
Do your research. Knowing the differnace between a Micky Mantle Rookie and Nolan Ryan 1000 StrikeOut could be the differance of life and death L()L.
Anyway, I hope some of this helps. and doesn't scare you away to much. If you want any more information feel free to message me.
a quote from Stan Lee, " Comics are ment to be Read Rolled up and stuff in your back pocket and traded with your friends. Not stuffed in some box that no one sees"
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07/07/2006 10:00:38 PM · #9 |
Hi John,
Okay - finally... something i DO know about on this site ;o)
I've been an avid (okay, EXTREME) baseball card collector for as long as I can remember. I started collecting several 'current' sets in the '70s, and kept up with it to this day. Recently (over the past 10 yrs) I started going backwards & collecting vintage sets (1888-1966), and I'm sure my wife will KILL me if I buy another set before she's done classifying and organizing them for me (bless her heart).
That said... the game has changed drastically over the years, and without question - eBAY is now the largest & best source for collectors.
Do yourself a favor, and research PRIOR to making any purchases. When you get past the 'current' sets, the best place for vintage cards is here: //www.kityoung.com
Sign up for one of their flyers (~100 pages of QUALITY vintage stuff).
PM me if you have any specific questions!!! I'd be glad to help out (and maybe save you some money in the beginning).
:O)
rob |
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