What's Your Favorite Part of the Hobby?

[notoriousrmb]

I wanted to get back to what makes this fun! Let's forget about all the negatives for a bit and tell me, what makes you want to keep collecting cards? If you want to bash people, companies, etc please keep it to one of the many other complaint threads :D

My top 3:

1. Thrill of the chase to finish a set/player collection. I love looking for and finding those last few SP'd cards to wrap up a heritage set, or picking up that /5 Wong RC that has been eluding me for a few years so I can finish my rainbow and be the only owner of "that" particular run. Part of my OCD tendencies, but adding that missing piece to my collection is by far one of my highs in collecting.

2. Pulling cards of my home teams. I buy cards on ebay, open wax, purchase slots in group breaks and my favorite part of getting any new card is when it's a Cardinal or Blue! Having some sort of connection to the player on the card and rooting for them in person at a game makes it more fun to own.

3. Reading/sharing stories with other collectors. Having someone else to share the fun with keeps the fires burning. Sure I could enjoy putting sets together in a shed in the woods, but having outlets to share experiences and the joy of a big pull, and of course commiserate on missed opportunities and such is all part of the experience. I also love seeing other people as passionate about finishing their collecting goals as well!

Your turn, what keeps you coming back for more?

[bubbs11]

I am focused right now on PC'ing a player, which is fun to me and I love set collecting. The most fun I've had in this hobby was completing a set of 2013 Five Star base cards /75. Loved every minute of it

[ToppsCollector1]

Getting to see new designs and being able to start new sets

Also the occasional trades

[Triple B]

The thrill of the hunt. I love looking for a specific card and so far I've had two cards that have taken 17 years and 20 years respectively to find. When I did find them, it was both satisfying and deflating (because the thrill was now over).

I love the friendships...I've made some EXCELLENT friends in this hobby and I wouldn't have them if not for cards.

Stories. I started on this site as a lurker just to read what y'all were doing and chasing. I love the box breaks and the mail days. I even love the know it alls, since they are so damn entertaining.

[Peties Army]

I love mail days.

I like to see whats in there, even though I know

[Corky]

I love hunting down the oddball card or difficult finds for my player collections and then there is the joy of mail day.

[jmscoggin]

The groupies, chicks dig cardboard.

[mfw13]

For me, the thrill of the chase, without a doubt....there's nothing quite like finally hunting down a card that has been on your wantlist for a long time.

Second would be the joy of pulling stars/players from your favorite team from wax, but I don't get to enjoy this very much anymore since I think most wax these days is overpriced.

Third would be the aesthetic appreciation of simply looking at a card which is visually pleasing. This could encompass gorgeous looking vintage designs, well-designed modern cards, and many things in between (for example, art cards by people like Juan Rosales & John Hatton).

[notoriousrmb]

Lots of recurring themes of chasing specific hard to find cards, good stuff!

Recently I came across a collector of the same player I've been chasing. Looks like he has all those cards I've been struggling to find. He's been selling stuff off, but there's no way I can afford everything he's listing at the moment. Bummed I'm going to miss out on stuff again, but at least I can pick up a few pieces!

[nera20]

I am focused right now on PC'ing a player, which is fun to me and I love set collecting. The most fun I've had in this hobby was completing a set of 2013 Five Star base cards /75. Loved every minute of it

one of the nicest sets!!! Would love five star to bring back the base set

[hairysasquatch]

Ragging on Poopnini and their fan boys.

[centereacan06]

I love mail days.

I like to see whats in there, even though I know

This definitely. Especially buying lots and sorting through them.

[tkraft24]

I love making a good old fashioned trade. Not just a trade for the sake of making a trade but one where both sides are giving up crap they don't collect for stuff they do collect. Low end, mid-end, high-end....doesn't matter. It's fun connecting with other collectors and helping each other's collections out.

[scottbdoug]

The groupies, chicks dig cardboard.

you know it :)!

[ThaReal1]

Opening a pack and seeing color... Heart notches up 2-5 bps every time it happens

I PC my team and maybe a prospect that catches my eye, but nothing like the unknown of ripping a box

[scottbdoug]

me its trading, and buying whole collections for a fraction of what it wouldve cost if i bought the boxes/sets myself.

[REGGIE206]

I love the thrill of having a hot key rookie card and watching the value increase when the player is doing well. The excitement of knowing I may have the next Mantle RC. Also knowing I have a rare card (low number) that many collectors want gives me a high.

[WillBBC]

Two parts.

1.) Looking at collections. I love seeing random threads on the different boards that say 'looking for Jeff Frencoeur, looking for Andre Dawson, looking for FP Santangelo, Richard Jefferson, etc.' Let alone the big superstar names. I love seeing people build these collections year after year, doing everything possible to get that one random card from 1983 Drake's Cakes or whatever that was only released in south Detroit. I just get a kick out of later seeing those collections and the missing pieces being proudly displayed in a thread.

2.) Greeting my mailman. Between here, Net54, eBay, FCU, there's always something new showing up. Nothing beats a 10" stack of padded envelopes to get through!

[Aquagolf70]

The groupies, chicks dig cardboard.

I'd have been a rock star if I wasn't a collector. They're everywhere...

[VandyCards]

Going to minor league games, "scouting" players, getting IP autos.

That weird feeling of "ha! I was right!" when a guy I prospect turns out to be better than other people thought.

[ShtHairMcGee]

For me it's the new friendships. I mean, all you on the forum are awesome (some more than others), but I'm talking tangible friendships forged during pack wars, peer pressure, and the hope that they don't get the case hit so that you still have the chance. Ah yes, those beautiful friendships.

Oh, and the reminiscing. I can spend all day reminiscing about the good ol days with my hobby buds.

I guess now that I've typed all that out, I realize my favorite part of the hobby is the LCS. For those of you that don't have one in close proximity, I hope one opens up soon for you!

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[iamtony33]

I love looking at other collectors PC collections and big maildays. Hard to explain the love of this hobby to outsiders (family, co workers and friends) but places like this make me feel welcome and a little less like a weirdo.

[ThoseBackPages]

Always being correct.

ETA: And being a founding member of #BuyersGroup

[chezball]

Ragging on Poopnini and their fan boys.

http://www.davewigstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jim-cramer-fb6-200.jpg

[base set]

Buying 30 cards for a dollar at Dollar Tree. It's like collecting every set from 1980 on, all at the same time. There is a keeper or two in every pack. The other day I pulled Ken Griffey's final card, and also a true wood paneling card. No, not the 3 87 Topps cards (part of every repack, by law), but a baseball card that actually included a picture with wood paneling as the backdrop. I bet you don't have one of those.

[MOONBASE1]

1)Finding older wax boxes. 2)Flea market/yard sale/thrift shop searches, finds. 3)Auctions,shows.

[notoriousrmb]

For me it's the new friendships. I mean, all you on the forum are awesome (some more than others), but I'm talking tangible friendships forged during pack wars, peer pressure, and the hope that they don't get the case hit so that you still have the chance. Ah yes, those beautiful friendships.

Oh, and the reminiscing. I can spend all day reminiscing about the good ol days with my hobby buds.

I guess now that I've typed all that out, I realize my favorite part of the hobby is the LCS. For those of you that don't have one in close proximity, I hope one opens up soon for you!

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

This used to be one of my favorite parts as well, unfortunately most of the LCS's around here aren't the hangouts they used to be. People come in, buy their stuff and go home. No place to break, sort, chat or anything.

One reason I at least like the group breaks, you have a room full of people still fully invested in the same product being opened. Good for trades and chat!

[Big35Hurt]

Seeing all the neckbeards at shows....it elevates my self-esteem.

[rcmb3220]

Seeing all the neckbeards at shows....it elevates my self-esteem.

I'm not always the trimmest and most handsome man in a room, but when I am, it's at a card show.

[joejoemay]

#3 Since the Topps Now product came out I've made tons of friends via this message board and through buying and selling them; before for me (as an adult) collecting a set was mostly a solo project I did each year in front of the game on TV.
#2 Adding to my Hoard of 2016 Topps Now gives me great pleasure.
#1 When a card comes back graded 10's across the board with it's beautiful Black Label

[RossOK]

I love making a good old fashioned trade. Not just a trade for the sake of making a trade but one where both sides are giving up crap they don't collect for stuff they do collect. Low end, mid-end, high-end....doesn't matter. It's fun connecting with other collectors and helping each other's collections out.

I really enjoy that, too. There's a sense of satisfaction when something sitting around to which you have zero attachment to can be sent to someone else that's exciting to possess it. Not to mention the satisfaction of turning it into something you actively desire.

On top of that, I love that the hobby combines two things I really love — baseball and design. It was a part of my life as I grew up and kind of steered me into my actual career without me knowing it.

[mouschi]

There are so, so many pieces. For me ....

The thrill of finding something
The exhilaration of actually landing something huge
The joy of getting something awesome for a good deal
The satisfaction of sharing what I have picked up with people online - and their comments
The pure bliss of creating something new that people fall in love with

[r0yals2012]

Mine is ttming and getting autographs in person


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[jusdukky]

Opening a pack and seeing color... Heart notches up 2-5 bps every time it happens

I PC my team and maybe a prospect that catches my eye, but nothing like the unknown of ripping a box


This ^^^^^^^^ :)!:)!

[JohnRyno]

The groupies, chicks dig cardboard.

http://www.drodd.com/images8/funny-gif/funny-gif26.gif

[Cubsfanp]

Opening wax and getting Panini points.

[notoriousrmb]

So much sarcasm from people...

Goes to show the way people are these days when you try to make a positive thread and people have to just type something negative to get an ego rub.

[JohnRyno]

So much sarcasm from people...

Goes to show the way people are these days when you try to make a positive thread and people have to just type something negative to get an ego rub.

http://media.giphy.com/media/NtlveVMeIz4eA/giphy.gif

[notoriousrmb]

http://media.giphy.com/media/NtlveVMeIz4eA/giphy.gif

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[Big35Hurt]

So much sarcasm from people...

Goes to show the way people are these days when you try to make a positive thread and people have to just type something negative to get an ego rub.

It was just a regular rub for me if you know what I mean.

[smapdi]

My tastes have narrowed so much on very specific rare stuff, it does take quite a bit to excite me. Picking up run-of-the-mill cards is nice but nowhere near as satisfying as it once was. When I allow myself to rip a box of something like Heritage, it never feels as good anymore, probably because I know the cards I really want have only a minuscule fraction of a chance of being inside. I still enjoy the hobby, but at this point, I most enjoy acquiring a rare item. Or even better is going to a new shop or card show. The anticipation of seeing something I haven't seen before, or even better, something I actually need, is the best part for me. I went to a long-standing shop in another town over the summer and digging through all their stuff was tons of fun. It was weird, like a shop frozen in time from a decade ago. Lots of unopened boxes from the late 90s-early 00s. Piles of roughly organized singles in the cases. A couple dozen monster boxes from the dregs of boxes opened years ago from just one of which I dug out a small stack of cards that the priced extremely reasonably relative to ebay value. But big card shows are the best. There aren't many in my area anymore, but we make a mini vacation out of going to Houston or Dallas. There's the Houston Tristar next month, which has become a tradition for my girlfriend and I to spend the weekend there, as it falls near Valentine's day. The feeling of walking into the big arena where there are a couple hundred tables to dig through is probably my favorite.

[kyle1707]

This year it will be March 1st Heritage cases....

[notoriousrmb]

This year it will be March 1st Heritage cases....

This seems to be the case every year. Someone in another thread said Heritage is the new flagship. After giving it some though, its not far off. I wish Topps would make a new flagship set in an older style, less graphics and more focus on the player and logo.

That's what made the older sets so memorable. I mean wood grain? Won't see that again.