How Did You Arrive At Your Current Collecting Focus?

[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

What’s your collecting focus today and how did you get there?

Focus: I collect Barry Bonds cards, the rarer or higher end the better, to the extent I can afford them. But the cards that make my heart beat fastest are inserts from the 90s. I would consider myself a specialist at that one player in that one genre. I’m not even sure some folks would call me a baseball card collector unless they fully subscribe to the maxim “collect what you love.” As my 90s Bonds wantlist dwindles, I’m branching out into autographs, which I’ve grown to love, and 2001-2007 inserts, which for the most part I hope someday to learn to love.

Path: Mine was baseball wax packs from 1986-1994, a baseball box in 2005, 2006, and two in 2007. And that’s it. Never bought a single at any point in my life up to that point. Suddenly more disposable income, thought about collecting Bonds singles, but they were so expensive and then the Great Recession.

Hockey cards from 2009-2012, full send, boxes, packs, heavy volume trading, posting on Beckett, watching breaks. But still only bought 2-3 singles the entire time.

2018, came back to baseball cards with a focus on high end Bonds RCs that would retain value, unlike almost all of my hockey cards. Tripled the amount of singles I owned with about 9. Avoided autos because after hockey I believed autos to be card companies just printing money at the cost of down arrows on the proverbial Beckett mag for everything and everyone.

Then discovered 90s inserts on YT and FB late that year, fell in love, married the player to the genre, and haven’t looked back since. Singles now number in the hundreds and when I look back, I’m dumbfounded by what I’ve amassed in just 5 years.

What’s your journey and destination, cliffs notes version?

[here2havefun]

Focus: Topps Venezuelan cards 1959 - 1968

Path: I collected as a kid, and always saw 50's and 60's vintage as the "peak" of the baseball card world, and could never afford any of the vintage HOFer cards. Got back into the hobby in 2018, and started buying vintage singles. I was looking for something more rare to chase, and had been vaguely aware of Topps Venezuelan issues. Went down the rabbit hole and fell in love with them. I think of them as SSP variations of common vintage cards (to put it in modern terms).

I also collect Minnie Minoso, Ichiro, and some ultra modern players. But the Topps Venezuelans are my "main" PC focus.

[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

Originally Posted by here2havefun

Focus: Topps Venezuelan cards 1959 - 1968

Path: I collected as a kid, and always saw 50's and 60's vintage as the "peak" of the baseball card world, and could never afford any of the vintage HOFer cards. Got back into the hobby in 2018, and started buying vintage singles. I was looking for something more rare to chase, and had been vaguely aware of Topps Venezuelan issues. Went down the rabbit hole and fell in love with them. I think of them as SSP variations of common vintage cards (to put it in modern terms).

I also collect Minnie Minoso, Ichiro, and some ultra modern players. But the Topps Venezuelans are my "main" PC focus.

That’s awesome! I only have two Venezuelan Bonds stickers. I guess I can look up the history of them on baseballcardpedia. I’m not an oddball fan for the most part and I mostly go after regulation sized cards, but I thought the two I bought were very cool.

What’s the crown jewel of the genre? How about your collection?

[Drew3000]

Focus: Reds position player greats

Went years on and off again, busting some wax, collecting vintage sets and HOFers and realized, I just didn’t care about that as much as I do the Cincinnati Reds. I’ve watched the Reds nightly since I was 13 years old (I’m now 32) I love baseball history so I just decided I wanted to focus on Reds greats. Never been into collecting pitchers so I just made a list and that’s who I focus on. I like it all, 1800s old judge Bid McPhee is on my list all the way up to 2023 Votto superfractors. Can’t ever own everything but the Reds encompass all years cards have been around so it’ll always be a chase. I even collect old players in new designs and products.

To limit it some more, I go for a max of 2 parallels in current products as I don’t really care about rainbows. So I’ll pick a low numbered parallel and the 1/1 to chase usually

[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

Originally Posted by Drew3000

Focus: Reds position player greats

Went years on and off again, busting some wax, collecting vintage sets and HOFers and realized, I just didn’t care about that as much as I do the Cincinnati Reds. I’ve watched the Reds nightly since I was 13 years old (I’m now 32) I love baseball history so I just decided I wanted to focus on Reds greats. Never been into collecting pitchers so I just made a list and that’s who I focus on. I like it all, 1800s old judge Bid McPhee is on my list all the way up to 2023 Votto superfractors. Can’t ever own everything but the Reds encompass all years cards have been around so it’ll always be a chase. I even collect old players in new designs and products.

To limit it some more, I go for a max of 2 parallels in current products as I don’t really care about rainbows. So I’ll pick a low numbered parallel and the 1/1 to chase usually

Reds fans are great fans. Much respect. I have some pretty cool 90s Barry Larkin stowed away. Let me know if you’re interested and I get dig them out next month when I have more time.

[cbeauch87]

I was the broadcaster for a junior hockey team for the past four years, and one of the guys on the team became a 1st round NHL pick. Very cool to watch every game of his over the past three seasons and get to know him personally. I no longer work for the team but I'll always be a fan of his and collect his cards, especially once he makes his NHL debut.

[Drew3000]

Originally Posted by RiceBondsMT2Yng

Reds fans are great fans. Much respect. I have some pretty cool 90s Barry Larkin stowed away. Let me know if you’re interested and I get dig them out next month when I have more time.

I’m going to DM you later today. I’m always looking for 90s Larkins

[here2havefun]

Originally Posted by RiceBondsMT2Yng

That’s awesome! I only have two Venezuelan Bonds stickers. I guess I can look up the history of them on baseballcardpedia. I’m not an oddball fan for the most part and I mostly go after regulation sized cards, but I thought the two I bought were very cool.

What’s the crown jewel of the genre? How about your collection?

The sets were printed/distributed in Venezuela in 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967 (prob unlicensed), and 1968.

Some of the biggest cards across all the years are the 68 Nolan Ryan RC, 60 Yaz RC, 68 Bench RC, 59 Mantle, 59 Koufax, 67 Clemente, 67 Koufax. The 67 set has a "Retirado" series, prices on those have gotten crazy, the most popular cards are the Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Ty Cobb.

Centerpiece of my collection is a 1959 Koufax PSA 4, pop two with one higher. It's in the short printed 2nd series, its total PSA pop is only 14. I also have the base run of Koufax and Mantle complete. I'm one away from getting the Clemente run complete.

[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

I was the broadcaster for a junior hockey team for the past four years, and one of the guys on the team became a 1st round NHL pick. Very cool to watch every game of his over the past three seasons and get to know him personally. I no longer work for the team but I'll always be a fan of his and collect his cards, especially once he makes his NHL debut.

I was living and dying with every prospect from 08-09 to til about 11-12 but my Sharks are terrible and I’m out of the loop. Was a big fan of the ITG junior hockey stuff. London Knights were cranking out stars back then.

Which prospect, which league? You must’ve gotten some great IP autos.

[Twalk1975]

I have been a long time Stadium Club fan because of the photography, and Topps image variation SPs seemed cool to me because they reminded of Stadium Club type cards. They also appealed to me as rare cards more so than the colored parallel thing, especially as Topps parallel design has gotten uninspired in recent years. 2018 flagship was like a dream set with a borderless, Stadium Club type design, and the awesome SP/SSP checklist. My PC has been pretty much Stadium Club, flagship, and, Heritage image variations ever since.

[cbeauch87]

Originally Posted by RiceBondsMT2Yng

I was living and dying with every prospect from 08-09 to til about 11-12 but my Sharks are terrible and I’m out of the loop. Was a big fan of the ITG junior hockey stuff. London Knights were cranking out stars back then.



Which prospect, which league? You must’ve gotten some great IP autos.

Owen Pickering with the Swift Current Broncos. I never asked him to sign anything for me over the past three years. I'm not a huge fan of in-person autographs to be honest. I went to the draft in Montreal last year to cover it for the team, and seeing him get picked was awesome. Met up with him the next morning at his hotel to say congratulations before he was whisked away to development camp. I'm looking forward to Upper Deck's new CHL set since he'll have cards in it. He (along with a few other players) got a boat load of stickers from Upper Deck to sign earlier this season.

Edit: here’s a photo of a sticker sheet he was sent.

[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

Originally Posted by Twalk1975

I have been a long time Stadium Club fan because of the photography, and Topps image variation SPs seemed cool to me because they reminded of Stadium Club type cards. They also appealed to me as rare cards more so than the colored parallel thing, especially as Topps parallel design has gotten uninspired in recent years. 2018 flagship was like a dream set with a borderless, Stadium Club type design, and the awesome SP/SSP checklist. My PC has been pretty much Stadium Club, flagship, and, Heritage image variations ever since.

I don't know anything about ultra-modern but I have a friend who loves the photography in Stadium Club, especially the one where Mariano Rivera waves goodbye to the crowd. I feel like the stealth SP and SSP stuff has a chance to hold up well in the next decades, maybe becoming this era's 90s inserts. What do you think?

Originally Posted by cbeauch87

Owen Pickering with the Swift Current Broncos. I never asked him to sign anything for me over the past three years. I'm not a huge fan of in-person autographs to be honest. I went to the draft in Montreal last year to cover it for the team, and seeing him get picked was awesome. Met up with him the next morning at his hotel to say congratulations before he was whisked away to development camp. I'm looking forward to Upper Deck's new CHL set since he'll have cards in it. He (along with a few other players) got a boat load of stickers from Upper Deck to sign earlier this season.

Edit: here’s a photo of a sticker sheet he was sent.

That's a very nice sig, actually! Lots of effort and ink.

[rats60]

I used to collect Bonds until he started doping. I cashed out all of his stuff at a good profit since he is never making the HOF.

I decided to concentrate my collection on the greatest Pirates of all time, Roberto Clemente and Honus Wagner.

[cardsin47]

It’s a great question OP. I was hooked from the start on Sealed Product after watching:





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[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

Originally Posted by rats60

I used to collect Bonds until he started doping. I cashed out all of his stuff at a good profit since he is never making the HOF.

I decided to concentrate my collection on the greatest Pirates of all time, Roberto Clemente and Honus Wagner.

Hard to go wrong there, what an absolute stacked PC focus. Ever held a t206 wagner? Ever had a shot maybe even to buy a ragged copy?

[Twalk1975]

Originally Posted by RiceBondsMT2Yng

I don't know anything about ultra-modern but I have a friend who loves the photography in Stadium Club, especially the one where Mariano Rivera waves goodbye to the crowd. I feel like the stealth SP and SSP stuff has a chance to hold up well in the next decades, maybe becoming this era's 90s inserts. What do you think?



That's a very nice sig, actually! Lots of effort and ink.

There was a time a few years ago when "buy numbered cards" was the mantra that you could still get the stealth SP/SSP stuff for a steal. And I feel like a lot of that stuff went into the hands of collectors rather than investors, because it rarely comes up for sale. I feel like that type of stuff has a lot of potential, and it's the kind of stuff I like to look for anytime I see a new insert or non-numbered parallel.

[awz50]

Love baseball history, so I wanted to own baseball history.

Started buying HOF autographs and here I am

[RiceBondsMT2Yng]

Originally Posted by cardsin47

It’s a great question OP. I was hooked from the start on Sealed Product after watching:

I couldn't find him - do you have a link? Also, your main PC these days is unopened wax and not a player collection? If so, I have questions like, do you collect boxes as, like, museum pieces for yourself, or as the best way to ensure you dollar goes furthest long term.

Originally Posted by Twalk1975

There was a time a few years ago when "buy numbered cards" was the mantra that you could still get the stealth SP/SSP stuff for a steal. And I feel like a lot of that stuff went into the hands of collectors rather than investors, because it rarely comes up for sale. I feel like that type of stuff has a lot of potential, and it's the kind of stuff I like to look for anytime I see a new insert or non-numbered parallel.

I think the only sustainable cards (which I would define as cards that appeal to collectors and investors alike over the long term) are those that appeal primarily to "end-user" collectors to use a buzzy word in the hobbysphere these days. Really curious to see what turns out to be the real treasures from the ultra-modern era. I wish I was as into baseball now as I was when I was much younger, but unfortunately I live in the past.

Originally Posted by awz50

Love baseball history, so I wanted to own baseball history.

Started buying HOF autographs and here I am

Were your first baseball cards HOF autographs? Do you collect non baseball card autos or you're a baseball card junkie through and through?

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by RiceBondsMT2Yng

your main PC these days is unopened wax and not a player collection? If so, I have questions like, do you collect boxes as, like, museum pieces for yourself, or as the best way to ensure you dollar goes furthest long term?

I found a way, after much fine tuning and tweaking, of doing both

[Galileo77]

My sons and I began collecting when they were very young -went on hold for a little while after high school, I thought they and had stopped then for my 50th birthday they presented me with every Roberto Clemente they could find from rookie to retirement including cards from Venezuela. (I am from PR and i would tell them stories my daddy told me about this great ballplayer and humanitarian). We started back full speed collecting Vintage players. We are going to our first card show in Chicago - It is so very special our time together when we get the cards out and sit for hours looking and talking

[theshowandme]

Realized that 99% of players are hobby duds


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[thenightman]

Focus: Collecting one of every Topps Braves base card and team card.

I collected a lot as a kid, mostly just buying packs and keeping the cards, but stopped for most of my adult life. Decided I wanted to get back in, but with a purpose. The Braves are the only team I root for and decided on Topps base because I had everything from the late-80's and early 90's.

Later on, I decided to collect every Venezuelan, OPC, and other overseas releases of Topps Braves base cards. I've already completed the Venezuelan run. Currently 5 cards short of the US Topps run (3 earliest mantles, and the first two Mathews).

[NotGoSportsBall]

Peer pressure from blowout.

[DynaEtch]

Not from baseball, so my story probably wont be of interest to most here, but good thread topic.

I collect marvel cards, and have honed my focus down to just one set brand, Marvel Masterpieces. My goal is to reduce my collection to just Marvel Masterpieces. Some familiar with baseball might remember it from the 90s, and may be surprised that they are still making Masterpieces, with a new 2023 set soon to release.

I master-set collect, as in try to get everything ever released for the sets (particularly the 90s ones). This includes not just all the cards and inserts, but also all the promos, prototypes, magazines that had articles about the sets, ads, uncut sheets, store displays, weird knick-knacks, original paintings....everything associated with the sets. Also error cards, which has become my primary focus...talking about misprint errors lacking foil, wrong backs, misaligned foil, etc. They are generally hard to find and nearly unique. I argue that error collecting is basically the end-stage of master-set collecting, as once you have most of the normal stuff to get, that is what's left, the oddball errors that will never be completely collected. I find errors interesting as they reveal some in's and out's of the printing process.

How I got to this point: I started in the 90s mainly collecting baseball, with a little bit of marvel alongside (a combination which was pretty common with kids in the 90s). I stopped after the 90s and resumed around 2010 collecting just marvel. I then decided maybe 5-7 years ago that I my focus was too broad and it would be more fun to narrow down to just one particular set brand, Masterpieces. This would be like in baseball only collecting Topps Chrome, Topps Finest, or Topps Heritage....and nothing else.

[here2havefun]

Originally Posted by DynaEtch

Not from baseball, so my story probably wont be of interest to most here, but good thread topic.

I collect marvel cards, and have honed my focus down to just one set brand, Marvel Masterpieces. My goal is to reduce my collection to just Marvel Masterpieces. Some familiar with baseball might remember it from the 90s, and may be surprised that they are still making Masterpieces, with a new 2023 set soon to release.

I master-set collect, as in try to get everything ever released for the sets (particularly the 90s ones). This includes not just all the cards and inserts, but also all the promos, prototypes, magazines that had articles about the sets, ads, uncut sheets, store displays, weird knick-knacks, original paintings....everything associated with the sets. Also error cards, which has become my primary focus...talking about misprint errors lacking foil, wrong backs, misaligned foil, etc. They are generally hard to find and nearly unique. I argue that error collecting is basically the end-stage of master-set collecting, as once you have most of the normal stuff to get, that is what's left, the oddball errors that will never be completely collected. I find errors interesting as they reveal some in's and out's of the printing process.

How I got to this point: I started in the 90s mainly collecting baseball, with a little bit of marvel alongside (a combination which was pretty common with kids in the 90s). I stopped after the 90s and resumed around 2010 collecting just marvel. I then decided maybe 5-7 years ago that I my focus was too broad and it would be more fun to narrow down to just one particular set brand, Masterpieces. This would be like in baseball only collecting Topps Chrome, Topps Finest, or Topps Heritage....and nothing else.

1992 MM holds a special place in my heart. It was the first set I put together by hand via opening packs, as a kid. Still have the set in the same binder.