Which Decade offered the best Collecting.

rogueriver · 10-08-2021, 04:38 PM

If you could collect cards from just 1 decade, which would it be....For me it is definitely the 1990s'. I am biased because that was when I grew up. But if you think about it I was lucky then. We had the best Football decade, definitely the best basketball Decade, and a pretty darn good Baseball Decade. Not to mention the brands and the INSERTS.

ThoseBackPages · 10-08-2021, 04:39 PM

the 60's

mfw13 · 10-08-2021, 04:42 PM

How do you define "best"?

For me, best designs were the 1950's.

Highest level of affordability....the 80's.

Best overall products....1989-1993.

LVDan · 10-08-2021, 04:44 PM

Id say 2000-2009 because of the multiple licenses.
Yes, it created a glut that held values down somewhat for both singles and wax.
But for "Collecting"? There was never a better time IMO.

DMS6391 · 10-08-2021, 05:12 PM

A lot of it is likely tied to nostalgia. For me that’s going to be 2000-2009 if I’m tied to a decade. But 90s and 00s were fun for me with multiple licenses and insert and parallels and the introduction of memorabilia cards and autos

Now I hate the 1000 different parallels and worthless memorabilia cards I’ve accumulated. But in that time I really enjoyed the newness of it and the rarity of some of that stuff (or what felt rare to me at the time)

Giantrobot · 10-08-2021, 05:21 PM

Another vote for the ‘90s

mouschi · 10-08-2021, 06:41 PM

4 way tie! 1880s, 1910s, 1990s, 2000s.

rroboo · 10-08-2021, 07:36 PM

Since I was born in the late 90s. My favorite was 2011 and 2013 (especially the card stock and gloss). Loved the flagship designs. Topps heritage 1964 was my favorite as well.

Skipscards · 10-08-2021, 07:56 PM

I’d probably choose the 3000s.

hermanotarjeta · 10-08-2021, 08:10 PM

Definitely the 2000’s.

Starting with ichiro/pujols to trout - cut autos, bowman chrome draft autos, three companies, the best decade of innovation and competition.

Akphillips86 · 10-08-2021, 08:17 PM

90’s for the same reason as the OP. Miss the creativity with the inserts vs 38 parallels per set, all with the same predictable color scheme. It’s great for RC’s and terrible for just about anything else. I would love some awesome non RC chase inserts of Vlad, Tatis, Soto, Guerrero, Acuna and others for example, but there’s not much to pick from. Some of the 90’s inserts are just gorgeous and have no current competition aesthetically.

Although I will say even the parallels meant more because there weren’t massive amounts. For example, I fell in love with atomic refractors in the 90’s.

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JWBlue · 10-08-2021, 08:42 PM

Besides the 1980s?

SearchPatrol · 10-08-2021, 09:33 PM

90's is the best to collect, but awful for those who busted wax. Most products you opened just for 1 or 2 cards per box. Atomics, refractors, artist's proofs or very limited inserts. A lot of filler a.k.a. Junk.

speedyjg13 · 10-08-2021, 10:09 PM

2010s

MoreToppsPlease · 10-08-2021, 10:15 PM

The hobby is meant to be fun, right?

The ‘90s were certainly the most fun, especially the second half of the decade, and can never be repeated. It just had the perfect confluence of events: namely manufacturers extending themselves in competition that only Topps was able to afford.

eye4talent · 10-08-2021, 11:00 PM

Late ‘90s.

That’s when low-numbered cards and premium sets exploded. And several companies were competing, trying to outdo each other.

Select Certified mirrors
Essential Credentials
Leaf R&S Longevity
Flair Showcase Legacy
Fleer Brilliants 24 kt Gold
Skybox Rubies
Ultra Platinum Medallion

In other sports, Contenders autos and SP Authentic made a big splash, and the rookie auto was born. ‘97 Bowman helped with that, too.

Finest and Bowman’s Best were new and fun.

And it’s when Chrome was born.

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MoreToppsPlease · 10-08-2021, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Late ‘90s.

That’s when low-numbered cards and premium sets exploded. And several companies were competing, trying to outdo each other.

Select Certified mirrors
Essential Credentials
Leaf R&S Longevity
Flair Showcase Legacy
Fleer Brilliants 24 kt Gold
Skybox Rubies
Ultra Platinum Medallion

In other sports, Contenders autos and SP Authentic made a big splash, and the rookie auto was born. ‘97 Bowman helped with that, too.

Finest and Bowman’s Best were new and fun.

And it’s when Chrome was born.

Technically Chrome was born the first half of the decade and wasn’t called Chrome

eye4talent · 10-08-2021, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreToppsPlease

Technically Chrome was born the first half of the decade and wasn’t called Chrome

Well, you do you.

But I’m referring to 1996 Topps Chrome across the big three sports (including 96-97 for basketball), 1997 Bowman Chrome baseball, and the rise to relevance in 1997 when the Kobe rookie took off.

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espnfanco · 10-09-2021, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

the 60's

This I agree... simple back then

MoreToppsPlease · 10-09-2021, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eye4talent

Well, you do you.

But I’m referring to 1996 Topps Chrome across the big three sports (including 96-97 for basketball), 1997 Bowman Chrome baseball, and the rise to relevance in 1997 when the Kobe rookie took off.

Sure, Chrome tech was a few years old by then and had been used in multiple Topps products, including Finest and Bowman’s Best - but of course those products weren’t parallel products like TC.

soey10 · 10-09-2021, 08:15 AM

I agree with the 90’s. It seemed like every year each card company was trying to one up the other guys which made for some great cards. That is why I am a firm believer that having one card company have a single sport license is actually bad. Competition breeds innovation. Anyways, the 90’s brought us refractors, pack inserted autographs, serial numbered cards and best of all none of it really broke the bank like today. As a kid who collected in the 90’s I was able to buy packs and have fun. I am not sure how much money a kid has to have in today’s market to rip packs but it must be a lot.

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cardsin47 · 10-09-2021, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogueriver

If you could collect cards from just 1 decade, which would it be....

If money were no object, 1930’s

Chris P · 10-09-2021, 09:55 AM

Another vote for the 90s as it ties back to my childhood..I loved how many different brands there were. I loved going to the local shop or walmart to buy a pack of new product with my allowance.

hatchd · 10-09-2021, 10:30 AM

They only right answer is the 90s. The amount of competition forced manufacturers to produce the most creative sets we've ever seen. Refractors, crazy die cuts, dufex, serial numbered cards and game used all made their first appearance in the 90s. Plus, more than a players RC mattered. It still amazes me that most people don't give a #@#@#@#@ about almost any card produced today unless it's a players RC. Takes a lot of the fun out of collecting.

Now if I could pick any 10 year stretch I'd go 93-02 just so I could get Pujols in there.

imbluestreak23 · 10-09-2021, 10:45 AM

2000s. Best of everything and innovation at its peak. Went downhill from there after 2009

10-08-2021, 04:38 PM	#1
rogueriver Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Texas Posts: 961 rogueriver	Which Decade offered the best Collecting. If you could collect cards from just 1 decade, which would it be....For me it is definitely the 1990s'. I am biased because that was when I grew up. But if you think about it I was lucky then. We had the best Football decade, definitely the best basketball Decade, and a pretty darn good Baseball Decade. Not to mention the brands and the INSERTS.

10-08-2021, 04:39 PM	#2
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 89,947 ThoseBackPages	the 60's __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

10-08-2021, 04:44 PM	#4
LVDan Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 17,555	Id say 2000-2009 because of the multiple licenses. Yes, it created a glut that held values down somewhat for both singles and wax. But for "Collecting"? There was never a better time IMO. __________________ So we cheated and we lied and we tested. And we never failed to fail; it was the easiest thing to do.

10-08-2021, 06:41 PM	#7
mouschi Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Swimming in a million cards Posts: 9,649 tnhjones	4 way tie! 1880s, 1910s, 1990s, 2000s. __________________ Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict

10-08-2021, 07:56 PM	#9
Skipscards Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: In Tribute To The Great Ryno Posts: 30,085 jlankf2 jmp4	I’d probably choose the 3000s. __________________ Go Royals!! #RoyalsIn2015 <---It Happened!! #TEAMZinck Sometimes it is astounding that we are able to persist in a world so full of morons.

10-08-2021, 04:42 PM	#3
mfw13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 17,403	How do you define "best"? For me, best designs were the 1950's. Highest level of affordability....the 80's. Best overall products....1989-1993.

10-08-2021, 05:12 PM	#5
DMS6391 Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 154	A lot of it is likely tied to nostalgia. For me that’s going to be 2000-2009 if I’m tied to a decade. But 90s and 00s were fun for me with multiple licenses and insert and parallels and the introduction of memorabilia cards and autos Now I hate the 1000 different parallels and worthless memorabilia cards I’ve accumulated. But in that time I really enjoyed the newness of it and the rarity of some of that stuff (or what felt rare to me at the time)

10-08-2021, 05:21 PM	#6
Giantrobot Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 4,840	Another vote for the ‘90s

10-08-2021, 07:36 PM	#8
rroboo Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 474	Since I was born in the late 90s. My favorite was 2011 and 2013 (especially the card stock and gloss). Loved the flagship designs. Topps heritage 1964 was my favorite as well.

10-08-2021, 08:10 PM	#10
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 21,489	Definitely the 2000’s. Starting with ichiro/pujols to trout - cut autos, bowman chrome draft autos, three companies, the best decade of innovation and competition.

10-08-2021, 08:17 PM	#11
Akphillips86 Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 2,960	90’s for the same reason as the OP. Miss the creativity with the inserts vs 38 parallels per set, all with the same predictable color scheme. It’s great for RC’s and terrible for just about anything else. I would love some awesome non RC chase inserts of Vlad, Tatis, Soto, Guerrero, Acuna and others for example, but there’s not much to pick from. Some of the 90’s inserts are just gorgeous and have no current competition aesthetically. Although I will say even the parallels meant more because there weren’t massive amounts. For example, I fell in love with atomic refractors in the 90’s. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-08-2021, 08:42 PM	#12
JWBlue Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 9,588	Besides the 1980s?

10-08-2021, 09:33 PM	#13
SearchPatrol Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 1,051 AndrewB	90's is the best to collect, but awful for those who busted wax. Most products you opened just for 1 or 2 cards per box. Atomics, refractors, artist's proofs or very limited inserts. A lot of filler a.k.a. Junk.

10-08-2021, 10:09 PM	#14
speedyjg13 Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 17,229	2010s __________________ Current PC: Mike Trout Prior PC: David Fletcher & Jered Weaver https://www.flickr.com/photos/speedyjg13/albums

10-08-2021, 10:15 PM	#15
MoreToppsPlease Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 8,676	The hobby is meant to be fun, right? The ‘90s were certainly the most fun, especially the second half of the decade, and can never be repeated. It just had the perfect confluence of events: namely manufacturers extending themselves in competition that only Topps was able to afford. __________________ IRS Tax Tip 2022-57 A hobby is any activity that a person pursues because they enjoy it and with no intention of making a profit. People operate a business with the intention of making a profit.

10-08-2021, 11:00 PM	#16
eye4talent Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 7,920 eye4talent eye4talent	Late ‘90s. That’s when low-numbered cards and premium sets exploded. And several companies were competing, trying to outdo each other. Select Certified mirrors Essential Credentials Leaf R&S Longevity Flair Showcase Legacy Fleer Brilliants 24 kt Gold Skybox Rubies Ultra Platinum Medallion In other sports, Contenders autos and SP Authentic made a big splash, and the rookie auto was born. ‘97 Bowman helped with that, too. Finest and Bowman’s Best were new and fun. And it’s when Chrome was born. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

10-09-2021, 08:15 AM	#21
soey10 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 1,586 Soey	I agree with the 90’s. It seemed like every year each card company was trying to one up the other guys which made for some great cards. That is why I am a firm believer that having one card company have a single sport license is actually bad. Competition breeds innovation. Anyways, the 90’s brought us refractors, pack inserted autographs, serial numbered cards and best of all none of it really broke the bank like today. As a kid who collected in the 90’s I was able to buy packs and have fun. I am not sure how much money a kid has to have in today’s market to rip packs but it must be a lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-09-2021, 09:55 AM	#23
Chris P Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 14,744	Another vote for the 90s as it ties back to my childhood..I loved how many different brands there were. I loved going to the local shop or walmart to buy a pack of new product with my allowance.

10-09-2021, 10:30 AM	#24
hatchd Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,696	They only right answer is the 90s. The amount of competition forced manufacturers to produce the most creative sets we've ever seen. Refractors, crazy die cuts, dufex, serial numbered cards and game used all made their first appearance in the 90s. Plus, more than a players RC mattered. It still amazes me that most people don't give a #@#@#@#@ about almost any card produced today unless it's a players RC. Takes a lot of the fun out of collecting. Now if I could pick any 10 year stretch I'd go 93-02 just so I could get Pujols in there.

10-09-2021, 10:45 AM	#25
imbluestreak23 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Meandering the matrix code that the hobby/forum overlords spit out Posts: 17,756 shortslabs	2000s. Best of everything and innovation at its peak. Went downhill from there after 2009 __________________ @shortslabs I'VE WITNESSED HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE HERE...IT'S ROTTEN https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerShort