I originally posted this in the football forum but this forum seems more appropriate

When I first started collecting as a kit it was fun, then I discovered Beckett and the almighty book value. Then I began to collect players I had no interest in whatsoever simply because they booked high. You should have seen my Sterling Hitchcock and Joe Smith collection! After a time of walking around quoting Beckett values, the hobby was no longer fun as I had a collection of cards I cared nothing for. Plus the way the cards were mass produced none of them held there value anyways.

So about 2 years ago I was surfing Ebay looking for a game worn Seminoles jersey to frame up. Thats when i saw a Chris Weinke game used jersey card. It was so cool looking and only .99. Naturally I bought it and then I was hooked. It took me about a month to learn all the changes (game used, auto, patch, parallels, serial numbered, graded) Most of which didn't exist in 96 when I stopped.

I decided I would only collect cards of player/teams that I truly liked. So my philosphy is that whether my collection is worth a million dollars or it becomes worthless I'll still be happy because it won't change how I view the players or teams.

Anyone out there agree or have a similar, coming back to the hobby story?

I don't have a comeback story, but I've witnessed how card collecting (if it can be called that anymore) has changed so much since the internet came along. I used to be be soomeone that bought a box or 2 every few months for a long time, and I would hang onto every card; I was close to all of them. I never traded period, my cards were my cards. I never sold (still never do) and only in a blue moon I bought a single ot two from a card shop. My thing was opening a box, I had ritualistic approaches when opening it, it was fun!
Then I met the internet.

Now I am doing a player collection, a few set collections, I'm trading online. To be honest I prefer the old days. I am having less and less sentimental value on my cards, because I acquired them in an easy manner. They are put right in front of you....

I still have a bunch of cards I pulled 10 years ago or longer, and when someone needs one of them for their set or whatnot, I defend them like I'ma watch dog! They have too much meaning to me. One box every few months and I pulll some card with a 1:96 chance back in 1997, that was huuuuuge! And especially because I did no internet stuff, and no trading with anyone, and no selling......well.......that is all gone. I am ever so close to never trading again, just buying. I don not want to be the proverbial "car sales person" who constantly has beautys passing through; those cars were never yours!!!!!!!
Same with cards, keep the dam things and savor them, hold them and kiss them and squeeze them :)

I miss opening a box and savoring each and every card like gold.

The internet certainly changed the face of the hobby. Remember how ridiculously hard it was to pull a Pro Line Auto when they first came on. It took 3 years before I even knew of someone that had pulled one in person. Now you can get them on ebay for .50 if you are willing to pay the $3 shipping charge.

I kept most of my pulls from when I was a kid in a separate box because I can remember how I acquired every single one of them. I can't tell you how I acquired 90% of my player and team collections.

Here in Australia it is not easy to collect ...as we do not have cards shops anymore "The fad of collecting is gone"

so I must buy everything from USA or exchange with members of forum
but the price of handling and postage make sometimes very difficult

Well my story goes something linke this

There was a guy that sold 100 cards for $1 at the local flea market (I know now its the 80's stuff) but back when I was a kid it was awesome to get a Cardinal in the pack. And I would always collect the Cardinals, and kind of toss the others aside.

I got hooked on autographs quickly, and that was (and still is mostly) the main focus of my collecting. I ended up getting a Scott Rolen GU card from someone on here, and I was hooked on GU ever since.

By the way, if you have any Sterling HItchcock cards FT, I'll take em off your hands. ;)