sports collector
07-13-2009, 02:29 PM
This article will focus on super collecting in baseball.
"Super collecting" is when a collector (like you) decides to focus on one player or team to collect. The collector would attempt to collect every single card of that player that has ever been produced. This is very difficult. Collecting all of the 1/1's, autos, jersey cards, printing plates, rookie cards, and many more.
Popular players could have thousands of cards while other players could have as few as 20 cards. It matter about popularity, publication, and the ability of that player.
I thought Stephen Strasburg would be a great choice. Well he is young and has a bright future, what's wrong with that? Well for one thing his cards are rare (only 24 cards recognized by beckett). Because they are rare and he is expected to be in the bigs by the end of the 2009 season they are extremely expensive. On eBay, his autographed team USA rookie cards are going for around $600! I would never spend this much on cardboard but for a prospect, this is even more unheard of. Do not do this because if he is a bust, you will regret it.
Then I was thinking someone like Johan Santana. Established veteran and his stock could rise at any moment. One problem: Santana has over 4,700 cards. I'm sure with odd balls and low #'d cards that it's over 5,000. This would be less of a mistake and if he is your favorite player, than go for it. Just understand that you will probably (almost certainly) never come up with all those cards.
I have recently decided to super collect Colby Rasmus, rookie outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. I made the rookie mistake of attempting to super collect Stephen Strasburg. If you do this, do not worry. Even if you can get 10 cards and realize you can't afford anymore, sell those cards and take that money and spend it on a player you can afford.
Of course there is an issue of money. Somebody like Rasmus could cost a pretty penny to get his rookie auto. If money is no obligation than that’s great, you can buy, buy, and buy some more until you have a good percentage of a certain player’s cards. I don’t have an unlimited supply of money so I budget it. I buy mostly lower end cards and then buy a higher end every once in a while.
Another way to get around money is trading. I love trading, and I do it all the time. You can’t do this on eBay but you can trade on sites like Sportscardforum.com and many others.
Super collecting is a great way to fire up the kid inside you and have even more fun collecting.
Colby Rasmus is on my favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals. That aspect makes it even more fun to collect him. If you are a Tigers fan, go with Verlander or Porcello or someone like that. If the Royals float your boat, go with Greinke. If you want to just collect someone that will have higher stock in 5 years and you are planning on selling it anyway, go with a prospect like Rasmus or Tommy Hansen.
There are many different ways to enjoy collecting and super collecting is one of my favorites.
"Super collecting" is when a collector (like you) decides to focus on one player or team to collect. The collector would attempt to collect every single card of that player that has ever been produced. This is very difficult. Collecting all of the 1/1's, autos, jersey cards, printing plates, rookie cards, and many more.
Popular players could have thousands of cards while other players could have as few as 20 cards. It matter about popularity, publication, and the ability of that player.
I thought Stephen Strasburg would be a great choice. Well he is young and has a bright future, what's wrong with that? Well for one thing his cards are rare (only 24 cards recognized by beckett). Because they are rare and he is expected to be in the bigs by the end of the 2009 season they are extremely expensive. On eBay, his autographed team USA rookie cards are going for around $600! I would never spend this much on cardboard but for a prospect, this is even more unheard of. Do not do this because if he is a bust, you will regret it.
Then I was thinking someone like Johan Santana. Established veteran and his stock could rise at any moment. One problem: Santana has over 4,700 cards. I'm sure with odd balls and low #'d cards that it's over 5,000. This would be less of a mistake and if he is your favorite player, than go for it. Just understand that you will probably (almost certainly) never come up with all those cards.
I have recently decided to super collect Colby Rasmus, rookie outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. I made the rookie mistake of attempting to super collect Stephen Strasburg. If you do this, do not worry. Even if you can get 10 cards and realize you can't afford anymore, sell those cards and take that money and spend it on a player you can afford.
Of course there is an issue of money. Somebody like Rasmus could cost a pretty penny to get his rookie auto. If money is no obligation than that’s great, you can buy, buy, and buy some more until you have a good percentage of a certain player’s cards. I don’t have an unlimited supply of money so I budget it. I buy mostly lower end cards and then buy a higher end every once in a while.
Another way to get around money is trading. I love trading, and I do it all the time. You can’t do this on eBay but you can trade on sites like Sportscardforum.com and many others.
Super collecting is a great way to fire up the kid inside you and have even more fun collecting.
Colby Rasmus is on my favorite team, the St. Louis Cardinals. That aspect makes it even more fun to collect him. If you are a Tigers fan, go with Verlander or Porcello or someone like that. If the Royals float your boat, go with Greinke. If you want to just collect someone that will have higher stock in 5 years and you are planning on selling it anyway, go with a prospect like Rasmus or Tommy Hansen.
There are many different ways to enjoy collecting and super collecting is one of my favorites.