My collecting story anyone got a similar

[K9rocco]

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?

[BCUS28]

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.

[K9rocco]

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.

[FOOL_TOO]

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

[Stl_Cardinals_Fan]

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. ;)