Any tips on someone looking to get into the hobby?

[pinchmebnl]

I'm a hockey collector and have been since I was a kid. Had a few baseball sets and cards here and there but it was never really my main focus. I really love baseball and with the NHL lockout hockey has been really slow. I've bought a box of Chrome and Finest and done a trade here plus bought a couple cards off ebay on a whim but nothing really more serious.

So yeah, basically the question in the title. Anything you can tell me about the state of baseball collecting? I really like breaking boxes. I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Mid-priced is best. I like big hits but also reasonable pricing. (surprising I know). How would you start of? Which product is your favourite to break?

[pwaldo]

My advice would be do you care about the players now or just looking for any baseball? Because you can get great boxes from 2005-2007 that are reduced that will contain more hits and possibility for big hits than you can with newer Topps boxes. Topps become the only licensed baseball card company in like 2010 (I think) and Topps isn't really known for big hits or multiple hits per box. They make great retro releases and prospect sets but something from 2005 Donruss may yield you more bang for your buck if you can find a box of it online.