What If............?

[SkyFire47]

the hobby can never go back to the way it was. we can all dream of the "good ole days" but they're gone. the hobby's evolved. every time a new innovation is brought up, we've moved forward. first it was simply hologram on the back of the card, then better card stock, the foil cards, die cut, embossed, autographed, game jersey, patch, etc...

take out all the high end right now and people will just focus on the products that are already out and the stuff they can get on ebay. it wouldn't change any of the stuff that's already out and available. why would a kid start collecting and hope to hit an ultra rare game jersey card when his dad can get one on ebay for under $5.

[HammerHawks]

If all that happened:
1. All the fake flavor of the day collectors would go by-bye
2. The "collectors" only in the hobby for money would go bye-bye
3. Collecting would be more fun, without the emphasis on BV, and high-end autos/gu

+1

I would actually like to see a combo of today and the 90's.

Maybe 2 or 3 jerseys per case, a patch per case, 2 or 3 autos per case...stuff like this.

That way, wax could be more affordable, and those hits would be worth more. It would be easier on the companies as well, as they would not need as many jerseys. The players would appreciate it as well, as they would have to sign a fraction of the autos.

For example:

Have 20 boxes in a case. You would get 4 single-player memorabilia cards (at least one patch), 2 single-player autographs, one multi-player memorabilia card (anything from 2 to 6 players), one multi-player autograph (anything from 2 to 8 autos), 4 auto RCs /199, and one auto jersey RC /99.

The multi-mem and auto jersey RCs can be patches as a parallel, maybe the RC parallel /10?

I would LOVE to see something like this, I have never broken a case of any kind before...if this was the setup and the price was reasonable, I would probably buy one.

[mugatu471]

If that did happen, cards that were produced in the past few years I feel would increase a lot in value..I'd prefer it if it were the good 'ol days when I was a kid and actually appreciated a base card.

[gagnerfan89]

It's usually the new types just breaking into hockey who can't stick to one darn collecting focus. Or the hockey collectors who every year try and collect the next big rookie and when they don't pan out, they dump everything and try with next year's crop. Makes me chuckle.

I don't see the problem with this... people need to try different players to find out who they like collecting... did you come into this hobby just to collect Rob Blake? i know i went through 2 or 3 players before i found Mueller which i have been collecting for a year and i have sunk to much money to just give him up like others do..

[gagnerfan89]

If that did happen, cards that were produced in the past few years I feel would increase a lot in value..I'd prefer it if it were the good 'ol days when I was a kid and actually appreciated a base card.

sure you want that know but think about it... if they went back to the "good 'ol days" i am sure everyone would want patches and all that back cause you would realize what an asset they are to the hobby... i would rather have a jersey/patch/etc... in my collection then base cards and shiny inserts from a $.25 cent pack...

[Prime B]

I don't see the problem with this... people need to try different players to find out who they like collecting... did you come into this hobby just to collect Rob Blake? i know i went through 2 or 3 players before i found Mueller which i have been collecting for a year and i have sunk to much money to just give him up like others do..

I always thought you collect a player based on his on-ice performance, following the way the player plays and then extending that passion into the cards........?????

So what you're saying here is you collect cards of a guy and if you don't like the cards of the player you go another route? That is a pretty interesting view of how to collect? It sounds like a thinly-veiled way of what I alluded to, basically inferring "this player is a scrub-™™™ bum and worthless so I am going to take a stab at new guy who might pan out."

And you just lost all credibility with the statement, you "sunk too much money into Mueller to give up now". Another person with dollar signs, not passion.

I probably have sunk more money into Rob Blake then 90% of the Crosby collectors out there, no joke, and it has zero bearing on my PC. It didn't matter 20 years ago or 2 years ago how much money I have invested in anything.

And no, I didn't get into this hobby to just collect Rob Blake, I got in just buying packs of cards when there was 2 choices: Topps and OPC. At that time I wouldn't say focusing on one player was tough when even TGO only has about 20 cards MAX a year with his league leader and award winner cards in OPC.

That said, when I eventually DID choose a player PC to focus on it was Rob Blake and I stuck with it for 2 decades.

What have you been doing the past 20 years in this hobby? And right now you're indirectly calling me out? Ridiculous and laughable.

Seriously, please put your hand down, school's in session.

[Phoenix]

Two things that are of little matter on your deathbed...hockey cards and money. Memories on the other hand....

[gagnerfan89]

What have you been doing the past 20 years in this hobby? And right now you're indirectly calling me out? Ridiculous and laughable.

Seriously, please put your hand down, school's in session.

i wasn't Born 20 years ago so that should answer that question for you...

haha i like that last statement

[fdp79]

What if... there was no more high end (ie..Cup,Black,OPCP) produced?
i enjoy a nice high end piece just like anyone else but there was only topps and opc when i started collecting..i doubt things will ever go back to that but the hobby was a hobby back then

What if... card company's only inserted 1 game used or auto per case?
i remember those days as well and if the companys lowered the cost of the box to reflect this change then so be it

What if...collecting went back to the way it was 10+ years ago?
why not take it back 20 years....i dont see things going that route with all the money to be made things have got a little out of hand anyways...going a little in the direction of old school may actually be a good thing for the hobby

What if...all boxes cost less then $75 us?
when i started collecting boxes with 36 packs cost around $8 (for the whole box)

What if...there were no short printed rookies?
there was no such thing when i started collecting....this only started about 20 years ago...imagine every set that came out was like victory or opc minus the inserts, parallels, gud, and autos...

Just wondering how many less collectors there would be if these things were true.
i could honestly say i would still be around....25 years in the hobby and still going....now the younger generation and those after a buck may have a quick reality check...kinda like having to get up to change the channel on the tv for now on....a change but nothing i didnt used to do all the time

[Nairb06]

Love this!

I have to admit, I remember when the hobby was much more fun.

Now everyone is so hell bent on owning Crosby this, AO that.

And the flavor of the day collectors? Holy smokes I cannot tell you in just the past 5 or so years how many of these I have seen!

It's usually the new types just breaking into hockey who can't stick to one darn collecting focus. Or the hockey collectors who every year try and collect the next big rookie and when they don't pan out, they dump everything and try with next year's crop. Makes me chuckle.

I honestly wonder some days if I'll ever see another person like myself who collects a player from the inception of their NHL career, is not high end player, a "dreaded" defenseman at that (Rob Blake), and sticks with the guy, start to finish for 2 decades should the player have that long a career.

Or even someone who starts collecting a player that is not initially perceived as a superstar but develops into one and sticks with them for the duration.

I am guessing no.

That said, each to their own, but this hobby has slowly gone into the proverbial crapper in the past 3 years or so because of a lot of the things mentioned.

Sad to see.

i like to sorta think im like that lol. I collect Cam Barker and was very mad when he got traded to the wild but im still sticking with him.

I just dont have the money to buy so much high end barker cards like u have of Blake lol.