A New Begining, A Welcome Back to the Hobby Project

[Topps A+G]

I know, it's been like, a bazillion years!

6 Months ago, I lost my intrest in the hobby. I had 1000's of base cards and unwanted autographs (Remember the 2006 UD Stars case break?) lying in 2 houses. I know many people who've have had this happen to them. It just part of collecting. Slowly, but surely, I am creeping my way back into into the hobby. I just got so angry with the whole thing, no more UD, everything. I used to buy boxes and packs like crazy, and I missed the point of the hobby, to enjoy collecting. I believe that I lost intrest because I was sick of opening many boxes of cards and getting nothing.

Howver, I am going try again, fresh, and for my project, I am going to Target and Wal-Mart a few times a week, I hope, and spend $8 a visit. Companies are unvieling brand new ways to lure set collectors and kids back to the hobby, but I'm going to try myself to see how easy it really is to use of the hobby for what is was really meant for. Enjoyment.

So, I'm going to have a temporary 60 day blog doing things must collectors would sneer at. It's going to start Wednsday, as I go to K-Mart with eight greenbacks.

That's my speeh. on another note, I may be going to the nationals.

Day 1, 6/15- Prospecting, the hype it delivers, the cash it eats

I'm going to Kmart tomorrow, and I was personally planning to get some 2010 Bowman. That is, until I saw the prices. $7.50 for a pack of retail baseball cards. I know it's because of all the Strasburgs, but seriously. If you are trying to crateer towards low end collectors, why would you do that? It is beyond me. Thats brings me to something else that is very destirbing. When you can buy 8 Babe Ruth Signed Baseballs for the price of the 1/1 Steven Strasburg auto on ebay, you have to wonder about the intelligence of the hobby. If this guy flops, I'm going to laugh at the people who buy his base cards for $75 dollars each. My last point is, is that all becuase a card is serial numbered, in other words, a super-duper colered border, means it will go for $30k dollars instead of 500. "Oh, but it's a one of one!" Oh really? It just looks like a regular autograph card with a red border, and that's exactly what it is.

Day 2, 6/16- K-Mart Break!
Alright, so I went to K-mart, and bought 8 dollars worth of cards, I bought:

2 Packs of 2010 Topps, Series 2
1 Pack of 2009 UD Spectrum
1 Pack of 2010 UD
$10.25 if you include a $1.25 Mountain Dew ;)

Alright, thoughts!

2009 UD Spectrum- Man, UD is really bad at retail. They are trying to crateer towards retail, but they are selling Spectrum? Excuse me, but that isn't something kids would buy. First kids buy what they know, and spectrum isn't one of them. It's unoriginal and stupid. But I get a pack anyways, just for kicks. Holy crap. Alright, first, you get 5 base cards. 5. I know, you don't even see that in a hobby store, and if you do, atleast you get a good chance at an autograph or something. Also, there are dings on all five cards, in the lower right corner, the size or Manny Remerez's ego. I'm sorry UD, you fail.

2010 Upper Deck- I never got the chance to look at this year's Upper Deck flagship, but man, for not having a licence, it looks a lot like last years. I also see why the lawsuit happned. There are logos everywhere, I'm surprised they actually passed it. Beside all this though, it's still pretty good, best value out of the three, around 30 cards for $2, I appluad you, UD.

2010 Topps- My, this is a very good product this year for topps, I like the million dollar giveaway, very appealing to other folks, desgin is great and I got a replica od thr 1968 Topps card game thing. I think that is very appealing to the type of people who buy this stuff. Of course, no hits, but I think Topps has the best prodect overall.

Summary: I think that for the most part, the hobby is doing a decent job at making a person buy sportscards, but I think more should still be done. For example, you need to be selling at more places, Target should be enough. Another thing, is that there were about 20 different prodects on the shelf, I mean, that would turn away many people, there should be 5, max. I'm Andrew, and I approve this message.

Also, there will be a Wal-Mart break this weekend.

Day 9, 6/23
Okay, I lied. No break, but I found something else worth yelling about. Hoooooooooly Crap. Few things. First, everybody saw the BGS 9.5 of the Super Fractor? This was a total crap fest, the corners were dinged, the edges are trashed, and it is horribly centered. You know Beckett did this for Publicity, just look at the youtube video they made, there were three guys talking about why the card was "Solid". I'm surprised they all didn't crap there pants half way through, it's unbelievable. Thi is why I left the hobby, it's stuff like this. Even worse, I ask you a question. What did you guess the final price for the red border 1/1 auto card of Strasburg? 30k? 40k? Let me ask you this. Would you rather have a $100,000 Mercedes, or a "OMG™™™BBQ" 1/1 autograph of a guy who hasn't even pitched 5 starts. There are many good things and bad things about this. First, I think most of these bids are fake. No way people are that stupid, unless....they are. Good however, that as Sportscardsuncensored.com, has said, one the hype machine goes, it's good for the hobby. (Also, that is a great blog, I would recommend it to all of you.) However as a rare 15 year old in this hobby, I see why kids don't do this stuff, they want cards, no bullcrap.

There is going to be a question of the day now on, post your answer.

Day 13, 6/27
Double digits now, and I have a ton to talk about. However, I don't really feel like typing right now, so this will probably be short. Alright, I had a bunch of my buddies, over, and I had my Mt. Everest size of cards in a bunch of boxes, with some sleaves, toploaders, and team bags, not to mention a crap load of Jersey Cards and Autographs. Well, one of my friends, 15, has a brother who's 12. Also, I had another friend over, who is friends with the other too; also 15, over. Now, the 12 year old, Let's call him Joey. The 15 year old, let's call him Jared. Now, they apparantly thought this was the coolest thing ever, because they wanted to go to the K-Mart a mile away and buy some cards, so, I gave them a few toploaders and sleaves that night. In the morning, I sayed up until 3 in the morning talking to them about everything in the hobby, and about this site. (If you see a kid named Camo788, that's his Gamertag and possible SCF member.) So, we went to Kmart in the morning, I bought a Mountain Dew (Trend?) and a Rockstar Can (Gotta stock up), and I sat there with them for an hour telling them what's what. They were very confused on what was what, even though I spend awhile talking to them before. These are the points I am trying to make here, it just too complicated for a kid to collect sportscards without knowing what's what, however, I must have been explaining well, because they still want to collect. Since I believe that we should buy from hobby shops instead of on the internet because if they are not overpriced, I plan on going back to my favorite hobby shop for the first time in 8 months. Alright, that wasn't short, but I think you get the point I'm trying to make here. Moral of the story, you can only get new dedicated collectors by having a dedicated collector teach them.


Day 22, 7/5
I'm sorry I was gone, away for July 4th. I just wanted your opinion on the new Allen+Ginter high end stuff. I think that this the thing that kills brand. Allen+Ginter was always about only a few hits, but a really good set and cards. Now, that is the kind of thing the hobby needs. However, with Strasburg, full name plates, it's becoming about the hit again. Already, you can see that the price is going out of hand quickly. Like, 1000's or greenbacks, and it's stupid.

Day 32, 7/16
BREAK!

I know you guys wanted a break, so I'm broke a retail blaster of this year's Ginter. Turns out that it's a pretty good product for a starting collector, my friends liked it, and me too wanted more in the end:
2 Blasters: $20 on sale

2 Jerseys (Adam Dunn, Ryan Braun)
Bazooka Mini
2 Strasburg Rookies

Overall a pretty goof blasters. I think that this break changed my mind about this whole thing. This is a good product that shouls be in retail startes. Value, good set, and a low price.

On another note, get ready for video breaks from me!

Day 37, 7/21-
There really isn't much to talk about, but I should update this more. So, Topps Triple Threads Football just got previews, and they look exactly the same from 2009, which look exactly like 2008, and so on. If Topps fails on anything, it's high end. No only this, but Sterling just got previews, and it's the same. Sticker autos, and they advertize the heck out of the 0.00000022% that are worth more than $50. What do you people think?

Day 42, 7/26-
Does anybody care about this blog? If, so, leave a comment saying you do. I'm just frustrated over the hobby. This time of year is supposed to be great. Training Camp, MLB is heating up, and the best cardsa usually come out now. But, there is nothing, so to speak. Football is lousy, Panini is making bazillions of products, and everybody has nothing to collect. Come to think of it, the Nationals in Baltamore is coming up soon,. but there is really nothing that exciting. I hope somebody can pull something together, but if they can't 2010 is looking to be one of the worst sports card years in the modern era. Anyone else think so?

[twinsfan48]

good for u...I agree with u about focusing on the enjoyment outta da hobby. I got too interested in the nitty gritty details and lost track of that this hobby is designed for fun and for me to enjoy it.

hope all goes well in your return!

[Topps A+G]

Thank you! I'm glad people understand.

[Djarum]

Best of luck and can't wait to read how it goes. Also, welcome back. I have traded with you several times so I look forward to many more !

Dale

[Topps A+G]

Thoughts on prosects posted.

[Care4Card]

Best of luck. We often forget the fun part and it's a shame.

[Boondox_Saint]

I like your idea of a 60 day blog. I also agree that the Strasburg thing is getting out of hand. Retail packs for 7.50? screw that lol.

Not a big baseball fan, atleast collecting and tv watching wise, but I have decided to go to either a home game or a Braves game so i can watch him pitch sometime before the all-star break.

[spuds1961]

Glad to see you making a comeback,I usually only buy from walmarts,fred's and targets as I can get alot of cards at a fraction of the cost of hobby,sure the odds of pulling something great are tougher but you don't feel as bad spending 9.99 on a 1/2 price blaster.

[Topps A+G]

Alright, Break 1 up!

[Topps A+G]

bump