How Do You Collect?

[MarkGL]

Obviously everyone keeps hold of the hits but what do you do with the rest? I have got four binders worth of base and inserts, do you keep certain players base cards and bin the rest?

Just interested to know because I think I need to have a good sort through my collection and get a system going, there is no real order to it at the moment lol.

[jack mooler1]

i collect by player. i personally like rookies and autos. i really dont care for base/inserts or gu/patches, only if they are special. that being said i have just as much autos as base

[tarheelsnipe]

I group them by year, then product. I can't afford binders for all cards. At one point in the early 2000's I had around 80,000 cards (my collection was a product of the early 90's market saturation). I donated a very large amt to charity so I'm down to around 15,000 or so. And honestly, that's too many. I'm looking to get down to under 10,000 or so total to save space.

[bballcards015]

I put all autograph, insert and parallel cards into top-loaders organized by year, then alphabetically by brand and name of sub-set.

I attempt to build complete sets of all base cards, and I package each set individually and label the year, brand and name of set.

I have separate three-ring binders for my player collections of Larry Bird and Michael Jordan cards. I also collect any Olympic and USA Basketball-related cards and place them into a three-ring binder by year and then brand.

Yes, I have OCD. But that's how I collect.

[garnett_21]

I keep everything - nothing has found it's way to my garbage can or the firepit, and nothing ever will. Whatever is not PC is for trade - as for how I sort - well, I have a trade box, where everything for trade (outside of base) goes. For my PC, my higher valued cards go in penny sleeves/top loaders, along with all my PC GU and autos...my PC base and cheaper cards are organized by yet & set in 9-pocket pages.

[matt24d1]

I usually just keep the auto's RC's and certain GU stuff unless it is a PC player then I keep it all. I usually ebay off my GU and Auto stuff in nice lots to get cash to pay for individual pieces to my PC. Doing it in a lot actually helps save on ebay fee's and makes it more appealing when selling. Good luck!!

[joeya2001]

I just collect 1 player, then everything is for trade or sale.

[matt24d1]

I just collect 1 player, then everything is for trade or sale.

That makes it much easier, LOL!!!! I collect 3 players so its not as easy but not as bad as some who PC like 5-6 players.

[cavsfan]

I just put mine by player.I have tried using the team thing but just doesnt work for me b/c players get traded and it just messes everything up. I only collect 2 guys and 2 color or more patches so everything else is for trade.I cant afford 2 sports if I could I think it would get alittle messy.LOL

[FlyersFan]

I put auto's, GU, and Lebron stuff in top loaders. If it is over $200 I put it in a magnetic snap tite. From my base and low end inserts I pull all the stars and put them in a box in case I run in to a player collector that needs them. All other base goes in to the 3,200 count boxes and on one end of my sportscard table. All Dayton Flyers cards also go in to top loaders (but luckly so far other than a few oddball cards these are all cards that were produced by the local National City / PNC bank).