When I was a kid, Sports cards were king. Everyone I knew collected them. Baseball cards were my particular passion. My father, my brother, and I all had collections. I remember the joy of opening a pack and finding a Barry Bonds rookie card or perhaps a cool insert! I remember going to the big card shows and standing in line for hours to get an autograph from big stars. One of the best memories I have from those years was getting to meet Brooks "The Human Vacuum" Robinson. We had been in line for a long time, but when we finally got to the front, it was well worth it. Mr Robinson picked me up and put me in his lap and signed my card (keep in mind I was about four years old). I would never forget it and I still have the card to prove it!
Little did I know at that young age that almost all of the cards I collected during the late 80s and early 90s would be rendered next to worthless by mass production. There are certainly some cards that escaped this phenomena and a few of the graded rookies are worth good money (read Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck Rookie - upwards of $900 when graded 10/10).
Still, there are many medium level products that can be purchased by the box for around $100. 2009 Upper Deck Sp Authentic Football was just released and is producing some very good pulls for a $115 hobby box. 2009 Upper Deck Sweet Spot was one of the hottest releases of the year because every pack contained a hit. The box was around $100 and you got at least 2 autographs, 3 memorabilia cards, and one sweet spot signature (which could be a piece of a ball, bat, or glove).
Eventually collectors began to see that their investments were not paying off and the hobby nearly died. Companies like Pinnacle were absorbed into larger ones like Donruss until there were really only 3 major companies: Paninni/Playoff/Donruss, Upper Deck, and Topps.
Over the last ten years, the Sports card hobby has seen a comeback. Innovative card types like serial numbered short prints, jersey swatches, and autographs have made their way into a lot of packs. The card companies have discovered how to limit their production runs and create multiple tiers of products. Younger collectors can still buy a pack for $1.99, while older collectors with deeper pockets can splurge on some of the high end releases. The downside is of course that some of these high end sets are very, VERY expensive. The recently released Playoff National Treasures costs an average of $350 for one pack of eight cards. The trade off is lots of big name players from throughout the history of sports are appearing in these packs. Some are hand signed and other rarer cards include cut signatures from legends like Babe Ruth, Cy young, Etc.
These innovations have really spurred a renewed interest in the hobby, especially from those who can afford the higher priced sets. There is definitely an element of gambling in this hobby, but your chances of getting your moneys worth are pretty good (far better than Vegas, I would imagine). A lot of collectors are asking what is the next step for the card companies. What new innovations will keep the momentum going? For my part, I think the hobby is currently stronger than ever. It has certainly reignited my interest in collecting and selling. The Tabletop Shop has a lot of cards to sell from a variety of years, so if you are interested in a particular player or release, please email me at thetabletopshop@gmail.com. You can also check out the cards we have for sale on Ebay http://sports-cards.shop.ebay.com/Cards-/212/i.html?_catref=1&_fln=1&_ipg=&_ssn=imp4337&_trksid=p3911.c0.m282
As always, if you are looking to buy or sell something else, you can send your want/sale lists to thetabletopshop@gmail.com to be added to our lists. We just ask that you include a price range you are willing to pay or sell for.
Thanks for reading and remember always let your curiosity get the better of you!
The Curious Collector.
