Card shop trip

Bonus babies or cameo cards

You walk into a card shop and wish you can pick up unopened packs or boxes, maybe some singles - but then some times you get 'sticker shock' and decide you'd better be thinking about picking up something else.

Broken bat shots

Besides, there used to be this great site called Ebay, where at time, you can pick up some cards, but I digress - I must be a luddite because I don't actively use my PayPal account and Ebay has mandated sellers to do paperless transactions.

You are a little unsure if it is worth it just to go through a particular baseball card shop's common boxes, but part of the pilgrimage is digging through the commons boxes - I don't feel bad about putting some money into finding and picking up cards because I believe, I'm not spending some money to pick up cards of no value to me [at the very least].

Awesome action

I went through several monster boxes of commons and was able to get through parts of five different, random years - 2008, 2007, 2006, 2001 and 1997.

I ended up spending $20 to pick up 200 assorted cards from the commons bin - to add to my various 'personal' sets.

I had typed up a 'wantlist' I'd made up for the trip, but who organizes wantlists for collecting topic cards and various base cards [?] - these are my sets however. I don't collect to complete a set, but by the randomness of finding qualities among typically common cards.

Sometimes there is confusion with individual cards you have to think about - the most obvious cards I collect are image related and a bulk of my collecting topics cards consist of such cards.

If you do see a card that fits into one of the collecting topic classifications you are looking for, you need to grab it - I don't think any card is difficult to find, but there are so many card sets released each year. How do you find the ones you don't see because they were printed 10-15 years ago? It isn't a matter of scarcity or value, but just physically finding the cards in-hand when they are probably in mothballs.

Tools of ignorance

I'm admittedly anal about picking up the right number of cards and choosing different cards - but I ended up with doubles of some cards and later found I already had some cards I had picked up. I guess I get so excited at times to pick up as many cards as I can and I'm just not sure whether I have a particular card already.

Awesome outfield action

I hear checklists may help sort things out, but for as long as I've considered myself as a collector - I still need to figure how to be a 'nerd' and use a checklist for my benefit.

Trying to keep things in play

I'm organizing card images of collecting topics cards - either scanned or collected online. I figure I have a better idea of why I want a particular card, when I know what it looks like.

I am also trying to create an informal wantlist of collecting topic cards - so I have something in-hand when I'm hunting down cards at a more organized venue i.e. a 'baseball card shop' as opposed to a card show, where different booths may have different cards scattered about.

There are no misconception about the value of these cards - most collecting topics cards are found in the commons bin. I pick them up for my amusement, so I get involved as a card collector, when there is really no consideration for anything but value these days.

There are probably lots of cards I still need from various mass-produced sets from 1987-1993 - instead of looking for individual cards, what I may do is buy complete sets [probably $10 or less] of products like 1987 Topps, 1991-1993Upper Deck, 1992 Donruss, et al.

As I look to add more cards from these sets - I realize it isn't worth picking up individual cards if all of them are worth 1/2 a nickel each. However nostalgia kicks in and part of me wants to have complete sets of cards from my formative collecting days.

On the other hand, picking up junk sets and looking for those commons to fill holes as far as collecting topics cards are concerned seems pointless - unless I literally stumble into particular cards from various 1987-1993 sets.

Collecting topics cards

Infamous - a tragic figure perhaps

Awesome action - The Human Vacuum Cleaner

Awesome action - making a Web Gem

Inking it up - obliging the fans

Awesome action - dirt is the name of the game

Cards like these is what makes up a bulk of my 'active thinking' collection - cards picked up here and there, not worth much at all, but are always guaranteed to make me smile and/or think a little deeper.

I've been getting back into collecting topics and database work - maybe it is the most cost-effective, yet interesting way to collect sports cards [though baseball is still the only one I actively collect] if you are on the sidelines as far as busting new product or picking up new singles.

I sort these cards out pack-war style - using unique collecting topics classifications, which may not be original, but ones I've adopted them for my own collecting use. I only store these cards in boxes, but it is a moral victory to see cards featuring the same theme, coming to life.

I look through the diversity, the numbers and enjoy rank-and-file cards and what they now represent - besides just the thousands of base cards I have no use for.

Any card maybe a collecting topic card and the idea almost no card is a common in my eyes is something challenging - but also encourages me to collect something, without resorting to having to pick up something like 7th Inning Stench repack boxes at my local retail store.

Trading card reflections

I'm afraid I'm suffering from a 'trading card coma -' where I can't get excited about stacks of cards I already have no use for.


I get excited to buy cards here and there but sometimes I get disconnected from trading card endeavors - busting a few packs, maybe a blaster, maybe buying some singles may signal I'm still a collector and I'm going to be here in the long run.


At times, I get so excited about a stack of commons I dug out card by card - only to realize it is all crap.

Every other 'break' of something just adds to the misery - seeing cards pile up makes me think twice.


On the other hand, I tend to think everything has a caveat and I tend to realize nothing matters - most of my collecting endeavors are impulsively based on simplistic means [i.e. like picking up common cards to get randomly autographed]. I don't know if there is a bigger picture for me to pursue and while I know it is just isn't true, my earth is flat.

You visit blogs, forums and you want to be like everyone else, but who in real life shares your delight [?] - I am more like a pack rat instead of a dedicated collector.


What do I do with all my stuff? If I was such a great collector, every I pick up has both a place and a purpose - unfortunately it seems my collections are a little fractured.

Various purchases here and there in my room, but nothing every showcased into a particular theme - I think I talk a good game about collecting cards, but do I take a moment to seriously blog about my endeavors? Do I show the world what I'm doing, in a positive way?

For the most part, I'm not as attached to the hip to strictly collecting cards here and there - my interest tends to wane and I just get a little frustrated because my enthusiasm for collecting is just for show.

I have to find a way to make collecting fun again - where I'm not grousing about excessive stacks of cards I can't deal with and other dysfunctions related to my collecting endeavors.

Personal collecting notes

I'd like to pick up some cheap, unique oddball cards and inserts - but then can I pick up [and possibly blog about] that is still somewhat unique? Everyone else has done, the 'random stack of unique crap I found decaying in my closet' post. I want to do the same, but I feel like I've never had a surplus of unique [often discarded and after all these years, still worthless] cards.

Sampler runs - I've got an Upper Deck 'sampler set' I put together featuring a card from 1989-2008. I need to 'revamp' the Topps and Fleer/update Donruss versions of the 'sampler set' because I don't like the cards I pulled. Maybe I could do other sets i.e. modern Bowman [1989-2008?], Topps Heritage, et al.

Basic goals [?] - trying to scratch various itches?
1.) Pick up five graded rookie cards of sporting greats - 1975 Topps George Brett, 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson, 1981 Topps Joe Montana, 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn and 1984 Topps John Elway.
2.) Pick up three PSA graded vintage Angels' cards - my 1961-1980 'collection.'
3.) Pick up five or six vintage cards - ungraded, in vg-ex to ex condition, on the cheap. I'd like to make up a 'list' of 10-15 cards, but for me, it has to have some sort of theme. A 'collecting ideal' is not a theme.

Sample
1962 Topps Banks
1973 Topps Marichal

6.) Lou Gehrig jersey or worn material card - Donruss Americana?
7.) Pick up 10 relic cards - the Joe Collector in me thinks there is still some meaning here, though I have to be picky or just get them for about $2. Maybe look for ones featuring retired, Hall of Fame players and 'swatch pieces' seemingly in-line with the uniforms the players wore as active players.
8.) Pick up 10-15 refractor type parallel cards - I love shiny cards and in some cases make a base card prettier.

Inking it up - signing for a crowd of fans

Awesome action - the glare

Bonus babies - cameo of a non-common player on a common player's card

Awesome action - posing with the team mascot

Shades - wearing sunglasses

Collecting topics - finding common cards featuring something extra is gratifying when you see the cards coming together as you organize them. It takes a discerning eye to find them, but when you put the cards together, they are no longer just random commons to be discarded in the round file.

A.) Integrate cards into database - maybe work on one or two collecting topics each day, depending on the 'workload.'

B.) Scan some highlights and other stuff - gives you a perspective on what it is you are tying to collect instead of merely just feeling you are hoarding random cards.

Retro uniforms - old school Chicago Cubs

C.) Cards showing similar actions - while I'd rather have cards in their special topics arranged in ABC order, it maybe more interesting to put together cards [within a specific topic] picturing similar images: putting together the cards featuring players turning double plays or putting together the cards featuring plays at the plate. It adds one more wrinkle, but it makes the particular topics mean more.

Tools of ignorance - looking for a foul pop-up

D.) Cards you need - scour the net for images of cards, so at least you know a card is 'out there' and put cards you need in your database. You can generate a 'want list' and if you find the card, it is easier just to change the 'status,' instead of having to fill in the other particulars.

Inking it up - signing autographs

E.) How many is enough [?] - since there is no official collecting topics checklist, the standards for apparent completion isn't as rigid, but there always seems to be cards popping up here and there.

Awesome action - getting work in at spring training

F.) New collecting topics - the whole idea of collecting topics is not my own and I'm always looking for new ideas to build upon.