Collect what you love, don't chase the money!

    Card collecting is a hobby and an obsession for many throughout the world. The idea that you can own part of a game that you love, brings joy to people of all ages and all backgrounds. It goes back to the days of getting your favorite player just so that you can brag to the neighborhood. It goes back to a time when that Mickey Mantle card made the sweetest sound in the spokes of your bicycle. No one was looking to preserve that piece of cardboard for future monetary gain, it was about the enjoyment of trading with friends and enjoying the successes of your heroes on that piece of cardboard.

    Card collecting today is a funny combination of chasing the next thousand dollar hit and trying to predict the next unknown player that will become Tom Brady. This is of course just my observation, based on the types of products being sold today. I am sure there are still many in the hobby that enjoy the thrill of opening packs and are content to settle for a 19.99 blaster box from Target or Wal-Mart. I struggle with the new generation of products that provide 3 cards per box at a rate of $500 per box. While this is my attempt at an exaggeration, it is not far from the truth. I am not against these types of products or the people that purchase them. I just know they are not for me. I want to open packs, sort cards, and build sets. I want to have a collection that includes a variety of types and doesn't require the need to handle with white gloves. I want to have doubles of cards that my kids can trade, destroy, and enjoy without fear of losing thousands of dollars.

    My wife and I were talking the other day and we decided that we would start using our wedding china for regular meals. The idea came to after watching little house on the prairie. Why have something that has a useful purpose and not use it. I want my collecting of cards to be used similarly. I want my kids to thumb through the books of cards looking for their favorite player, I want to display cards that are different or rare. I want my collection to be out in the open instead of in closet or safe hoping that some day I will have a small fortune in cardboard. That is not why I enjoy the hobby.

    Again these are just one man's thoughts on the matter and I don't have any expectations for my views. I just want to share my opinion and encourage anyone else that loves the hobby to, Collect what you love, don't chase the money.

Thank you for reading

Bubba