Do you ever lose interest in a player collection?

[ffgameman]

I'm reaching that point now with my David Wright collection. I just don't have the same passion that I once did, especially with his last couple seasons.

My collection isn't huge, but consists of 170+ cards with several game-used and autographs. I'm considering trading off a little bit; I'll keep most base and inserts along with any cards I received as gifts. Even if I traded everything off except my personal favorites/gifts, I would be left with a decent stash. For example, these are the notables I would have left if I did decide to trade away/sell others:

2002 Bowman #381 RC
2005 Fleer Authentix Jersey Authentix Standing Room Only GU /10
2005 Fleer Patchworks 3-color patch /99
2005 Playoff Prime Cuts Century #45 /25
2005 Reflections Dual Signatures Red Reyes/Wright /99
2005 Sweet Spot Red/Blue Stitch autograph w/ Miguel Cabrera /15
2006 Allen and Ginter #357 EXT
2006 Finest #79
2006 Finest #79 blue x-fractor /150
2006 Finest #79 refractor /399
2007 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor #109 /558
2007 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor #66 /558
2007 Topps Triple Threads Relics Combos Double Mets/Braves /36
2010 Bowman Sterling Box Loaders Dual Relic gold refractor w/ Zimmerman /50 GU
2010 Topps Tribute Blue Triple GU/AU /75

Or, I could view this as slimming down my collection. For example, if I ever get the chance I would love to add the remaining refractors from the 2006 Finest set.

Does anyone else have this feeling/thought process occasionally?

 

[yankeesfan24]

that is what happened with my Cano collection back in 09. i just got bored and stopped haha

 

[Russ S.]

No.
Just time & $$$$.

 

[jszczech]

My Morneau collection has slowed down quite a bit in the last year. The only thing I have been picking up of his are 1/1's and auto's that I like. There is just too much out there for him and I would rather focus on picking up Puckett stuff.

 

[blanning71]

I totally understand what you're saying. Its tough today to stay focused and press on when its the same ole same ole stuff. I had that happen to me with Zimmerman.

 

[Zan]

I never got bored with my player collection. There was a point where I picked up another hobby that for some time took the place of baseball cards for me, but after a while I came back to it and I love collecting and pursuing the cards I want. When I find them, it's a very rewarding feeling. My suggestion is to set your goals high, and when you obtain the card you want, relish in it.

Good luck in the future.

Brian

 

[miguelcabrera]

I got a bit bored and stopped collecting for a couple months, but am just now getting back into it. To make things a little more interesting i have broadened my collection focus a little bit. Miggy will always be my main collection focus, but I am starting to collect some 90s inserts and a few other things as well.

 

[muskiesfan]

Yes, and this season has been the worst. I'm as big of an Adam Dunn fan as you'll find. I enjoy watching Dunn play as well as collecting him. I've followed his career since it began. I've always stuck up for Dunn and I've always tried to show the positives that he brings to a team. His pitiful performance this season is making it difficult though. I get tired of tuning in to White Sox games just to watch him strike out 3-4 times a game. I'm not a White Sox fan at all, but I watch to see how Dunn does. Of course, he hasn't been doing much of anything this year.

My frustrations over watching him play poorly are affecting my feelings to my collection. In no way am I going to sell it or anything like that, I'm just going to slow down with it for awhile. Focus on other collections and interests. Dunn will bounce back, hopefully this season. He'll still be my favorite current player, even when he's in a season long slump. So nothing really changes except that I won't pursue his cards as aggressively as I normally would. I'm sure in a few months, I'll be scouring everywhere and turning over ever stone to find what cards I need that I can afford again. It all goes in cycles.

I apologize for being long winded, but that's how this hobby has went for me. It's why I collect different sports and players and why I have different focuses in different areas. If something ever becomes boring or stale, I can focus more on something else for awhile. Guaranteed my interest will always come back to whatever I got bored with again.

 

[ffgameman]

Yes, and this season has been the worst. I'm as big of an Adam Dunn fan as you'll find. I enjoy watching Dunn play as well as collecting him. I've followed his career since it began. I've always stuck up for Dunn and I've always tried to show the positives that he brings to a team. His pitiful performance this season is making it difficult though. I get tired of tuning in to White Sox games just to watch him strike out 3-4 times a game. I'm not a White Sox fan at all, but I watch to see how Dunn does. Of course, he hasn't been doing much of anything this year.

My frustrations over watching him play poorly are affecting my feelings to my collection. In no way am I going to sell it or anything like that, I'm just going to slow down with it for awhile. Focus on other collections and interests. Dunn will bounce back, hopefully this season. He'll still be my favorite current player, even when he's in a season long slump. So nothing really changes except that I won't pursue his cards as aggressively as I normally would. I'm sure in a few months, I'll be scouring everywhere and turning over ever stone to find what cards I need that I can afford again. It all goes in cycles.

I apologize for being long winded, but that's how this hobby has went for me. It's why I collect different sports and players and why I have different focuses in different areas. If something ever becomes boring or stale, I can focus more on something else for awhile. Guaranteed my interest will always come back to whatever I got bored with again.

Your post sums up how I feel at times. I'm not a Mets fan, but like to check and see how Wright is doing.

I'm only considering this move because even if I do trade off several things, I will still have quite a few nice pieces left. I'm hoping that the cards I choose to let go of will help me add to my other collections (Mantle, Titans, etc).

 

[muskiesfan]

Your post sums up how I feel at times. I'm not a Mets fan, but like to check and see how Wright is doing.

I'm only considering this move because even if I do trade off several things, I will still have quite a few nice pieces left. I'm hoping that the cards I choose to let go of will help me add to my other collections (Mantle, Titans, etc).

That's understandable. I just wouldn't get rid of the entire collection. I'm not saying that's what your plan is, I'm just saying taking a couple of extra days to think about it wouldn't hurt.

Of course, if the other collections mean more to you/are more important to you, then definitely move some items you think will help those collections.

 

[brouthercard]

Start cracking wax, you'll learn to appreciate your player collection more.

 

[Zeeck]

I do all the time, in fact, to the point that I'm just refraining from starting them anymore, but rather just picking up key cards here and there of the guys that I would otherwise like to "collect"

 

[ffgameman]

Your post sums up how I feel at times. I'm not a Mets fan, but like to check and see how Wright is doing.

I'm only considering this move because even if I do trade off several things, I will still have quite a few nice pieces left. I'm hoping that the cards I choose to let go of will help me add to my other collections (Mantle, Titans, etc).

That's understandable. I just wouldn't get rid of the entire collection. I'm not saying that's what your plan is, I'm just saying taking a couple of extra days to think about it wouldn't hurt.

Of course, if the other collections mean more to you/are more important to you, then definitely move some items you think will help those collections.

Oh, I won't be getting rid of it all. The last pieces I would ever move are those that were gifts, and I have several of those in my Wright collection. At the very least, they won't be going anywhere.

brouthercard: cracking wax was actually what started my Wright collection. In 2005 I broke my first hobby boxes and hit two nice David Wright cards (Reflections Reyes/Wright autograph /99 and Fleer Authentix GU /10). I rarely buy singles. Every card I have in the collection (except for a patch) was either:

- traded for
- pulled
- received as a gift from another collector

 

[DaleMurphyCollector]

Nope. Never has and never will happen.

 

[markakis8]

My advice would be to sit on it for a while. Just stop collecting Wright for a bit, but don't trade or sell anything.

I sold every Brian Roberts card I had b/c I thought I needed the money more and I regret it every day.

I easily had the best Brian Roberts collection out there. I see all the 1/1's I had pop up on ebay from time to time and it just makes me sad

So again, if you are bored, put them away for a while and focus on something else, whatever it is. You might be thankful they are still sitting in your closet 2 years from now.

 

[smapdi]

My Frank Thomas collection has faltered tremendously in the last 5 years. I admit part of it was his lackluster performance, which was inevitable, but part of it was the changing teams and part of it was that I had been collecting him for 15 years and it was just about enough already. Now I keep up with his base cards and whatever is aesthetically pleasing and affordable, with a couple major pickups a year, though that's becoming tougher as his best stuff seems to become more and more expensive.

I'm still going strong with Sizemore but I missed 2 major cards in the last couple weeks and I'm all bummed out about it and it makes me wonder if I need to continue that dedication. Sometimes I think about giving it all up but I just don't know how to do that.

 

[miguelcabrera]

My advice would be to sit on it for a while. Just stop collecting Wright for a bit, but don't trade or sell anything.

I sold every Brian Roberts card I had b/c I thought I needed the money more and I regret it every day.

I easily had the best Brian Roberts collection out there. I see all the 1/1's I had pop up on ebay from time to time and it just makes me sad

So again, if you are bored, put them away for a while and focus on something else, whatever it is. You might be thankful they are still sitting in your closet 2 years from now.

did you have the super with the glove on his head? (06 bowman chrome maybe?)

 

[miguelcabrera]

My Frank Thomas collection has faltered tremendously in the last 5 years. I admit part of it was his lackluster performance, which was inevitable, but part of it was the changing teams and part of it was that I had been collecting him for 15 years and it was just about enough already. Now I keep up with his base cards and whatever is aesthetically pleasing and affordable, with a couple major pickups a year, though that's becoming tougher as his best stuff seems to become more and more expensive.

I'm still going strong with Sizemore but I missed 2 major cards in the last couple weeks and I'm all bummed out about it and it makes me wonder if I need to continue that dedication. Sometimes I think about giving it all up but I just don't know how to do that.

the canary 1/1?

 

[mlbfan10]

Yes, happened to me with Ryan Zimmerman. I got bored and sold for prices much lower because this was a few years after his hype in 2005-2006.

 

[WoundedDuck]

I've felt this way at times with my Upton collection. If I could see the future and I knew for 100% fact that he'd turn out to be the superstar I hope he becomes, I'd probably be fine. In fact I'd enjoy picking up stuff now while it's cheaper, but it's hard to go all out with worries that I'll end up with a large collection of a mediocre player if he doesn't continue to progress. I'm not a Diamondbacks fan, but I check their boxscore every day to see how Upton did. He's still very young and has the potential to keep going, I just hope he does. I started collecting him because, when I got back into collecting, he was the hot new #1 draft pick. He's got the sweetest looking swing in baseball in my opinion.

There is a part of me that wishes I'd have chosen one of my favorites as a kid that's now retired so I don't have to chase all the new releases (not that I can keep up with it anyway, even base since I don't want to pay for shipping base :? ) I've thought of starting a Randy Johnson collection since it would be easy to work on a little over time without getting buried further with every new release. His prices are reasonable and I could add big chunks in reasonable priced lots I think. He was one of my favorites and a sure fire HoFer. If I had more money I'd just collect them both.