How long have you been collecting?

[bobthewondercat77]

started 1986, first new release I remember was 87 topps. First show was in Rochester, NY. Collected with my friends, and the big highlight was finding my dad's (and HIS dad's) old collections in his old closet in Philly -- sweet 49 and 50 Bowmans (including Williams and Robinson) and 33 Goudeys (including a Gehrig). Loved sharing it with my dad, and my friends. I was hardcore into it until 10th grade (1992), then got really into music, girls, and bring weird on purpose and stopped for the rest of HS and college.

Year after I graduated college (2000) I found some local card shops where I was living at the time (Valencia, CA). Pulled a super script Ripken /25 from loose packs of 2000 UD MVP. Started getting really into it again to help structure my life, relax and fill time during those first difficult career-building years out of music school. I would drive to different shops and shows around Southern California on slow days and really explored the region doing that.

I'm a professional touring musician and university professor now with a wife and kid so there's not a ton of time for cards some years. This year we relocated from SoCal to New Orleans and there's no local shops or shows that are any fun to me, so I'm just doing message boards, COMC and some ebay. I downsized some for the move, but still have way way too much stuff.

 

[Dilferules]

I've been collecting since early 1988 (when I was 9) with no breaks at all, which looks like it's a rarity. Though from 1995-2000 I bought more football than baseball. I haven't bought a pack of any sport but baseball in about 10 years, except for those Topps Olympics cards.

 

[gt2590]

Since 1978 or 1979. In fact, I vividly remember getting the BK '79 Phillies packs.

But the earliest year I specifically remember buying packs myself is 1982. And the WW/KMart Topps MVP box set blew my mind! :lol:

Man am I old...

 

[djrulz]

Been collecting since birth. My parents would buy me cards every Christmas until I was old enough to understand what cards were. So from when I was 4 or 5 until today I have been into collecting heavy. Never taken a break. So it's been 30 years on my own and 4 years that my parents helped with when I was too young to understand about cards.

 

[Juan Gris]

When I was in kindergarten (believe this was 1992) I found a beat up card (1989 Lou Brock TBTC) under a bush while waiting to get on the school bus. Things escalated over the next 22 years, thousands upon thousands of cards came and went and that beat-to-hell card is still a priceless possession.

 

[trauty]

Started in 1980 at the age of 8. Have never stopped.

 

[Anthony K.]

Started in 89/90 with cartoon cards, then got into baseball cards around 92 after getting a giant book that showcased every 91 Tools or Donruss card, I can remember which.

I've collected ever since then, with busy periods and slow periods mixed in.

Sent from my VS870 4G using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[subject to change]

I started collecting in 1991, mostly just dad buying me a pack or two of cards when he would go to the gas station or something along those lines. I didn't really consider myself a collector as a kid - it was one of many things I enjoyed, but my parents would buy me a few packs of low end product (Collector's Choice, NBA Hoops, etc) when we were shopping, and occasionally indulge me with a trip to the LCS to dig through the dime boxes.

Around 1999 I became interested in Dan Marino after a neighbor gave me a signed football. I started my first real collection, going to shows and card stores in the area to try to pick up as many Marino cards as I could. In 2001 my interest in baseball really intensified, and I started collecting Jack Wilson. Since then I have consistently collected, though it has ebbed and flowed during high school, college, grad school, girls, etc.

 

[dano7]

Bought my first cards in late 1957, when I was almost 6, though mainly for the gum and I liked the logos on the cards. I really started collecting to work on sets in 1959.
DANNY

 

[r2d2]

I started buying packs of Topps 1999 when I was 10. Started focusing on Mexican players around 14-15

 

[cbrandtw]

November 16, 1981 my parents gave me a 1960 Topps Mickey Mantle #350 so I guess I just celebrated my 32nd anniversary of collecting

 

[ASTROBURN]

I collected a bit in 87, when i was in little league. Just a few handfuls of cards in a box. Didnt do much again until 94, after a trip to the Astrodome. Collected heavily alongside my friends, and around 98 slowed down. I had to. Too much product, and a lot of it got expensive. Sold a good portion of my collection to help fund my wedding. Moved to idaho in 02, almost sold all of my cards in the process. Luckily i didnt, and around 03 i started to get back into it. Scanned all my cards and started my website. Had kids, so my collecting funds dried up. Got cards when i could. Then we moved back to Santa Cruz a year and a half ago. Now Adding to my collection comes and goes in spurts. Just a few cards at a time. No room for big items anymore, so i stick to cards.

 

[Gonzaleznut]

1981

 

[jaydub]

Started out as a kid in the late 70s, first collected 1978 Topps. More or less stopped in 1986. Got back in for a bit in college in 89-91. Stopped again and got back into it in 2009.

 

[tonsofcommons]

I had a terrible asthma attack in 1993 that put me in the hospital. I had been buying card before that, but nothing too crazy, but my mom probably bought me 100 packs of 1993 upper deck and the 1993 Beckett Almanac to look them up while I was in the hospital. That is when the craze started for me. One of my favorite memories of my mother.

 

[moxacaine]

88/89 and have been collecting since. I remember playing poker with the neighborhood kids and winning a bunch of Chris Sabo's.

In little league, the Yankees were the best team and I couldn't stand them so I would always give my Yankees cards away. It's probably where my hatred of them was born.

I had a small local shop and would sit there for hours trying to figure out what I was going to spend my $5 weekly allowance on.

I busted 1991 score like it was going out of style. The big plastic packaged packs. I kept trying for a Juan Gonzalez hot rookies.

I miss how easy it was to collect back then.

Thanks for the good topic, it brought back a lot of good memories.

 

[MansGame]

88/89 and have been collecting since. I remember playing poker with the neighborhood kids and winning a bunch of Chris Sabo's.

In little league, the Yankees were the best team and I couldn't stand them so I would always give my Yankees cards away. It's probably where my hatred of them was born.

I had a small local shop and would sit there for hours trying to figure out what I was going to spend my $5 weekly allowance on.

I busted 1991 score like it was going out of style. The big plastic packaged packs. I kept trying for a Juan Gonzalez hot rookies.

I miss how easy it was to collect back then.

Thanks for the good topic, it brought back a lot of good memories.

God, the Yankees were the best team in my little league too! Why is that...

 

[TBTwinsFan]

I think it was 2001, since those are the first packs I remember opening.

I told the family that I wanted some Pokemon cards, and they shifted me over to baseball instead. I don't think they thought I would have been that into it.