Name something about this hobby you'll never understand

[Brewer Andy]

The fact that Minor League team issued sets are largely ignored. You have some teams that only produce 200 to 500 of these sets with many finding themselves in the garbage 10 years later.

Hmm, I like this one. Also given the fact that these "bush league" sets somehow manage to make a card for every player on the roster. Imagine that!

 

[smapdi]

I was trying to explain the idea of a "rookie card" to my girlfriend back when we started going out and she started getting interested in cards. Why is the rookie card worth disproportionately more than later cards? This has always bugged me, too, in a vague way. Going back to core principles and putting aside autographs, print runs, etc., like we're talking about 1980s Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. The first time a guy appears on cardboard is worth more than any other card? Even if he didn't actually play in the majors that year? If Mike Schmidt's RC appeared in 1973 and he stunk it up, wouldn't his 1974 card when he might've been MVP be the one to get? Besides, the 74 has him alone, not with a couple other shmoes (I know, Cey was all right, too), so that's really the first "Mike Schmidt" card, isn't it? Isn't the 1973 card like going to a party in 5th grade and saying the girl who kissed you playing spin-the-bottle is your girlfriend, even though you never talk to her again? And even if we accept the idea that the first card is the best card, why is the first card $300 while the second card is $1?

Then you get to today where guys have cards years, maybe even a decade before they reach the majors and that dumb logo gets slapped onto their cards and you have to argue with the people on facebook that a 2011 Mike Trout card is not his rookie card. Or even those 2015 Erik Cordiers, which have the logo, when he had cards in 2005 (and nowhere in between, apparently). And even then with modern cards, why is the Bowman Chrome autograph king? Topps might put out other cards that have the same intrinsic properties. Maybe another Bowman brand, maybe autographed, with the same print run or smaller, and they might be worth half as much? What sort of Joycean algebra is that?

 

[IndyManning18]

Foreign released cards like O-Pee-Chee or Italian Panini stuff. I'll never understand the languages printed on them.

 

[Hawk8]

I was trying to explain the idea of a "rookie card" to my girlfriend back when we started going out and she started getting interested in cards. Why is the rookie card worth disproportionately more than later cards? This has always bugged me, too, in a vague way. Going back to core principles and putting aside autographs, print runs, etc., like we're talking about 1980s Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. The first time a guy appears on cardboard is worth more than any other card? Even if he didn't actually play in the majors that year? If Mike Schmidt's RC appeared in 1973 and he stunk it up, wouldn't his 1974 card when he might've been MVP be the one to get? Besides, the 74 has him alone, not with a couple other shmoes (I know, Cey was all right, too), so that's really the first "Mike Schmidt" card, isn't it? Isn't the 1973 card like going to a party in 5th grade and saying the girl who kissed you playing spin-the-bottle is your girlfriend, even though you never talk to her again? And even if we accept the idea that the first card is the best card, why is the first card $300 while the second card is $1?

Then you get to today where guys have cards years, maybe even a decade before they reach the majors and that dumb logo gets slapped onto their cards and you have to argue with the people on facebook that a 2011 Mike Trout card is not his rookie card. Or even those 2015 Erik Cordiers, which have the logo, when he had cards in 2005 (and nowhere in between, apparently). And even then with modern cards, why is the Bowman Chrome autograph king? Topps might put out other cards that have the same intrinsic properties. Maybe another Bowman brand, maybe autographed, with the same print run or smaller, and they might be worth half as much? What sort of Joycean algebra is that?

love this

 

[RStadlerASU22]

Foreign released cards like O-Pee-Chee or Italian Panini stuff. I'll never understand the languages printed on them.

I think they are made up words on the back...

Ryan

 

[JEBJJA]

I'll never understand why a football card noted RC or Rookie Card on the card is legit but in baseball a RC on the card is not a RC when Topps makes Bowman/Chrome and has their 1st Bowman Card. This confuses collectors. I am teaching a couple of my son's friends about collecting since they just got into it and the one kid bought a Harvey Topps RC with RC on it and I had to explain to him that the Bowman and Bowman Chrome Harvey RC's are the RC's. He got shnookered at a card show and paid $5 for it and was told that was Harvey's RC but then he also bought a De Grom Topps RC and the RC on that card actually IS his RC because he didn't have an earlier RC....

 

[Golden Gopher]

I am brand new to this hobby and I am pretty astonished by some of the prices of the packs of these cards. I really thought this was a kids hobby. Boy was I wrong about that.

 

[IndyManning18]

I am brand new to this hobby and I am pretty astonished by some of the prices of the packs of these cards. I really thought this was a kids hobby. Boy was I wrong about that.

It hasn't been a kid's hobby for at least 15 years.

 

[Golden Gopher]

It hasn't been a kid's hobby for at least 15 years.

That is actually pretty sad. I myself spent $18.45 for my first ever Card and that was just one card. At least it was a certified Autograph and Patch Card though. I really like those.

 

[Brewer Andy]

That is actually pretty sad. I myself spent $18.45 for my first ever Card and that was just one card. At least it was a certified Autograph and Patch Card though. I really like those.

Which somewhat demonstrates the flip side. $18.45 for a professional athletes CERTIFIED signature is a bargain considering what you would be charged walking into any of the various retail "fan shops". So that's also something I don't completely understand; at current prices how are more people NOT collecting cards (especially veteran players)? I suppose there's such a disparity between costs of opening packs (the actual fun which is insanely expensive and has driven everyone away) vs. the value that comes out of the packs (98% almost nothing)

 

[Golden Gopher]

Which somewhat demonstrates the flip side. $18.45 for a professional athletes CERTIFIED signature is a bargain considering what you would be charged walking into any of the various retail "fan shops". So that's also something I don't completely understand; at current prices how are more people NOT collecting cards (especially veteran players)? I suppose there's such a disparity between costs of opening packs (the actual fun which is insanely expensive and has driven everyone away) vs. the value that comes out of the packs (98% almost nothing)

So $18.45 for an Auto/Patch Maxx Williams is pretty decent of a price? Also collecting rookies is more expensive you say then veterans. I don't fully understand that either. I would think a more established player would render a larger price tag because they have achieved more on the field than a rookie who really hasn't achieved anything by his Rookie year. I guess it is all hype on the Rookies and I also guess Rookies are much more hit and miss in collecting. Please shed some light on this as I am not really sure what I am saying is correct.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

So $18.45 for an Auto/Patch Maxx Williams is pretty decent of a price? Also collecting rookies is more expensive you say then veterans. I don't fully understand that either. I would think a more established player would render a larger price tag because they have achieved more on the field than a rookie who really hasn't achieved anything by his Rookie year. I guess it is all hype on the Rookies and I also guess Rookies are much more hit and miss in collecting. Please shed some light on this as I am not really sure what I am saying is correct.

Jeez, that's some logic huh? Check out baseball prospects, before they're n the majors cards can get crazzzzzzyyyyyyy expensive but u can pick up HOF autographs or rookie cards cheap. Don't waste your energy trying to find logic in this fine hobby. Its a lot of fun but rarely makes any sense

 

[Golden Gopher]

Jeez, that's some logic huh? Check out baseball prospects, before they're n the majors cards can get crazzzzzzyyyyyyy expensive but u can pick up HOF autographs or rookie cards cheap. Don't waste your energy trying to find logic in this fine hobby. Its a lot of fun but rarely makes any sense

That is great advice. I am actually in it for the fun. I just thought it would be pretty cool to collect cards from a NFL Athlete that not only was drafted by the team I cheer for, but also went to the same college I am going to graduate from next year.

 

[David K.]

People who buy cards for crazy prices....then won't sell it to you.....because they brought for $$$...and the card is only worth what u offered for it!! Best regards, David

 

[AnthonyCorona]

That is great advice. I am actually in it for the fun. I just thought it would be pretty cool to collect cards from a NFL Athlete that not only was drafted by the team I cheer for, but also went to the same college I am going to graduate from next year.

Yes! Keep it fun and it'll be fun. Don't turn into a grumpy collector who doesn't even enjoy it. There are those kinds of people and I can't understand it

 

[Golden Gopher]

Yes! Keep it fun and it'll be fun. Don't turn into a grumpy collector who doesn't even enjoy it. There are those kinds of people and I can't understand it

Well it is considered a hobby and they are suppose to be fun.

 

[predatorkj]

I was trying to explain the idea of a "rookie card" to my girlfriend back when we started going out and she started getting interested in cards. Why is the rookie card worth disproportionately more than later cards? This has always bugged me, too, in a vague way. Going back to core principles and putting aside autographs, print runs, etc., like we're talking about 1980s Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. The first time a guy appears on cardboard is worth more than any other card? Even if he didn't actually play in the majors that year? If Mike Schmidt's RC appeared in 1973 and he stunk it up, wouldn't his 1974 card when he might've been MVP be the one to get? Besides, the 74 has him alone, not with a couple other shmoes (I know, Cey was all right, too), so that's really the first "Mike Schmidt" card, isn't it? Isn't the 1973 card like going to a party in 5th grade and saying the girl who kissed you playing spin-the-bottle is your girlfriend, even though you never talk to her again? And even if we accept the idea that the first card is the best card, why is the first card $300 while the second card is $1?

Then you get to today where guys have cards years, maybe even a decade before they reach the majors and that dumb logo gets slapped onto their cards and you have to argue with the people on facebook that a 2011 Mike Trout card is not his rookie card. Or even those 2015 Erik Cordiers, which have the logo, when he had cards in 2005 (and nowhere in between, apparently). And even then with modern cards, why is the Bowman Chrome autograph king? Topps might put out other cards that have the same intrinsic properties. Maybe another Bowman brand, maybe autographed, with the same print run or smaller, and they might be worth half as much? What sort of Joycean algebra is that?

This scares me. It makes sense. And now I'm questioning myself....

 

[predatorkj]

Which somewhat demonstrates the flip side. $18.45 for a professional athletes CERTIFIED signature is a bargain considering what you would be charged walking into any of the various retail "fan shops". So that's also something I don't completely understand; at current prices how are more people NOT collecting cards (especially veteran players)? I suppose there's such a disparity between costs of opening packs (the actual fun which is insanely expensive and has driven everyone away) vs. the value that comes out of the packs (98% almost nothing)

I've got a really good friend and we have this argument all the time. He collects auto'd memorabilia. He wants autos but gripes about space, gripes about the hardship of deciding whether a guy is worth putting on a ball or even an 8x10, gripes about the cost, gripes about the effort.

I told him how much easier and cheaper it is to get a gorgeous card that often times holds its value far better than random memorabilia. Yet he thinks cards are stupid and refuses. Autograph wise, quality and quantity, my collection dwarfs his badly. And for cheaper. But, you can't force someone to like a certain media. Hopefully one day he'll try it out. I think he would get a lot of enjoyment out of it. But to each their own.

 

[AmishDave]

Anyone who dumps thousands upon thousands of dollars into a mediocre player ...

 

[Nate Colbert 17]

Anyone who dumps tens upon tens of dollars into a mediocre player ...

...fixed it for you.

Nate Colbert 4 Life!

How mediocre was Nate Colbert? He was so mediocre that some people think that's my name!