When does the hobby off-season end?

[Topnotchsy]

I was talking to one of the dealers at the Westchester Card Show this past week and he mentioned that he usually finds that the hobby offseason wraps up about now, and people start looking ahead to the baseball season, counting down to Spring Training etc. I responded that I kind of assumed people wait until after the Super Bowl before switching gears back to baseball, but today I was looking at prices of Kershaw Chrome Rookie Auto's and noticed there's been a bit of an uptick on them which makes me wonder if the attention is already shifting back to baseball.

For hardcore baseball guys there really is no off-season (it's just prime buying season since other people are focused elsewhere). For the average sports card guy though, when do you think the off-season ends? Obviously it is different for different people but do you think that now with the week off for football and people getting tired of the cold they start thinking about baseball or do you think the hobby off-season begins a little later (or earlier)?

Oh, did I mention I'm sick of the cold and looking forward to Spring Training... lol

 

[Gonzaleznut]

The hobby off-season is over the day Topps Series I is released.

 

[joey12508]

For me after the super bowl, then the Daytona 500, spring training. also very tired of the cold.

 

[Austin]

but today I was looking at prices of Kershaw Chrome Rookie Auto's and noticed there's been a bit of an uptick on them which makes me wonder if the attention is already shifting back to baseball.

It could be because Kershaw just signed that record contract.
I'm like you and consider the end of the offseason after the Super Bowl, just before Spring Training starts.

 

[TwinGnats]

100%

The hobby off-season is over the day Topps Series I is released.

 

[padremurph]

I agree that it is around now. People ramp up their buying thinking they're still buying early before the rush. That coupled w all the prospect lists coming out, including mlb network's tonight.

 

[Topnotchsy]

It could be because Kershaw just signed that record contract.
I'm like you and consider the end of the offseason after the Super Bowl, just before Spring Training starts.

That makes sense. I had not considered that.

 

[gmsieb]

Top, I'm a little let down by you. You of all people should know, it's a year round thing now. I have been preparing myself since early December.

I normally start by opening 100 packs of sugar a day, to get my hand/finger strength back.
I will also take over putting the dishes away and any filing, to keep my sorting skills ready.
I also buy lotto and power ball tickets, to prepare myself for missing the big hits.

Lastly, I have a brick, with topps written on it and my wife throws it at me, when I fully expect it.
This way I am ready, for anything topps throws my way.

 

[Topnotchsy]

Top, I'm a little let down by you. You of all people should know, it's a year round thing now. I have been preparing myself since early December.

I normally start by opening 100 packs of sugar a day, to get my hand/finger strength back.
I will also take over putting the dishes away and any filing, to keep my sorting skills ready.
I also buy lotto and power ball tickets, to prepare myself for missing the big hits.

Lastly, I have a brick, with topps written on it and my wife throws it at me, when I fully expect it.
This way I am ready, for anything topps throws my way.

Love it! Your wife must love the off-season with you doing the dishes. As for the lottery, you have to be careful. In that arena somebody actually does win...

For the hardcore baseball guy, the off-season is when baseball cards hit the discount rack. And while like every discount rack the selection is a little more limited, there's plenty to be found with enough searching.

 

[sportscardtheory]

It changes every year. It's usually when the first big positive thing happens before pitchers and catchers report. This year it was over when Tanaka signed with the Yankees, or it could have been when Kershaw signed.

 

[moxacaine]

I was thinking this the other day because some harpers have been going slightly higher than they were all off season. Add in that baseball season will be here soon with income tax season and you get higher prices.

 

[shayscards79]

Stuff is already going up.

I've been watching some of these prospects I've been hoarding and they've been rising over the past week or so.

come the end of Feb, Off season should officially be over.

 

[All The Hype]

Everything is starting to trend up across the board it seems.