Any Baseball Card Collectors out there?

[Galaril]

I recently have gotten back into this though at a more serious level especially in my wallet as opposed to when I was a kid. I just purchased the entire Conlon
Collection from 1991-1995 including the 94 Burgundy and gold bordered set. In total there is 1675 cards with that set. I also just bought the Diamond Classics series 1 and 2 from the Big league Collectibles Company which had 56 cards in each and the 100th anniversary Boston Red Sox 100 card set that Fleer put out just ten years ago. All the cards are focusing on the old times players and the cards are all new mint condition. The value I figured through some card experts guides is not that much some where in the as some where in just the 3-4k still I only had to pay 5% that much so. I am getting into this partially because of my interest in the old time players from the 1900-1950 time frame and also hopefully to have a nice collection to pass on to my son who is only 3. If they turn out to be worth something all the better but that is secondary. I am curious if there are any others on the board here who are serious or semi serious baseball card collectors or other baseball memorabilia collectors?

[Buccaneer]

I have been collecting off and on for 40 years, and it has been my primary hobby the past several years. However, I know very little about modern cards, as I specialize in vintage Topps cards (50s to 70s). I spend nearly all of my on-line time on a small private forum of cards experts and I'll ask about your cards there.

[rowech]

Was big into it from about 86 to 92 or so. Have a boatload of cards but they're all in storage and seem like just a big waste of time and money any more.

[rowech]

Saw this book tonight...some might be interested...

Amazon.com: Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards (9781934734162): Josh Wilker: Books

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by rowech

Saw this book tonight...some might be interested...

Amazon.com: Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards (9781934734162): Josh Wilker: Books

Thanks!

[lerriuqs]

I don't do much with baseball cards. I have a bunch of worthless Blue Jays cards. But most of my money is spent on my NHL and CFL card collection and memorabilia. I tend to buy team specific cards using Ebay as it's just too expensive for me to justify spending the dollars to make collecting any valuable cards worthwhile.

[lighthousekeeper]

reluctantly deciding to throw out my baseball card collection today. as a kid, i would have never imagined that i'd be doing this. seems odd, but the things just aren't even worth the cardboard they are printed on. probably 20000+ cards into the trash.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

reluctantly deciding to throw out my baseball card collection today. as a kid, i would have never imagined that i'd be doing this. seems odd, but the things just aren't even worth the cardboard they are printed on. probably 20000+ cards into the trash.

Let me guess.. mid to late 80s to 90's?

Probably could have gotten something for them.

[Chubby]

Originally Posted by Mustang

Let me guess.. mid to late 80s to 90's?

Probably could have gotten something for them.

about a $1

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

I have been collecting off and on for 40 years, and it has been my primary hobby the past several years. However, I know very little about modern cards, as I specialize in vintage Topps cards (50s to 70s). I spend nearly all of my on-line time on a small private forum of cards experts and I'll ask about your cards there.

They made cards in the 1850-70s?

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Mustang

Let me guess.. mid to late 80s to 90's?

Probably could have gotten something for them.

That was my prime. I loved it. I collected for the love of the game. I hated it when they switched to premium cards and the price per card went through the roof. I used to love collecting cards.

So now, like lighthouse I have 20k cards in the basement. My most expensive card is like 40 bucks and my best set(s) are two sealed 89 UD sets. I think I paid more for them in 89 than they are worth now. That's the most frustrating think for me. My kids aren't that interested in them, but they are so much a part of my youth I can't see parting with them yet.

[Galaril]

I have recently completed my search for entire Conlon pre ww 2 sets that were released in early 80s and have also got a few other rare sets like the Sharkey pizza sets from 70s and the Gold plaque replicates of all the HOF players that was officially released by the HOF only 10000 ever released.

[molson]

I sold all my 80s and 90s cards on ebay, as a lot, pretty much "as is" (I tried to highlight in the auction some of what was in there), for about $400. It was maybe 10,000 cards, representative of the era, nothing super special. I was thrilled to get the $400, and even more thrilled that they didn't go into a dumpster.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Chubby

about a $1

I'll have to ask a guy at work. His dad had a crapload of this stuff and I think the bulk rate he was selling at was around .01 or .005 a card

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by molson

I sold all my 80s and 90s cards on ebay, as a lot, pretty much "as is" (I tried to highlight in the auction some of what was in there), for about $400. It was maybe 10,000 cards, representative of the era, nothing super special. I was thrilled to get the $400, and even more thrilled that they didn't go into a dumpster.

that simply doesn't match at all what i'm seeing on ebay. this is what i'm seeing:

40000 cards for $20: HUGE - MEGA Lot of Baseball, Basketball & Football | eBay

HUGE LOT OF 1988 DONRUSS BASEBALL 2000+ CARDS | eBay

One point i should mention is that around 1993 i sold most of my good cards (1940-1950s bowmans, top cards from 1980s (henderson, mattingly, etc). So at this point I'm left with mostly detritus.

[molson]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

that simply doesn't match at all what i'm seeing on ebay. this is what i'm seeing:

40000 cards for $20: HUGE - MEGA Lot of Baseball, Basketball & Football | eBay

HUGE LOT OF 1988 DONRUSS BASEBALL 2000+ CARDS | eBay

One point i should mention is that around 1993 i sold most of my good cards (1940-1950s bowmans, top cards from 1980s (henderson, mattingly, etc). So at this point I'm left with mostly detritus.

HAHA. What can I tell you, I found a sucker I guess. The only things I can think of is that my auction was far more detailed than any of those, I listed many individual cards that I had, and their conditions, a lot of the the individual cards had decent "book values" at the time (I did have most major rookie cards from the 80s and 90s, and a couple from the 70s), and this was around 2002 or 2003. Maybe we've seen further depreciation since then.

Crap though, I'm tempted to shell out $20 and re-live my childhood.

[DanGarion]

What I have done is pare down any cards that aren't worth anything and aren't name players. So I still have probably 1-2 thousand cards but they are players that people know or rookies. If you have anything that really is good and you think it is in TOP shape it would be worth it to have it professionally graded to hopefully increase and solidify it's value.

[tarcone]

I tried to sell mine (80s-early 90s) to a couple card shops. They both said they have pallets of those cards in their stock rooms. Im going to put them in our garage sale and take the best offer. Maybe I can sucker a neighborhood kid into taking them for $10.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

reluctantly deciding to throw out my baseball card collection today. as a kid, i would have never imagined that i'd be doing this. seems odd, but the things just aren't even worth the cardboard they are printed on. probably 20000+ cards into the trash.

When I got back into the hobby in 2003, I threw out 50,000+ 1987-1990 cards. They were worth more as landfill. I had more to throw out but I found a charity to give them away to (who distributes them to at-risk children).

[RainMaker]

I think most of mine got thrown out years ago. Although I've been a big memorabilia collector over the years.

[Chubby]

i just dumped a ton of 80s/90s commons out of my mom's attic couple weeks ago, kept my sets for sentimental reasons tho

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by rowech

Saw this book tonight...some might be interested...

Amazon.com: Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards (9781934734162): Josh Wilker: Books

Highly recommend, read it last year. I also recommend Mint Condition Amazon.com: Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession: Dave Jamieson: Books about what this hobby has become and the world that I partly live in.

[BYU 14]

I have the entire Conlon collection too, love that card set. I have a bunch from the early 90's as well as a few Tobacco cards from 1909-1911, the best of which is a good graded Mike Donlin T206

Mike Donlin 1909-11 White Borders (Piedmont & Sweet Caporal) #133 Baseball Card Prices and Values | VintageCardPrices.com Baseball Card Price Guide

The Conlins are my favorites though...

Not Baseball, but also have a piece of Coal salvaged from the Titanic, which is one of my prized pieces of memorabilia, since it is the only item from the Titanic available to the public.

[Buccaneer]

BYU, one has to be a member to view prices on VCP. What's your grade?

[Comey]

I have a lot of my old cards...I have a Frank Thomas collection that I kept at for a few years, until there got to be too many subsets and the like. I collected hardcore through '93, I think...and then it just got too crazy, and I didn't have the money to invest in it.

My dad and I, when its convenient, now buy older cards. We don't necessarily look for incredible investments or anything...just older cards that are interesting to us. So, I have some of those. My favorite is a 1909 John McGraw that I got in Missouri. Got a good deal on it, and it's pretty cool.

In addition, while I don't really go on the lookout for them anymore...old game programs are also neat. I have a Dodgers/Phillies one from 1955 with the scorecard filled out. It's awesome to see all the names from that Dodger team that won the World Series in there. I also have a Red Sox/White Sox from...I think 1949...with the scorecard filled out. Ted Williams hit two homers that game. Got each one for five bucks.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by rowech

Was big into it from about 86 to 92 or so. Have a boatload of cards but they're all in storage and seem like just a big waste of time and money any more.

+1 Mostly. I have a ton from the era when they were massively overprinted but I'm happy that happened. I was able to afford that then. Even when I had stopped, a time or two a year, I'd go into a store and buy a pack of cards on a whim to see what this year's cards look like but we're looking at $3+ a pack. What kids can afford that now?

And "investing" in any new cards is a fools errand

SI

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

BYU, one has to be a member to view prices on VCP. What's your grade?

Sorry missed this, Good 2

[cartman]

A simply unreal find in this guy's deceased relative's attic.

News from The Associated Press

[CrimsonFox]

I have Wade Boggs Rookie card. And Fernando Valenzuela "Future Stars" card. That is the pinnacle of my collection.

And I have a mint collection of the 1990 Reds cards.

[Matthean]

I got a couple Cal Ripken Jr. rookie cards.

[Grover]

I have the entire 1989 Fleer set, which last I checked was worth a grand total of around $20. That includes the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card in the set.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Grover

I have the entire 1989 Fleer set, which last I checked was worth a grand total of around $20. That includes the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card in the set.

20 bucks!
You could go to the movies!

[Mustang]

Almost all 80s and 90s baseball cards should be put in one large pile and burned.

Then the rest should have some value.

[lynchjm24]

A few years ago I tossed so many cards in a dumpster that there were 10,000 91 Topps alone. I can't imagine many kids today who would put that many cards in numeric order. Why the hell did I have 5,000 pro set football cards from one year?

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by lynchjm24

Why the hell did I have 5,000 pro set football cards from one year?

So.. you didn't complete the set from that year then?

[sterlingice]

I thought I saw some obscene numbers like 100s of millions for those sets in the late 80s

SI

[Grover]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I thought I saw some obscene numbers like 100s of millions for those sets in the late 80s

SI

1990 Pro Set Football Card Price Guide

36 cents for a Barry Sanders rookie card!

[Galaril]

I have a collection of mostly Conlon complete sets and few other sets that are rare but not too old. I had them all graded a couple of years ago and it was about 17k which is not bad. I just started the collection as something to pass down to my kids and maybe it is worth alot more in 100 years or it is just a family heirloom someday.

[EagleFan]

Holy Cow! Family Finds Baseball Card Collection That May Fetch $3 Million : The Two-Way : NPR

[EagleFan]

dola: doh, I see I am late on that one.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Grover

1990 Pro Set Football Card Price Guide

36 cents for a Barry Sanders rookie card!

Was going through that list and this made me laugh:

204A Fred Marion belt 111.50
204B Fred Marion no belt 0.26

[RainMaker]

Does anyone collect anything else? I have an embarrassingly large bobblehead collection.

[stevew]

So my mom screamed that I have to get all the cards soon or she's going to throw them out. Anyways I'm leaning towards making some awesome collage art murals for the basement.

None of these late 80s-early 90s cards are ever going to be worth anything, right? I'm not going to regret cutting them up?

Leaning towards one giant "good" player wall. Perhaps another one of scrubs with funny names, failed prospects, and pink Mike Laga.

[Buccaneer]

Right. There are only three choices: give them to charity, burn or discard them, or make wallpaper out them.

[sovereignstar v2]

I'm moving in a month or so and am faced with a similar situation. Will toss most of them, but will have to keep a set or two.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by stevew

So my mom screamed that I have to get all the cards soon or she's going to throw them out. Anyways I'm leaning towards making some awesome collage art murals for the basement.

None of these late 80s-early 90s cards are ever going to be worth anything, right? I'm not going to regret cutting them up?

Leaning towards one giant "good" player wall. Perhaps another one of scrubs with funny names, failed prospects, and pink Mike Laga.

I'm going to say they probably won't be worth anything. A big collector told me that the reason none of that stuff will be worth squat is because so many people hang on to it. The stuff that ends up being valuable is the stuff everyone is throwing away.

Another suggestion is a desk/coffee table. You can get one of those that has a glass/plexiglass top to it. Create your collage underneath and you have a pretty sweet piece. Had a friend who did this with old ticket stubs and it's amazing in his office.

[stevew]

Yeah. I was thinking about a coffee table as well.

[Izulde]

This thread made me go and pick up the entire set of NBA Hoops 1990 cards for $18 shipping included on eBay. At that cheap a price point they're just fun to have and maybe see if I can recreate the game I used to play with my very incomplete collection back in the day.

Although most of mine may have have the 1989 set, come to think of it.

[corbes]

If enough of you throw out your cards maybe someday I'll have the only remaining 1987 Topps Barry Bonds rookie card. IT WILL BE WORTH MILLIONS.

[Buccaneer]

It's not that so many hang on to them but more that they were sooooo over-produced. If most people throw out all of their 87 cards (for example), there are still a billion left. Part of the equation is also demand. Everyone and their brother has cards from the late 80s and early 90s, so it becomes a case of unlimited supply and almost no demand (for base cards).