Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

[bigbob]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

So, random question from a mid-westerner - are there any non-hobby stores that carry an affordable pack of modern basketball cards? Sometimes I have the urge to just buy a pack and see what happens and other times I think they'd make for good prizes for my classroom, I just don't want to break the bank in the process. I just have a hard time finding spots that sell them; even online I can't figure out where I'm supposed to go.

Are you looking for an entire pack as a prize for a kid, or would you buy a pack and give a kid a card from it? If it is the latter, I would look for bulk lots (I was searching on Walmart.com and someone was selling 600 cards for $39.99 and free shipping.)

However, I would check in store at a place like Walmart. I did not think they used to be as expensive for a pack as they are showing online, but things could have changed with the collection boom.

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[Hammerhunker]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

So, random question from a mid-westerner - are there any non-hobby stores that carry an affordable pack of modern basketball cards? Sometimes I have the urge to just buy a pack and see what happens and other times I think they'd make for good prizes for my classroom, I just don't want to break the bank in the process. I just have a hard time finding spots that sell them; even online I can't figure out where I'm supposed to go.

Fellow educator here

Try Walgreens or Big Lots. Not sure what age-level you teach, but I have had certain grades where sports is a big deal and I have used cards more as a relationship building token, but that was in the day you could get a pack of cards anytime you walked into Walmart or Target.

This hobby is so crazy right now, to the point where most Walmarts and Targets have stopped carrying cards.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

I actually bought cards at a Barnes and Noble yesterday lol

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[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

80s and 90s cards aren't really worth the cardboard they are printed on, except for a few here and there. Griffey Jr cards are the most valuable you will find. And that is just mostly his Upper Deck rookie card. If you have one graded a 10, it could be worth over 1K. But raw you're looking at about $40-60. Frank Thomas' 90 Leaf is his most valuable, which goes for around $20 something raw. A high grade will get you over $100. Also Bonds rookie raw will get you about $10-15. A PSA 10 will get you $100-200.

Unfortunately, even HOF rookie cards from the 80s and 90s aren't worth all that much. It's called the junk wax era for a reason. Everything was so over-printed.

As far as getting cards now. You have two options, retail and hobby. Right now hobby stuff has come down in price and I would always buy hobby if you can, as most hobby boxes have guaranteed hits. Retail products usually don't. And the ones that do, you can't expect much. Retail is fun if you just wanna open some packs and maybe get lucky. But remember, trying to find valuable cards from retail is even more of a gamble than hobby, and the house always wins.

Target no longer carries cards in stores because people were literally brawling and pulling guns on people to get cards. Most Walmarts still sell them, but if you want them, you better be there when they put them on the shelves, if not, they will be gone in minutes. Then the people who get them will have them up on eBay for three times the price before they leave the parking lot. You may get lucky here and there. I found some cards at Walmart a few times over the last year or so.

eBay is always an option, but like I said, you will overpay. A blaster box of Topps Chrome is normally $20. They are going for $60 on eBay.

I almost forgot, Target does online drops of cards once or twice a week about 7am. In fact, they have some baseball blaster boxes right now. All for retail price. $19.99. Right now they have Topps Series 2, Allen and Ginter, and Gypsy Queen. I would leave A&G alone. Series 2 has your true rookies like Ke'Bryan Hays, Jake Crownenworth, Dylan Carlson, Alex Kariloff, Jazz Chisholm, and Sam Huff. A thing to remember when it comes to rookies or any card really, is that pitchers are way less valuable than hitters.

Sorry for the long post. I've been in the hobby for about 10 years now and have thousands of cards, and I've seen it all. If anyone has any questions, I will do my best to answer.

EDIT: I don't know how I forgot the 93 SP Derek Jeter. That card could be worth thousands.

[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

I actually bought cards at a Barnes and Noble yesterday lol

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Yeah, Barnes and Noble has been shockingly a good place to get cards this year.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

80s and 90s cards aren't really worth the cardboard they are printed on, except for a few here and there. Griffey Jr cards are the most valuable you will find. And that is just mostly his Upper Deck rookie card. If you have one graded a 10, it could be worth over 1K. But raw you're looking at about $40-60. Frank Thomas' 90 Leaf is his most valuable, which goes for around $20 something raw. A high grade will get you over $100. Also Bonds rookie raw will get you about $10-15. A PSA 10 will get you $100-200.

Unfortunately, even HOF rookie cards from the 80s and 90s aren't worth all that much. It's called the junk wax era for a reason. Everything was so over-printed.

As far as getting cards now. You have two options, retail and hobby. Right now hobby stuff has come down in price and I would always buy hobby if you can, as most hobby boxes have guaranteed hits. Retail products usually don't. And the ones that do, you can't expect much. Retail is fun if you just wanna open some packs and maybe get lucky. But remember, trying to find valuable cards from retail is even more of a gamble than hobby, and the house always wins.

Target no longer carries cards in stores because people were literally brawling and pulling guns on people to get cards. Most Walmarts still sell them, but if you want them, you better be there when they put them on the shelves, if not, they will be gone in minutes. Then the people who get them will have them up on eBay for three times the price before they leave the parking lot. You may get lucky here and there. I found some cards at Walmart a few times over the last year or so.

eBay is always an option, but like I said, you will overpay. A blaster box of Topps Chrome is normally $20. They are going for $60 on eBay.

I almost forgot, Target does online drops of cards once or twice a week about 7am. In fact, they have some baseball blaster boxes right now. All for retail price. $19.99. Right now they have Topps Series 2, Allen and Ginter, and Gypsy Queen. I would leave A&G alone. Series 2 has your true rookies like Ke'Bryan Hays, Jake Crownenworth, Dylan Carlson, Alex Kariloff, Jazz Chisholm, and Sam Huff. A thing to remember when it comes to rookies or any card really, is that pitchers are way less valuable than hitters.

Sorry for the long post. I've been in the hobby for about 10 years now and have thousands of cards, and I've seen it all. If anyone has any questions, I will do my best to answer.

My walmart is only letting you buy one pack each. I don't know if every walmart does that. I guess not.





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[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

My walmart is only letting you buy one pack each. I don't know if every walmart does that. I guess not.





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Mine has no limit. I really wish they did. There are a few people who are there every morning that they stock waiting for them and buy them all.

I know a guy from around here who tries to be the first one there every week and if he is, he literally buys everything. Like hundreds of dollars worth. Then immediately puts everything on eBay.

What's sad, is I have a friend who is mentally challenged, and all he wants is to open packs. He loves baseball cards. It's his whole life, and this guy also knows him, and he's never given him a single pack, let alone let him buy one from him for retail price. It disgusts me.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

Mine has no limit. I really wish they did. There are a few people who are there every morning that they stock waiting for them and buy them all.



I know a guy from around here who tries to be the first one there every week and if he is, he literally buys everything. Like hundreds of dollars worth. Then immediately puts everything on eBay.



What's sad, is I have a friend who is mentally challenged, and all he wants is to open packs. He loves baseball cards. It's his whole life, and this guy also knows him, and he's never given him a single pack, let alone let him buy one from him for retail price. It disgusts me.

Really? Yea I think that's a decent system. That's pretty damn selfish of him. That's honestly infuriating.

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[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

Really? Yea I think that's a decent system. That's pretty damn selfish of him. That's honestly infuriating.

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Very infuriating. Since my friend basically has the mentality of a 12 year old, he doesn't have PayPal or any credit/debit cards, but he likes to look for cards on eBay, and if he finds something he really wants, either, me or this guy will get it for him. He gives us the money and we order it, and I NEVER charge him anything extra than the exact price. And sometimes I'll just take care of the shipping, this other guy charges him a $5 fee. I told his mom to stop dealing with him. But they won't for whatever reason. I sometimes will also get him cards as surprises and gifts. Just seeing his face is worth it. Like I said, he has the mentality of about a 12 to maybe a 15 year old. He's 36. I just like to make him happy. He loves to trade too. I've gotten some really nice cards from him. But I never sell them because sometimes he wants to trade back lol. Which is totally fine with me. I think the most valuable card I got from him was worth about $100. I traded him a Vladdy auto /25 about a year ago for a Panini Flawless Jose Ramirez auto and now that Vladdy is going for like $200 and he told me he feels back and wants to give it back to me. I'm like no way dude. We made the trade and you won.

I was very close friends with his brother growing up. We were in the same class, but I knew him from way back then. Unfortunately his brother is an addict and goes from being homeless to public housing to being homeless. He spends all his money he gets from being disabled on drugs. And it hurts my friend so much. He just misses his brother. This dude was a pro baseball player. No BS. LHP drafted 3rd pick 3rd round by the White Sox in 98. Made it to double A. So sad, because he started to have serious mental issues and eventually was released and got into hard drugs. He could have gone farther. He threw 97 and had great secondary stuff.

But anyway, yeah, I hate this guy. I don't like to throw that word around, but he deserves it. He's just greedy.

[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

I'm not sure if we talked about how Fanatics bought the exclusive rights to produce cards from MLB, NBA, and NFL starting in 2025 or not. (too lazy to go back to check)

This happened in early 2021. Many people were left wondering what this means for iconic brands like Topps, or Panini and all their sub-sets going forward.

Well yesterday, January 4th, Fanatics bought Topps for 500,000 million, and have said they will continue the iconic branding of Topps for their cards. At least for baseball. Their ownership of Topps and having the exclusive license to baseball starts immediately. This is absolutely fantastic news for baseball card collectors. It was depressing to think that Topps would cease to exist in the baseball card world. But now it will remain alive. We should continue to get all the same sub-sets, and maybe more if Fanatics wants to make new ones.

As far as NFL and NBA go, I guess it just depends on if they want to buy Panini as well. I would love to have Topps football back. I don't collect NBA, but I hope NBA collectors get what they want out of it.

Either way, this is great news for the hobby.

[Review]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

Gonna read through this thread and probably check out some videos on YouTube. I'm old (35) and started collecting cards in the 90's. Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and Football. My father used to buy me packs and then I started buying packs when I got my 1st job as a paper boy. Found my old collection of cards still in soft and hard plastic when I moved into my new place. Same thing goes for my comic book collection. All of them are enclosed in soft plastic. Most of the notable rookie cards I have are hockey and basketball. I'm looking to get rid of all of them as I'm no longer a collector. I'm sure I can find some good websites/links but if anyone has any suggestions it would be much appreciated!

[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

Gonna read through this thread and probably check out some videos on YouTube. I'm old (35) and started collecting cards in the 90's. Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and Football. My father used to buy me packs and then I started buying packs when I got my 1st job as a paper boy. Found my old collection of cards still in soft and hard plastic when I moved into my new place. Same thing goes for my comic book collection. All of them are enclosed in soft plastic. Most of the notable rookie cards I have are hockey and basketball. I'm looking to get rid of all of them as I'm no longer a collector. I'm sure I can find some good websites/links but if anyone has any suggestions it would be much appreciated!

So what cards to you have? Who are the notable rookies and what brand, set, and year are the cards?

[DamnYanks2]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

With the current boom. I'd love to revive this thread. Show what kind of cards you have or whatever. The last year I've been more into card collecting then ever in my life. Been having a blast with it.

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[PVarck31]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

With the current boom. I'd love to revive this thread. Show what kind of cards you have or whatever. The last year I've been more into card collecting then ever in my life. Been having a blast with it.

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I just bought a PSA 10 Rookie debut of Tatis Jr. Got it for $55. His cards have gone way down, even his true rookie is down to around $100 at a PSA10.Glad it's not as crazy in baseball. I'd buy now because he's gonna be a hall of famer. No one hits the ball harder than him, except Soto.

For whatever reason people have started to sleep on Tatis. Maybe they look at his WAR and see it's only a 6.5, but he's also only had just over 1,000AB and already has 81 home runs.

[Jolly Roger]

Re: Official OS Sports Card Collecting Thread

I have tons and tons of worthless 90s cards from all the major sports, but I want to just keep them for my kids to look at some day. It would be like me having a bunch of 50s-60s cards as a kid (which I'd have loved).