General Forum

I've obviously collected cards my whole life, have every Topps baseball base set from 1970 to present, still working on the older ones. And those were the only cards I collected for a long time. And I was content. But then a few years ago I expanded into other pre-Topps brands from before 1951, at that's been terribly rewarding and fun, albeit expensive and very slow going. So I decided a couple of years ago to try collecting other modern cards, and I went with Topps Gypsy Queen. I don't love the throwback card concept, generally, because I don't need Mike Trout on a card that looks like it's from 1960 or, worse, 1982. I HAVE lots of actual 1960 cards, and all the 1982s. Plus, I don't need all the stats again on another card from the same year. That's just me. You guys go crazy.

But I'm unlikely to get a vintage Gypsy Queen card, and the modern ones look and feel good, and have a trivia blurb on the back with information I'm unlikely to get elsewhere. And I enjoyed the Hall of Famers in those sets. So GQ was working for me.

Now: Gypsy Queen doesn't include the Hall of Famers in the regular set, anymore. They're ALL short prints. The HOFers are really what made GQ fun for me. Not gonna hunt down and pay for the short prints. I'm not into the "chase," like some folks here. I just like having the cards. I chase old cards, because I have to, not purposely short-printed modern ones. So I might be off of GQ. Topps base sets, of course, no longer include full stats on the back, so they're way less interesting for me to delve deeply into. As I've said before, any Albert Pujols card that ignores the fact that he played for the Cardinals is not a good card.

So I'm pretty frustrated. A growing part of me is thinking of scrapping further collection of modern cards and just focusing on vintage cards. I'll spend my money on 1951 to 1969 Topps or pre-Topps cards. I've looked for other modern off-shoots that are similar to GQ, and they just don't appeal to me. Allen & Ginter is close, but, again, I'm not looking for just another picture of a current player. I like the backs, almost more than the fronts, of cards. The back of A&G just gives me the career stats again. Don't like Topps Heritage or Archives for the reasons above. (Maybe Topps Tribute? Not sure about those; they're a bit more expensive than I'd like. If I'm spending $1-$2 per card, might as well go for cards from the 50s or 60s.) I know this is all due to my own pickiness, but I wouldn't be shocked if by 2020, I've given up on collecting current cards altogether.

Ok, I'm done whining now. Rant over. Enjoying collecting, everybody!

v3

While all your points about modern cards are valid, I find that what I often enjoy the most about this hobby is opening a new pack and seeing what I get.  I don't get that same feeling when I just buy a single card.  

i hear you... i was always an Individual player collector and in the recent couple years started on sets- i'm not finding as much fun with the set as i did with the individual players. I do enjoy though some of the parallel and insert sets. But with that- there is just an overwhelming amount of varieties which some are costly and although i keep venturing away from some items, i circle around back to it. 

I had started with '65 set, i thought maybe staying with vintage, but then again, the price of collecting all that and continueing with my current individual/inserts was again going to empty my wallet. 

So i ponder and again, changing my collecting goals, to maybe eliminiating the vintage set building and probably staying with big time players and maybe parallel/inserts--- who knows,, i'll probably see a squirrel and the circle of life will most likely start over again.

I probably wouldn't mind just collecting Team sets (phillies) early era -- (see already changed my mind)

Amen, V3.

Amen.

However, I fear your thoughts & remarks reflect more about our age/wisdom than they do about the hobby. I have found that unlike most debatable topics, sportscard collecting thoughts/preferences/opinions most assuredly span the entire spectrum. And usually with valid points. I certainly would not want to try and appease the varied fans of what we enjoy doing! For every one of us that doesn't understand the S/P's being short-printed, I have found those that can make an argument for it (agreed, they are almost always a younger, 'wealthier' audience). Regardless, I did want you to know that you have at least one 'fan' (even if I am "older/wiser!")

Oh lastly, before I forget....several years ago I began collecting older, vintage Topps baseball myself ('50's-'60's); it quickly became too expensive AND time consuming for me personally. Regretably, I do not have the time I wish I had to dedicate to it. What I'm getting around to is that I have a rather large (well, medium?) collection of these cards; most are NOT in MT/NMT condition, but some are still in terrific condition (I don't know how important that is to you. I personally like MT cards, of course, but it is not necessary at all for me. Truthfully? I think requiring perfect/MNT cards ruins the 'fun' part of handling them...passing them around...looking at them, etc. But I digress...)

I don't have a "list" put together (yet?) or anything, but if you are working on a specific year or years maybe I can help? It's up to you.

Again, kudo's on your 'rant.'

Amen,

CofC1988

I have had a tough time figuring out where I sit in modern day collecting but I think I am getting closer to the answer. I have started to just focus in on a few players from my favorite teams. I am also focusing in on buying nice cards that I like mostly in the $10-$25 range and am going mostly on what appeals to my eye. I'm trying not to buy and open much because I don't feel I get much of what I want for what I have to spend. 

Another "AMEN" here. Preach it to the chior Revvv.

I have always primarily been a set collector then team/player collector. The SP concept for base has always annoyed me. I like inserts and serial numbered cards but have always been upset by the "short print". I think it is because with short printed cards they don't really say how few are being produced, but often it seems like they are rarer than the serial numbered inserts.

I'm definately in the choir!

The longer I collect the older my collectiion gets.

Yup.  It is literally impossible to be a completist with modern sets, due to seemingly endless variations and SPs.  In a way, it all feels kinda counterintuitive to me.   
 

I am the terrible voice you hear in the back of the choir, but I am singing.  I am not anti-modern card.  If these companies want to keep doing what they are doing, that is fine for those chasing that.  I just wish these companies would put out flagship type offerings that listened to the feedback of hobbyists and make some adjustments.  I am not sure where they get there feedback from, but it seems universal that people want full stats on back, more cards in base sets, maybe a few less parrellels, and short prints to not be part of a base set.  I feel like all they do is the opposite, more parrellels (every color in the rainbow wasnt enough, now there are even more), more SPs in sets, less cards in sets and stats are like water in the desert, be happy with what you get.

They can keep the other stuff as one of there 200 offerings each year, heck, I would still be on one ore two of those myself, but put a flagship set out that gives the hobbysits what they want and add from there.

I hear ya, sahal. My substitute for opening packs is occasionally buying old lots without knowing what's in them. Just as much surprise, and I can upgrade with the doubles and sell or trade the rest. Lately, I've been spending one month's budget on one or two vintage cards, the next month's budget on a lot of 60s Topps. It works for me...

v3