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We are also frequently approached by people asking for advice on how to sell your baseball cards. Fortunately, people looking to sell their sports cards and sports memorabilia have several options to choose from!
 

5/13/2008
Thanks to everyone who participated in our second writing contest entitled:
"I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it "

There were a few common themes that came up in several of the essays:
Make baseball card sets easier to build with few or no parallels
Create less expensive sets
Make less product
Get more aggressive with advertising
We need more industry sponsored card shows
Get rid of sticker autos
Do more do eliminate pack searching

After reading all of the essays (several times), one thing that was obvious to us was that set-builders want to see some changes. The message from set-builders was clear, building sets has gotten too complicated and should be simplified. We hope that the industry takes note of this.

Please take the time to read all of these essays (below). There are a lot of really good ideas sprinkled throughout the essays. We encourage you to share them with your collecting friends to help inspire even more discussion about this important topic. Let's create a buzz out there and keep the baseball card hobby strong!

Since many of the essays shared such similar concepts, it was a challenge to pick just one essay based on content alone. With this in mind, we decided to put all qualifying essays (proper length and on topic) into the bin for a random drawing. The winner is Chad.E.Lambert. You can read the winning essay on the home page as well.

Stay tuned for another box give-away in the very near future....2008 Bowman Baseball boxes are heading our way.....

HERE ARE THE ESSAYS....

I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

The baseball card industry needs some help, so it won't become irrelevant or non-existent. If I were given the ability to save the industry, here's the first steps I would take.

One aspect of card collecting that seems to get overlooked by the industry is the camaraderie created by attending card shows. So I would schedule a major card show in every area of the country for each year. I would make it where it's within a day's drive for anyone in the continental U.S. And I would encourage the card-producing companies to create a small set to be sold exclusively at these conventions.

In addition to conventions, I would encourage local dealers to schedule and promote a trading day once per month. Collectors can bring cards they want to trade, and they can bring a checklist of cards they need to complete a set. Once this tradition gets established, collectors and dealers could publish (online or in-store) a want / trade list in advance so people could be more prepared. This could be held at the hobby shop, or occasionally outside at a city park when the weather is nice. The dealers in that area could work together to put this on, and they could have special one-day sales and giveaways for those that attend. This would also create friendships and help the dealers generate sales. The new friendships based on collecting may be the most important aspect of all this, because meeting with friends to look at their collections and to trade cards adds another level of enjoyment in card collecting that eBay can't recreate.

I would explain to the card-producing companies that they need to have an affordable and attainable set for set-builders and new collectors (particularly children). This set doesn't need gold-foil lettering nor any limited-numbered cards nor any parallels. The set could have fun subsets and inserts, but only if the odds were such that you would get some in each box. The packs should cost around $1 each (or less if possible), with at least 10 cards. Collectors don't require premium sets to have fun with it. This could be a true retro set, even using the cheaper cardstock of years past.

I would encourage the card-producing companies to give away boxes and packs to groups like the Boys Club and similar organizations, to introduce youth to the fun of collecting.

I think these suggestions would revitalize the baseball card industry. The investing side of the hobby is covered; what needs to be focused on is making it fun. By having more affordable cards and encouraging meetings with other collectors, more people would get interested in it.

Chad Lambert (Chad was our winner, selected at random from qualifying essays)


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I'm a adult collector going on my 30. Here's my say on general trading cards collecting.

First of all, I would like to apologize in advance, French is my first language so sorry for all the mistakes.

I've been collecting cards since childhood, baseball cards, hockey cards and other non-sports
sets. I've seen a couple of ups and down in sports cards collecting since the late 80's.
I remember in those years we would trade a super
value card ex: Patrick Roy RC for 3 or 4 common
cards that we were missing to complete our set.
I wouldn't say I regret those years, It was just another way of thinking since our cards didn't have money value. Then came the biggest event in my mind that changed forever the hobby. The venue of price guides. Since then collecting became more serious, money became a factor in every aspects :
buying/selling/trading, and so came two categories: Investors/collectors and Collectors.

Now the struggle to save the hobby lies in
creating a balance that would pleases all sports cards collectors.

Here's my opinion on how to please everybody

First of all, I don't think the answers would reside in a single innovative new kind of baseball set. You have to create products that aim specifically each market.

For the investors : A set (if you can call it that, because no investors I know collects set anymore), But to continue, this set should be composed of game used, signatures and other memorabilia and serially numbered to to lowest # possible.
You could say it's not quite an innovation, but the problem is that most of the sets are like this today and seems to be aiming only the investors.

To save the hobby we have to bring back more fun
in collecting. Make sets that aim smaller scale
buyers. Smaller sets, less inserts, no serial #,
maybe an auto or two but nothing more. The first thing that is important for a set collector is that when you buy a box, you must have a almost
complete set and the completion of it must be easy. (You won't attract new collectors with
sets that you must buy 1 or 2 cases to complete). This set should be created to ignore the investors. It has to sell cheaper, more cards in a pack (Jumbo packs, Rack packs...)A set that you could promote by giving out team sets of the home team at a ball game. For those
collectors the key is to keep the pleasure of collecting achievable and also money wise.
So less inserts sets, bring them down to 2 or three max and maybe a rare card only achievable by contest. And if this special card should be an
autograph card, please no sticker autograph.
Stickers makes the feeling that cards are less unique. When a card is hand sign, you can think that at one time the player had this specific card in his hands (more prestigious) even more than a game used by my point of view.
But no parallels, # numbers or color variation or anything like that. because those sets attracts investors and helps the speculators that makes the prices of the packs and boxes climb.

So to summarise, make sets for investors and
other for ordinary collectors. A Hybrid set
that could please both isn't the solution.
The small scale collectors isn't willing to spend big money to make a set and the investors
doesn't want to deal with all the common cards.
And promote the cheaper cards in the local communities.
Sports card collecting should be first of all be aimed at kids, it has to be fun and easy and achievable.

Patrick Maher

I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I think the baseball card collecting hobby has to be imploded and reassembled piece by piece. As a long time collector, I have seen it all, good and bad. The last dozen years or so has made collecting too complex and too expensive. If you were to count the number of different cards made in this time period, it is more than were made in the almost hundred years before.

My solution is multifaceted. Cards have become too expensive and too complex to collect. There are hobby cards and retail cards, of which now come with different inserts depending on the retailer (Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target). Packs from the same retailer even come in different forms ­ with different types of inserts in each. There are variations intently made in the card (such as blue cap, red cap). There are reprint cards that are almost exact replicas of cards previously made. There are dozens of differing sets produced each year, each with dozens of their own inserts and parallels. Card companies are coming and going and merging.

First, my solution involves reducing the complexity. It involves only allowing 2 or 3 sets to be produced each year of approximately 800 cards, sans the inserts, parallels (silver, gold, black, copper, refractors, black refractors), game used/autos, serial numbered, reprints, box toppers, box bottoms, and anything else not considered part of the base set, thus removing the “rare” cards even to the extent of short prints. When I collect a set, I want the set, not the set minus the short prints. Get rid of the smaller sets (100-200 cards) ­ they only keep reprinting the same groups of players. The sets need to have simple yet innovative designs, similar to those in the earlier years, without reusing them (aren’t there enough graphic designers out of work?). They should only have today’s players currently on teams in them, rather than retired players, with the possible exception when major baseball milestones are broken, other current year news (ok, I can handle one Mickey Mantle commemorative card when he passed on, but not the close to 1000 that have been made in the last 10 years) or possibly current year Hall of Fame inductees; I don’t need Signers of the Constitution cards mixed in with my baseball sets. And get rid of the concept of rookie cards. Who really cares about Joe Charbeneau’s rookie card. If and when the player becomes a superstar, then the prices will rise accordingly. Otherwise, its pure speculation (boy, have I got a hot stock tip for you).

This would lower the prices of packs so that the average fan can actually afford them. Three dollars for 5 cards is bad enough, but now there are packs that are going for over a hundred bucks. Twenty bucks for a base set of 800 cards seems reasonable to me; $50 for a 100 card set does not; after all, it’s only cardboard. But more needs to be done about pricing. The price guides need to be revamped too. First their formatting needs to change. Listing all the inserts in the sets gets crazy (of course my plan removes the inserts). Categorize cards and perhaps print them in a chart format. Get rid of dumb things like minor star. Each team has its own fan favorites, but many of these players are quickly forgotten and become commons. Sure some of these players were a little better than others, but does anyone really think a common card from 1980 should be doubled for a slightly better player? Set pricing gets crazy too. Ever notice that you need 100 common cards for a set, but the value of those cards exceeds the value of the set? In that case, it would make more sense to purchase the entire set and throw away the stars to get those commons. Valuations are inconsistent. Yeah, the cards from the 1980’s were produced in higher quantities, but 50 cents for a 1989 Topps Schmidt, yet 50 cents for a common from 2007 Upper Deck? I make that trade off every day of the week (provided you’re giving me the Ripken). And yet a card produced to today of Ripken (those would be banned too in my new world) is worth several dollars or more. Finally, the price guides seem to be a touch out of reality. The prices they list for cards and sets are way over the price you could actually get them for or get for them.

So lets reduce down to a couple of base sets per year and get rid of both the complexity and cost of collecting.

aacard


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

After giving much thought and consideration to the whole process, I believe that some "guerilla marketing" techniques needs to be used and more involvement by the baseball players themselves. The players need to realize that they are admired and appreciated by their fans and they need to show their appreciation I return. I believe that banner ads on the Internet could be used whenever anyone searches anything to do with baseball, enticing new collectors and old alike. I would tailor advertising and marketing efforts towards adult but not exclude kids, I would make the kids believe that they are participating in a hobby that is ageless but has been or does cater to adults.

Ballparks need to contribute more efforts to the industry too. Billboards signage, beverage cups designs and other marketing efforts could be made. Driving contests for kids with prizes such as passes to more games, recognition while at the game. There should be more coverage given by local media.

Excitement must be brought back to the hobby like we've have tried to bring it back to the sport. There has been a lack of initiative by the baseball card companies to keep the hobby in the forefront of people's minds when they may be considering a new hobby. Cards should be produced based on anticipated sales and not overproduced. This would also increase the value of the cards in circulation and get people excited about the monetary value as well as the sentimental value. Marketing efforts should also be given to the Parents and Children to share common interests. Bonding time-shared between father and son, mother and daughter, grandparents and the like. If the baseball enthusiasts are excited they will share and create more excited for the novices.

There should be more opportunities for collectors, new and old to share their finds and collections and to educate spectators about the fun and ease of baseball card collecting.

Michael Neighbors



I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

Collectibles are cyclical in their popularity. Baseball cards are no exception. Companies must decide if they want to produce products for hobby enthusiasts or fickle mass consumer markets. If I ran the card company, this would be my choice.

Collecting baseball cards should be a HOBBY. People should collect cards because they want to. Because they love them. because they NEED to collect. That is the stand I would take and market my products accordingly. If you build a strong base with your collectors, you will not only see company/ brand loyalty; you will see dedication to the hobby during lean years. These will be the people who will stand by you if you treat them well. So. how do you treat them well? (Well, this is MY card company..)

Treating collectors well can be done in several ways. First, DO NOT condescend to your collectors by making "kid" cards and "adult" products. End the hype and gimmicks!! Baseball cards were designed to celebrate BASEBALL (you remember. the National Pastime?) Baseball is loved because it is timeless and ageless and appealing to all variety of people and cultures. Baseball cards are a tribute to something great and should not become the entity that hurts the sport by cheapening it. Design a product. Produce the product. Sell the product. If it is done with a little class, a simple design, and tasteful photographs. your cards will be appealing to men, women, children, the elderly, EVERYBODY! Because, like any good art form, people can interpret the product however they want.

My card company would produce and promote ONE basic line of baseball cards. I would include 2 series in my product line. Series 1 (a 200 card set) would release around the beginning or middle of December. The cards would be available until March 1. Then, all vendors would be required to pull all series 1 cards and ship them back to the factory (Yes, my company will cover postage.). (Vendors will also get credit for unopened product so they can obtain series 2 as they come out.) My series 2 (a 400 card set) line would debut in May and feature the most current photos of players and their current team. Series 2 would be on shelves until the middle of August. Again, unsold and unopened product can be returned for credit. Any and all product returned to the company belongs to the company and may be sold to the secondary market at any time for any price. (After all, I am running a business here!)

My "series 3" would be my secret series. These will be the cards that are compiled to make inserts for next year's packs. This series would feature All-Star photos and captions as well as World Series Highlights and photos. I would also try to issue previously unreleased rookies in their uniforms if they appeared "hot" toward the end of the season. GU and autos would not be a part of my pack-included inserts.

Now for my packs. I would use wax wrappers again because my company will be environmentally friendly. (Mylar doesn't rot!) My packs would have 14 cards per pack. There would be a dozen regular cards and two inserts per pack. I am looking at a pack price of $1.50 to $2.00 per pack. Again, NO GU or autos in the packs. My GU and auto cards would be by redemption. (WAIT! Not redemption like it currently is known!) This is how MY company would handle redemption.

Collectors have a genetic disorder (or that's what my friends tell me.). Collectors love to SAVE THINGS! It's what we do. My company would print cardboard "baseball token" proof of purchases on each box (hobby or retail) of cards. Collectors who obtained these "tokens" could redeem them for special "customer appreciation" collectible baseball cards. Examples of these collectible baseball cards could be seen on my company's web site. I would run a similar type of promotion for the wax wrappers as well. All tokens and wrappers could be mailed back to my company and we would mail out the GU, auto, or chrome card. The amount of tokens or wrappers would determine what type of card the submitting person would receive. These GU, auto, and chrome cards would not be considered part of any set from any year. They would be what they are. BONUSES!!

I think these ideas embody the concept of my card company. Simple, quality, low-buck, appealing cards for collectors from a company that takes pride in its product and believes in building relationships with customers. (High dollar thrill seekers should head to 'Vegas because there is no room for you in my world!) If we scale back, cut overhead, and remember why we are all here, our hobby will survive. (Well. it would if I were running it!)

Jennifer Daniels


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

First, I'm going to simplify things. That means fewer parallels and fewer inserts. Then, I'm bringing in a little technology. Finally, stores have to include commons in their inventory. When I'm done, baseball card collecting will be better than ever.

2007 Topps had at least 46 Carlos Guillen cards. Are you kidding me? Let's clean this mess up. Here's the breakdown:

Topps 5 Copper, Gold, Platinum, RedBack .
Allen and Ginter 8 most of these are minis
Chrome 7 including 6 different kinds of refractors
Co-Signers 13 Does "Hyper Silver Bronze" even make sense?
Update 12 Copper, Gold, Platinum, RedBack .
Heritage 1 See - they can do it

Here's the new rule. 1 parallel set per set of cards. For Topps, I'm keeping Gold and Chrome Refractors. That would get us down to about 10 cards from Topps. The rest have to go.

Now let's talk inserts. I've had enough presidents and signers of the Declaration of Independence. If they don't play baseball, I don't want their card. I don't need 47 inserts of the same player either. Make the insert sets something meaningful and use mostly star players.

Finally, short prints have to go. Short prints make set building nearly impossible. They are a tribute to times when card makers had poor quality control. Well guess what. Old cards are often off center and full of errors. I don't want that garbage either.

Now for the high tech improvement. It is time to add a barcode to the back of each card. That would make inventory much easier for stores and collectors. Stores and collectors could tie in to Beckett's or another pricing service and price accordingly. Stores would know exactly what they have and what they are selling. Bar code scanners aren't that expensive, so individuals could buy them for use at home.

That takes care of the supply, but stores have a job to do too. Too many stores have become a collection of high priced autos and very little else. That specialty market may be profitable, but stores have to serve the common man as well. Using barcodes, stores should be able to easily stock and sell more commons at reasonable prices. That would make finishing off sets much easier for buyers. Collectors who finish sets tend to move on to another set, so the cycle of customers should carry forward.

Saving the baseball card industry is as simple as 1-2-3. Make fewer cards. Add barcodes to make collecting and selling easier. Sell all kinds of cards to all kinds of people.

Greg Fisher


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it...

I'm going to start by aggressively marketing the product to kids...low prices on products specifically designed to be marketed to youth sports organizations with cards featuring player profiles that include their stats or experience in their youth organizations that they participated in. We need to get the youth involved in the hobby as they will be the next innovators and collectors.

I would introduce a chase card for the kids that would allow them to have a card produced with their image and that of their favorite athlete, the athletes autograph and the kids bio.

Next I would attempt to subsidize card shows in markets that do not have a major sports team of their own such as Iowa, the Dakotas, Nebraska etc.. Additionally I would attempt to enlist the support of the athletes themselves (through their unions) that come from rural areas to get out to these shows and assist in promoting the hobby by signing at the event and even giving product away. Let the kids in for free! Give clinics at the shows on how to trade, how to place a value on your cards and where to go to trade (internet, shows, hobby stores). Organize trade nights where people can bring their cards and meet with others to talk about the hobby.

I would solicit as much feedback as possible from the public on what kind of products they want to see. The high end products are great if you can afford them, unfortunately not everyone can and that is discouraging to a lot of collectors as they feel there is no way they'll ever be able to pull that "major mojo" card. So they stop buying or save until they can afford to purchase one box. What do people want??? I personally would purchase more mid priced product if there was a game used and auto'd patch card in every box. I would rather get that then 3 "blah" jersey's or a couple of no name autos. I would also like to see more rookies of players that will actually make it or are more popular, just make 3 or four different levels of them.

Make it desirable for people to build sets! Offer more incentives for them (more wrapper redemptions) and make it easier to do...enough with the 700 card sets already!

Get the leaders in the industry out in the public pushing the hobby, talking about their collections and sharing stories. Get them on TV, late night talk shows, early morning talk shows whenever and whoever will take them! The hobby cannot survive on word of mouth advertising, it needs to do more. I'd love to hear how they come up with designs and see how cards are produced. There are TV shows that show people how things are made...well, how do they cut up that jersey or stick or whatever and get it on that card? These shows are watched by families...hint, hint.

To conclude, we need to get the kids involved, we need to get the word out there about the hobby so advertise, advertise, advertise! There's enough sports coverage on TV these days to have spots on and get people thinking about the product.

Mike Paquette


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

My ideas surround getting back to the days when baseball card collecting flourished and kids couldn't wait to get their first glimpse of that years cards. Back when you traded cards with your buddies to fill out your set. There weren't the short printed cards that made set building virtually impossible. Many collectors used to put away a set of cards for their newborn son or collected a base set with their school age child. Now you have to spend a small fortune, because of the inserts, to get a base set of cards. I loved the Topps Total because it was a large set, affordable, got cards of all the players on your team and got superstar or rookie cards in every pack.

My first and primary suggestion is to offer less products and a maximum of one parallel per set. I am referring to baseball when I suggest set sizes, but the other sports could use the same general format.
In the 70's and 80's the release of the new cards was met with great anticipation. Now with a different set of cards coming out every month there is nothing to look forward to. I would like to see the card companies offer 3 different sets of cards per sport -
1) base set which would be a large set like regular Topps 660 - 800 cards. Offer them all in one series so collectors are buying packs in an effort to complete their set. Offer an update set at the end of the regular season. Only one parallel set like the golds, none of this crap of having the same exact card front, just serial numbered differently to 1,5, 10, 25, 100 and 250... overkill. You can have a few insert sets like: autographs, game used, etc. but not very many so the pack price stays around $1. Maybe the printing plates, as they would be an exciting pull out of an inexpensive pack.

2) a middle of the road set that is affordable to most collectors and maybe appeals to the older collectors, something like the Greats of the Game or the Heritage set. This set would be around 200 cards, feature the players of the past and again only one parallel set. Maybe include an autograph and game used of each base card. Possibly a couple insert sets that highlight past historic milestones.

3) this would be a high end set for the collector that has money to burn and enjoys the "big" pull. This would include the 1/1s, multi-player autos and game used.

Mark Summerfield


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I'm going to start saving the card industry by first re-instating Donruss/Leaf license as a MLB card producer. I feel that a lot of dedicated collectors walked away when Donruss was unceremoniously dropped as a product a few years ago. I also feel that they have a lot to offer for the collector, and I feel that there should be 3 major brands to choose from just like there was when I was a kid back in the early 1980's when I fell in love with collecting.
I'm going to limit each of the three card manufacturers to 4 products each per year (for a total of 12 products) and each product must be released during the major league baseball season. I will strongly push to do away with Update/traded sets but will leave it up to the card companies if they want to use that avenue for one of there sets. One set each from the card manufacturers has to be a lower end, reasonably price set that can be marketed to younger collectors and setbuilders. The companies can produce whatever they like with their other three options. I want Demand to Supercede Supply. I want Supply to be ample but Demand to far excede it. I am going to open new avenues for collectors to get cards. With card shops struggling to make it and not all collectors comfortable with purchasing through Cyberspace I want cards back in the mom and pop stores throughout the country. I want to put cards back in pharmacies, gas stations, and even schools, yes, I believe their is a place for cards in the school system. I want cards to be readily available but not overly saturated. Hardcore collectors will always find their cards but I want the casual collector or the curious collector to stumble back into the hobby or just find the hobby for the first time. I want the guy who just goes into the convenience store for a Soda and candy bar just not be able to resist a couple packs of cards that are stategically placed near the register. I also want to make the card experience exciting and worthwhile enough so that when the collector, fan, excited father/son start coming back to the card hobby they will stay awhile this time. I will have the card companies come up with new promotions to help keep interest high in the hobby. Instead of chase sets and game used in packs companies will offer limited edition vouchers in packs that can be traded in for real Major League tickets. Get one voucher per box and trade it in for any game in any Major League park in the country. Now that is far more exciting than a Shannon Stewart game used warm up, batting practice jersey.
With only 12 products a year produced during the season and more promotional items coupled with more accesibility to the average collector as well as the lifelong collector I believe that the baseball card industry will begin to flourish again!

jamierat


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it:

As someone who has recently returned to collecting baseball cards after a 15 year hiatus, I would like to share some thoughts regarding the state of the hobby, and how I think it might be improved. For the most part, I think that the baseball card industry is fairly healthy. That may seem like an odd statement in light of the recent struggles of the card manufacturers and of hobby shops around the country. But for the most part, the manufacturers put out strong, vibrant products that appeal to a wide range of collectors. And, by contracting itself a few years ago, the industry has returned to a manageable size for collectors to navigate. Sure there is room for improvement, and I will make some suggestions that I think would improve the products being produced. But what would be most beneficial for the baseball card industry, is a good marketing campaign.

For the most part, Topps and Upper Deck produce high quality, desirable products. But there are some changes that could be made which would benefit the industry. First, I would suggest further reducing the number of sets produced by the manufacturers. A total of 34 sets will be issued this year between the two manufacturers. That averages to almost 3 new sets being issued every month. Sometimes, less is more. Concentrate on a few choice products that covers the spectrum of pricing scales. Make those products really strong. (Opening day) I would also suggest scaling back the endless array of parallels and inserts per set. Multiple parallels just make it harder for a collector to assemble a complete collection of their favorite player. And, is anyone really going to collect the thousands of cards planned by Upper Deck for the Yankee Stadium History? My final suggestion for product improvement is to find a way to eliminate pack searching. There's nothing more disturbing than to see a pile of foil packs mutilated by someone trying to find an autograph card inside. Don't get me wrong, I think memorabilia and autographed cards are a great innovation for the hobby. They appeal to all ages and types of collectors. And for the industry to stay vibrant and grow, it has to appeal to more consumers than ever before. But the system for distributing them must be fair to allow everyone an equal chance of finding them. Maybe this means putting a thicker filler card in every pack; or creating a specially designed sheath to conceal the ridges created by autograph stickers. Because, I think for the industry to really thrive, the manufacturers need to get more cards out in front of the general public. And, no one is going to buy a pack of ruined cards they know won't have anything special inside.

That leads me to my belief that the a little creative, and aggressive, marketing could go a long way to help the baseball card industry. Twenty years ago when I was collecting, baseball cards were everywhere. Now, you have to hope you still have a hobby shop nearby or find the tiny display of cards in the dark corner of your local Wal-Mart. The card manufacturers need to expand the presence of their products to the general public. Get more outlets to sell cards: grocery stores, convenient stores, drug stores. Put up flashy posters and displays. Put ads before movies. Card manufacturers should expand the idea of National Baseball Card Day. Treat the day as a marketing loss leader and give cards away anywhere you can. Move the day later in the baseball season and hand them out at every major and minor league stadium. Send packs of cards to schools, scouting groups, Little League teams, and anywhere else that will take them. Make the cards promos of actual, upcoming products rather than just randomly designed cards. Do whatever it takes to bring baseball cards out of the hidden dusty corners and into the spotlight again.

One of the arguments I've heard people use to bemoan the death of the hobby is that kids (and adults for that matter) don't collect today because they are too involved with video games and other technology based diversions. And while I agree that people today have more choice in where to spend their time and money, I don't see that as a deterrent, but as an opportunity. By way of example, two of the most popular things going are sports video games (Madden anyone?) and fantasy sports. Card manufacturers could team up with these groups and use these popular products as a vehicle to promote baseball cards. A code on the back of a card could unlock special player abilities or venues within a video game. Fantasy leagues could have incentives tied to owning the cards of the players drafted. Card manufacturers should start treating obstacles such as these as opportunities for creative cross branding.

I grew up collecting cards in the mid-1980's. I collected for the thrill of finding my favorite players and for the fun of chasing those last few cards to complete a set. I quit collecting 15 years ago when it was no longer fun, when collecting baseball cards no longer felt like a hobby. In those 15 years, the baseball card industry has made great strides to better itself and move in positive directions. The product now is probably better than it has ever been. I think all it needs is an aggressive push back into the mainstream to soar again.

Scott Cyr
Elmira, NY


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it.

Remember riding your bicycle to the local general store and buying a pack of Topps baseball cards? My first memories are from 1970. I was eight years, living in South Jersey. The drab, gray border cards seemed bigger than life to an eight year old Phillie fan frantically searching for Tony Taylor, Chris Short, Terry Harmon or Jim Bunning.

How times have changed. Today, I accompany my son (who's 18 and graduating next week from high school) to WalMart or Target, and rummage through a variety of brands, packs and boxes of cards. Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Bowman . who can keep track? What once cost me a dime, now costs $3-4.

Today's baseball card industry has out priced their product for young buyers and oversaturated the market for adult collectors. Economic pressures of inflation and near recession across the U.S. have also had an impact on sports card collecting.

However, attendance at major league baseball games is at a record high. Millions of fans across the country are active in fantasy and rotisserie baseball leagues. How can this enthusiasm for America's past-time be re-captured by the baseball card industry?

Streamlining product offering would appear to be a good start. Both new and experienced hobbyists have a difficult time deciding what to collect because of the variety of cards available. One standard set, one rookie set, one heritage set and one premium set would provide sufficient options and make collecting decisions easier.

Additional market research regarding price-sensitivity is also imperative for the industry to advance. Children and their parents have more entertainment choices for disposable income. Keeping prices affordable will be important to expand the base of collectors in America.

While card companies can consider traditional marketing efforts such as narrowing their product offerings and adjusting prices, the greatest opportunity for the industry to grow is to invest in youth baseball throughout the United States and integrate collecting with technology. Basketball, football, soccer and other activities have surpassed baseball in student involvement. Youth who do not play baseball are most likely not going to be interested in collecting baseball cards.

Today's younger generation is also much more comfortable with technology than their parents. The industry must find creative solutions to integrating technology with card collecting.

My son collects cards the old fashioned way ... by the pack ... working to complete a set. I have mostly given up collecting current cards and have focused on completing sets from the mid-50's. In both cases, however, we're still collecting cards. The enjoyment that comes with opening a pack of cards, completing a set, getting a card autographed at a game and spending quality time together has been invaluable in strengthening our relationship.

We would encourage other fathers and sons (and mothers and daughters!) to join us.

jime


I’m going to save the baseball card industry and here’s how I’m going to do it

In a world full of new challenges by means of shortening economy, dollar crisis, war and recession; can we save the collectible and Baseball card business? In order to do so, we need to be very creative. We will be exposing how we think it can be done.

The Internet has shortened the collector stores offer. Not everyone is updated in the technology side of the business. I am proposing that major card companies help in developing internal web sites for small stores that goes not have the ability or resources to do so. Since dealers sell bigger items (card boxes, memorabilia, etc), Card Companies will be helping to sell their own products. Most small stores have lots of good material that can be sold this way. However, if the store owner wants to sell smaller items (individual cards, sets, figures, etc.), they must invest into improving their webpage capabilities and not being paid by card companies.

In general terms for the industry, I will vote for three major licenses (Topps, UD and maybe Donruss) on Baseball cards. Market will support it, as long as the offer is limited to six products per brand. An agreement must be made to make one product per brand as a product directed to kids (ie.UD 1st pitch, etc.). Low cost product, $1 range. Then, 1-2 regular products and three to four other products on high end status, and may include variations, inserts and parallels. Even high end product should be available for hobby and retail markets (smaller boxes, individual packs). {Note: SCD get out an article 2 weeks ago confirming this, I wrote the article first!}

In terms of Game used, they should be offered but on a limited quantity, to make it more valuable. Autos should be included always, not in a redemption form. Sticker or card auto most be determined on the type of product material (ie. UD Sweet Spot must be card auto, Regular Topps might be in sticker). High cost product may have its differences in this terms.

Promotions for kids should be run on Hobby stores on a monthly basis to attract kids. Also for everyone (kids and adults), these same promotions should run during spring training, Openning Day, All Stars weekend and during playoffs and World Series. All major hobby stores on all states and territories, as well as Canada and any other country MUST be included. The availability of a telecast by web-seminar should be promoted by major companies on these dates. They must use for showcase new products, as well as promoting all they want of newer/old products.

A major card trading circuit must be promoted by manufacturing companies. They must create a shared website and all actual major trading groups must be taken into consideration and participate as contributor. Card trading days must be promoted monthly by hobby stores. All attendees must leave their needs. This would promote set building, team collecting and individual players collecting. They should share with other collectors and hobby stores owner must use this as selling/trading days that may help increase their sales.

Every state, territory and/or country must have a yearly convention, sponsored by each manufacturing company. Promotional items will be distributed, baseball players must be invited for signing (most free signing), and trading must be a great part of the activity.

Pedro Cortes


I’m going to save the baseball card industry and here’s how I’m going to do it.

I’m a huge fan of sports cards, but baseball cards in particular. Where I live, there is only one or two card shops within a thirty mile radius. This is because less and less people are following the wonderful hobby of sports cards. For example, I have many friends at school who used to follow this hobby, but have dropped it over time because they just don’t think it is worth it anymore. I think that card companies should change this. One huge way to bring back cards is by advertising, not only on television, but on Myspace, Facebook, etc. Here, millions of people, specifically between the ages of 15 and 25 use their Myspaces or Facebooks everyday. Advertisement posters here would be a great way to get some people back on track to collecting cards again. Don’t promote cards to adults because adults have way to many expenses to pay as it is, they don’t want to spend their money on a pack of cards, so instead promote card products to children because collection’s always begin at a young age. Making more product or less won’t make a difference to the consumers. What needs to be made are more interesting cards such as parallels, game used, autographs, and more because it is almost impossible to pull one of those out of a pack. In my opinion I would promote my product to younger adults/children because they are more gulable and vulnerable to buy the product. What I am going to do and have been doing is trying to get my friends to fall back in love with cards again. Now, I talk about it a lot more at school and tell my friends about the cool cards I pull out of packs. They seem to be more and more interested. As for me, I’m going to continue to do what I am doing, which is buying baseball cards and hopefully help to keep the hobby alive.

ebspartan09


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it...

There are many ideas and theories out there of how to make the card collecting hobby popular. Some people say there are too many brands, some say there are too many game used and autographed cards. Both are arguably true. However, cutting down on these things will just make the hobby less demanding. The hobby has declined, but it can rise again. Promoting, just like most things, is the key.
Of course sporting events is a great way to promote sports cards. What about non-sporting events or programs? Hundreds of thousands of people are signing up for Dish Network, Direct TV, Comcast, and Cox digital cable. Millions of people are buying new cell phones everyday. Grant it, many people are not interested in sports cards. That doesn't mean Upper Deck or Topps, among other brands, can't market through these companies. It's worth a shot, right?
For instance, a family signs up for Dish Network. A husband, wife, and two young children sign up for the 100-channel package deal for a year. They receive a hobby box of Topps Chrome or Upper Deck Masterpieces by signing up for the package. Both products are attractive and might spark a new collector. Companies are becoming partners in business everyday.
Card companies getting involved with companies such as Verizon or Sprint would be a smart move as well. Even if the customer buying the product is not interested in sports cards, that doesn't mean they won't sell them on eBay. Ebay is a big part of the sports card hobby.
It might be a risk, but if successful it could be a huge boost to the hobby, as well as the wallets of all sports card brands. It's a win-win situation for both parties, and could possibly "save" the hobby.

jdthakid36


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

As the role of the "virtual world" increases especially in the united states were it is said nearly 20% (about 60 million) of all Americans have an Avatar or belong to a virtual simulation community (this number is said to increase to 80% by 2010), the card industry cannot afford to overlook this phenomena. My suggestion then is to have a virtual community where consumers can buy packs of cards online. The cards would be virtual at first, that is they will be random, numbered and credited to the account of the particular collector. After a specified amount of time the cards would be shipped to the consumer. The greatest part of this community would be that cards could be collected and traded virtually (trading was one of my favorite aspects of card collecting as a kid and I think is still one of the favorite among collectors today). That means you know what condition the card you receive will be in, near mint factory condition. Also this would allow the companies to offer more services such as grading, mounting, top load, mounting or advance protection encasement services. The up sell and cross sell opportunity would be immense. One of the great benefits this to the companies is that companies would never overrun cards and that would decrease expenses and increase profits since they can seemingly "print on demand."

bb7_2000


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I am going to save the baseball card collecting industry by incorporating technology into the hobby. The use of technology would be twofold. First it would provide an educational experience for collectors. Secondly, it would provide an added entertainment venue to the hobby.
Here is what I would do. I would focus on less expensive inventory. (Topps, Upper Deck and Fleer). Next I would take the money saved from not buying the pricey stuff, and use it for technology attractions and giveaways. For example, I would buy a "Wi" Game and have it available for use for a amount of time depending upon what is purchased in my shop. I would also conduct contests on baseball card website creations, collector spreadsheets, and other ways to utilize the computer in collecting. I would conduct monthly drawings for inexpensive technology aids, and have a grand prize drawing during the holiday season for an I-Pod. Customers must have made a purchase to be eligible for drawings.
The intent here would be to inexpensively keep the hobby alive while promoting something all kids are or want to be involved with today.I would stay away from the SP,GU or Auto concept and return to a simple set-building mentality. It has to be affordable for collectors.

Bob Novy


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it...

I agree that there is a need for establishing a new generation of fan. While MLB has done a nice job of promoting parity within the league, which helps to promote the players and teams across the country, there is little that they do to assist the card collecting industry.

I think that the way to target the next generation is to have cards that appeal to the younger generation. Go back to 99 cent packs, and not with just 5 cards. Instad of having auto's and game used in the packs, put in collectable stuff that would appeal to them. Let them win posters, banners, caps, jerseys and other stuff that would appeal to youngsters. Maybe have high end prizes like meet and greets with players, or ball-boy for a day. Stuff that really drives the interest of younger collectors.

I would also do more targeted advertising for the younger generation. Start running commercials on TV. Kids needs to see the hobby in the same manor that they see video games and other products that compete for their attention and their money.

Lastly, I would also start to push the games that many of us played as a child. Many children get into Pokemon, Magic the Gathering and other card games. When I was younger, we used to flip cards, scale cards against a wall, put cards in our spokes and other fun things. It was great to collect the players I liked, and still have something fun to do with the cards that I did not have an inetrest in collecting. I do not see that this is something that is promoted. Everything about the hobby now is hunting for the white whale.

I guess in summary, the key is to sell the cards at a price they can afford, make it appealing to them, and give them something fun to do with the cards.

Tom Moss


I Am Going to Save the Baseball Card Industry and This is How I'd Do it

As a collector who got back into the hobby in 2001, I am surprised to see how much the industry has dwindled in recent years. Saving or at least reinvigorating the baseball card industy would require a multi-faceted solution.

First, let's examine what I believe to be some of the factors hurting the industry. Card shops are closing down at an alarming rate. My three favorite local shops all closed within the past year. Card shows, whether it be a mall show or other venue are becoming fewer and farther between. The marketing of the hobby to the casual fan; and the growing expense of the hobby all hurt the industry.

Card shops are hurt by the internet. No "store front" operating costs to cover online that a shop owner pays. Operating costs to the store owner means he sells product at a higher price. I went to a shop that was selling a box of what I was collecting at $85. I knew the shops Ebay ID and found online they had the box "BUY IT NOW" at $40, which was about the norm for that box on EBAY. Why get ripped at the store when I can get it so much cheaper online. For the card shop's success, creativity is a necessity for survival:
1. I understand some mark-up to cover operating costs, just stop being ridiculous.
2. Creativity:
* Went to a shop that had a once a month "Pack Wars". Every dollar you spent during the month you got a raffle ticket toward drawings at the Pack War. They had 12-15 drawing give-aways. That got you in the door to spend more during the month to increase chances of winning a raffle (Freebies work). Then on day of Pack Wars, shop provided pizza and soda free to all. They then drew for the 12-15 give-aways. Here's where they cleaned up...They then gave everyone in attendance a raffle ticket to the actual Pack Wars. They then proceeded to offer different products at a discounted price, and played 3 games with each product such as, card #'s or certain inserts, etc would all receive another raffle ticket for the Pack War grand prize drawings. They did 10-12 products. Well they took credit cards, cash, debits and people lined up to buy packs. We already had one free raffle ticket to the grand prizes, plus getting these packs at a discounted price, plus we keep all the cards we bought so the sweet pulls were there, and a room full of your fellow collecting entusiasts, why leave...it equalled one heck of a take for the house. And the prizes at the end were numerous, another 12-18 depending on crowd size.
* Set up Birthday parties at the card shop.
* Set up internet/Beckett price guide access and charge for computer time.
* Host parties in shop (Super Bowl, playoffs, Nascar, Ketucky Derby, March Madness).
* Come up with non-sports card purchase ways of generating revenue: sports video games (2 Golden Tee's at my local tavern) and you can never get on them, or a pop-a-shot. Once in a while have a tourney with the games, offer some sort of fantasy league contest where the participants have to stop by each week to drop off line ups. Generate foot traffic, reasons to come in, stop by, hang out. Contact local little league leagues and get coupons and "low-cost" freebies out to the kids. The days of the card shop owners putting a sign in the window and unlocking the door are gone. You must be an aggressive and creative businessperson.

Secondly, it costs too much for a table at card shows. Vendors are more reluctant to strike "deals" with customers because they have to cover table costs. Find cheaper venues and make sure the sponsor is not gouging on table prices. Plus guests to sign autographs is a great idea, but it has to be someone of value. No one wants to pay $10 for an autographed picture of the 47th guy who wore #98 for the Raiders.

Lastly, as stated by the card collecting public a lot over recent years...and even more elequently by my wife, "You spent how much on baseball cards"? OUCH! I'm paying how much for a pack/box because there's a 1/1 Babe Ruth card that some kid got his picture in Beckett Monthly for pulling? Not to mention the inflated book values on guys who haven't played yet. I love getting my hands on $40 RC's of guys who stink 3 years later, and whose card I can't give away then. Where's the value in that. Attention card companies, just make the cards like you did in the 70's and 80's; and if that guy I never heard of turns into Jeter 10 years later, let me reap the benefits of a card that increases in value. As a consumer, I will keep on buying and more at that. But paying Jeter prices upfront on unproven talent that devalues into a career minor leaguer is ruining the industry.

hrwbell


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and this is how I'm going to do it

 I believe that there are too many expensive baseball products that card companies are releasing. The kids see people buying $300 boxes of upper deck that have one or two packs in it, with ten cards that are all numbered. they're just worried about how valuable their cards are and what good "pulls" they can get. Whatever happened to buying cards to get their favorite players and to get all of the players in their team.

If Topps and Upper Deck started to focus more on their less expensive products, and less on their more expensive products, then the baseball card industry would receive a much higher revenue. Sure, they should still make high cost packs and boxes, but just make less of them. Also, Upper Deck should improve the quality of their first edition, and regular baeball cards. If they put more numbered inserts into their boxes and packs, it would be much more exciting for my friends and I to open the packs. they could use Topps as an example, who have numbered gold and copper inserts, which are really nice cards.

My friends and I really enjoy collecting baseball cards, and we would hate to see the baseball card industry fade into obscurity.

-Will
Columbus, Ohio


I'm going to save the baseball card industy and this is how I'm going to do it

Well, every since i was about eight ive loved collecting basball cards. the reason the card industry is dying is probably because the will to collect is dying. and i think theres one big reason why the card industry is dying. it would have to be that prices are so high for a pack of cards a pack of topps is like 5.00 dollars. i think the price on the cards should be deduducted 1 or 2 dollars. i think maybe if you do that people would buy more of them. because the best collectors are the young ones, and they probably dont want to spend there whole allowance on a pack of cards. i know i didnt, all i could offord was a pack of leaf or donruss. dont get me wrong i would occasionaly buy topps or fleer when i had more money because i loved collecting baseball cards. well thats my oppnion on collecting and how i would save it thanks.

chanler0072000


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

What I'd do first, is to do more publicity around the hobby. I think the hobby is declining because people don't talk about it. Budweiser sells beer because their product is good and mostly because they do a lot of publicity. It is the same thing with baseball cards. The product is good, but there is no publicity. If kids would see an Upper Deck add featuring Derek Jeter who tells them that collecting is cool, the chances they start collecting would be bigger.

Also, baseball cards collecting is now an adult world because everyone when they bust an autograph, a jersey card, a rookie card, the next day it's on eBay. I remember when my dad had a signed card of Bobby Orr (I'm mostly a hockey card collector but I like baseball too), he could have sell it but he didn't. He thought it would be more thrilling to have it in my possession for years to come. The solution is to give kids more access to baseball cards and allow them to keep those valuale cards. When they'd show their collection, they'd start by those cards. And if their parents would take interest in their collection, they'd be pride of that and more encouraged to continue to collect. It can be something to do in family, an occasion to spend time with your kids.

In conclusion, the best way to save the baseball card industry is not to act alone but as a society. Collecting cards is a really nice past-time, an interesting way to have fun in family and it a lot better than company shares.

j_p_mercier33


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

The problem i see with younger kids now days in wanting to collecting ANYKIND of sportcards-Is the price of them-The cost has skyrocketed-I also think the word would get out there more-If there was a way kids could get more info from there schools-Or even have like a insentive program-I donate cards and other sporting gifts every year-They use them to give to Pee Wee baseball teams or for like a reward bag-that they allow kids to have for doing good on a test or attendance-Kids now days are getting into the online and video games more today-Because years ago-There wasnt any-I think the pack prices are to high now-And its turning more into a grown up and rich hobby-Even myself would like to have some of the better packs-But being dissable has its limitations-So i think all the companys should have more lower end products-That gives you a chance on pulling a insert card from those lower end products-That you would normall only find in a higher end product-This is somthing i havent seen much of-But if word gets out there-It surely wont hurt the hobby any-And today-About all most collectors think about-Is getting a higher end card-So have them inserted in other lower end products as inserts-And now days-Autographed or game used cards-Kids now days would have to be dirrected into collecting-More word has to get out there-Because theres so much more out there for kids to do now days-Than it was years ago-Just think about it-Theres all the different home video game systems like X-Box 360-or the Wii-or playstations-and on line computer games like warcraft and many more-Put it this way-Kids are more active now days-So what i think could be of a help-Would be to TRY this-Inserting higher end products-into lower end products-And the pack feeling and weighing has gone way out of controll-Everyone and everyplace is doing it-People are even weighing boxes now days-I could go on and on about ways to save the hobby-but finding the right one-is not going to be a easy task.

kawhona4


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I think the reason of why shops are closing is that there are less consumers out "there". And it is because the MLB, which is the main topic of the cards, is struggling financially. And why is that? It is because of the use of steroids and HGH, with a strict rule and more fair competition, I think the MLB business should grow better and better, so would the merchandise-selling industry, most notably baseball cards.


I can prevent the whole disaster from happening as an everyday citizen by supporting the clubs. I can do this by buying everyday products from their respective sponsors. For example, the Blue Jays' sponsors are mainly Rogers and Home Hardware, I can buy tools from Home Hardware instead of other shops or use internet of Rogers. I can also prevent the whole disaster from happening as an everyday citizen by writing a letter to the commissioner, Mr. Selig, to pass a rule that would give a player lifetime ban and maximum fine so less players would attempt to break the rule.


The actions above are the ones that I think would help the baseball card industry because in my opinion, the reason behind all this is that the MLB is not attracting enough positive attention from the people out "there".

johnnytang


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

The marketing approach to for the card industry needs to change. It needs to start first with creating fewer products. There are to many products that do not give enough results. Also there needs to be more autos and game used inserted into packs. Kids are disappointed when they open a pack and get nothing good. Another change that I think would help is doing more contests. I have found that codes on the pack of cards and the prospect of redeeming cards for prizes help attract kids. I think if kids had a chance to win a trip to meet a player or a redemption card for an auto baseball or bat would help bring people back the hobby. It is tough to keep people attracted to cards because of TV and video games. There need to be new things that are created to refresh the market. I think forums and internet trading helps a little, but the best solution I see to fix the market. It is the job of the car companies to recreate the market and the products they put out in order to help and bring a new generation into the hobby. Colleting cards are a great hobby, but the market has become boring and repetitive. New fun and creative products need to be created to save the market.

golfmanccl


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it..

There has to be a better middle ground. These companies go from packs at the cost of under five dollars a pack to hundreds of dollars to pack. Which every one knows the more you pay the better the pay-out is in getting something nice. But on average what is the average amount most collectors spend. And the retail versus the hobby packs the same thing.. Also the redemption idea is good if you can get the companies.

So this is what I would do.

I would make the packs be priced at a fair value. So more people can afford a little bit of everything. By upgrading the lesser value packs and then down grading the high dollar packs. As for gu or autos it is understandable the hofer’s or deceased items should be redemption type of cards. But as far as active players all their autos must be on card period. They are giving paychecks to ball players which is their choice to do then they have to sign the cards. And all packs need to be produced them same way to avoid those mysterious pack feelers ruining the fun of opening packs for other people. Redemption cards need to have a better turn-around time since it has been narrowed down to the hofer’s and the deceased the companies should already have then on hand. When you redeem it the card should be in-hand in to the collector within 2 weeks. These companies need to remember the set makers as well. Set builders are hard to find. Because there is too many short prints or a dozen variations of one card they just can’t complete the sets anymore. And the producing if it is a 1 of 1 the so be, but 3 versions of the 1 of 1 defeats the term they use. But in the same version if you get a case you don’t want 9 gu from the same player either. Companies state inserts are random. Doesn’t seem that away. If I had to sum up how I would save the hooby in one more. Please make it FUN!

d. depler


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I do believe that the baseball card industry is falling apart. I would like to save it being a very big collector myself. I would want to use many different resources. First, I would make a contest that if you bought a total of 10 packs then you may go to a participating store and you would receive 50% off of any purchase. Then, I would make a website to show how fun collecting baseball cards are. I would explain the joy of collecting your favorite player's card. I would also touch how great is it to watch your collection grow.


Now days, most kids spend their time watching TV, playing on the computer, Using Im's, Chatting on the computer, Etc. Now it would even be better if our youth start collecting cards right now. It would be nice to have not a government holiday, but just a little thing with you friend's kids and their friends. We should have a day where the kids put down their electronics and go over to a store and buy some cards to make a collection. This would benefit the baseball card industry because people would be encouraged to buy some cards and that would cause the industry to prosper for a while.


As for adults, we would have to not just stop after we get one pack and say "cool, I got a collection..." We need to start using our time and when we have time; we should take advantage of it. There isn't much more that me can do, but all we need is for more people to feel good about collecting and have more people was to collect. We really need to have the card shop population start to populate again. It will be good for us and good for the generations after us! If this can be good for us it can be good for everyone. I say lets do every thing we can to make this small population grow back.

AJ Wurtz


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

The card industry has become worse and worse over the years. Shops are closing because of lack of sales. What is the cause of these bad sales, I ask you? It is not a lack of interest; it is because the industry has changed for the worse. Back in the day, you could get five cards for only a nickel, now you see card prices go up to two dollars for five cards. In fact the other day my buddy got a pack of five cards for ten dollars and did not get any kind of autograph or memorabilia. Did you know that cards from 1990 are sold for one dollar when they are actually labeled to be worth only thirty-five cents? That's ridiculous! Also people now treat their cards like a business, buying and selling. Card shops and sellers should try to demonstrate the fun in collecting cards, like have contests, challenges, competitions, or any kind of activities to attract people to their stores. BC Sports has started making this approach by having their kid's card club. Stores should have weekly competitions like card flipping which is an old favorite. Having weekly competitions attracts card collectors to a person's shop every week instead of every month, like how most card shop promotion days are. Card shows at malls also attract big crowds in attendance. So I feel that shops should have card shows on days of certain events in sports. That is how card retail stores can prevent themselves from closing, and have a long lasting business.

SeaMar1028


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

I would save the card industry, if i was a shop owner, the first thing i would do is market it more to kids by giving away cards to kids on a weekly basis or by having drawings every weekend ! then i would lower the profits i had make on the box's to a minumum of 15 % ! you've got to lower the prices for packs so kids can afford them ! as a shop owner i can use the internet for selling cards too then you can move more cards ! most shop owners will not take anything you have in trade and if a kid pulls a redsox gameused card and lives in texas and is a astros or rangers fan he has to try to find someone that is a redsox fan in his neighborhood, when i could trade for it and sell it on the internet and the kid could get a bagwell or biggio gameused card he really wanted instead of it gathering dust or card gets ruined ! also one thing i would do for the kids is keep or trade cards with them even the commons if i had to trade packs or other commons for them !
Second if i made the cards i would not put short print cards in the base sets ! if you want to add black backs and other types of cards do not make it where i have to buy 17 boxes just to get the base set of cards ! i don't mind trading for a few cards but with short prints everyone don't or cannot afford to buy another box just to get two or three cards !plus everyone else trying to complete the sets are looking for the same cards !it makes it very difficult to trade when all a person has on there wantlists are sp's and numbered cards that are in the base set !
the third thing i would do is reduce the prices to the card shop owners so we can get a good box of cards at a reasonable cost ! paying $100.00 or more for any box is way to much especially if your chances to get a $100.00 card is 1 in 3,000 or more ! if they want to keep the prices higher then they should reduce the number of common player autos and gameused cards to reflect the box pricing !they have to make it more cost effective to the buyers ! i would never put a redemption card in any box, unless the redemption date never expires, because you may buy the box and finally get a redemption card thats not worth the cardboard its printed on ! that way shop owners would keep more cards in stock that kids can afford, when the prices are reduced after the newer products come out, like the older box's !right now you only get the new released cards for the year ! they would make up for the price reductions by selling more cards in more years than the current year !

david jackson


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

Saving the baseball card industry would mean that the major companies would have to bite the bullet a little. If each major company just produced one or two sets per year, and peppered the boxes of cards with plenty of autographs, relics and game-used, I think that the consumers would actually enjoy and patronize the hobby more. The crush to buy the latest box of expensive cards must surely have crashed, since the average person is focusing on filling their gas tanks and refrigerators due to this economy. Keep it simple - offer less choices, but put out a quality product that people can trade and buy!

langfan1


I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it

If I was in charge of making trading cards I would make cards with autographs on both sides of the cards.I would also offer 6 or 7 cards in a pack for $1.00 or less.I would also bring back the bubble gum in a pack but put it in a plastic sleeve to keep it from getting on the cards.I would also do away with having to get stickers with the autographs on them.I would also throw in promotional such as redemptions for Team cards that would let the winner pick which team they would want.

Fairon Spears
 

4/29/2008
It's time for another writing contest. The winner will be awarded with a Hobby Box of 2008 Topps baseball cards!!

This time, it's up to you to save the baseball card hobby from disappearing. As you may already know, card shops are closing at an alarming rate. For those shops that are staying open, most owners will tell you it's a serious challenge to stay in business. Our last contest had to do with getting a new generation of kids to collect, but is that the answer? Maybe it's a piece of the solution, maybe not. We want you to put your CEO hats on and tell us how you'd market and grow the hobby for years to come.

For example:
Perhaps you'd use the Internet in some creative way?
Maybe the solution is to aggressively market to adults only?
Would you make less product or more?
More game-used or not?
Sticker autos or on card only?
Hopefully you have a completely unique ideas and strategies of your own!

Here are a few guidelines for you to follow:
1. The subject or your essay must be - I'm going to save the baseball card industry and here's how I'm going to do it
2. Stick to the subject.
3. You must write a minimum of 200 words.
4. All essays must be turned in by Monday May 12^th, 2008
5. We're looking for originality and genuinely good ideas to help save the baseball card hobby.
6. Use our contact form to submit your essay.

All entries will be posted on our site - at our discretion.

Remember, May 12^th is the deadline!

Good luck!
Sportscardfun.com

4/24/2008
Today we completed our first writing contest. It was very hard to pick just one winner! Many of the essays were written with heartfelt emotion and fittingly, a touching sense of nostalgia. Perhaps some of these might just inspire parents out there help their child discover the joys of collecting baseball cards. We believe that collectors have some keen insights into the sports card hobby which should be shared. Not only do we like giving away boxes of baseball cards (that's fun!), but we're trying to help spread the word about this fun hobby and hopefully do some small part to help keep this great pastime thriving. Our first contest was for a hobby box of 2008 Topps Baseball cards. The subject for this first contest was...Why should a kid start collecting baseball cards? Thanks to all of you who entered!

The winning essay is posted first and was written by davealcox from Milford NH:

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
There's no question children have numerous outlets that
exhaust hours of their precious time. Video games, television,
movies, texting, interactive internet vehicles such as youtube,
myspace and facebook have given children access to become
immersed in today's trends for youths'. However, a hidden gem
for our youth would be collecting sport cards such as baseball.
Baseball offers more than any other outlet a child could currently
engage in. Baseball is a national pastime. It is revered by both
young and old. Collecting sport cards can have numerous positive
effects for a child.

First, it would bridge a generational gap between young and old.
A kid can pull hall of famer cards and hear stories from people,
hopefully a relative, or even (this is really wishful thinking) a dad,
about the person they pulled. These stories would be great ice
breakers for parents/adults and children to start conversation.
Second, a child can greatly improve academic skills by
organizing and establishing a collection. Reading the backs of the
cards, understanding the subsets, determining differences such as
gold foil vs. gold cards can promote math, reading and logistical
skills. Reading where the person was born, and identifying the city
or team the person is playing for, could also improve geographical
skills as well. Third, the child can learn basic economics by
understanding values of cards. Using Beckett magazine, a child
can learn how to research prices and understand simple values
from odds that are stated on boxes to consumer demand by
popularity of players. These are the inherent skills, rather than
"wow...i have a pack of cards! I wonder how much money the
players inside are worth!" These skills would supersede the
'get rich quick'-I hope- vision that younger kids may have.
Fourth, aside from all the educational benefits, collecting is just
plain fun. It gives opportunity to go on 'scavenger hunts' for cards
to finish sets, opens dialogue with people who like to trade, and is
a much more affordable hobby than other activities already identified
earlier.

Unlike the other activities listed above, it's a positive outlet for
children that can continue well into adulthood. If you're 50 and
you're still texting your friends 100 times a day, or playing video
games for hours, or writing on your friends myspace walls until 3 AM,
people will look at you funny and think you're a little odd. If
you're 50 and you're going after a hard to find David Ortiz card to
finish your set, people are excited for you and will try to help you find it.
I hope these arguments can convince children of all ages of the
benefits of collecting :)
Dave Alcox

Our honorable mention and number 2 pick goes to a more controversial essay. The writer, Jason Voyles,  eloquently points out some of the challenges currently faced by the hobby.

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?

As much as I hate to admit it, I don't anticipate winning the box of 2008
Topps. It's not that I can't effectively and articulately pen a response to
the question at hand. I can. It's not that I don't want the box. Trust me,
I do. It's that my answer is controversial and may not be exactly what
you're looking for.

Kids shouldn't start collecting baseball cards. They currently
do not have a single reason to. And I don't think it has as much to
do with the competition for their attention as some might think. The
Sports Card industry has become a convoluted mess of inserts, game
used memorabilia, and endless variations. It is no longer a hobby
for children in much the same way that video games are no longer made
for 8 year olds.

The "targeted demographic" for sports collectibles are those guys
that started out buying up Donruss with their allowance. Those that
can afford the price structure that the hobby has evolved
into. Who's purchasing the new ultra violent PS3 games? Guys that
used to play Super Mario while listening to New Kids on the
Block. The kids that made these industries boom are all grown up now.

This creates another question. What made ME start collecting
baseball cards as a kid? I have to answer that by saying that I know
what made me, until recently, stop collecting. Price. Undecipherable variations. Bloated sets that made it impossible to "collect". Professional grading. The magic has been lost in the marketing.

I am 28 years old with extensive computer knowledge. I have
subscriptions to all of the major price guides to include Beckett's
Online Database. Yet, I have wrestled for over 6 months to figure
out which variation I have of a 2007 Topps Co-Signers Hanley
Ramirez. I pulled a Babe Ruth 2007 Goudey Immortals Jersey out of a
retail box. My wife didn't want me touching the jersey. When did
the monetary value become more important than running my finger
across a jersey worn by the Bambino? I attempted to copy and paste a
list of all the Manny Ramirez cards in existence from Beckett into a
spreadsheet. My computer crashed four times before I gave up. How
could I even begin to create a master set of all of Manny's stuff
when 25% or more are all "One-of-Ones"

Why is there only one 2007 Upper Deck First Edition, yet you have
Elements, Future Stars, Premier, Sp Rookie, Spectrum, UD
Masterpieces, UD Black, etc. Tell me who that's geared
towards? Look at the pricing for these packs and then show me a kid
that wants to spend their only $10 bucks for the week to get 4
cards. Card Manufacturers need to change their intent, not their strategy.

Finally, what made me start back? Almost a year ago, I opened my
old shoe boxes to see what I could sell on eBay. As I sorted through
the cards "one last time" I was amazed that I could identify the
players on each card before I ever saw the name. Guys like Hensley
Meulens, Bo Diaz, Luis Polonia, Jeff Blauser, Phil Plantier,
etc. That is what made me come back home.

I don't know that the industry, based on the question, can be
fixed. I do know however, a 4 year old t-ball star sleeping soundly
in his bed right now that is going to help me put together a hand
collated set of ragged 1990 Topps sometime in the near future. I
won't have to market anything. I won't have a strategy for
convincing him of how fun it can be. I do have faith that he'll
understand the enthusiasm and the magic in my eyes. I trust that my
son will hear the faint whisper of a hobby tradition long gone.

Jason Voyles

Here are the rest of these excellent essays - thanks again to everyone who contributed!

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
As a child my grandfather used to send me a factory set of Topps every year for my birthday. My father however never let my open the sealed box sets. He would tell me that the baseball cards inside would be worth more money if the boxes remained unopened. I didn’t understand this, not at the age of 9. I would beg my father to see what the cards inside looked like and he always turned me down. Trying to explain the laws of supply and demand to a child must have been like talking to a wall. All I wanted to do was play with the cards. I didn’t even know many of the players at that time.

Eventually we reached a compromise and he took me to the local card shop and bought a Beckett and a couple of packs of 1989 Upper Deck. I’ll never forget that day when we came home from the shop and sat down in the living room and we opened three packs. The whole time my father was showing me how to look up the value of the cards.

“See, Nick this one is worth .08.” He would say

“And this one is worth .12.”

He told me that some day they might be worth more or less depending on the demand of those cards. Of course all I cared about was opening the rest of the packs, until we opened that last pack. As he was reading the numbers off for me to look up in the Beckett, we came across the one card that would change our lives forever, The Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie. When I read the value back to him we just stared silently at each other with our mouths dropped to the table. We both jumped up and rushed for the door. Before I knew it we were back at the card shop to buy more cards. We were hooked. After that we were hitting card shows, and buying packs on every trip to the grocery store.

I was very lucky to have shared so many great moments like these with my father. I’m 28 now and to this day we still have these moments. I don’t think there is a video game in the world that can give you that kind of joy. Kids today would also benefit from collecting because of the skills they can acquire while collecting. Skills such as basic marking skills: Networking; organizational skills; how to sell and trade; keep inventory; and the law of supply and demand. The Internet creates a bigger market for trading than I could have ever imagined. But nothing beats going to shows with your friends and networking and trading with people one on one. A skill they will use the rest of there lives. Who knows they could grow up to be on Wall Street or the next GM of a major sports team?

I could go on and on about the joys of collecting and why we all should do our part to help the industry. The main reason I collect is to own as many pieces of baseball history as I can.

Nick Vitello

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
Collecting cards can be fun. Collecting cards brings you
closer to the sport you love. Collecting cards can also bring you
closer to the ones you love.

Just imagine the fun of going to the store, purchasing a few packs of
cards, and ripping them open to see what you've got. Maybe a game
used card, maybe an autograph card, maybe a serial numbered rare
card; or maybe just a card from your favorite team. But the fun
begins when you share the excitement with your parent, relative, or
friend. Perhaps your parent will tell you a story about the
player. Or maybe your friend and you can pore over the statistics of
the player, or review how the player did in yesterday's game. Or
maybe you'll spot an error or variation in the card.

And the fun continues when you get home, organize the cards, and put
the cards away, either in top-loaders, penny-sleeves, plastic sheets,
or a cardboard box. The possibilities are endless. Should you
organize them by set and card number? Or by team? How about
alphabetically? Maybe you'll take the cards with you when you go to
the game with your parent and try to have the player sign the card.

And there are more decisions to make. Should I collect a specific
player? Complete sets (which one)? Inserts? Only rookies? Parallel
cards? Cards of players with the same first name as yours? Players
who went to your school or lived in your town? Die-cut cards? Clear
cards? Cards where the player pictured is blowing bubble gum? Short
prints? There are so many ways to choose to collect that there is
bound to be something for everone.

Do you want to trade the extras? Perhaps you can trade with your
parent or friend. Maybe you can make some new friends on-line and
trade with them.

Whatever you choose to do, just make sure to start collecting because
it is fun.

Andrew Algava

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
Baseball and other kinds of sport card collecting offers young
people a fun chance to learn about things that will help them with
lifelong skills. Using the up close and personal approach that
Donruss Studio tried on the backs of cards in the 1990's kids can
learn more about the players then just stats. Things like favorite
rock groups, foods and heroes give the kids something to connect to.
The fronts of the cards could use a split screen approach of the
player and an important other person in his life. Card companies
should abandon the inserts approach with contests that award prizes
to young people who are successful at technological skills. Examples
might include the development of the most creative checklist
spreadsheet, or the creation of a baseball card PowerPoint
presentation. Perhaps a written essay on the youngsters favorite
baseball hero could be added to the list. Or maybe a original piece
of artwork reflecting baseball. Packs of reasonably priced cards
could have bonus serial numbered entry cards in them that
automatically enter youngsters in the contests. Prizes could consist
of laptops, I-Pods, cell phones, and MP3 players. While no one can
predict the values of cards in the future, technology will be a very
important part of kids lives. What better way than to have them apply
skills toward earning valuable prizes in technology.

indybob

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
We need to build dreams in our children again and let them
know it is possible with hard work and determination you can achieve
anything. Collecting baseball cards gives us that one on one time
that a parent needs to talk with there child about drugs, alcohol or
just ask them how their day went. What could be better then spending
time with your kids and building a relationship and values at the
same time. We need to take back our children from the valueless video
games and give them dreams once more, that anything is possible.
Baseball card collecting is not just cards in a foil wrapped but
dreams waiting to be opened and a child's imagination waiting to be
unlocked. Baseball cards they are not a commodity but a way of life.

dukester6

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
Card collecting is a great hobby for kids who really enjoy and
appreciate the sport of baseball. It is a good way for them to learn
organizational skills - putting the cards in correct numerical order,
keeping a checklist of what cards they have and which ones they need
to complete a set, tracking the value of their collections and
ensuring that the better, higher priced cards are properly protected
and stored. It can also provide socialization and interaction with
others who collect - getting together with friends to trade cards for
their favorite players, or for cards that will complete a set.
Besides being an educational and enjoyable hobby, collecting can
also be a profitable one. Speaking from experience, it can be quite
a thrill when you pull a good card, open a Beckett and realize you've
got something valuable, especially in today's day and age. There are
quite a few more opportunities for getting a nice memorabilia or
autograph card than 25 years ago when I was a kid and started
collecting. Even though I'm an adult, I still get that sense of
anticipation when opening a pack of cards, a rush of euphoria when I
get a special card, and still hold on to that hope and expectation
that one day I will make that "dream pull".

acameroncrazy
 

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
Here is the pitch, he swings and it is a long fly ball deep, deep
into center field and it is a grand slam home run for the Big Papi,
David Ortiz and the Red Sox win the game! You as a collector can
win the big game all the time by collecting something fun, small in
size and easy to care for. Kids of all ages can have a great deal of
fun; learn about the history of the players and baseball itself by
collecting baseball cards.

When a kid starts to collect baseball cards a whole new world of
excitement opens to them. A world of beautiful color photographs of
players with sharp, crisp uniforms and equipment. A world of game
action shots of great plays and hits by the stars of the game. A
world of pieces of game used memorabilia and player's uniforms to
treasure and hold.

The backs of these cards hold baseball history, facts and
stories. Do you know what your favorite player batted last season or
how many homeruns he hit? Or how about your favorite pitcher's won
loss record or era? There is a great deal of information waiting for
you on a baseball card.

When you start collecting baseball cards you can collect them any way
you would like. There are no rules to collecting except to have
fun. You can collect a complete set of this years brand like Topps
or Upper Deck. You can collect your favorite team like the Cleveland
Indians or the Atlanta Braves or any of the major league teams. Or
you can collect any of your favorite players like Alex Rodriguez,
Albert Pujols, or Dice K. The list is endless as to your collection.

And collecting does not have to be expensive, you can still go to
your local hobby shop, Wal Mart or Target and buy a pack of cards for
$2. The fun of opening that pack and not knowing what you may find
is part of the joy of collecting baseball cards. Don't be afraid to
ask your parents and relatives for packs of cards for birthdays and
holidays. It is a great way to build up your collection!

Kids, start today collecting baseball cards. You will be happy that
you started one of the greatest hobbies that you could ever imagine.

Bob Swick

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
In my humble opinion, of course, I believe kids of all ages
should start collecting baseball cards, first and foremost, for the
fun of the hobby. Especially with trading sites like SCF, you have an
excellent chance to trade for the cards you want once you buy some
cards and have cards to trade.

Now because of the high prices of packs, getting cards to trade can
sometimes be pricey, especially for younger kids, I believe the card
company's and MLB, who both make small fortunes in profits every
year, should have packs o cards give away days at MLB parks across the country.

I don't mean no stinkin common cards, I mean some auto's and GU and
inserts of the players playing that day, no scrubs need to apply. For
example, you are at Yankee Stadium, just a random stadium off the top
of my head, you would receive 1 pack with 1 auto and 1 GU card and
some inserts (card companies can make low end auto's and GU cards of
star player's and they know it) of Jeter or Rivera or Arod or any of
the other players that kids want to collect.

These give away's will lead to kids wanting to BUY more packs in
hopes of getting more and more fun baseball cards to collect and
trade. And I am sure some kids will make baseball card trades right
there during the game, now what can be more fun then that!

Card stores can also get involved and give away a FREE pack of cards
to each and every kid that enters there store each and every day to
help make some customers for life.

Now to make this the best for all worlds, also IMHO, Everyone needs
to be part of this. I know it can be frustrating trying to pull your
favorite player's baseball card, when there are too many cards of
insignificant players in packs. (of course these are for set
builders, mostly). Anyway, my suggestion is too add more star cards
to each pack and lower the prices of packs and wax and think of the
kids, I mean come ON, card companies and MLB, OWE this to the kids,
the future of the greatest game we play on this planet, Baseball.

Give the kids want they want and they will collect.

mrbaseball

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
I think kids need to learn about collecting so they can look up to a
sports person and the way they help the community where they live.
Kids need to spend more time learning and reading the stats which
helps them in school. My 8 yr old daughter has excelled in school
from us teaching her and her reading the stats from different
players. She has used the computer to research players and has a
better understanding of the games and has a nice collection of her
favorite players. She goes with me to the card shop and helps decide
what packs or box to buy. She helps me open the packs and the good
ones she puts into sleeves. When you take the time to show them
different parts of the cards stats and explain things to them they
learn to love collecting and hopefully they will continue to do so.
Make it fun and interesting as we did for our daughter.

cowboyz

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
Besides being the cards of America's National Pastime, kids should
begin to collect Baseball cards for many, many reasons. Baseball
card collecting and/or trading is a great hobby opportunity to have
open for yourself, and should not be taken for granted. This hobby
is a classic for thousands, if not millions of Baseball fans in
America, and also, around the world.

Some people will look at baseball cards and think that it's just an
ordinary "thing" that a child will buy, because they like a certain
team or player. Think again. There is much beyond baseball cards
than many people think. It's a beloved hobby that any baseball fan,
at any age, can enjoy. Kids can get hooked into baseball card
collecting or trading as easy as just buying one or two packs at your
local retail store, to start off. Many people become sports cards
collectors at very young ages.

For one thing, cards bought should not be treated badly. None of
them should be. Someone might buy some cards and not get anything
too good (to them, at least), and will toss them into an old shoebox
to get bent and dusty. You may not know it, but one card that might
not even look special, could someday be worth a lot of money. I bet
collectors from the past first got a Barry Bonds rookie card, and
thought it wasn't too great. Looking back on that, it's worth
something today. Cards like that can also be used in trades. Don't
need/like a certain card? List them or show them to other people and
see if they need them. You might not know it, but they might just
have something YOU want.

Usually, on these trading sites, people expect you to be a certain
age, like an adult. But sometimes, kids can trade online with the
help of their parent(s). It's easy! List some cards, post some
replies, and send away! It might seem like a hassle to some people,
but it's easy and fun! Sports card trading is a great social
hobby. You get to know people online by trading with them, plus, if
you go to card shows, buying, selling, or trading with someone there
can help you be more social.

Some kids with no collecting experience may expect a card to just be
a piece of paper with a players' picture and some stats on the
back. But what some don't know is the hobby is beyond that. You can
pull game-worn/used cards of players' jerseys, bats, gloves, or even
autographs! Cards now a day like that come at high odds, because
they are really exquisite or worth a lot of money, so that may be a
put-down for some kids, but too many really great cards come at low
pulling odds, too! Cards that are numbered to a certain serial
number are easy to find, as well as some game-worn/used cards! Don't
be put down by odds. A card may have odds of 1:100,000, but hey, you
just may be that 1.

So, over all, sports card collecting is one of the most beloved
classic hobbies, for hundreds of thousands of people around the
world. Don't let this opportunity go to waste! It's better to start
off sooner than later, to get a good start! Use this description for
future references, because this may be your guide to having one of
the greatest hobbies in the world, in the palm of your hands, literally!

Josh Sazin

As a father with a son who has two
neurological disorders (my 18 year old son Joshua
has both Aspergers and Tourettes Syndromes), I
wondered if I would ever be able to personally
relate to Joshua. However, when Joshua was in
middle school, he developed an interest in
baseball card collecting. Having collected
sports cards when I was a kid, Joshua
re-connected me with my childhood hobby and card
collecting connected us with one another.

For Joshua and me, card collecting has become
more than a hobby … its a valuable way for us to
spend quality time together. Whether going
through my collection of vintage cards from the
‘50s and ‘60s, attending a card show at a local
mall or sharing in the cost to split a box of
Topps 2008 baseball cards, we enjoy the
excitement of pulling an insert card or
reminiscing about star players of the past.

This year we’ll venture on our fourth annual
father-son baseball road trip, seeing eight major
league games in eight days. At the end of the
trip we’ll have seen all 30 major league
ballparks. Of course, we’ll stop and purchase baseball cards along the way!

jime

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
I am now an 18 year old and have been collecting since I was
young. Kids have many options to keep them entertained, so why
should they collect cards? I started collecting because I wanted to
find some way to keep connected with the players I like. I had a
chance to get an auto or piece of their jersey and this provided me
with a chance to connect with the players. I had many options but I
was a way for me to stay in somewhat touch and be a fan.

Later I turned my collection into a business and found a possible
career option. Cards gave me so many options, from collecting, to
trading, to running a business. Kids should collect cards because it
provides them with the possibility to do many thing. It provides
kids with many different options and allows them to make connections
with players and friends.

While video games and TV give mindless forms of entertainment, cards
allow people to think about making deals to grow their collection and
find a way to develop relationship and social skills. Cards allow
kids to grow and connect with other people and can give them
something to keep in the future.

Andrew Larkin

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
After donating thousands of cards each and every year to children's 
hospitals an other children functions.
I let each an every child know why they can really enjoy collecting 
like I've done for years.
The fun of knowing more than watching a game, you learn both 
professional and personal sides of players. From there stats to the 
players likes or even hobbies etc.
And all the friends you get that also collect. From as close as the 
child next door to collectors half way around the world.
To tell them stories like I heard growing up. From cards in the 
bicycle spokes to the grand ole game of pitch which was like marbles 
but played with cards. To getting that famous shoebox from a relative 
had put away for years.
Something you can call your own, to protect and take care of all by 
yourself. Items to be proud of and display. A world all to us in the 
joy of collecting. Just because you get a card of someone you might 
not collect doesn't mean it is any less important than the ones you 
collect. Because there is someone out there that might need it for 
there collection. So you trade to help each other out in your own collection.
And the last thing which is the most important thing I believe is to 
have fun in your hobby.

MURPHYFAN

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
A kid should collect cards he/she likes, and when the child grows up, 
he/she hopefully can recall the past times of those cards that 
provided happiness of a time, our youth, that we all want to 
preserve. That's what baseball cards do, they preserve the sport's 
moments, captured in photography and information, statistics on the 
backs of the cards. The players will get old, and retire. But on the 
baseball cards, they will always look young, the way we want to 
remember them. Many of us won't be lifetime collectors, but we will 
always want those cards we had as a kid to be treasured like family 
pictures. I didn't really collect as a kid, because the cards I had 
was only a handful, too meager to be called a collection. But when I 
became an adult, looking at those old cards, inspired me to revive my 
youth, thus I became an adult collector. I enjoy looking through my 
collection, because they provide memories of those baseball heroes of 
our youth. I had also enjoyed reading when I was a kid, and reading 
about the older era players before my time, made me admire them, and 
made us chase their cards, to have a piece of of their glory. That's 
why a kid should collect baseball cards, because the sport is 
important American History, and we all like to believe we can 
participate in moments of athletic achievement not available in 
reality for us, so through hero worship or vicarious experience, we 
can be attached to the boys of summer. We want to believe these teams 
are our teams, these players are our players. So we want to remember 
them. And a baseball card is a neat item to represent a moment of 
happiness obtained by following baseball, a moment of our youth, and 
also of history. Both, ours and the sport's.

drakengold

Why Should a kid start collecting baseball cards?
The problem with card collecting today is not the fact that
cards have become more attractive (in style, type of card stock, or
artistic design), but that prices to buy packs of these cards have
become too expensive for the average young adult (kid) to even buy.
Topps, which traditionally is the least expensive, still has prices
for individual packs ranging from $1.50 to $2.00 a pack. Other
companies are even worse. It seems as soon as someone hears that
there is a rare (or short printed card) in the set, prices go up even
higher. Hobby shops are charged more for the cases, so they charge
more for the boxes/packs.

The original idea of baseball cards was for the young fan to collect
their favorite player/team, to collect and complete a regular set for
their own self enjoyment. Today, collectors are business people who
sole purpose is to make a buck. The card companies have gone along
with this scenario and forgotten the main fan base of their product.
I am a collector and for the past several years, have become more
frustrated every year on how long (how many boxes I must buy) it
takes to complete the regular set.

If card companies are serious about trying to attract the young fans
back to card collecting, the first thing they did to do is lower
prices. Second, make collecting fun again. It shouldn't take a
collector more than 2 boxes to complete a set. 'SP' cards are nice,
but there are too many. Inserts have gone from a nice distraction to
an extreme annoyance for many (even diehard collectors). It may
already be too late, card collecting has become more of business
instead of a hobby. I trade here because it is too expensive to try
and finish off sets the regular way ( I no longer even attempt to
collect Upper Deck because of the difficulty in completing their basic sets).
Kids want to have their favorite players; they don't want to have to
worry about how much that card might be worth or whether or not they
might mar the card or not. Make collecting fun again.

Robert A. Stone

Visit our baseball card boxes page for new release information and viewing of some great hobby products!

5/14/2008
* 2008 Triple Threads Baseball Set to Feature Some Amazing Cards

* Upper Deck Announces the First Winner of Box Break Contest

* Sports card shop stays open late into the night until all of the games are over - sounds like it's paying off!

5/13/2008
101 A-Rod Rookies Walk Through the Door

5/8/2008
Topps is now giving collectors a sneak peek of a truly unique card that will appear in 2008 Topps Triple Threads Baseball (releasing late July).

5/7/2008
* The Upper Deck Company says "show us your box breaks" with their Diamond Vision video program. Those who submit videos have chances to win prizes. The grand prize this year is a trip to the World Series.

* Topps announces that it has made three major enhancements to 2008 Topps Baseball Series 2.

4/25/2008
Collector pulls Babe Ruth cut auto out of 2008 Upper Deck Premier

More news about baseball cards

The Sports Card of the Week (or sports card story) is provided by our members. The Sports Card of the Week is not selected based on cash value or rarity. Rather, it's simply a card or story that has some sort of personal value to the person who owns it. We hope to show you the wide variety of reasons that people collect or find certain cards appealing. It's just our way of providing a way for collectors to share some of their passionate for this awesome hobby.

This week's Card Story of the Week is by Sam Portnoy (aka CommonsKing) from Palmdale, California

Back in 1989 I went to many card shows. A buddy of mine and I went to a show in Los Angeles where we met a man that was unloading his pick-up in the parking lot. We talked to him for a bit, hoping to get in on a good deal before his stuff hit the table at the show. He asked if we would help him out with his cards and other memorabilia and we agreed. As we finished carrying his merchandise in, the card dealer held out his hand and said "Thanks guys, my name is Wes". I knew he kind of looked familiar but I didn't want to embarass myself if I was wrong. I said, "Wes Parker"? He said "Yup, thats me". I wanted to get his autograph but didn't have anything on me so I looked around on his table and as luck would have it, Parker's rookie card was sitting right there. I asked him to sign it, and he did. Then he told me I owe him 3 bucks for the card. We all laughed, I gave him 3 bucks and have a fond memory of meeting Wes Parker, a very nice guy if you ever get an opportunity to meet him.

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