My favorite baseball cards

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are OddBalls and here's why.

What's that? A new card manufacturer called OddBall? No, I like to collect the cards that others don't collect and don't even know much about. For example, I have cards like:

1961 Golden Press, which originally came in a booklet with perforations for punching the cards out.

1963 Bazooka All Time Greats issued inside Bazooka boxes of bubble gum.

1973 Topps Candy Lids which resemble the top of an Italian Ices cup (including the tab). and 1977 Pepsi Glove Disks which were inserted in cartons of Pepsi.

I like to collect these because they are not very widely distributed. Being a collector for over 30 years, I have seen hundreds of thousands of cards. It is a good feeling when I can say that I know more about the subject than the dealers who are selling the cards.

All together, I have cards that are made from cardboard, plastic, cloth, wood, metal (aluminum, bronze, etc.), and even some filled with a liquid (water I presume). These cards include coins, stamps, stickers, posters, postcards, pins, tattoo/rub-off/scratch-off, super/large size, mini (and even micro), boxes (like the 60's Bazooka and Post/Jello, or the 70's Hostess), could play audio (recoed-like as well as computer CD-like), were used for advertising/promotional purposes, and even complete sheets. In addition, ones that come with suction cups, are filled with candy or have wrong backs/blank backs, or even blank fronts. I even have some cards that have a 1979 front, but a 1978 back.

Often I know what the cards are just by sight, other times I need to do some research to find out more about them. At a local monthly show, one dealer who specializes in paper (he does non-sports shows too where he sells newspapers and magazines) sometimes has lots of weird stuff. He doesn't even know what they are. Recently, I purchased a lot from him that included mall blan backed cards that remind me of the old Cracker Jack cards. Since the lot was cheap enough, I bought it, even though I could not recognize any of the names (like Maurice Fisher, Wally Hood) in there. When I got home, I researched them and found out they were 1971 Aldana Yesterday's Heroes, and are valued at $20 each. Research showed me that the purpose of these cards were to issue cards of players who never appeared previously on cards. I bought another lot from him that included 1969 Nabisco Team Flakes and 1971 Milk Duds; the following month I picked up a lot that included 60's Bazooka.

To me, variety is the spice of life, and I love to find these cards that are not well known. It helps to enforce my knowledge about the sport and hobby I love.

Andrew Algava (aka aacard)

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect is my Nolan Ryan cards and here's why.

Nolan Ryan has been my idol for as long as I can remember. I can trace my card collecting back as fard as 1987, I was 5. I don't remember being serious about any one player or card then, but my passion for collecting Ryan cards and memorabilia grew from there.

Growing up playing little league baseball, I idolized Nolan Ryan. I was a pitcher, shortstop and 3rd baseman. When I pitched, my grandmother would call me "Nolan", as well as "JD" which is part of my account and user name on all of the sites I trade on. One of my biggest memories was my grandparents picking me up one night and taking me to "The Celebrity Room", a pizza place in Richmond, VA, to watch Nolan pitch on a big screen! Although I have never seen Nolan pitch in person, or met him, he has been a role model for me for most of my life.
Over the pst 21 years I have compiled an impressive collection of cards, memorabilia, autogaphs, among other collectibles. My wife and family have contributed a great deal to my collection. A couple of Christmas's ago, my wife bought me a Nolan Ryan 1968 Topps RC. She purchaseda fake on eBay, thought it looked suspicious and showed me several weeks before December 25th, and was disappointed to find out that in fact she had been ipped off. To my suprise, Christmas morning I pulled wrapping paper off a real authentic Ryan RC!
For some reason, I love trading for, pulling, and recieving Ryan cards and memorabilia with him in an Astros uniform. The retro uniform is my favorite, however. I have yet to pick up a signed Nolan Ryan Astros jersey, but it's definitely at the top of my list. I'll have to budget for it.
I am a fanatic about how I store and organize my Nolan Ryan cards. I put each one in a brand new poly sleeved and top loader. When I get new Ryan's in the mail, I pull them out of the cases they're sent in, and put them in my cases. I have three jumbo shoe boxes stuffed full of my standard size cards. I will be picking up a new jumbo shoe box to make more room for newly acquired Ryan's I need. I also have every Ryan card, not to mention every other card I own, cataloged in a Microsoft spreadsheet. I have all of Ryan's cards listed in Beckett, as well as several different typed of wantlists. Theses lists include base cards, inserts, oddballs, etc. I have just started checking the web and comparing master checklists.
I treat every card and piece of memorabilia in my collection like it's priceless. Whether it's a card that books 25 cent, or a piece of memorabilia that would sell for $10,000 (which I don't have yet), it is all priceless to me, and always will be. Who knows if i'll cllect sports cards forever, but i'm going to have as much fun as I can with it for as long as I can.

jdthakid36

My favorite type of baseballs cards to collect are game-used cards and here's why:
Everybody who enjoys the game of baseball has a player (or players) that they'd like to meet or own something by them. A gam-used card gives you the oppertunity to be that close to the game. It connects you to your favorite heroes of the diamond, and feeling the swatch that's included with card is such a special feeling.I own a Mariano Rivera game-used jersey card, and when I first received it, I couldn't believe what I had just pulled from the pack.To this day,it remains the most majestic card I've ever owned. Stories and achievements surrounding that player comes to my mind whenever I hold that card in the palm of my hand.I purchased a special memorabilia card case as soon as I got home. I'll never forget the day I opened that pack of cards and pulled that card out.As of right now, I don't own too many game-used cards, but I'd love to start a collection of game-used cards to collect me closer to my diamond heroes.That being the happiest day of my young life, I yearn for many more days that I can say the same exact thing one day. I've never felt so closer to an actual major leaguer before,and hopefully I'll feel closer to other major league heroes before I leave this earth.

smiths38

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are Derek Jeter and vintage and here's why.
First of all, I got into collecting baseball as a child. I am now 29 years of age and just got back into collecting because it was my favorite childhood hobby. At this point I have nearly over 100 Derek Jeter baseball cards, including rookies, inserts, and game used memorbillia. Also, my vintage card collection has expanded as well.

How do I get these cards? Well, its fairly easy to get these cards from buying packs and blaster boxes. Chances are better to pull a Jeter card if you buy hobby boxes or even by the case, nevertheless, it is always a thrill to pull your favorite player from just a single pack. Another way that I get my cards is by online trading with other people on youtube. The vintage cards are a little bit harder to find. I have found that there are people out in the world that have them and are willing to trade them for the updated cards.

I store all of my personal collection in card protectors then place them into a regular shoebox. Nothing fancy, but I know where my cards are whenever I feel like pulling them out and enjoying them. I have worked hard on building my collection and I am going to continue to buy and trade to build my collection even bigger. My goal is to collect every Derek Jeter card there is. I know that it is going to be a hard mission, but I am always up for a challenge!!

dirtysouthgaboy_79

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are relics of older players and here's why.
Over the years I have been slowly picking up memorabilia cards of players from baseball's past. I find it fascinating that you can own a piece of bat, jersey, or pants from some of baseball best players. A goal of mine was to own a piece of memorabilia from each of the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame class of 1936 which included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson. It took a few years, but I was able to get a Ruth 2002 Fleer Fall Classics Bat SP #'ed/25, Cobb 2004 Topps Tribute Bat, Wagner 2003 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts Pants, and a Mathewson 2005 Upper Deck Trilogy Pants #'ed/75 added to my collection. No card manufacturer has released a Walter Johnson memorabilia card yet because his relics are so difficult to obtain, but I was able to find a Johnson 2004 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Commemorative Patch #'ed/10 that works well. There is one card in my collection that stands out the most. That would be my Willie Mays 2001 Fleer Tradition Stitches in Time Negro League Worn jersey card. This is the only Mays relic card that contains an actual jersey swatch from his Birmingham Black Barons uniform. Trying to find a regular Mays jersey card isn't all that hard, but the Stitches in Time cards are hard to spot. Some other old relic cards I own include a Napoleon Lajoie Topps Tribute bat, Mickey Mantle Sweet Spot jersey, and a Jim Thorpe Playoff Absolute jersey. I am a big fan of the 2002 Topps T206 relic set. That set contains old relics of players such as Jimmy Collins and John McGraw. There are at least two "holy grail" cards I would like to add to my collection, but just haven't seen or were to expensive at the time I found them. The first would be the "Shoeless" Joe Jackson 2001 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts bat, and the second would be the 2002 Topps T206 Honus Wagner bat.

Believe it or not, most of my old relic cards have been purchased in person at either my local card shops or attending a few shows. One of my favorite shows, the Philadelphia Sports Card and Memorabilia Show, usually has a dealer from New York that always has a few glass cases full of old relics. That is where I saw the Joe Jackson Legendary Cuts bat card for the first time in person. Browsing through cases and finding a relic card of an older player is fun, even if you never heard of the player. Collecting old relics connects you to a simpler time, when baseball was still in its infancy.

rosschrisman2003

My favorite cards to collect is cards of current Texas Rangers.
I have been a fan of the Texas Rangers ever since I was a young teenager.I went to one of their games when I was thirteen or fourteen.I also have gone to a couple of their games in the last year and the last couple of yearts.I really enjoy certified autograph cards of them because it feels good to have a autograph of a player that I have seen play in person.I also enjoy collecting game used cards from the Rangers because it also helps me feel connected with them.I also have base cards and rookie cards of some of the current players.I don't really collect players that have been and no longer are Rangers.My collection is also based around current players.I have been able to trade several base cards for at least one game used cards.I also have met a couple of players from the Rangers via the Rangers caravan and had them autograph a ball and/or cards.I know the Rangers aren't many fans favorite teams but they are mine since I live in Texas and within traveling distance.I also go to their games when a local radio station sponsors a bus and that has been my main way of travel.I know most of the players for the Rangers will not ever make the Hall Of Fame but they have some pretty talented players in Hank Blalock,Michael Young,Josh Hamilton,Milton Bradley,etc.So all I have left to say is go Rangers.

Fairon Spears

My favorite baseball cards to collect are 2002 Leaf baseball.
There is 150 base card set which is easy to assemble and 50 SP (ROO) cards which unlike most SP's are seeded at a ratio which makes putting the whole 200 card set with SP's attainable. The SP's have several players who have panned out at the major league level such as: Teixeira, Victor Martinez, Bedard, Ludwick, Kearns to name a few.
2002 Leaf is also full of insert sets, parallels, Game used, and Auto's all of which were well seeded. I was able to purchase a 24 pack hobby box regularly between $30-$38. With boxes that were loaded with so many decent book value cards, I found that I more than received good value on my investment. I also found this set quenched my thirst for all different types of cards to collect.
I have put together the 200 card set twice over, all of the non-game used insert sets, lineage parallel set, and most of the Shirt off my Back game used; not to mention several platinum #'d/25 cards and more than 50% of the century lineage #'d/100 parallel set. I have yet to see another product priced so low that offered so much.

RICHIE Cards

My Favorite Cards to Collect is All Of them.
I Like Collecting I Started in 1990 Collecting Cards Because My Grandson >was Born I Collect one Set For and one for Me So we Have to Set he enjoy Them so I am still Collect 50,000 Card Later every night I Go And Check My Cards to See if I Havan Miss anything I Uselly Do My Said if I Don't Get Rid Some of these Cards See Going to Move Me Out >But I Can't Find A Reason Why I Should I Love Collecting Them and I Love I Traded With one Gent Over 10 Year I am not a Buyer to much unless I get a real Good Deal Itry to trade to Built my Sets I have Lot Of them Started And I Meet new People and Most of them are True I Have a few Football,Basketball,Hockey And Non Sport Card I am try for Baseball Cards that My Problem I buy Anythjing I Thank it A Good Bargin I will trade them My Fellow Trader Some Day If It Wasn't for My Cards Collection I Don't Know What I Would Do Because Iam going to Retire at the end of the Year I Need a Hobby

smithd14

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are prospect cards.
I like them because there are so many of them, they are cheap, and there is so much potential in each card. First, I love collecting prospects because there are so many to collect! In almost every product there are some prospects and some products are completely prospects! Also with so many prospects there has to be some pretty cool names. Sure it gets confusing but don't you just love to pull an Austin Bibens-Dirkx or a Loek Van Mil?

Another reason I like prospect cards is because they are very cheap and affordable. If I go to the card shop I can pick up 12 prospects or rookies for a dollar instead of paying a few dollars for stars who aren't exciting to watch anymore. Also prospects are better signers and are willing to sign more cards than the older players. With so many autographs the prices of prospects autos becomes cheaper.

Lastly I like prospect cards because there is so much potential in each card. When I look at a prospect card I can see a bright young star whos just learning and could become the next Derek Jeter or Johan Santana. You never know what might happen to these prospects. They could be given all the attention in the world and become a scrub, or they could be given no attention and become the next home run king! There is so muh to like about these prospect cards, and this is just part of my reasons to like them.

SamRo_mn1

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are several types of player collections, game-used, autographs, inserts, prospects, sets, and vintage.
I like to collect player collections because I do research on my favorite or interesting players and then collect all the teams that the player has been on. I also like to collect game-used cards because they display a great visualization of the player's experience and it is just amazing how their game-used items can be displayed in a baseball card format. Autographed cards are an enjoyment to collect because they are a symbol of the player's dedication to their fans and they portray a special message that is cool to intake; the message that may be interpreted may be the insight of having possession of a card that a superstar has held and signed directly to you. Inserts are a special collection as well because they symbolize basically the same concept along with game-used cards. I also like to gather prospects because you can identify the player's and speculate the difference from when they started playing baseball to the current time of life, and it is also interesting because some valuable player's rookie cards are valuable and it is an enjoyment to go on a hunt for that or those specific cards. Sets of baseball cards are another wonderful way to add to your collection of interesting baseball cards because they build the excitement like the excitement built by young children on Christmas morning. A final and most recommended way to collect baseball cards is to assemble vintage baseball cards because they set the tone of when and why baseball cards were started because they display a very casual and unique style of collaborating the manufacturing of baseball cards. I got into collecting baseball cards ever since my mom had started to buy a wide selection of baseball cards at yard sales, and I wouldn't be where I'm at today without her help and support {Thanks Mom!} My mom still continues to buy baseball cards from yard sales and I also continue to develop my collection by going to stores and purchasing them, or ordering them online from Upper Deck {My most favorite baseball card company.} I display my most valuable or most meaningful cards in cases on my shelf that I call "My Shrine of Fame."

papi34piercefan

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are those of local players and players from my favorite team, and here is why.
When I was in elementary school, there was a baseball player from my hometown of Evansville, Indiana who made it big in the major leagues. His name was Don Mattingly. When I first started collecting baseball cards in 1987, I naturally sought out cards featuring "Donnie Baseball." A couple of years later, another prospect from Evansville was the number one pick of the San Diego Padres: Andy Benes. This prompted the start of another collection of cards. That same year, the St. Louis Cardinals were in the playoffs against the San Francisco Giants. I realize now that I was probably swayed by the writings of sports columnists in the local paper, but I began rooting for the Cardinals that year.

Since then, I have been a collector of Cardinals baseball cards as well. You can imagine my excitement when, years later, Andy Benes became a St. Louis Cardinal. Another collection was started when Scott Rolen, a native of nearby Jasper, Indiana played for the Philadelphia Phillies. I watched my first game at Wrigley Field between the Phillies and Cubs just weeks before Rolen was traded to the Cardinals. A final collection, of which I am most devoted to, is Ozzie Smith cards. Being a Cardinals fan in the 1980's, one can't help but marvel at Ozzie's defensive abilities.

I am sure collectors worldwide share similar values when it comes to collecting baseball cards. Local players and players from our favorite teams are the ones who have earned our attention, our respect, and our time- the time we spend seeking to expand our baseball card collection.

ihopethisworks

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are vintage cards of the Big Red Machine.
The reason I love these cards goes back to the summer of 1987 and a great father/son day shared by my dad and myself. My dad had grown up a Cubs fan, but had moved to Kentucky in the 70s. The only games that could be picked up on the radio in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky were the Cincinnati Reds on WLW. Dad loved listening to Marty Brennaman calling the games of the Big Red Machine. Fast forward twenty years, and I am a ten year old in search of a hobby. It was a Sunday afternoon and my dad and I took a trip to the local flea market to spend the day browsing and enjoying the time together when we happened upon a dealer selling baseball cards. One album was full of old Reds card, from the 50s up to the 70s. Inspiration struck, and dad took the opportunity to introduce me to the heroes of his youth. Bench, Rose, Foster, Morgan, Concepcion, all the Big Red Machine! While I'm sure he would have loved to start me off with such a loaded Reds collection, this was the 80s and vintage baseball cards were no doubt extremely expensive, so he settled on a team set of 1987 Topps Reds. This set had not one, but TWO cards featuring one of his heroes, Pete Rose! From that faithful day my collection grew, both of my own accord and with the help of my dad. Now, everytime I come across a dog-eared copy of a 1975 Topps Ken Griffey or Cesar Geronimo I think of my dad laying out his cards during the games and listening to his favorites doing what they did best. That, to me, is the epitome of this hobby. Fathers passing along childhood heroes and memories to their sons, along with the love of the game. In a way, it brings me closer to my father. That is why my favorite baseball cards to collect are the vintage Big Red Machine.

Tim

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are relic cards and here's why.
Whenever I buy a pack of baseball cards at the store or when I get a box of cards for Christmas, I always look forward to finding a relic card. I love getting relic cards from packs because it is cool to think that the piece of jersey or the piece of bat on your card was used in a game by that player. It's really cool when I get a jersey card from I player I really like. relic cards are a great way for collectors to get closer to the game. For example, if you got a game-used jersey card of Babe Ruth (which would be so sweet) you could own a piece of history. Also, with game-used cards, many fans could own a piece of Babe Ruth's jersey instead of just one rich collector owning the whole shirt. My favorite experience of pulling a jersey cards was when I bought just one pack of 2004 Topps Traded from my local hobby store and a pulled a Alex Rodriguez game-used Yankees jersey with a pinstripe! I an definitely not a Yankees fan, but I like A-rod as a player and it is a very cool card to have in my collection. Another cool jersey card I recently pulled was a Derek Jeter jersey card from a small box of 2008 Upper Deck (I don't know why I get all the Yankees!). I remember getting my first relic card. My dad, who got me into collecting cards in the first place, took me to our favorite sports card shop one day. We found a box that contained several random relic and autograph cards for five dollars each. I didn't know much about cards back then, and I wasn't exactly sure what a jersey card was. My dad showed me a few and told me the cards contained swatches of clothes that players wore in a game! I thought it was just the coolest thing. I was attracted to one card in particular, a Carlos Beltran game-used jersey card. I liked it because the jersey was royal blue, which was my favorite color. The card was also serial numbered, which I had also learned about from my dad, and I thought that it was cool that there was a limited number of that card in the world. I think that some card companies have gone overboard in producing game-used cards, with some cards containing six different swatches of one player. I try to find jersey cards that have character to them, like jerseys with a pinstripe or more than one color. I have one patch card in my collection, and it is of Mark Teixeira. I have been very lucky as far as pulling jersey cards out of packs. So far, out of packs, I have got jersey cards from A-rod, Derek Jeter, Roger Clemens, David Wright, Manny Ramirez, and Greg Maddux, just to name a few. My dad gets jealous of my collection because I have about as many relic cards as he does and I have only been collecting for about six years.

Jeff Taylor

My favorite sports cards to collect have always been Baseball, and I guess it's just my the sport I can major in following.
I want to talk about WHICH baseball cards I find fun to collect, though.
I've always found that you can never have too much of one type of cards for a player or team. Autos, GU, and 1/1's make the glory, but doesn't anyone collect prospect cards of the stars? Low #'d inserts? These are all (as well as Autos and GU) types of Baseball cards I enjoy collecting. Auto's are nice, but the pricey costs and values sometimes cut it close to getting one.
My career in trading/collecting has been a mere 5 years, and I am young, yet I've entered a world of cards, and deeply traveling through it, noticing the many different types of inserts/#'d/parallels/ or refractors, that other people might pull, and just toss off in another deal right away, not taking for granted what the had just received of their guy, even though it might not be the "Triple Threads 6 Relics of Babe Ruth 1/1", they'll toss it off anyway.
I think it's good to collect a simple RC or two of a guy, even when he's emerging, and you don't know what to think of him just yet. Take Dustin Pedroia for example - in 06 UD Update I almost tossed his SP RC away, not knowing his MVP & ROY would come to be!
Also, I find that USA cards of players now making it big in the MLB is fun, too! It gives you a nice picture of what they were like younger, and the Autos & GU are cheap for that brand too! For my collection (personally), I like to have an Auto & GU of each player on my team (Red Sox). I am in current need of some still, but I know that meanwhile, I'll be able to snag different cards of those players while I can, especially if low serial #'d.
As for vintage, I never really took any look into it, considering I'm young and have no interest in those pricey, as well as scarce cards from the 50's and 60's, for when I first got into the hobby, I guess I just assumed to follow the current guys, which has been the biggest success for me!
So overall, I believe that Auto's and GU are always a very nice addition to your personal collection, although you should always take the time to fit such cards as: RCs/Low #'d/Refractors/X-Fractors/Alternate Parallels/Inserts/USA/etc. into your binder.

WallytheGreenMonter-SCF-50+e

My wife says I'm addicted. I have just come home after driving two and half hours to a card show because there are so few in my area. Two and a half hours? Ohhhhhh ,K. Maybe she is right?! Maybe it is the thrill of the chase? Maybe my love of a bargain? Probably, a lot of both. Collecting sports cards is the part of my childhood that I am glad is still with me. As a kid in the 70s and 80s, returning bottles at the local store to buy packs of cards looking to complete the set to now looking over all of different kinds of cards that could be the deal of the century. It was hoping that you found the new hot rookie and piled up his rookie cards with the hope that the player would be next big thing. I know I had a stack of Paul Kilgus rookies. Anyone remember him? I remember when I started getting back into collecting, finding those Kilgus cards and laughing, remembering how I thought I better get all I can now. That is the fun of collecting, whether you are finishing off sets or looking for the new big player, is the hunting of those cards needed to help your collection and the fun of being able to help other people do the same. So, back to the beginning.... I know there are more of you out there like me, I know, I know, you probably wouldn't drive two and a half hours to go to a show, but then again, maybe you would? The question that needs to be answered? What kind of cards are my favorite to collect? I say any and all and that is why.

newlee33

My Favorite Type of baseball cards to collect are:
"Topps Factory Set!"
Wait, who said that? I don't know, but here's the question to the random phrase someone said: "What is your favorite type of baseball cards to collect?".
My first, and one of three factory sets was given to me by my parents, one year ago as a gift. It really had a lot of meanings to it: First, I was rewarded with me being enrolled into the "Gifted Program"; Second, for helping my AAA baseball team, the Scarborough Stingers, to a title; and third, last but not least, for my straight A report card! (Except for Drama and Dance, of course)
The 2006 Topps Baseball Factory Set has special meanings to it too. I like all baseball cards, from Topps to its major competitor, Upperdeck, to the once almighty Fleer, and Donruss, etc. During the summer of 2007 my parents tried in vain to apply me into UTS, a leading private school in Toronto, but it might have been a good thing too, because: 1st, I had a first impression detest of that school, although it was well-known for its excellences in academic and mathematics, which is where half my pride goes to (the other half to baseball). 2nd, I love Public Schools! From my perspective, private schools are less appealing, especially that the teachers would just pile you homework not accordingly to your "potential". I even thought about school being optional! Those who want to succeed in life shall attend school, while others can, you know, go with the flow.
Back to baseball. My parents adore the fact that I study very hard and bring home good marks and certificates and competition championships, unlike my brother, who is only three, but his "naughtiness" and unmoved determination to do mediocre in school is a first in my family. At times when they present me with one of their "surprises", they would usually bring along my brother, and hopefully teach him about "being good in class" and so on.
That summer my dad starts bringing me home packs of baseball cards, it was unusual, I mean, I passed the Gifted Testings with a 99.9% record, but it wasn't really special, which contributes to the fact that my parents really never encouraged me being obsessed with baseball cards, anyway.
One day my dad heard me complaining about how factory sets are good, and he tried (in vain) to explain to me the pros and cons of baseball cards, which I rejected rudely by plugging my ears and pretending not to listen, finally, he gave up and took me to the store!
My "deafness" was suddenly gone, and when I sprinted to the card shop (which is really near my home), I found that the set was missing! I held the money in my hands painfully tight and held back tears to my house. When I arrived, I found my dad holding a victorious smile and knew that this must be one of his well cooked scheme again, and I knew exactly the right countercurse to it:
I cried.
Yes, I just sat there and cried, and when I peeked out behind my hands, I found my dad holding a slim box, about 7 inch long, I stood up, and sleep-walked to it, said in a robotic voice "Thanks" and went off! I couldn't contain my excitement as I ripped open the box, I took out the cards one by one as if they were made out of diamond, and put them into the card holders, that was the best day of my life!

johnnytang

Well I'd have to say my favorite type of baseball cards to collect are rookies.
Collecting has gone on for three generations in my family and now it has befallen on me. But my grandpa and dad didn't give me game-used or autographs instead just rookie cards and base. Since then I've gathered them all up and have thoroughly put them in a space marked by a year which showcases the collection. Rookie cards, I feel like are investments especially for baseball, the player may have a great career, mediocre career, or just be nothing. These investments particularly will show their results only through time. For example we have Carl Crawford who was taken in the 2nd round now a big pro and from time to time we admire his 1999 rookie card. As well as big names like Josh Beckett and Alex Rodriguez may be big now , but it all started with them being rookies. Now as products increasingly become more high end and people are now receiving game-used, tripe-autographs, three color patches, the basic rookie cards are sometimes overlooked. Not saying this is negative, I love getting triple game used patch autos, just stating the simplicity of rookie cards and how there value can change keeps them one of my favorites. My name is Jacob and those are my favorite cards to collect.

fball100

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are Toronto Blue Jays and here's why.
My reasoning is very simple. The Blue Jays are my favorite team and even though the faces change, the team remains the same. I feel that this has evolved over time for me based on the fact that when you're a kid, your heart gets broken when you see your favorite player leave town. I try to collect mostly Upper Deck but I don't discriminate (obviously no choice pre-1989). I find that collecting my favorite team keeps things simple. I don't have to worry whether a cards' value will increase or decrease and whether I sell high. These cards go back to my childhood, some prior. Going back through the cards over the years provides me with a little bit of nostalgia and memories. Because of this, my value on these cards is priceless. I believe this was the original idea for the card industry and something that has been misplaced over the years. I really enjoy collecting the whole set of cards for any particular year but with all the different variations of cards, it makes it very difficult if not impossible. On one hand, the possibilities are endless with the types of cards available but on the other hand, it's a feeling of accomplishment when I can collect every card from that year (something I don't think I'll be able to do ever again with the addition of numbered cards, patched, inserts, etc.)

chazz_damon

My Favorite Player
I watch my 10 year old son as he rips open a new pack of baseball cards. A little bit of excitement and wonder crosses his face, matching my own feelings. To me the pack not only contains baseball cards but bridges. As generations fall further and further out of touch with one another, I hope to grab on to anything spanning the gaps. No, the pack just doesn't contain mere baseball cards to be sold or traded. It holds a bonding line between father and son, one that will grow stronger and spawn many more.
He carefully pulls the cards from the pack and turns them over to gaze at the player pictured on the front. The card design is modern but with a Hall of Famer action shot. He looks toward me with a curious expression. He hands me the top card and asks "Who is this?"
The clock seems to turn back to another time and place. I can smell hot dogs, the morning dew on fresh mowed grass. The excitement in the air is palpable and anticipation hangs over the crowd as the players take the field. I watch as each one runs toward their position but I keep a steady eye on my favorite player, waiting for that one moment, my favorite moment.
"Dad?" My son breaks my reminiscence and I'm back to the present. "Who is this player? I've never heard of him," he asks. Simple question with a simple answer, but it holds more meaning for me than it does for him. Another bonding line snaps in place, him seeking knowledge and I more than willing to share. My father once told me, history is important to your future. I believe that.
"Let me show you." I power on the computer, search for the video, and hit play. With one eye on the screen and the other on him, I watch both with equal interest. The scene unfolds just like I recalled earlier minus the smell of hot dogs. "Watch for the player with number 1 on his back," I say. Number 1 is close to last coming out of the dugout, heading for shortstop. And then it happens. the player takes a small skip, places his hand and glove on the ground, cartwheels to his feet, then gyrates in the air to perform a perfect back flip. Play ball I say to myself.
The video stops and my son is still watching the screen. "Wow," he says finally. I nod my agreement. Wow, indeed. He picks up the baseball card and looks at it more closely. "That's Ozzie Smith," I tell him.
"Is he your favorite player?" he asks.
Without hesitation I answer, "He used to be."
"Who is now?"
I'm embarrassed at first but with pride I say, "You are."
I collect modern cards of classic players because book value is just an arbitrary number. The real value is priceless.

Jeff Greene

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are all of them and here's why.
I started collecting baseball cards last year around may. The reason was i went into the hospital for spinal surgery and i was not able to do anything for 4 months. I took up collecting cards. It was so enjoyable and i love it. I have over 3000 or more cards. Ive got gmae used, autographs and base cards. my favorite collection is my Autographs. I have 20 of them now. My first autographed card was one i got from Toys r us of Travis Hafner. Wow i was so excited. I even have a 1963 Ollie Brown card. I am still collecting them.
I think we should involve our kids more in this hobbie. I have started my 10 yr old daughter her own binder of cards. Ive got an Awsome Mark MgWire collection im pretty proud of. I love finding the A's Cards. I have a lot of Giambi cards even his autograph.
Im well on my way with some good sets too.
I have been putting them in alphabetical order for a while now. I joined Beckett and loaded in some of my cards i have about 2000 in there now and the value is well over 2300.00. Its cool to go in and see how much your card is. I have been a trader on the site for over a year now. Ive gotten great cards through trading.
so in closing i would have to say my favorite card is all because you never know what your going to get in the pack. And my favorite collection is Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi and all of the oakland A's. Im in northern california.
So go get your cards and have some fun!

Olivia

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are Exquisite brand cards. The reason I like these cards are regular production is limited to 150 cards and golden inserts are numbered to 25. For the money you pay for the cards, your investment return is well worth it. With cards produced in mass numbers, a very limited production run is well worth the price. Although I don't buy the packs, with auction sites like Ebay, you can get some great deals on the young stars of today. Autos and game used memorabilia are the inserts we all want and they are in this product too. There sturdy construction ensures that if you store them properly they will remain in the near mint condition as when you purchased them. Collecting a complete set might be pricey as well as difficult but it increases your fun of the chase. All this talk about this being a kids thing to do is garbage. No one is going to pay in excess of $100 for a pack of cards. Scoring a rookie autograph card of one of the next future super star could be comparable to getting the rookie auto of Albert Pujols from the 2000 Bowman Chrome refractor. That card is believed to be worth over $5,000.00. Great return on investment on a card that initially may have cost less than a couple of hundred dollars. Also Upper Deck is doing a better job of having a check list of players collectors want. No wasted cards in this set.

traderlew

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect is rookie cards and here's why.
The start of my collection was pretty theme less. I began with buying sets of Topps from the 80's. The Detroit Tigers were my favorite team since childhood and they were winning, culminating with the World Series in 1984. That was my inspiration. I was fortunate to attend the fifth and deciding game, saved the ticket and had it framed. It is still my most prized possession in my collection. The quest then turned to packs and boxes of Topps and Upper Deck. My reasoning was based on the value of popular rookie cards of Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. I saw those cards jump in price by multiples when I would pick up a copy of Beckett's to read. There was also the issue of what card is the true rookie card. I'll get to that later. Interest faded as I began a family in the 90's, and realized that the particular cards that I sought were very difficult to pull.
At the start of the millennium the tigers were awful, even though I remained faithful. Mike Illitch bought the team and I saw a new day dawning for my team. A rekindling for the hobby developed. No longer driven by the future value of the cards I started to by some boxes of baseball cards again. The goals that I had were still pretty aimless. I was drawn to many different brands and sets, looking for the big pull. Soon I was made aware of the fact that certain brands were more popular than others. The history of the topps brand was still attractive to me but the popularity of bowman was extremely inviting. Then in 2005 I bought a box of topps series 1 and pulled a Justin Verlander topps black serial numbered to 54. I was aware of the potential of this top pick of the tigers and this pull was unbelievable to me. That was the start of my addiction. Verlander was my new project. Along with seeking cards of Verlander I realized that bowman and bowman chrome were the odds on favorite of most collectors. The "home of the rookie card" grabbed hold of me with the 2005 set. More Verlanders, what could be better. My collection had developed a theme, rookie cards. They were easy to trade and sell to acquire more and different cards. Now the question becomes which cards were rookie cards. Guess what, Beckett's publishes a book to guide me. What could be better? An authority well respected by the hobby that eliminates any questions.
Building the sets of 2005 bowman, bowman chrome, bowman draft and bowman chrome draft gave me the passion that had been lacking in the past. That passion developed with the thrill of acquiring the rookie cards, autos and game used cards of the most popular players in baseball. Building a collection of current tigers rookie cards was a bonus that definitely appealed to my heritage. I was so turned on by the 2005's that I proceeded to go back to 2004 and 2003 besides continuing with 2006, 2007 and 2008. I do have occasional urges to dabble in other brands, but not many. The "home of the rookie card" is the standard of my collection. My current Verlander collection is one that I am quite proud of. There are 45 rookie cards listed in Becketts Ultimate Rookie Card Encyclopedia. I have 33 of them, still have a goal!

Mike Zembrzuski

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are Topps base sets, and here's why.
I'm a history geek. There's just something that fascinates me about people and events that happened long ago. I love understanding the hows and whys behind the past and being able to make connections to current times. To me, Topps base sets are like a baseball history lesson in cardboard format. They are an archive of every baseball season since 1950 - the record breakers, the all-stars, the rookies. Topps base sets are also the only place where you can fins cards for many players. I've never been one to gravitate towards the high profile stars. Rather, my favorites have always been the gritty, lesser-known role players. These are not the types of players who are immortalized with shiny, autographed, serial numbered, game used, tri-color shoe string cards. Most of these players are only featured on a handful of cards a year. Topps base set is always one of those handful of cards.

Then again, I'm sure that most of the reason that I'm partial to Topps base sets is nostalgia. Some of the first cards I collected were 1983 Topps. I remember stopping with my Mom and Dad at the neighborhood convenient store after church on Sundays. There would always be a half-full wax box of Topps cards on the counter and every Sunday I'd plunk down a few quarters and walk out with a couple of packs. I collected Topps cards straight through to 1992 when cars and high school girls became more important. And when I came back to the hobby last year, I skipped right over the shiny chromes and the boxes guaranteeing a game used card and went right for the packs of Topps base cards. Just like I used to all those years ago. It just cost me a few more quarters.

Scott C.

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are Game Used and Autograph cards.
I grew up in New York and still live there so it is only natural that I am a NY Mets fan. I also like the Yankees as my dad is a fan and my wife's whole family is. I started collecting as a kid but like a lot of kids I got away from cards as i got older then my mom threw out my collection as it got dusty. (I had some great stuff too and it really hurts to think what was thrown out but that's a story for another day) Anyway back to now. When my son was 5 or 6 I (1995 or so) I decided to see if he would be interested in baseball card collecting so I bought some packs of cards for us to open. As soon as I opened the first pack with him the childhood feelings and memories came rushing back and I was hooked again. Our next trip to the store yielded my first Game Used card and I was amazed at it. An actual piece of jersey from a real MLB player on a card in my hand. WOW! That is a long way from gum stained cards in the 70's. Now it became clear to me this is what I want to collect as well as my usual Mets, Yankees, and Star commons/insert cards. Along wit this came Autograph cards as well. I love the fact that a player has personally taken time (paid I'm sure) to sign that card. Game used will be on the top of my list as I just think it is real special to have a piece of the game in my collection. I really love the odd pieces like hats, batting gloves, shoes, gloves, and pants etc. as they are not as common.
My collection includes many NY Mets, NY Yankees, and many other players as well. I have over 50 Mike Piazza as he is one of my favorite players and there are a ton of GU for him.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story and sharing my experience.

Mike (aka BA Benny)

My favorite baseball cards to collect are those of players from my native state of Maine and here's why.
A favorite portion of my card collection are my cards of players from the State of Maine. For me, these cards have the personal touch. Some commentators have attributed voter support for President Bush to the "he's one of us" philosophy. Along those lines, I've collected these players because in a way "they're part of me". As a lifelong Mainer, I'm very familiar with the cities and towns that all the Maine players with cards are from. In many cases, I've watched them play high school or college ball or both. Bert Roberge was a star pitcher for U Maine while I was a student there. Bill(y) Swift and Mike Bordick played for my alma mater as well. My wife went to high school with Jim Beattie and Billy Swift's family is well known by my in-laws. Tip Fairchild pitched for a very small high school that my son's school competed against. Greg Creek is from only about 10 minutes away from my house. While I don't profess a close personal relationship with any of these players, I feel both pride in their accomplishments and a sense of common identity based on our shared background and experiences.

My Maine collection is not of recent vintage. I started collecting cards in 1960. One of the early cards I obtained was a 1961 Topps card of Carlton Willey of Cherryfield, Maine, then a pitcher for the Braves. In an era of cards of Mays and Mantle, Koufax and Ford and so many other legendary players, my Willey card was a great "hit". I still have that card today. Although I've added most of his other cards in the intervening years, the 61 is special in that it connects me to the bygone days of my childhood.

Another reason I like my Maine collection is that it is manageable. It currently contains only 13 players. Of these,. only Billy Swift and Mike Bordick have had lengthy major league careers during a time period when large numbers of cards were produced.

Despite the limited number of players, I can still find challenges with this collection. None of the players in this collection have reached the level of baseball "stardom", which encourages traders on sites like SCF to post their cards in their lists nor do trading partners often scour 3200 count boxes for a few cards considered "common" by most. Ironically, this makes the search more difficult than it is for cards of more collected players. As Mainers such as Mark Rogers, Matt Kinney, Greg Creek and Tip Fairchild have entered professional baseball in recent years, there are of course the various parallels, refractors, game used cards and certified autographs I can chase. This is particularly so with Mark Rogers, who as a first round draft pick has substantially more cards out there than the others. An ultimate challenge which I've yet to except would be to collect the tobacco cards of a number of Maine players such as Del Bissonette and Louis Sockalexis and others from the early 20th century. Maybe some day.

I would note that my Maine collection also includes a very small number of football and hockey players who have been fortunate enough to have had cards over the years.

I realize that my Maine collection is of minimal economic value. Nevertheless, it has personal meaning to me and continues to be fun to enjoy looking at and to add to. And that's what collecting is all about to me.

gentryxc

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are San Francisco Giants and here's why:
It was a bright sunny day at Candlestick Park that Wednesday afternoon in June 1968. I got off the bus with about 50 other kids ready to see my first big league baseball game. Actually, besides Little League games, it was the first real game I had ever experienced.

As we walked up the ramp out in right field to take our seats in the upper deck of Candlestick Park I was eager to get there and for the festivities to start. I walked out the tunnel and stood in awe as I looked down at the tiny players warming up on the brightest, greenest grass I'd ever seen.

I was hooked. The game had not even started and I was a San Francisco Giants fan for life.

And then I started collecting. I got packs of cards at the local Handy Pantry in Dublin California and didn't care who the players were. I traded and flipped with my friends, some A's and some Dodger fans. I remember putting a bunch of Tom Seaver cards in my spokes after he shut out my boys one summer.

I started growing up and quit collecting cards and comics. But that's another story. Fast forward to adulthood. I was in the military and traveled through the country visiting as many stadiums and seeing the Giants as I could. Then there was the big card collecting frenzy in the mid-eighties. I saw a 1986 Giants team set at a show at the Everett Mall as I walked through with my wife. That was the start of my second card collecting career.

I now own every base issue Topps Giant since they moved from New York. From Johnny LeMaster to Robby Thompson, Willie Mays to Bobby and Barry Bonds. The good, the bad, the (very ugly - find a picture of pitcher Jim Barr). I have cards from many other brands but have stayed away from a lot of the SP's. I also have over 500 different Willie McCovey collectables - cards, hats, autographs (including his HOF induction program). I will continue to collect my team until I die. Which will probably be before they win a World Series.

jeffstuff

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are 1980's commons.
I have always enjoyed the thrill of being able to take my 9 year old to a garage sale and buy huge boxes of cards for $10-15 bucks. We then go home and spend days sifting through the boxes. This is a great time for me, because I get to share with him who my heroes were and why they were great players. In the past year or two he has learned so much about the game "as I knew it", and he now likes to collect the older players as much as I do. That is by far the greatest thrill for me and why I collect 80's cards. Most collector's find cards like these worthless, and I would agree with that in a monetary since. But if you could see the look on my kids face when he finds a "Mark McGwire", you would see that these cards are PRICELESS to me...

Plus, growing up in the 80's, you had such great football players like Marino, Elway, Barry Sanders, and Emmitt Smith, Montana, and baseball players like Bonds, McGwire, Ripken, Nolan Ryan, and so many more.

I remember guys that just played for the love of the game like Dale Murphy, he's not in the hall of fame yet, but he never complained about a contract, or playing time, or being on the worst team in baseball. He played because he loved the game.

This is what I try to teach my kids and that's how 80's trading cards helps me to accomplish this.

Also, my brother growing up had like four giant boxes of Topps baseball cards. He saved them for 20+ years and one day decided to go up to his attic and sell some of these cards. He had amassed quite a collection and he was instrumental in helping me learn about the true value of these cards.

chewie

I like to collect memorabilia cards because, memorabilia cards have more value than any other cards except really old ones.
Since the memorabilia cards are worth so much money you can sell two really expensive ones and then use the money to buy even more memorabilia cards that are worth even more. When you buy a pack of cards for $2.99 you want to get some good cards and when you get a memorabilia card in the pack your heart just explodes, you feel like you are king or queen of the world its the greatest feeling anyone can ever feel. Everyone knows getting memorabilia cards is expensive sometimes but, at the end of the day its worth it. The best thing about memorabilia cards is that you can get a four piece jersey cards that has four different players on the card and that's like quadruple the value of the card and it makes your feel so stupendous. Another good thing about memorabilia cards is that you know its authentic because, it has the certificate of authenticity right there glued to the back of it! You can show off to your friends about how great your new memorabilia card is then that makes your friend want to go out and buy a better one and that helps the card company.

Andrew J. Manson

My favorite set to collect is the classic Topps cards.
I have been doing it for 26 years. My first memory is buying a few packs of 1982 cards sitting in my room as a seven year old and trying to separate the cards into teams as fast as I could, like I was dealing at a poker game. Once I was done with that, I collected the cards and put them in numerical order. After that, I separated them back into teams sets. I will never forget that long summer day when my passion for card collecting started. It continued into 1985 when I spent the summer with my grandfather and uncle going to card shows and buying packs of 1985 Topps, making sets and going back to the next show trading our doubles to complete the sets. I collected Topps cards almost exclusively and without stop from 1982-1992. Then, in college I stopped for a while. I got a call from my father in New Jersey, and he had randomly stopped by a sports card show and found a great deal on a 1985 Kirby Pucket card. After that he started for me a new collection, even though we were 1,000 miles away, I will never forget those phone calls, talking about the new cards he bought. It wasn't a lot of cards but my father bought them for me so they have always been important to me. Some today have little value but others were a great investment, a 1970 Nolan Ryan and a 1968 Mickey Mantle. To him, it brought back memories of his childhood collecting Topps cards and putting them in his bicycle spokes. This was his way of redeeming his childhood set that my grandmother threw away.

As the hobby has changed, so have my collections. I know it's not very original, but I like to try and hand collate and put in a binder the main set from every year since I was born in 1975. Buying the factory set just seems too easy- like cheating. I have also been trying to put together team sets of my favorite team the Yankees. My wife gave me a matte cutter for Christmas and I have been able to special cut the matte in the form of a baseball diamond and insert the starting line-up in the field and the rest of the cards on the outside. It took a lot of time but it is very satisfying to look when the set is done and hanging on the wall. Right now my focus is the 1959 Yankee team. I'm still missing 5 cards, and a 1967 team set (missing five also). My most proud work so far is actually not a Topps set but a complete 1951 Bowman set (The Mantle RC is a reprint). It took 15 years to complete, but it's just beautiful, a piece of work I did myself.
Even if I was to ever complete both of the those goals, my last collection will never end. I try to collect the base Topps card of my favorite players from every year. I have completed sets of lifelong Yankees, like 1970-1979 Thurman Munson, 1976-1989 Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly, Bernie, Jeter, Mo, and Posada, mostly Yankees careers like 1956-1969 Elston Howard, Willie Randolh, To guys who just stopped by a few years like Phil Niekro, Reggie Jackson, Gaylord Perry, and Rickey Henderson. After I got their rookie cards and a few other years, I have even learned to appreciate the carreers of non- yankees like Rollie fingers, Rod Carew, Tom Seaver, and Kirby Pucket. After organizing the 1983 Topps set I began to collect Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, and Ryan Sandburg. While I am writing this I have decided to start on three new guys: Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz.

When I talk life events with my friends I find myself associating different events with the Topps rookie cards of that year! I know every main rookie card from the 1960s on. Topps is the oldest running card set with the most memories. I still remember when packs just contained the main set, sub sets were all-star cards, rookies and record breakers. Today when prices have sky rocketed, sub-sets and parallels are too numerous, I still try to keep to the basics and collect the main set of every player I enjoy.

andihrabar

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are vintage cards from the 50's, 60's and 70's and here's why:
I was twelve years old in the summer of 1986. I had spent the previous baseball season walking to High's with my best friend, Armin, in search of the Dwight Gooden rookie card. This was, of course, long before drugs had tainted both Gooden and the game he played. So almost every weekend, my friend and I would walk the mile or so through our suburban streets to buy as many thirty-five cent packs of baseball cards as we could afford. Monies gained from cleaning windows, and organizing our rooms. It seems like most of my childhood memories revolve around baseball cards and Armin. Now, in our mid-thirties, with wives and children and grown up jobs, we don't have nearly enough time to collect and trade. But we still reminisce about the summer of 1986.

My grandmother lived in Shenendoah Valley, Virginia, in a two story log cabin with a working wooden stove fireplace. It was a true country house. This was the first time that I'd brought Armin with me to visit my grandmother, but I think he was less excited to see her than to see the place I'd told him about a few months earlier. In November of the previous year, my mother and grandparents had taken me to Ronnie's Antique Village. I'd always liked old things, so I didn't mind wandering the aisles looking at vintage books and smelling the old wood and paper. But that day I happened to notice a horizontal piece of cardboard with the picture of a young Red Sox slugger across its yellow front. A 1960 Carl Yastrzemski rookie card. Sure it was a little beat up, but it was a Yaz rookie! A little cajoling and twenty-five borrowed dollars later, Yaz was mine. It was the first vintage card that I ever bought.

So now, with the prospect of recapturing that find, and with my best friend in tow, we got in my Grandfather's green Chrysler and headed to Ronnie's. It was a warm, sunny day, and we could feel the wind in our hair as we sat in the back seat discussing whether Cal Ripken was the greatest shortstop of all time. We pulled up to the end of the mall, took one last swig of our grape Nehi's, and went inside.

The place was low lit in many areas, with spotlights hanging down to illuminate some of the important items. The smell of that old paper hung in the air. I still love that smell today. The sense of smell is most closely associated to memories, so maybe it's because of that day that every time I smell books I get a little smile on my face.

We had walked three quarters of the antique mall with no luck. No sports memorabilia anywhere. As we walked to the end of the last room, I noticed a shoebox over in the corner. The covered lid on top said, "Old Baseball Cards. $50." I motioned Armin over and we went to open the lid. Have you ever seen the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, where the guy opens the lid of the ark and the place fills up with light? That's what this was like for Armin and me. Inside the box were several hundred baseball cards from the 50's to the 70's. It was heaven. We could barely contain our joy as we asked my mom for some extra money to buy it. We didn't have enough, but seeing the smiles on our little boy faces was enough for her to lend us the extra cash.

We decided on the car ride home that we would split the box in half and flip a coin for first pick. We fished out a quarter and I let Armin call it. "Heads," he said. The quarter flipped in the air for about twelve hours before it landed on my hand. I cupped and flipped it over. Tails! So with first pick of the 1986 Baseball Card Draft, I selected the 1966 Mickey Mantle. It was chipped, written on, and creased, but I didn't care. It was the Mick, hero of our fathers, and he was mine. Armin picked the 1966 Koufax, his favorite retired player, so we were both happy. And so it went from there. Most of the cards were commons, especially from 1969. But none of them were common to me. Those pieces of cardboard were a link to the past, when the fields were greener and the numbers were real. Each statistic on the back put me in different stadiums, with seats we could afford, even if the view was somewhat obstructed.

Now, I can afford to go to baseball games every once in awhile and still buy a pack of cards now and then, but my focus has been and always will be those cards from the 50's and 60's. One year, my mom bought me a complete 1973 set, the year I was born. One year, I got a 1956 Jackie Robinson for Christmas. Another, I went crazy at a sale and bought a 1955 Al Kaline, Ted Williams, Roberto Clemente, a 1958 Brooks Robinson, and a 1969 Nolan Ryan. I've been working on that 1969 set for years, and I'm sure one day I'll complete it. But I'm not sure I'll ever recapture the magic of that find with my friend, and I'm not sure I even want to.

Jason Taylor

My Favorite Type of Baseball Cards to Collect and Why...
I've always been a fan of collecting my favorite players' cards.

It never really matters to me what type of card it is, whether its an autograph, an insert or whatever, I've always looked to get every type of card of my favorite player.

When I got started collecting baseball cards in the late 80s, I was a huge Darryl Strawberry fan. I spent years going to card shows in search of Strawberry cards, yet I never got a hold of any of the three main rookie cards of the player (although they don't cost too much anymore).

I do have one card of Strawberry that's a tough find from a team set of Kahn's Hot Dogs cads given out at the one and only Mets game I've ever attended. I got that set in the summer of 1988, which were the first baseball cards I ever had (I was only a football card collector for the previous few years back then).

Over the years my player has changed, from Strawberry to Griffey Jr. on to Mike Piazza and, most recently, Derek Jeter.

While I have stacks of the above players cards, It's the more prized cards of those players that I still keep on display on the wall. The rest remain in their plastic cases in the boxes with the rest of my collection.

These days my collecting has changed a little bit, now that I have most of the above players' cards ever printed (with exception of the overly-priced limited print ones). I still look for certain ones I don't have yet but I tend to try and get a hold of the rookie cards of some of the bigger names in the sport. It doesn't have to be the rare, overly-expensive rookie card, just something from a basic set.

dvr51679

My favorite baseball cards to collect are the vintage autographs and game used of the players i watched growing up and a mixture of other items!
The newer stuff i like are the autos of players like Don Sutton, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Jimmy "Toy Cannon" Winn and Preacher Roe. I like the fact that they had cool names not like today's stars ! Then I like the new cards that are coming out like the Topps stamp collection cards, cut signatures and silk collection cards ! The stamp collections have so much history and real cool to see the original stamps of different years and who was on the 1st stamp of the postal service ! But the best thing would be to own an autograph baseball card of the greatest ball players ever like, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Bob Gibson, Roberto Clemente and Nolan Ryan , Since they now include these on baseball cards ! But the coolest cards are the Historical cards like the Obama and Hillary autos , cut signatures of how many people i have no idea ! Then i like the pieces of bat cards from actual gameused bats by Ruth and others ! i know that i'll never be able to afford or get one of these great items because they limit them in such short supplies !But i can dream ! And keep busting those packs when i can !
david jackson (aka dejackson)

My favorite type of baseball cards to collect are inexpensive ones, or even better yet, ones that are free.
I have asked several friends if they had any cards hanging around that they don't really want and have gotten some really good deals and even some for free. So I'm sitting here now at the 11th hour and entering this writing contest in an effort to get even more free cards.
Why do I like the cheap to free cards? Well I'll tell you, I look back at when my dad was a kid in the 50's and 60's and I think to myself; Wow, what if my dad had invested in some of those packs? What if he had saved some of those great player rookie cards from days gone by? What about the tobacco cards? Holy Cow! . and my dad used to smoke. That would have been a really cool thing to hand down to his kids (my brother and I) and so I have begun. I have two kids myself, Sabrina who is 14 and Jacob who is 10. We all started when Pokemon came out. Sabrina (My oldest) thought they were cool and we picked up packs at a local shop. We learned together how to preserve and protect them in the event we should get a "hit" that had some value. We eventually did as we pulled a minty fresh 1st edition Charizard hologram fresh from a pack. We continued to get packs and buy singles until we completed the set. That was cool and provided for some great father daughter bonding.

I like to buy boxes from flea markets and tag sales in an effort to find some long lost hidden gold and I continued to buy packs of various other cards (baseball, football, hockey and others) at our local store, hoping to pull some more "hits" that may someday have some value when my kids end up with them.
Card collecting can be an inexpensive hobby that has far greater value in communicating with your kids than it does in any kind of monetary value. And who knows, as an added bonus, there may be that BIG hit someday that can put them both thru college!
Have fun with your family! Collect Cards!

Dennis DeWeerdt