[CollectingAmericasPastime]

Originally Posted by z28jd

I got a small pile of low grade 1973 Topps cards when I was a kid and I didn't know many of the players, but the cards made me want to learn about them. I think donating cards is good if you find the right people to give them to, which wouldn't be every kid. It might be better to group them into teams and then give kids cards from their favorite team.

I often wonder if it would be better for the hobby if you threw away a large pile of cards instead of giving it to a kid. Maybe you get a new collector for life into the hobby, but if people threw away large piles of junk cards, eventually they would be worth something and might bring back former collectors who still held on to them. At least with the former collectors, you know it's people who recognize the players and had a passion for the cards at one time.

Personally, I think the best idea is donating large groups to kids and if they don't like it, they will probably throw them out. If they do, then you have a new collector, which helps the hobby.

Bingo.