OT - Example of why card collecting is dying re: Topps

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by PolarBear

I'd say they're the largest market for 50's and 60's stuff.

The last time the card hobby was a "kids thing" was around 1990. Eventually, you're going to run out of nostalgic baby boomers and gen x-ers who are looking to put together post war sets they remembered as kids.

I think the post war market is eventually going to crash, maybe with exceptions like rookie HOF'ers who will probably always be in demand for HOF sets. I doubt in 10-15 years you're going to see as many people chasing 1959 Topps sets, etc.

What do you base these statements on? Every time I go into the local card shop, there are a good group of kids there.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

What do you base these statements on? Every time I go into the local card shop, there are a good group of kids there.

Same here, Bill.

I'm part of our Founder's Legacy program at work and one of the things we do is to partner with a local middle school to mentor to kids in various ways. This year, they've paired me up with a 12 year old boy (never know who you're going to get) that plays little league and his dad coaches the team...and he collects baseball cards.

Also, I have a 8 year old nephew that just recently came into my life (long story, but my brother didn't know about him). He also collects baseball cards.

To anyone that thinks card collecting is just for adults, go hang out in a card shop (a real card shop) for a couple hours this weekend and then see if you still believe that.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Same here, Bill.

I'm part of our Founder's Legacy program at work and one of the things we do is to partner with a local middle school to mentor to kids in various ways. This year, they've paired me up with a 12 year old boy (never know who you're going to get) that plays little league and his dad coaches the team...and he collects baseball cards.

Also, I have a 8 year old nephew that just recently came into my life (long story, but my brother didn't know about him). He also collects baseball cards.

To anyone that thinks card collecting is just for adults, go hang out in a card shop (a real card shop) for a couple hours this weekend and then see if you still believe that.

shiny and new can always be popular with kids...for a while...the question will be will these same kids keep at it and be willing to pay $200 for a common from 1909 in the future etc.....better yet be set collectors of vintage sets...

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

shiny and new can always be popular with kids...for a while...the question will be will these same kids keep at it and be willing to pay $200 for a common from 1909 in the future etc.....better yet be set collectors of vintage sets...

Not sure why not. I did. Many on this board did. I lionized vintage back in the day, but bought only the shiny new stuff (such as it was in the late 70's through the 80's). There are many such as myself and Sam S who posted earlier...we never dreamed as kids of one day having some income available to purchase the cards that we drooled over as kids. Any particular reason why the current generation should be considered so vastly different from ours? The people buying commons from 1909 or are vintage set collectors aren't just baby boomers and retirees. People who bought cards in the 80's and 90's as kids....some of them now buy those 1909 commons and collect vintage sets. Some of the kids buying today will become successful enough 20-30 years from now to do the same.

Not sure why you think the kids today are any different from the kids 30 years ago (like myself)?

Tom C

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Not sure why not. I did. Many on this board did. I lionized vintage back in the day, but bought only the shiny new stuff (such as it was in the late 70's through the 80's). There are many such as myself and Sam S who posted earlier...we never dreamed as kids of one day having some income available to purchase the cards that we drooled over as kids. Any particular reason why the current generation should be considered so vastly different from ours? The people buying commons from 1909 or are vintage set collectors aren't just baby boomers and retirees. People who bought cards in the 80's and 90's as kids....some of them now buy those 1909 commons and collect vintage sets. Some of the kids buying today will become successful enough 20-30 years from now to do the same.

Not sure why you think the kids today are any different from the kids 30 years ago (like myself)?

Tom C

Spot on.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

What do you base these statements on? Every time I go into the local card shop, there are a good group of kids there.

No card shops within 100 miles of here, so I can't speak to card shop experiences.

However, the only kids I ever see in the card sections of Target, Walmart, etc. are looking at Magic or Pokemon, or whatever is on the "kids" end of the card isle. I have never seen kids buying sports cards, only adults.

Add to that the fact that half the sports cards in stock are from last year, would give you the impression the hobby is on the decline.

[Orioles1954]

It's no longer a mainstream hobby and hasn't been for over 20 years. It has a niche and within that niche there are many additional niches. As long as those niches are at least maintaining their base it seems unlikely that the hobby will just one day collapse.

[ksabet]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

It's no longer a mainstream hobby and hasn't been for over 20 years. It has a niche and within that niche there are many additional niches. As long as those niches are at least maintaining their base it seems unlikely that the hobby will just one day collapse.

I think you have a niche for using the word niche

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by PolarBear

However, the only kids I ever see in the card sections of Target, Walmart, etc. are looking at Magic or Pokemon, or whatever is on the "kids" end of the card isle.

Funny that you mention this. I was at a shop this weekend and met a young guy named Randall. I didn't catch his age, but he told me that he has a two year old little boy. If I had to guess, I would say he was in his mid-twenties. It was his first time in the shop. He told me that he used to play Magic, but he felt it was time to "grow up" (those were his words) and make the transition into cards. He was asking me for advice on modern cards, but I couldn't help him. But my point is, that he was someone that was into gaming cards, but made the transition into bb cards. It does happen.

[RaidonCollects]

This hobby will not die for hundreds of years. As long as there is one person collecting the hobby is still alive. It's true that you don't see too many kids collection, but I have seen an awful lot of kids at the National this year. There is still hope.

~Owen

[Rich Klein]

Leon and Matt can verify this since they were at my show last Saturday but we had a nice grouping of kids (in part because every outdoor event they could have been involved with was rained out) and I would say we had perhaps 25-30 kids who attended our show last Saturday.

Now same came with mom and or dad but others were with mom and dad but they were the collectors In either case, we were all encouraged to see so many kids

Rich

[Laxcat]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Leon and Matt can verify this since they were at my show last Saturday but we had a nice grouping of kids (in part because every outdoor event they could have been involved with was rained out) and I would say we had perhaps 25-30 kids who attended our show last Saturday.

Now same came with mom and or dad but others were with mom and dad but they were the collectors In either case, we were all encouraged to see so many kids

Rich

Correct. Here's a little story.

8 year old kid asks if I have any vintage Miami Dolphins cards. I point him to the boxes that have 60's and 70's singles. Kid is decked out in Dolphins gear he probably knew more about the Dolphins than the rest of this board combined. He spends about 10 minutes going through the boxes. All the time rattling off what he knows about the team. He bought about $5 or $6 dollars worth of stuff. With his money. Not the biggest sale, but that is not what matters. I ended up giving him a Mercury Morris Rookie. I told him he earned it with his knowledge.
It made me smile to see someone his age actually interested in sports history. I think that is why most of us are in the hobby. I know it's the reason I still collect pictures of guys I never saw play.

I think if we take the time, when the opportunity presents, to talk to the younger collectors and get them excited about not just the monetary value of these cards but the about the people and events that these pieces of cardboard depict then we will have a good hobby in the future filled witty people that are there for the right reason.

He reminded me of myself. In the heyday of the shows I was the little imp running around wanting to look through your vintage stuff slowly building my little collection that meant the world to me.

[rjackson44]

Max nice story if I told you the stuff I've given to kids 😀😀😀it brings me great joy

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Laxcat

Correct. Here's a little story.

8 year old kid asks if I have any vintage Miami Dolphins cards. I point him to the boxes that have 60's and 70's singles. Kid is decked out in Dolphins gear he probably knew more about the Dolphins than the rest of this board combined. He spends about 10 minutes going through the boxes. All the time rattling off what he knows about the team. He bought about $5 or $6 dollars worth of stuff. With his money. Not the biggest sale, but that is not what matters. I ended up giving him a Mercury Morris Rookie. I told him he earned it with his knowledge.
It made me smile to see someone his age actually interested in sports history. I think that is why most of us are in the hobby. I know it's the reason I still collect pictures of guys I never saw play.

I think if we take the time, when the opportunity presents, to talk to the younger collectors and get them excited about not just the monetary value of these cards but the about the people and events that these pieces of cardboard depict then we will have a good hobby in the future filled witty people that are there for the right reason.

He reminded me of myself. In the heyday of the shows I was the little imp running around wanting to look through your vintage stuff slowly building my little collection that meant the world to me.

nice story, its not all about money like you said..5 or 6$ i would also have given the kid free stuff ..that's whats good about a hobby versus making money..as we are getting back to the hobby aspect