Prewar v. Postwar & Big Names...?

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I feel for the Millennials.

I'm 42, so technically at the tail end of Gen X, but feel kind of in that boat. I missed out on 70's and early 80's shows when things were somewhat reasonable. By the time I got into old cards it was the early 90's, and while certainly cheaper than today - price trends were already outlined and generally on the rise. I never knew a "cheap" Mantle card, and the same can be said for many of his contemporaries. Things like Goudey and tobacco cards were rarely seen outside of shows when I was a kid, and of course there they were not in line with my budget as a teenager.

[jchcollins]

Just as an FYI - my "stopgap" to this dilemma with prewar right now, is that if I can't go after the biggest names, I will go after my favorite team, the Cubs. This has worked out nicely so far, even though as basically a huge type collection, I have almost an unlimited amount of things I can go after. I picked up a nice 1915 Cracker Jack Hippo Vaughn for Christmas...

Time will tell I guess if this proves as fulfilling to me in the long run as postwar stars.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I'm 42, so technically at the tail end of Gen X, but feel kind of in that boat. I missed out on 70's and early 80's shows when things were somewhat reasonable. By the time I got into old cards it was the early 90's, and while certainly cheaper than today - price trends were already outlined and generally on the rise. I never knew a "cheap" Mantle card, and the same can be said for many of his contemporaries. Things like Goudey and tobacco cards were rarely seen outside of shows when I was a kid, and of course there they were not in line with my budget as a teenager.

I’m 43...I often say “I’m not a millennial, I’m a bicentennial” (not many laugh).

But I hear you...I feel like we were late to the game. And the money we spent on junk wax? Ugh!

My collection has gone through a number of transitions over the years, plus plenty of quite times of inactivity.

I don’t put a lot of “new money” into my collection. Of course, I don’t often spend more than $50 on a single card (and over $100 only a handful). My ‘76 and ‘77 projects are exceptions, but most of what I’ve been doing the last few years is selling off ungraded stuff and buying graded.

The “new money” I put in is mostly paying my eBay monthly fees and buying some stamps for shipping small lots. Other than that I *try* to only buy out of sales.

So, for 30+ years of collecting, I don’t have a super collection to show off, but it’s been a lot of fun and I’m constantly consolidating and getting more and more cool stuff.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

I feel like we were late to the game. And the money we spent on junk wax?

Oh, tell me about it. I'm still waiting for all those Jose Canseco, Gregg Jeffries, Todd Van Poppel, Jerome Walton, and Kevin Maas cards to suddenly skyrocket in value so I can payoff my mortgage and retire early. Fraud! The only thing our generation really got to show for our efforts was the '89 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.

I'll be 43 next month, so right there with you. I was lucky growing up to have a mother who indulged my vintage card habit, even if that meant making my father mad at the money she would spend on me. Back then that was beat up 1950's and 60's cards, but there were some Mantles and Aarons and the like in the mix just the same. That's part of the reason this type of decision is so hard for me. I grew up that way, and honestly am just very invested in a lot of the classic postwar cards.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Oh, tell me about it. I'm still waiting for all those Jose Canseco, Gregg Jeffries, Todd Van Poppel, Jerome Walton, and Kevin Maas cards to suddenly skyrocket in value so I can payoff my mortgage and retire early. What a gyp! The only thing our generation really got to show for our efforts was the '89 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.



I'll be 43 next month, so right there with you. I was lucky growing up to have a mother who indulged my vintage card habit, even if that meant making my father mad at the money she would spend on me. Back then that was beat up 1950's and 60's cards, but there were some Mantles and Aarons and the like in the mix just the same. That's part of the reason this type of decision is so hard for me. I grew up that way, and honestly am just very invested in a lot of the classic postwar cards.

Along with my vintage efforts, I have gone back and picked up some of those 80s cards/sets (like '84 Fleer Update) that were out of my reach back then.

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[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I have gone back and picked up some of those 80s cards/sets

Oh I know, me too. I finally got an '84 Donruss Mattingly this year. And for like 20 bucks!

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Oh I know, me too. I finally got an '84 Donruss Mattingly this year. And for like 20 bucks!

Good stuff! I think that '84 Donruss may be my favorite 80s set! Just a lot of memories from childhood wrapped up with it. Topps was all I had ever known. The first few times I saw Donruss and Fleer cards, I didn't know what to think! I need to get back to some 80s pick-ups soon.

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[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Good stuff! I think that '84 Donruss may be my favorite 80s set! Just a lot of memories from childhood wrapped up with it. Topps was all I had ever known. The first few times I saw Donruss and Fleer cards, I didn't know what to think! I need to get back to some 80s pick-ups soon.

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For me that's like the '87 Fleer set. They were hard to find, and cost more. Oooh, an '87 Fleer Bo Jackson... LOL.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

(like '84 Fleer Update)

Robert, speaking of which -

I have been after an '84 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett for some time. I love that card. Haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. That was always one of those "out of reach" 80's cards for me.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Robert, speaking of which -



I have been after an '84 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett for some time. I love that card. Haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. That was always one of those "out of reach" 80's cards for me.

I understand totally. I always wanted that one and the Clemens. That particular set was always mysterious to me as a teenager in that I hardly ever actually saw it and, when I did, those cards were way out of my reach. It was satisfying picking up that set a couple of years ago.

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[DeanH3]

I have collected lower grade pre-war for so long now, I guess it has allowed me to have a higher acceptance for lower post-war grades. I've found 4's even 3's to be very pleasing and not really expensive.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I understand totally. I always wanted that one and the Clemens. That particular set was always mysterious to me as a teenager in that I hardly ever actually saw it and, when I did, those cards were way out of my reach. It was satisfying picking up that set a couple of years ago.

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Was just looking at graded versions of the Clemens the other day on eBay...maybe some day!