How to start a child on card collecting

[cbcbcb]

It seems like the Topps T206 cards would be a good place to start. They have today's players on them but look like the cards we collect. A commonality such as that could work. I got really interested in the McGwire/Sosa homerun chase when my dad bought me cards just about everyday. Unfortunately, it may take something like that to get him started.

[Orioles1954]

What got me interested in baseball cards. My family moved to Maryland in 1984 when I was 8 years old. My dad was seeking for something to do just with me. He took me to an Orioles vs. Angels game on a Friday night at Memorial Stadium. I was instantly hooked on the sport of baseball, its history and cards. I think there is a serious lack in this hobby of people who collect cards (for some reason), but who honestly don't give a crap about the sport of baseball. I work in the industry and am surrounded by thousands of vintage cards on a daily basis. All of us have played the game throughout our lives and it has enhanced our card collecting. Play catch with your son, get active with him and the rest will (or will not) follow.

[Jewish-collector]

On another thread (and on other non-vintage BB message boards), collectors say it's a way to get away from work & the kids. Well, how the hell are the kids supposed to get involved in the hobby when many collectors say this type of statement ?

[glenv]

Put together a baseball card puzzle with the kids. Pull out some similar cards so they can see the real thing. Here's one my family just did:

puzzle.jpg

[jeffmohler]

I have some experience in this! My son Joseph (age 12) has developed a real love for the game and for cards. Both of his grandfathers enjoy baseball too, so perhaps he couldn't help avoiding the baseball genes.

My wife and I got him involved in Little League several years ago so that he could enjoy playing on a team. About a year ago my daughter asked me if she could have his room after he was drafted. I was sort of surprised that she knew about the military draft and explained that the armed forces were now volunteer. Well, I quickly learned that Joseph expects to be drafted by a major league team, not Uncle Sam and that she wanted Joseph's room after he leaves for Single A ball!

Joseph loves cards that have stats on the back. In fact, he is the anti-rookie card collector. He wants cards from the end of the player's careers so that he can look at their complete MLB stats. The oldest card that I could interest him in was a 1966 Topps Koufax.

Almost all his cards are loose. I have been careful not to buy anything too nice since he likes to handle his cards. I also try to avoid mentioning how much cards are worth, prospects for increase in value, etc. There is time enough for that later, in my opinion.

Jeff

[rhettyeakley]

Pretty much if one has the collecting gene they are going to be collecting something. Unfortunately, I have it and I chose to collect vintage sports cards. My father was a big collector of early Lionel and American Flyer trains and at one point had a world class train collection. Ultimately, I think he always hoped that Rhys and I would someday come around to collect them with him but trains just never interested us in the least.

I went to the York, PA national train convention with him several times when I was younger but it was just never my hobby (also it was fairly expensive). When we started collecting baseball cards in around 1986-87 my father was okay with it and actually bought me my first prewar cards (a 33 Goudey Pepper Martin & T206 Titus) and even began collecting cards himself a bit--unfortunately it was the late eighties and early nineties so we didn't do so well on the cards we bought.

Long story short, it is impossible to make your kids collect what you do. Instill in them why you enjoy the hobby and they will choose one for themselves if they have that desire, and if you are really lucky they will like the same thing as you do.

-Rhett

[tothrk]

At his young age, he might be more interested in some vintage non sports cards. As someone else stated, they are also informative. When he becomes older and interested in playing sports, he might gravitate towards some vintage sports cards.

[bbcard1]

I bought several boxes of cards when my son was born (1994) and will give them to him when he is 30. Actually, the SP product is worth something. I will let him do whatever he wants with them..sell them, tear them open, keep them, whatever. I would love to bust a nice box to 1961s myself.

He has collected since he was six or so. He is a big baseball fan and it came naturally to him.

[Anthony S.]

Lock him in his room and don't let him out until he can recite the name, position and pose variations of every single player in the N172 Old Judge set.

Then again, my theories on child rearing have been called into question before.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Anthony S.

Then again, my theories on child rearing have been called into question before.

LOL. Just the child rearing theories???

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Anthony S.

Lock him in his room and don't let him out until he can recite the name, position and pose variations of every single player in the N172 Old Judge set.

Then again, my theories on child rearing have been called into question before.

LOL! That's actually kind of how I got into cards but it was voluntary.

I would lock myself in my room and pore through the statistics on the back of every card in the late 70's and early 80's.

I'd also study every young player and rookie coming up. I absolutely loved when a guys minor league stats were included on the back of the card.

I'd look for players I thought everybody else was overlooking. Why chase Rickey Henderson's first card like everybody else, when you can get a Damaso Garcia or Bump Wills rookie card for so much cheaper.

I'd hand out my want list to card dealers at flea markets in the area and they'd look at me like I had two heads because I'd have guys on there like Jim Kaat, Andre Thornton, Greg Luzinski, Ken Singleton and Mike Marshall.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Tell him he can't do it, can't have any cards, and you will never buy him any and just be happy with Thomas the train. I wouldn't advise starting a collection for any kid. I am trying to figure out how to not raise a spoiled brat who thinks everything comes on a silver platter and up to this point feel like I am failing. I just want my kids to have fun and be happy, they like the zoo, going to parks, and running around, but also love to get new toys but after a few minutes just want another one, the madness must come to an end and anyone who knows the 12 steps to raising a child let me know !

[carrigansghost]

I gave my son the choice of a player to collect, pre war Red Sox. He picked Jake Stahl after reading about him. I bought the first one, then made him do the leg work finding more at reasonable prices. It helps with the birthdays and xmas presents.

Rawn

[ValKehl]

To interest a kid in collecting bb cards, IMO It takes BOTH:

(1) A keen interest in the game of baseball, usually developed from playing it

AND

(2) Being born with a collecting gene (as Barry and others have mentioned).

I got interested in baseball because it was the only sport my dad cared about - he played catch with me (he says he thought I'd never learn to actually catch the ball) and made me watch the ball until it hit the bat. And, I am grateful for the times he took me to old Griffith Stadium to see our Senators (Runnels & Vernon were my favorites) play.

As a youngster, two uncles first got me into collecting stamps, then coins. Collecting bb cards followed when I began playing baseball. If someone gave me a jar of buttons tomorrow, I'd probably become a button collector! I won't bore you with the other things I collect as an adult.

An interest in math & statistics also helps. My favorite bb cards as a youngster were the 1957 Topps, because they showed a player's stats for each year! I would spend hours reading the stats on the backs of those cards!

I have 3 grown sons. Was I able to interest any of them in collecting bb cards? Nope! They like sports, but don't have the collector gene!

Best Wishes for 2010 to the Net54 collecting community!
Val

[lsutigers1973]

I have been trying for years.

My son loves baseball and is a perennial little league all star. Even bought him a few of the notorious "hot packs" on eBay and let him open them. Nothing has worked.

If you figure out a way, please let me know.