How to start a child on card collecting

[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