Storing and enjoying cards in binders

[Vintagevault13]

Enjoyed catching up on this thread this morning. I love all the pics of your binders. Like many here, I have gone back and forth on binders vs. toploaders, etc. but always go back to binders because of how great it is to (carefully) flip through the pages. I wanted to share a little about how I collect. I am in the process of building back the sets I collected as a kid (73-79). I am doing this for enjoyment AND to pass on to my kids at some point. As I build each set, I approach the project like a glimpse into my childhood. As a result, I try to build a time capsule for each year. In addition to the set, I include all variations of that year’s wrappers because the ads bring back so many memories (t-shirts, lockers, etc). I also include a copy of that year’s Street and Smiths Baseball Yearbook. As a kid, the arrival of new cards and the new Street and Smiths went hand-in-hand. Flipping through the yearbooks is an absolute joy, especially looking at the ads from the various dealers! Finally, I create a short narrative with information on the set and specific memories that the set holds for me and what I was doing at that point as a kid. While I do this to inform my kids when they get the cards one day, I find that it also helps me relive some awesome memories.

Sorry for the long post, but just wanted to share my projects and thank all of my fellow “binder folks” for the continuing inspiration.


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[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by Vintagevault13

Enjoyed catching up on this thread this morning. I love all the pics of your binders. Like many here, I have gone back and forth on binders vs. toploaders, etc. but always go back to binders because of how great it is to (carefully) flip through the pages. I wanted to share a little about how I collect. I am in the process of building back the sets I collected as a kid (73-79). I am doing this for enjoyment AND to pass on to my kids at some point. As I build each set, I approach the project like a glimpse into my childhood. As a result, I try to build a time capsule for each year. In addition to the set, I include all variations of that year’s wrappers because the ads bring back so many memories (t-shirts, lockers, etc). I also include a copy of that year’s Street and Smiths Baseball Yearbook. As a kid, the arrival of new cards and the new Street and Smiths went hand-in-hand. Flipping through the yearbooks is an absolute joy, especially looking at the ads from the various dealers! Finally, I create a short narrative with information on the set and specific memories that the set holds for me and what I was doing at that point as a kid. While I do this to inform my kids when they get the cards one day, I find that it also helps me relive some awesome memories.

Sorry for the long post, but just wanted to share my projects and thank all of my fellow “binder folks” for the continuing inspiration.


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Even though I don't do that personally, I love the idea of the Street and Smith yearbook going with each set. I don't have the memory of the yearbooks like you had so it would not make sense for me. But building and recreating memories is what it is all about. Having your personal archive with a personal touch it's a great way to collect

I do however remember the Street and Smith basketball yearbook in the late 1980s and early 1990s with Michael Jordan on the front. I still have them. As a teen kid I collected all of the Sports Illustrated covers with Jordan on the front and sold them off years ago regrettably. A couple of years ago I collected them back and still have them.

[whitehse]

After I sold the majority of my collection 20 years ago I went back to collecting the sets I put together as a kid, starting with the 73 - 77 time frame. This collection I sold included complete sets from the early 60's, a few 50's complete sets and a variety of stuff that was all in binders.

With the current collection sleeves and top loaders was my storage method. I hated leafing through the top loaders and went to card savers but it was such a pain to pull out the boxes and look at the sets I generally never did. Last year, after I completed my '56 Topps set that is in card savers, I started the 65 Topps set and decided to put them in pages as I had a stack of them laying around. I never really loved the design of the '65 set but soon changed my mind as I put them in pages and admired the beauty of the design. Fast forward to the last few months and I have now put all of my sets, except for the '56 in sleeves and am happy I did it. It is so much easier to just grab the binder and look through these cards and truly enjoy them and not just collect them.

[jchcollins]

Just being honest - and it's fine if I'm the only one - but I hate binders, and have for a long time. Today I have my first two childhood sets (1986 and '87 Topps) in large binders, but that's the only thing of consequence - to me, even if they aren't worth much monetarily.

Growing up they all just seemed to fall apart, and eventually the (less than 21st century quality Ultra Pro) pages seemed to get sticky or develop other problems. Of course, storing at least 2 cards front and back in each pocket probably didn't help me out much either.

Don't get me wrong, I don't disparage any of you who are binder fans. It's certainly more compact and economical in terms of storage for those of you who are given to caring about such things. But 95% of my collection is singles and stars, not sets, and just in terms of the physical space - stacks of toploaders, mag cases, and slabs aren't necessarily going to ruin me in my personal space at home assuming I collect for the next 20 years on roughly the same budget. In terms of the two sets I am actually working on right now - '67 and '72 Topps - I'm doing it the hard way, stubbornly collecting both in penny sleeves, card savers and toploaders, and then putting those into boxes.

[bb66]

Vintagevault13 that sounds awesome----love the stories.

[nolemmings]

I know I've posted this before a couple of years ago, but I thought some may have missed it (more likely most don't care).

I use 8 pocket pages and then keep each card in its own penny sleeve so I can pull it out with little fear of damage. It also tends to keep the sheet slightly "sturdier", although my biggest fear is still curling of the corner pockets.
I use mylar sleeves to provide an even stronger sheet. They tend to stick out a smidge, which is a slight distraction but also makes them easier to pull out.

Here are two examples--the Braves are stored in the usual penny sleeve in the larger size for 52-56 Topps, and the Twins use the Mylar. Sorry I did a lousy job of getting them still and aligned--these scans are from a couple years ago:


I view the binders calendar style rather than book style; i.e. on my lap or table turning the pages up and over rather than left-right. A little out of the ordinary but really no big deal at all. I recommend this approach--just start with one set and see if you like it-- you can always scrap the idea and find another use for the 8 pocket sheets, I would hope.

[Vintageloz]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I know I've posted this before a couple of years ago, but I thought some may have missed it (more likely most don't care).

I use 8 pocket pages and then keep each card in its own penny sleeve so I can pull it out with little fear of damage. It also tends to keep the sheet slightly "sturdier", although my biggest fear is still curling of the corner pockets.
I use mylar sleeves to provide an even stronger sheet. They tend to stick out a smidge, which is a slight distraction but also makes them easier to pull out.

Here are two examples--the Braves are stored in the usual penny sleeve in the larger size for 52-56 Topps, and the Twins use the Mylar. Sorry I did a lousy job of getting them still and aligned--these scans are from a couple years ago:


I view the binders calendar style rather than book style; i.e. on my lap or table turning the pages up and over rather than left-right. A little out of the ordinary but really no big deal at all. I recommend this approach--just start with one set and see if you like it-- you can always scrap the idea and find another use for the 8 pocket sheets, I would hope.

Hi Todd

Can you post a link to where you get the Mylar sleeves?
Thanks
Chris