Help VET that is now a NOOB!

[mbrown2626]

HELP! Back in the game after 20+ years.

OK I collected like crazy when I was a kid and have tens of thousands of cards from the early 80’s. Back then it was simple, Topps, Donruss or Fleer set and then there would be a “traded set” (cards not in packs) that would get produced at the end of the season that had updated teams and rookies and that’s it.

Now I have a 6 and 8 year old that are starting to get interested in sports and baseball cards. So now I’m doing homework to try and be able to explain how cards are done today since it’s been 20+ years since I’ve looked at any of it. I looked at a magazine (becketts price guide) and my head started to hurt. In TOPPS alone the amount of variations, inserts, parallels etc was mind boggling.

I need help in understanding that the hell I’m getting when I open a pack of topps these days. I’ve opened a couple packs of 2011 topps and I have some questions so in 2012 we are ready to go full steam ahead. A couple questions I have so far:

What is Series 1 vs Series 2?
What are the Update packs?
What are the Gold and Platinum Diamond cards?
What are the gold bordered with card numbers #/2011?
What are the black bordered cards numbered #/60?
Are there certain types of cards that do not come in the standard packs that I can get at Target and Walmart?
In basic pack opening, what are the most desirable cards these days?
I see some cards let you mail in to get a card. Whats that all about?

Any and all help to help me get up to speed would be greatly appreciated.

Please help this old Vet that is now a modern day NOOB!

 

[rotorob]

Welcome back to the hobby!
What is Series 1 vs Series 2? Topps has been issuing cards in series, but not like the old days where one issue is scarcer than another, but with different release dates. Each series has 330 cards.
What are the Update packs? You could think of these as Series 3 or “traded” cards from the old days. They will also include cards from current year All-Star games.
What are the Gold and Platinum Diamond cards?
What are the gold bordered with card numbers #/2011? A parallel called Topps Gold, the serial numbered sets started in 2001, all of them are numbered to the year of the card.
What are the black bordered cards numbered #/60? Another, scarcer parallel set.
Are there certain types of cards that do not come in the standard packs that I can get at Target and Walmart? Yes, there are some that are exclusive to certain stores.
In basic pack opening, what are the most desirable cards these days? Like the old days, whatever makes you happiest. If trading is the goal, autographs of top players, HOF types or hot prospects always move well, the next tier is usually game used of those same types, parallels (the rarer, the “better”), then base.
I see some cards let you mail in to get a card. Whats that all about? These are redemptions and although I haven’t had any issues with them, there are some collectors that consider them the bane of their existence.

Hope it helps. Feel free to PM with any other questions.

 

[jdthakid36]

The modern day George Foreman of sportscards? Ha ha, just joking, but I had to throw that in there. First off, welcome back to the hobby. I've been collecting since I was 7, so roughly 22 years. I had some points in college where I gave it up, due to being in another state. Somehow, this hobby is embedded in my DNA or something...I can't pull myself away, and most of the time I don't want to. Anyway, I see Robert answered most of your questions. I wanted to chime in on the last question. Most collectors, whether they sell or trade, or both, usually have a player, team, set, etc...that they focus on for their "personal collection". I realized many years ago that I could not keep up with the hobby and collect every all-star...The cool thing about this hobby, still, is that there's no wrong way to collect. It might make it more fun for you and your boys to pick a player, team, or set (and even a specific insert or parallel set) to make yours, and then trade the rest for other cards you want/need. Plus, you might have a head start with your older cards, if you still have them.

Just a quick recap of how the industry went the past several years. Long story short, technology seems like it completely took over...who would've thought...ha ha. Unfortunately, for my generation, the cards I collected as a kid, late 80's to early-mid 90's, aren't worth much...but the past seven or eight years, due to cards with game-used pieces and autographs, cards are valued much higher! From what i've seen, most people are looking for game-used and autographed cards. If you pull one of those, you've done ok. Hopefully you'll find, like many of us on the boards, that there's so many aspects of this hobby that are fun! I hope my 2-year old son is interested in cards when he gets a little old...i'm looking forward to it!

Sorry for the rambling, I enjoy talking about the hobby. I hope you enjoy collecting with your kids!

Josh

 

[mbrown2626]

The modern day George Foreman of sportscards? Ha ha, just joking, but I had to throw that in there. First off, welcome back to the hobby. I've been collecting since I was 7, so roughly 22 years. I had some points in college where I gave it up, due to being in another state. Somehow, this hobby is embedded in my DNA or something...I can't pull myself away, and most of the time I don't want to. Anyway, I see Robert answered most of your questions. I wanted to chime in on the last question. Most collectors, whether they sell or trade, or both, usually have a player, team, set, etc...that they focus on for their "personal collection". I realized many years ago that I could not keep up with the hobby and collect every all-star...The cool thing about this hobby, still, is that there's no wrong way to collect. It might make it more fun for you and your boys to pick a player, team, or set (and even a specific insert or parallel set) to make yours, and then trade the rest for other cards you want/need. Plus, you might have a head start with your older cards, if you still have them.

Just a quick recap of how the industry went the past several years. Long story short, technology seems like it completely took over...who would've thought...ha ha. Unfortunately, for my generation, the cards I collected as a kid, late 80's to early-mid 90's, aren't worth much...but the past seven or eight years, due to cards with game-used pieces and autographs, cards are valued much higher! From what i've seen, most people are looking for game-used and autographed cards. If you pull one of those, you've done ok. Hopefully you'll find, like many of us on the boards, that there's so many aspects of this hobby that are fun! I hope my 2-year old son is interested in cards when he gets a little old...i'm looking forward to it!

Sorry for the rambling, I enjoy talking about the hobby. I hope you enjoy collecting with your kids!

Josh

LOL. If you saw the 200+ Steve Garvey cards I collected when I was a kid you would know how I'm into collecting my favorite player. My boys will battel for all the TX Ranger cards as we go to about 10 games a year. The best thing is the Rangers make 4 players available for autographs every Wed before the game and they only sign for kids 13 and under which I think is fantastic. They've both started thier autograph collection already by doing this.

thanks for the help

 

[brewerfan34]

Welcome back to the hobby. Myself and many others here have been or in your shoes. You've come to a great site. In the "card talk" section there is a sticky to help with the lingo of trading. Here is the link:http://www.thebenchtrading.com/thebench/showthread.php?t=374531

I hope you and your kids have fun!

Thanks,

Frank

 

[David K.]

Welcome back! Best regards, David

 

[lprimus]

Welcome back to the hobby! The only good advice I can give you is to take your time and don't panic. LOL! There is lots of new and exciting things available. Don't jump into it quickly. Take your time and understand what is out there. Do research on anything you want to buy to make sure you're getting a decent price and not getting taken for.

There's lots of new variations, and so forth in all of the cards. They can be fun and/or frustrating from a collecting standpoint. Just learn what is out there and enjoy the ride!


Jason

 

[Motown G]

Welcome to the Bench!!!

 

[mrmopar]

Still got them and if so, anything super unique in there?

I collect Garvey and have since about 1978.

LOL. If you saw the 200+ Steve Garvey cards I collected when I was a kid you would know how I'm into collecting my favorite player.

 

[jdthakid36]

LOL. If you saw the 200+ Steve Garvey cards I collected when I was a kid you would know how I'm into collecting my favorite player. My boys will battel for all the TX Ranger cards as we go to about 10 games a year. The best thing is the Rangers make 4 players available for autographs every Wed before the game and they only sign for kids 13 and under which I think is fantastic. They've both started thier autograph collection already by doing this.

thanks for the help

Texas is my favorite team...due to the greatest pitcher of all time owning them...I wouldn't be surprised if Nolan Ryan has something to do with the signings...awesome guy!

 

[bigbov]

Welcome back... I had to chuckle reading this as I have 3 sons (10,8,5) who have been into cards for a couple years. This spring I told them I would help them w/ their collecting. I too haven't collected in several years and was blown away by what the hobby had become. I'm lucky to have a co-worker who is a huge collector and has helped me immensely (answering questions for me like the ones u posted!!). I can say that it has been great getting back into it and I am hooked. It has brought me much closer to my boys and I wouldn't "trade" that for the world. Enjoy urself and you picked the right website. My co-worker is the one who recommended it to me and I can't thank him enough. Everyone I have encountered on here has been wonderful. Sorry for the long story. GL and welcome to The Bench!!

 

[plopowitz]

I would also suggest you familiarize yourself with what it might cost to acquire some of the newer things you're after... Prices on some of the products that offer the most value are rather pricey. Aside from the many opportunities at getting lucky, I think its fair to say that, relatively speaking, you get what you pay for. The more rare something is, the more expensive it's going to be at attempting to acquire it.

BUT that's what makes a place like THE BENCH so great...There are so many varied interests out here that a forum such as this provides a great opportunity for friendly exposure, and with good communication, the cards you become interested in may become less expensive to obtain through trading.

Welcome back!!!!
Pete

 

[mbrown2626]

Still got them and if so, anything super unique in there?

I collect Garvey and have since about 1978.

PM sent