Thinking of Starting a Player Collection

[greyminis]

My collecting goals generally focus on set building.

But since joining The Bench I see a lot of player collectors.

I'm thinking of taking the player collector plunge with a young star.

Started picking up some Strasburg and Mike Stanton. Seems like a lot of good young players arriving though...Hosmer, Ackley, Trumbo, etc.

Any recommendations?

 

[Yanks21]

My biggest suggestion is to come to the realization that you will never have every card of the player you select, especially popular rookies/ young players in which you gave an example of. The way they produce the products in such limited productions, 1/1 /5 10/ ect. It can get pretty expensive. I can go on forever but keep in mind so can Topps, UD ect printing production lines so the card quantities of players will always be on the rise. My player retired in 2001 and just the other day Topps Marquee (just this one product) dumped another God knows many new different auto versions of Paul O’neill. Not to mention O’neill is in two more 2011 Topps products with autographs. Good luck!

 

[chaplain11]

The way they produce the products in such limited productions, 1/1 /5 10/ ect. It can get pretty expensive. I can go on forever but keep in mind so can Topps, UD ect printing production lines so the card quantities of players will always be on the rise. My player retired in 2001 and just the other day Topps Marquee (just this one product) dumped another God knows many new different auto versions of Paul O’neill. Not to mention O’neill is in two more 2011 Topps products with autographs. Good luck!

I feel you. I collect gehrig and there is no way ever that I will complete the collection. Too many 1/1s and low-end GU - autos not withstanding. But the collection and chase is the fun part.

Go after who you want to collect and enjoy!

Dewayne

 

[greyminis]

Thank you both for your insight. I understand there is no way to 'complete' such a collection given the amount of product available and given the number of parallels in each of the releases.

Even with set building there is the possibility of falling short. I'm still working on sets from 2005: UD Old Judge (need 15 more gold/20s and 1 more red/99) and Cracker Jack grey minis (need 6 more) and finding the few I need is feeling less likely with each passing day. Still love looking at the cards, knowing how far I've come with them and how much patience its required...don't imagine I'll give up the quest.

 

[rotorob]

Go after who you want to collect and enjoy!

Dewayne

Dan -
Dewayne hit the nail on the head. A long time ago someone told me, buy what you like and no matter if the value goes up or down, you're still happy because you like it.

Seeing the O's logo, I'd probably go with someone on their team.

 

[baseball24]

I agree. Go with your gut on who you want to collect.

 

[greyminis]

I grew up an O's fan, and still am...but not in the emotionally attached way I was as a kid. Living in New York and getting to watch what the Yankees have done over the last decade has given me a larger appreciation of baseball in general so at this point in my life it's not so clear cut as picking a player from my favorite team.

I'll figure it out though...just wanted to get some insight from some of the player collectors on the site...and maybe see what prospects others considered worthy of considering.

 

[baseball24]

Jesus Montero possibly?

 

[greyminis]

Montero sure is starting out strong!

 

[Meliah]

If I was going to start a player collection of a young player I would go with Stanton. Kid is only 21 years old and reminds me of when Miguel Cabrera first broke into the majors. Trout from the Angels looks like he has great potential as well.

 

[cmcjr99]

personal advice : no matter who you choose , and regardless of whether your ultimate motivation is pure collecting or sheer investing , make sure that it's a player or players that you would enjoy collecting even if their card values were zero....

while i do collect cards of most stars , my biggest thrills come when a player i started collecting BEFORE everyone else jumps on the bandwagon suddenly becomes a hot/trendy player to chase....often that means before his cards get pricey i can amass a very nice stash without a big blow to the wallet....

 

[chaplain11]

personal advice : no matter who you choose , and regardless of whether your ultimate motivation is pure collecting or sheer investing , make sure that it's a player or players that you would enjoy collecting even if their card values were zero....QUOTE]

I still collect Kevin Maas and Phil Plantier And their card values are pretty much zero. One guy I have considered adding is Brett Gardner. He is not a superstar but is gritty and enjoy watching him play.

 

[majdic2136]

I just recently decided to start collecting a player as well (Randy Wolf) and I chose him because he was not only my favorite pitcher for the Phillies as I am a big Phillies fan, but I also got to see him come through Scranton before the majors and I've always liked him...still follow him even though he's bounced around after the Phillies...I definitely agree with what others have said...collect who you want to, but my advice is pick someone you'll never get tired of and someone who you'll always be a fan of no matter what because thats what makes it so much fun is actually enjoying the player while collecting the cards and who cares if you don't get them all...its the chase that brings joy and excitement