This series is all about you, the readers. My opinion is mum on every subject, however, you guys have the open mic per say on here. So without further ado, here is today' topic:
Picture a collecting world without autographs and jersey cards..... would you still collect? Why or why not? Would the hobby survive? Would more people collect? Less?
Let's hear your thoughts!
NO WAY. I would be gone if they went away from auto and jersey cards. the Card Companies would grow broke . that's the money maker for card companies as well as Collectors.
ReplyDeleteI would still collect. I'm guessing the companies would have still evolved from the junk wax era because either way the internet would come along and created a more accurate picture of how much something is worth. Without autos and relics the companies probably would have relied on more limited releases and higher quality sets. I think the companies would survive, but cards would even be more of a niche market than they already are. You would lose investors, but probably regain kids.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely STILL Collect seeing as I started as a kid back BEFORE Jersey cards, and BEFORE the certified autos. I have never liked the concept of the Jersey/relic card. A piece of memorabilia has to be sacrificed for a series of little 1" square swatches to be glued onto/into a treasured piece of cardboard.
ReplyDeleteI think the hobby would still survive. In the early days of the hobby first Baseball saved/began the hobby, then bubble gum and WWII saved the hobby.The hobby survived the early 1990s removal of bubble gum that is a telling tale right there for "bubble gum cards".
I think some collectors feel that pre-autographed cards are no fun, they prefer the chase of getting them signed in person. Others like the TTM (Through The Mail) approach. I don't think "auto" cards would be missed if they weren't a thing.
I collected for years never hoping to pull a "hit", much less expecting a guaranteed one in each box or even in each pack! There were some pretty stellar inserts at long odds that were well worth the chase for me! Heck, even redemptions used to be "collect all three to get a special card" or "get a special set if this guy is the MVP this year." I thinks "hits" should be few and far between - not the measure of whether a product is any good. I would collect MORE without all that crap! (To wit - I am almost done with a master base set of Score football going all the way back to 1989!)
ReplyDeleteFurthermore: rookies, parallels, die cuts, chrome, refractors, serial numbered, embossed, shadow boxes, holograms, lenticular cards, acetates, etc, etc, etc. All of these are well worth chasing and collecting, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you could go back to those times. It would be like using typewriters instead of computers. We are too used to having hits.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely still collect. I started collecting in the mid 60's when I was but a small lad. I did not start collecting for the autographs or the jersey cards. it was because I had a card of my favorite player! I collect sets now, Current sets as well as Vintage sets. The "Hits", just make it harder for me to complete sets.
ReplyDeleteI'm 95% sure I'd still be collecting. I love autographs and memorabilia cards... but I love vintage, 90's inserts and parallels, 80's rookie cards, and just about everything else cardboard related.
ReplyDelete