Starting A Baseball Card Collection

This article’s purpose is to teach you the basics of the many facets of the baseball card hobby.  If you are thinking about starting a collection or have just recently started collecting, this article will be helpful for you and it is hoped that your collection will grow more valuable after reading this article.

Before you even buy that first pack, box or single online, you should set some collecting goals.  If you go to online auction sites and buy anything thats at a good price, you will soon end up with a closet full of $5 cards that as a whole, will not be worth much.  However, if you set goals like collecting only a certain couple players or collecting a certain set or cards from players on your favorite team, you can use your money to buy a few nice cards here and there and avoid stocking up on worthless $5 jersey and bat cards.

If you are considering buying packs or boxes, read here!  There is a BIG difference between the packs sold at retail stores and the packs sold at hobby stores or at online auction sites by hobby dealers.  First of all, hobby boxes contain more good insert cards while retail packs and boxes will contain mostly regular cards and cheap, low value inserts.  Also, buying a sealed box from a hobby dealer or at online auction will ensure the box has not been searched through and still contains the cards that were promised to buyers.

Finally, you should protect your collection!  You should buy soft sleeves and top loaders and keep “good” cards protected in this combination to best preserve the life of the card.  Basically, one ding to the cards corner makes the card virtually worthless!  For the best places to find cards and card supplies, check local hobby stores and online auction sites.