Who, What, Where and How...

Dennis Eckersley I picked up at a Flea Market

     Today is day one of my new blog. Pucks, Sticks and Pigskins. I would like to discuss Hockey, Baseball and Football card collecting. Please as you read if you have any ideas you would like to discuss feel free to comment below. Comments are encouraged and welcomed. Please keep it PG.

    This first segment I would like to discuss a topic that several friends of mine have approached me about in the past. What is the best way to collect cards now. That may sound like a silly question but there is a totally different answer today than you would have gotten 25 years ago when I started collecting.



Gordie Howe I purchased at a card show.



    The first option you have for collecting is the box break / pack opening. This is always my first option because I'm a fan of "The thrill of the hunt." There is nothing like taking a pack of cards and the chance of what may be inside. The promise of the pictures on the outside of the box make you so excited. Not always will you pull a featured card but it does happen. The best place to purchase these is either a local card shop (mine is Champion Sports Cards in Kennesaw, Ga.), large retail chain ( Walmart, Kmart, ect. ) or Online from 1,000's of different places even places like Upperdeck.com sell directly to the customer.



Weeb Ewbank "JETS" I put this set together through ebay



      A similar option to the Hobby shop would be a card show. Card shows are getting harder and harder to find but they do still exist. There is a group that meets here in the Atlanta area about once a month on opposite sides of town. There are dealers who come from all over to buy, sell, and trade. Alot of times you can find items from all over the country. Lots of times you can bargin with collectors to save them the "hassle" of packing it back up.



Don Maynard I purchased at a card shop



      The most popular option is one of discount card seekers. EBay. EBay has totally changed the face of the collectible world. In my personal opinion it has helped lower the value of many items due to the fact they are so much easier to find.  For example I have a friend who has a 1990's Nolan Ryan on card autograph that is numbered to 2000. Back in the early 90's this card was worth in the $400-500 range now due to Nolan signing everything placed in front of him and the wonderful world of eBay you can purchase the same card for $50-100.

    If you are into trading one of the best sites on the web would be Clouts and Chara. On the site you can post items for trade, you can tell people what you are looking for and you can also see the details of a trade because the terms are posted to see what people are trading to keep up with the latest values. This site was recommended by a fellow collector I met through the Upper Deck Volunteer Alliance. ( thanks Alex. )



Jean Sebastien Giguere I traded a friend for

      The last suggestion is one that is almost as old as the hobby itself. Trading with friends. I have around 10 friends who all collect and trade different items, teams and players. Each friend is into something different so if I can pick up an item from one friend and trade it to another for different items we can have a win/win situation all the way around. These obviously aren't the only options there are to getting cards but they are some of my favorites. I hope they bring you as much success as they have for me.