4 Reasons Why You Should Consider Sports Card Collecting

Let’s say hypothetically speaking. You’re on the fence about sports card collecting. Perhaps you were doing a word search on the search engine of your choice and typed in sports card collecting. Well, I want to give you four reasons why you should consider it.

I want to share my thoughts on why I like to collect. One of the primary missions of this website is to help interested folks like yourself become new collectors in the great hobby of sports card collecting, with hopes of you becoming a long-term sustainable collector.

There’s much to learn, and I’m hoping you will give me a chance to show you the ropes. Today coming in as a newbie can be very intimidating and discouraging. If you allow me to do so, I want to help get you on the right track.

I understand that you have options. There’s a lot of things drawing for your attention, a lot of different hobbies you can get into. So I’ve put myself in your shoes and have asked this one question, “Why should I collect sports cards?” Well, first and foremost:

It’s Fun

Nothing is more exciting than opening a pack of cards and getting a card from your favorite player, well, maybe opening a pack of cards and getting an autograph or game-used relic card of your favorite player.

You can collect cards of a specific player, your favorite team, complete sets, rookie cards or all-stars, vintage or modern-day cards.

Yes, indeed, you have options, the possibilities are endless, there is never a dull moment, and each Opening Day brings another season of opportunities with it.

Another aspect of sports card collecting is the sense of accomplishment when you find that one specific card you’ve been looking for or you finally finish putting together a complete set.

The thrill of the hunt can bring much enjoyment to your card collecting experience.

It’s Educational

There’s always something to learn in the hobby of sportscard collecting. Unfortunately, the most seasoned collector doesn’t know it all. The reason? Hobby trends are consistently changing.

Collector interest goes up and down day-to-day like the New York Stock Exchange, and so does sports card market values.

Who’s who? Who’s hot, and who’s not? Who is going to be the next Mickey Mantle or Tom Brady? And so collectors who do their homework are sometimes referred to as “Prospectors.”

Other collectors enjoy player stats found on the backs of most cards. These collectors, I find, are some of the most sports-savvy people I know. They can tell you some of the intricate details of the players or teams of their choice.

Whether knowing hobby trends, staying ahead of the curve by prospecting, or perhaps player stats are your thing. Whatever your enjoyment, you will become knowledgeable in that area.

It’s Community

I didn’t collect for some years, and when I came back to the hobby, I wondered, where did all the collectors go? Well, it didn’t take long to find them. You can find like-minded collectors at your Local Card Shop.

Some of my best hobby memories and conversations have been within the friendly confines of my LCS. The sportscard hobby really is a social hobby, and you can quickly make friends and begin trading with other collectors instantly.

Another common trait with some collectors is sharing hobby stories, and it won’t be long before you will too.

You can attend card shows. Some are local, where maybe 20-40 card dealers will set up tables and display their cards for sale.

You can go to other sports card shows on a much bigger scale, often one weekend a year held at some Convention Center or the like. Plus, everyone in attendance is a collector too!

A more recent phenomenon can be on the platforms of social media. Do you want to find other collectors? Then, social media is the place.

You can find multiple groups tailored to sports cards, each with its niche. Each has hundreds if not thousands of members from all parts of the world.

In my experience, I have found 99.9% of the collectors on social media to be good people, friendly people.

As with anything, you’ll have a shyster or two out there, but many of these groups are run by Administrators, and they won’t have any of that. The shyster will quickly be removed from that group.

Other collectors help keep a level of integrity within the group as well. So, whether in a shop, show, or social media, there is a sense of camaraderie and a mutual love for the hobby they share with card collectors.

It’s Nostalgic

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the word nostalgic as “pleasure or sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again.”

Collecting sports cards allows us to experience it again. It takes us back to a specific place or time, a happy place, a sentimental time where we remember those moments in our lives with certain vital cards.

For me, every time I see or pick up a 1973 Topps Roberto Clemente, a 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith rookie card, well, it brings a smile to my face. These cards are forever engrained in my childhood memories. Science has proven the mental health benefits of collecting as well.

Collecting sports cards is also a collection of fond memories. It’s the innocence of childhood, American, and mom’s apple pie, and I have a biased opinion that says collecting sports cards is the most fantastic hobby there is.

Suppose you have decided to start collecting sports cards, congratulations! Allow me to invite you to the next step, which you can read here Being a Wise Collector.

Happy Collecting Collector,

Learn. Collect. Enjoy.