Stars Of Today For Stars Of Yesterday

In today's hobby, there is a lot of hustle and bustle when it comes to collecting the next big thing.

Everyone wants that next big prospect money return. Some buy low, sell high. Others will pour their life savings into one prospect they feel could be the next Mike Trout. Even though that sometimes works out, probably only 10-20% of the time (I am looking at you Baker Mayfield and Shohei Ohtani collectors in 2018 and 2019), it's a huge risk to take.

One I am not willing to.

For me, collecting is fun and nostalgic. I don't rip and flip. I don't buy all in on one player, unless it's a guy on my team but that's not prospecting. I don't buy just to sell. I collect plain and simple.

So if I happen to land one of those big name prospects, I usually trade it off for what I consider an upgrade.

When looking for an upgrade, I look for players who are in the Hall Of Fame and ones that I have had a history somewhat with.

Being a huge fan of the 90's, I saw a lot of Hall Of Fame players play in that era spread across all sports, so those are the guys I am typically drawn to getting autographed cards of.

I have already picked up autos of guys such as Ken Griffey Jr, Kobe Bryant, Steve Young, Dan Marino, and many others and have been weaning my search down as I go. My recent prospect trade off took two more off from my list of needs.

 

Tony was atop my baseball list needs that includes guys like Mariano Rivera still to get.  Gwynn played 20 seasons all for the SD Padres. He won 8 batting titles and is one of the most consistent. hitters in MLB history He also was an 15 time All Star, seven time Silver Slugger award winner and five gold gloves as well. Solid player who has a place in my collection. When I saw also this was a 90's autograph I was acquiring it made it an even more beautiful sight.

 

The Big Hurt stars in commericals now, but when he was on the baseball field he put a hurt ont all baseballs. He was an MVP, Five time All Star, AL Comeback Player Of The Year and won a World Series. Not quite the list of accomplishments as Gwynn, but one heck of a player no matter. If only injuries hadn't take a toll on him throughout his career we may be talking more about him.

Usually I don't like unlicensed baseball cards like this, but I have been needing an autograph of Thomas so this fits the bill.

I still have many more needs across multiple sports to acquire so when I hit that next big prospect or if I already have, I will turn that into players who are more established careers. That's just the way I roll.

2016 MLB HOF Inductee, Ken Griffey Jr!

First off, we all knew I couldn't go today without at least saying something. So congrats to a well deserved place in the Hall Of Fame to one of the greatest to EVER step out on the field, Ken Griffey Jr.

Second, Upper Deck asked this weekend on Twitter and Facebook that fans show pictures of their favorite Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr cards. If you didn't know, Upper Deck and Ken Griffey Jr are like PB&J. You couldn't have one without the other and between 1989-2009 you found plenty of Griffey UD cardboard. There were special commemorative sets, inserts, packaging and so on plastered with the face of baseball at the time.

But, sadly today, we don't get to marvel at what once was with the hobby all singled out to one company per sport. We do get a few Griffey cards from time to time in special promo sets from UD, but not like it once was.

So, today, I thought I would pick out a few of my favorite Upper Deck cards that's not the infamous and Hobby Hall Of Fame worthy '89 rookie card to appease Upper Deck's social media request and to celebrate what I have waited for to see for years with Griffey Jr making his final baseball stop.

This isn't a big gallery, but I chose a few of my favorites.

Let's see my gallery and in comments you can tell me some of your favorite Upper Deck Junior cards.

Bloodlines. Nothing like getting the family together on a card. You can tell pops is pretty proud.

 

The key to Upper Deck's early baseball card success was they always had fun when they did photos like this

 

Griffey is everywhere!!!!! I wished I could have said that more in the 90's in my card packs, but I always think this was one of the more unique photographed base cards I had ever seen.

 

Bugs Bunny and Ken Griffey Jr on a hologram...boo yeah! Can't go wrong here.

 

Not sure how many of you remember how popular this card was. This one and Aurora were the first two to feature Ken Griffey Jr in a Red's uniform after the trade. This one was the hotter and more popular of the two with collectors running to chase packs to find it. I was fortunate enough to pack pull it.

 

And we close it out with some Austin, I mean, Awesome Powers. UD Ionix was such a pretty product and this was my favorite insert pulls from it.

 

Hope you all enjoyed my gallery and like I said earlier, would love to hear about your favorites too in comments.

Congrats again to Ken on making the Hall Of Fame and for giving us 90's raised kids someone to idolize. It was a career and highlight reel that I will never forget with those amazing catches and that "sweet,sweet" swing. I started watching baseball because of you and even though I was a Yankee fan, I always routed you on even when you faced them.

Thank you.

Topps Football HOFer Rookie Card Mail Day!

I was recently looking at my want list and compared it to eBay listings for each item. Out of all of the Most Wanted items, the one that stood out the one I felt was a must need was a 1984 Dan Marino rookie card.

I have been waiting to purchase one in hopes that I could trade for one since that is how I got my Elway, but that didn't feel like it was going to happen, so I hit eBay. I was also hoping to land one on an auction deal, but every time I tried, it went more than I was willing to pay. What can I say, I am cheap.

So for the first time in my life, I actually paid $20 for a card. Yes, I am very frugal with how I spend my eBay money. I would rather buy a few lots for the $20 instead of buying one single card. But, this time, I closed my eyes and bought it.

Glad I did.

Other than a little bit of centering, and I mean a little, this card is flawless. A great investment to me. Glad I got myself to bypass my own stinginess.

How many of you suffer from my frugalness about picking up one card over a multitude?