I couldn't find another sub-forum for introductions; or in this case, a re-introduction.
Some of you who have been here for a few years, may recognize my name. I've been in and out of the hobby over the past decade, taking breaks a few times throughout.
I'm a long-time autograph and card collector who has basically started from scratch again due to Hurricane Sandy. I remember my dad introducing me to the hobby in 1985, starting with a few packs of Fleer from the candy store when he was buying a Sunday paper (my first card -- Dwight Gooden rookie) and then a few weeks later, taking me to a baseball card show and buying me a vending box of Topps for $5.
I was hooked. I started building Topps sets every year. I bought packs of other brands. I traded with my friends. Some kids would have lemonade stands in the summer time, I had a table with baseball cards where all my friends came and traded with me.
In the late '80s, my interest expanded to hockey cards. Now, I've always been a hockey fan; I just never knew there were cards. No place sold them by me. The first hockey card I ever owned was a Brett Hull Topps rookie card, that I bought for $4 at a flea market.
Throughout high school and college, I had tables at local card shows on weekends. I had a blast, and lost a fortune! If only I had the economic knowledge then, that I do now!
I got away from collecting after that, and didn't come back until the 2005-06 hockey season. I was on these boards for a couple of years before fading away again. I came back for the 2010-11 season and the beginning of last season too.
I did a lot of trading on here, group breaks online and some online box buying too -- but the bulk of my collection was done at a local card shop. A card shop I had been a customer of since they opened in 1987. A shop whose owner I was able to consider a friend. He knew what I liked, what my budget was; and always had something interesting put on the side for me.
He passed away in late 2011 and the shop closed for good in early 2012 after a liquidation sale and I kind of lost my passion at that point. Then Hurricane Sandy came and wiped out most of what I had. Luckily most of my memorabilia collection survived, but with my cards, I was not as lucky. I knew I'd eventually want to replace some of the gems I lost, I just wasn't ready yet. There were other things that took priority.
The other day, a co-worker mentioned that he was off to buy some 2013 Topps at retail; so I decided to tag along and "maybe pick up a pack or two". Well three blasters later, I was back in. I picked up a Beckett Baseball and a Beckett Hockey on the way home. I did a group break (or four) online. I placed an order on COMC. I ordered a couple of boxes. I even found a new local card shop to frequent.
So I'm back. An org with my traders will be up soon. My Photobucket account will be updated.
My collection will mostly focus on baseball & hockey, but I know that I'll probably be tempted to buy packs of other stuff too. My main interests are Mets & Rangers, especially autographed cards or cards with SICK jersey swatches. I've also been known to be a big fan of hockey stick cards and I'm a sucker for wrestling autographed cards too!
So if we've traded before, I hope to trade with you again. And if we haven't, I hope we will trade soon.
It's good to be back.
Some of you who have been here for a few years, may recognize my name. I've been in and out of the hobby over the past decade, taking breaks a few times throughout.
I'm a long-time autograph and card collector who has basically started from scratch again due to Hurricane Sandy. I remember my dad introducing me to the hobby in 1985, starting with a few packs of Fleer from the candy store when he was buying a Sunday paper (my first card -- Dwight Gooden rookie) and then a few weeks later, taking me to a baseball card show and buying me a vending box of Topps for $5.
I was hooked. I started building Topps sets every year. I bought packs of other brands. I traded with my friends. Some kids would have lemonade stands in the summer time, I had a table with baseball cards where all my friends came and traded with me.
In the late '80s, my interest expanded to hockey cards. Now, I've always been a hockey fan; I just never knew there were cards. No place sold them by me. The first hockey card I ever owned was a Brett Hull Topps rookie card, that I bought for $4 at a flea market.
Throughout high school and college, I had tables at local card shows on weekends. I had a blast, and lost a fortune! If only I had the economic knowledge then, that I do now!
I got away from collecting after that, and didn't come back until the 2005-06 hockey season. I was on these boards for a couple of years before fading away again. I came back for the 2010-11 season and the beginning of last season too.
I did a lot of trading on here, group breaks online and some online box buying too -- but the bulk of my collection was done at a local card shop. A card shop I had been a customer of since they opened in 1987. A shop whose owner I was able to consider a friend. He knew what I liked, what my budget was; and always had something interesting put on the side for me.
He passed away in late 2011 and the shop closed for good in early 2012 after a liquidation sale and I kind of lost my passion at that point. Then Hurricane Sandy came and wiped out most of what I had. Luckily most of my memorabilia collection survived, but with my cards, I was not as lucky. I knew I'd eventually want to replace some of the gems I lost, I just wasn't ready yet. There were other things that took priority.
The other day, a co-worker mentioned that he was off to buy some 2013 Topps at retail; so I decided to tag along and "maybe pick up a pack or two". Well three blasters later, I was back in. I picked up a Beckett Baseball and a Beckett Hockey on the way home. I did a group break (or four) online. I placed an order on COMC. I ordered a couple of boxes. I even found a new local card shop to frequent.
So I'm back. An org with my traders will be up soon. My Photobucket account will be updated.
My collection will mostly focus on baseball & hockey, but I know that I'll probably be tempted to buy packs of other stuff too. My main interests are Mets & Rangers, especially autographed cards or cards with SICK jersey swatches. I've also been known to be a big fan of hockey stick cards and I'm a sucker for wrestling autographed cards too!
So if we've traded before, I hope to trade with you again. And if we haven't, I hope we will trade soon.
It's good to be back.