[georgehenrycollector]

wait what channel will it be on?

http://www.beckett.com/news/2012/02/hobb...ng-to-abc/

[ZeroDave]

wait what channel will it be on?

ABC

[jonathani]

wait what channel will it be on?

ABC.

JonathanI

[nolan5000]

wait what channel will it be on?

^ above he said ABC.

[giantsfan]

I luckily have 4 boys who I will grow into collecting. My oldest already digs it and the others are too young still so I have some grooming. but i agree...this should be more of a rant. We need to get involved and save our hobby!!! we cant let it go away! All of us have invested waaaayy to much into it!

[christiancrane]

That's kinda where I was going with my post, but your story helps. It's too expensive and such a business now, that kids can't really afford to be a part of the game anymore.

I agree buying at LCS can be pricey - and I miss my days of youth of hanging out and buying packs of 1989 UD baseball for a couple bucks and hoping for the Griffey Jr. RC - BUT, new collectors do have an advantage today by finding affordable cards through eBay. For example, you can get a Peyton Manning auto for around $40 if you look hard enough:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peyton-Manning-A...500wt_1182

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-Flair-Showc...746wt_1165

I would add that I think eBay is a blessing and a curse. Affordable cards can be found, but you lose the personal and social aspects of dealing with other collectors.

As for youth and collecting, I personally feel that as kids age they will eventually gravitate towards collecting something . There's an emotional fulfillment that comes with collecting, which is why we all do it. Here's an interesting article on collecting: http://www.horizonlines.org/volume4/abou...index.html

However, if we hope that kids collect cards, we need to make to it more accessible for them. For instance, I have my own collection but I've also started collections for my two- and one-year-old boys. When they're older they'll not only have cards they can trade/sell but also the feeling of knowing they're not starting off with nothing.

Here's a thought: donate unwanted/unneeded cards into a "fund" that is distributed to younger collectors to get them started. I have no idea how this would work...

[ZeroDave]

I agree buying at LCS can be pricey - and I miss my days of youth of hanging out and buying packs of 1989 UD baseball for a couple bucks and hoping for the Griffey Jr. RC - BUT, new collectors do have an advantage today by finding affordable cards through eBay. For example, you can get a Peyton Manning auto for around $40 if you look hard enough:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peyton-Manning-A...500wt_1182

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-Flair-Showc...746wt_1165

I would add that I think eBay is a blessing and a curse. Affordable cards can be found, but you lose the personal and social aspects of dealing with other collectors.

As for youth and collecting, I personally feel that as kids age they will eventually gravitate towards collecting something . There's an emotional fulfillment that comes with collecting, which is why we all do it. Here's an interesting article on collecting: http://www.horizonlines.org/volume4/abou...index.html

However, if we hope that kids collect cards, we need to make to it more accessible for them. For instance, I have my own collection but I've also started collections for my two- and one-year-old boys. When they're older they'll not only have cards they can trade/sell but also the feeling of knowing they're not starting off with nothing.

Here's a thought: donate unwanted/unneeded cards into a "fund" that is distributed to younger collectors to get them started. I have no idea how this would work...

I think the best way would be to start locally. Spread the wealth, throw in a cheaper autograph of maybe a local college star or something. It will keep their interests. I know Hawkeyes are huge here, so when ever I pull a Hawkeye autograph I give it to a local kid on the block

[monsterx]

I agree buying at LCS can be pricey - and I miss my days of youth of hanging out and buying packs of 1989 UD baseball for a couple bucks and hoping for the Griffey Jr. RC - BUT, new collectors do have an advantage today by finding affordable cards through eBay. For example, you can get a Peyton Manning auto for around $40 if you look hard enough:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peyton-Manning-A...500wt_1182

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-Flair-Showc...746wt_1165

I would add that I think eBay is a blessing and a curse. Affordable cards can be found, but you lose the personal and social aspects of dealing with other collectors.

As for youth and collecting, I personally feel that as kids age they will eventually gravitate towards collecting something . There's an emotional fulfillment that comes with collecting, which is why we all do it. Here's an interesting article on collecting: http://www.horizonlines.org/volume4/abou...index.html

However, if we hope that kids collect cards, we need to make to it more accessible for them. For instance, I have my own collection but I've also started collections for my two- and one-year-old boys. When they're older they'll not only have cards they can trade/sell but also the feeling of knowing they're not starting off with nothing.

Here's a thought: donate unwanted/unneeded cards into a "fund" that is distributed to younger collectors to get them started. I have no idea how this would work...

Good point. But kids can't shop on the bay, they need a place to hang and do packs and such. Like you said, they're missing the interaction.

[chads-cards]

I think the best way would be to start locally. Spread the wealth, throw in a cheaper autograph of maybe a local college star or something. It will keep their interests. I know Hawkeyes are huge here, so when ever I pull a Hawkeye autograph I give it to a local kid on the block

Like I have said in recent posts our shop gave away a million cards in hopes of getting some interest going. And in the oast 2 years my dad has probably had 300 scouts in the shop