Good Old Baseball Cards - America’s Greatest Hobby

The baby boomers have helped us develop one of the greatest hobbies in America: baseball card collecting. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard the story about "Mom throwing away my baseball cards", I could retire tomorrow! Even my own Dad gave away his baseball cards when he moved 3000 miles from New York to California in the 1960's.

When the Baby Boomers began buying their baseball cards back in the early 1980's, the hobby exploded. Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax,Ted Williams and Hank Aaron were on the top of their lists. Baby Boomers started building complete sets from the years they were born as well as building sets from the years they remembered when they opened packs during their childhood. It was a bit more affordable in the 1980's than in the 2000's, however in the last five years I have learned a lot about the desire of collectors to own vintage cards. Collectors today are privy to much more information than what was available 20 years ago. We can learn much more about the type of people and team mates players like Mantle, Mays, and Koufax were. We all know that it’s more difficult to find a nice vintage Aaron or Clemente than it is to find a modern Jeter or Rodriguez.

Perhaps the most significant observation I’ve made in the past 5 years is that more collectors between the ages of 15 and 30 are gravitating back to the cards from the 1950's, 1960's and even the 1970's. Is it due to the "Steroid Era?" Is it because most players during those early years were with the same team for most of their careers and they seemed to play for the "Love of the Game?" Is it because these young and educated collectors believe that it will become progressively more difficult finding these vintage cards in the future so they better get started now before these 50 year old and even older cards are all impounded in collections?

The answer is "yes" to all of the above. I can give you countless reasons why vintage is the future!

Nice quality cards of Hall of Famers and regional stars have always been in high demand. Now even lower grade Hall of Famer cards, team cards and high number cards are being sought. It will get tougher to find these cards in the future making it more difficult to complete older sets.

Here’s a challenge! Try one or a few of the following approaches. Go ahead and pick a vintage player you like or your favorite team. Browse a list of 500 Home Run Hitters or pitchers with 300 wins Check out the different types of older cards that appeal to your eye. Consider building your birth year set a few cards at a time. You'll enjoy building your collection even more when you have a goal in mind. While this is all happening, your collection will begin to include some of the greatest players ever to play the game.

That’s how I started when I was just 5 years old, enjoying older cards. Almost 30 years later, I still have my cards and I have only 1 regret.......I should have bought more!!!!!!

Purchasing Certified Autographed Memorabilia

When I was a kid it was exciting to get an autograph from a pro player. I might meet a Dodger before a game at the ball park and have him sign my autograph book or possibly go to a card show where a Laker player would be signing. Maybe attend a summer sports camp and get a photo or baseball autographed by a pro baseball or soccer player. You can still do this today but it's much harder to get close enough to an athlete then it was 20 years ago. In a less then perfect world there are people who take advantage by forging autographs and try to resell them as the genuine article. What can you do to get an autograph if you can't meet your favourite athlete or star in person? How do you know when you purchase an autograph that it's the real thing? Why should you spend your hard earned money on an autograph that you are not sure is genuine? Good questions......

This is the reason why major multi million dollar sports autograph companies were formed.  You can protect yourself and buy an autograph of your favourite player that has been certified 100% authentic. These companies contract athletes and stars so that their representatives can work with them to bring authentic autographed goods to the marketplace.  Some of these companies have been in business for more than a decade, serving the hobby and its collectors.They set up autograph sessions with current athletes and past greats. Upper Deck Authenticated, Steiner Sports, Mounted Memories, Tri Star, Schwartz Sports and Radtke Sports are some of the top sources for genuine autographed collectibles.

These totally reputable companies sign exclusive deals with the athletes. The items are certified with secure holographic stickers on the items or with serial numbers tying the item and its certification number to the certificate that accompanies each item. Sometimes you can even go to a local sports card and memorabilia  store and get an autograph from an athlete in person or purchase an item from a private signing that an athlete has done. Whether you are purchasing a Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, Muhammad Ali or Tom Brady autograph and paying from $500- $5000 or buying an autographed photo of my boyhood idol, the great former Dodger Steve Sax, you should care that your items come with a certificate of authenticity from a top company that sells genuine autographs. Do your homework, ask a lot of questions, your collection is worth it. I know mine is!

For a great selection and terrific deals, check out: South Bay baseball Cards Inc.

The INCREDIBOX - The Best 2008 Box of Baseball Cards

For as long back as I can remember I have looked forward to the start of a new Baseball season and with it the arrival of new boxes of that years Baseball Cards. The smell of the gum packs, the new card designs, and the answer to the question "What can I get in this year's box of cards?" Of course, the cards and the game have evolved and only a couple of products still have gum but no matter what pack you buy, with prices ranging from $4.00 to $400.00 each, you can expect the new 2008 Boxes to have even more exciting stuff than the year before.

As of right now one company has produced the most exciting 2008 Baseball Box of Cards and its limited to only 200 boxes. The Box of cards I am speaking of is the "2008 Baseball Incredibox". Each "Baseball Incredibox" contains an Autographed Baseball, Autographed Cards, Memorabilia Cards and a chance to Win Autographed Custom Framed Baseball Jerseys...(10 of them to be exact)! The 2008 Baseball Incredibox does not have any common cards or regular cards and you will not be disappointed when you open your box of goodies. Every one of the 200 Incrediboxes produced contains an Autographed/Certified Baseball from players like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Dodgers, Angels, Yankees ,Rookies or Prospects and more. Each 2008 Baseball Incredibox has Autographed/Certified cards from Rookies, Stars, Prospects, Hall of Famers and more. Every 2008 Baseball Incredibox has Certified Memorabilia Cards from stars like Bonds, Rodriguez, Pujols, Mantle, Mays, Williams as well as Rookies, Stars, Prospects and Hall of Famers. There are Random Inserts, Numbered Cards, Vintage Cards , BGS and PSA Graded Cards and more.

Not only is this the best 2008 Baseball Box of Cards that you can buy, you also get a chance to win one of 10 Different Autographed/Certified Custom Framed Baseball Jerseys. Players included are Barry Bonds, 2 different of Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Garvey, Stan Musial, Russell Martin, Fernando Valenzuela, Willie Mays, Pete Rose and Alex Rodriguez. One in every 20 boxes will yield a winner of one of these Custom Framed Autographed Jerseys. Sports card stores are selling these Baseball Incrediboxes for only $99.00 each and they are a great buy when you consider each comes with an Autographed Baseball, Autographed Cards and Memorabilia Cards plus the opportunity to win one of those beautiful Autographed Jerseys. Don't wait to order yours. They are going fast- currently more than half are sold out!

Don't delay. Purchase your box or boxes and enjoy the fun and excitement that so many have experienced since these annual Incrediboxes began 10 years ago.