Must Have Rookies

To me there is an imaginary list of must have rookie cards. These are cards that you can buy for under $250. I would like some input on what people think if I left any out. I would like to limit it to 10 per sport. Sorry, I don't do Hockey.

Baseball

• Alex Rodriguez 1994 SP
• Derek Jeter 1993 SP
• Cal Ripken 1982 Topps
• Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps
• Albert Pujols 2001 Sp Authentic
• Ken Griffey, jr 1989 UD
• Mark McGwire 1985 Topps USA
• Roger Clemens 1985 Fleer
• Mike Schmidt 1973 Topps

Football

• Joe Montana 1981 Topps
• Walter Payton 1976 Topps
• John Elway 1984 Topps
• Dan Marino 1984 Topps
• Jerry Rice 1986 Topps
• Brett Favre 1991 Stadium Club
• Ladanian Tomlinson 2001 Topps Chrome
• Peyton Manning 1998 Topps Chrome
• Tom Brady 2000 Leaf Limited
• Barry Sanders 1989 Score

Basketball

• Larry Bird/Dr. J/ Magic Johnson 1980 Topps
• Chris Paul 2005 SP Authentic Auto
• Dwight Howard 2004 SP Authentic Auto
• David Robinson 1989 Hoops
• Kevin Garnett 1995 Finest
• Kobe Bryant 1996 UD
• LeBron James 2002 Finest

Feel free to add any or let me know if you think I forgot someone. Remember only cards that you can buy for under $250. Like I said earlier, I'm also looking to limit to 10 (which is the hard part)

Welcome Back to the Hobby

Well after reading several blogs over the past few months, I decided to start my own. I recently got back into the hobby after about 15 years. When I was a kid there was no such thing as relic cards and we actually had a better chance getting struck by lightning than pulling an auto. I was completely amazed that you are able to buy a box for around $60 and were actually guaranteed a couple relics and/or autos. This is until I realized how many and how worthless they actually are for the most part. I still have a hard time understanding that I can pull a baseball rookie card and yet not even hear of them until 3 years later. I probably busted 6 boxes of Topps Chrome this past summer only to have 10 autos of people that I have to wait on for three years to see the value. While I do like to collect, I also enjoy going to the card shows and selling there too. It's my way of getting money from cards I don't really want and buying ones I do. I, like many people these days are on a limited budget. I have a 3 year old and we just found out two days before Christmas we're expecting another.

Getting back to the shows.

I've probably done my local monthly show for the last 8 months. I am trying to figure out what people are looking for at these shows. Out of the 8 shows, I probably only broke the $40 mark (table money) 3 shows. Only one of those shows I made over $100, and that's because I sold one card for $300. This past Sunday was the monthly show. I went again and bought my usually table. Now I have everything on my table from a 50 cent bargain box to cards that book well over $100. While most of my collection is from the last couple years, I also have cards that go back to the 60's and 70's. I always have the same people asking about the same cards and never pulling the trigger. Not that I'm priced high. I have a Walter Payton in really good shape, it would probably grade a 7 or 8, that I'm asking $160 for. I also have a 1969 Mickey Mantle in good shape (books for $350) I told one guy $80 and he said that the best he could do was $60. I just don't understand what is going on. Are they going to the show to just waste a Sunday morning? This is what I'm beginning to think. There is also plenty of people walking around. I'm just trying to figure out what I have to bring that people will want. Any ideas for me? I recently emailed Mario from Wax Heaven on this subject. He said he thinks it is Ebay that killed the hobby. I do agree, however, when my asking prices are about the same as Ebay it doesn't make sense.

Thanks for reading my first blog. I hope to update at least once a day.