Back in Business

I have a confession to make — I'm really not very good at collecting cards. 

In fact, I’m terrible at it. 

Sure, I’ve technically been in the hobby since 1979, when at 7-years old I got my first pack of Topps baseball cards from the 7-11 at the corner of the street. 

Between 7-and-14 years old I was strictly a collector, gathering all the baseball cards I could muster, placing them carefully in my binder by player. I asked for cards for birthdays, Christmas, good grades, good performances in Little League games, whatever. It was pretty much all I wanted, and much of that has stayed the same even today. 

However, in 1986 I sold my first baseball card — a 1984 Topps Don Mattingly rookie to my friend, Dave — and that’s when the fireworks really started for me. 

From that moment on, my passion for collecting turned into a passion for the business of the hobby. It’s a passion that has really never waned over the decades. I truly love it and the community of people who I proudly call colleagues. 

If you’ve read this column lately, however, you’ll know that over the past month I’ve stepped away from the business end of the hobby. There’s a few reasons why I’ve done this, but the bottom line is, I want to focus on collecting for a while. 

Well, after a month, it’s not going well. 

In fact, it’s been downright difficult for me.

I’ve been to several card shows and I’ve even compiled a list of cards I want to add to the collection. 

But see, in all honesty, I’ve really never even been a PC guy.

I have a few cards that I’ve held onto, a few more that have some sentimental meaning to me, too. Aside from those, though, I’ve got nothing that resembles a PC, and really never have had anything resembling a PC. 

I can’t remember the last time I looked at a card in a showcase or online and said, “that will be perfect for my PC.” 

Truth is, it probably hasn’t happened since like 1985.

Now, before you all get judgemental, don’t think I don’t love the hobby because I feel this way.

I love it so much that I’ve dedicated my life to it, and, at times, my livelihood to it as well. 

Still, moving away from this mindset to one of a collector has actually made me miserable. 

I’m realizing just how much I love the business side of the hobby, and how much I need it in my life.. 

I’ve got a greater appreciation for how much I enjoy the conversations with clients and dealers, the negotiation process, the bartering, the research and process of the hobby — how much I love all of these components. 

I love it deeply, and since I’ve been wandering around card shows lately just looking for cards to put away for who knows how long, just to say I have them, has me feeling kinda lost.

I’ve lost some of the passion even, and that’s not good. It’s scary, in fact.

I think I got caught in the divide the hobby has become — the philosophy that you’re either a collector or a dealer, that’s it. This has left me feeling guilty and confused and bummed out.

But you know, I’m realizing too, that all of us are both these things, just sometimes we lean more to one side than the other. 

That’s the beauty of this whole thing, right?

So, that said, I’m back in business — and that’s okay.