Black Friday
With apologies to all the returning Black Friday sports cards sales, the apex of Black Friday in the hobby happened in sleepy Hattiesburg, MS in 1992. That was the year of the best Black Friday promo (for a card collector). It was also the first time I completed a set.
Every year a local department store ran a promo where they handed out boxes of Cracker Jack to early risers (I think you had to be there at 7:00 a.m.). Most shoppers left disappointed, but a select few got major discounts and I seem to remember a diamond ring or something similar being the top prize. As a young child brought undoubtedly to score an extra box of Cracker Jack, I had my own agenda. I had no interest in winning a prize. I was there to lose.
This was the year the losing boxes all had mini Donruss cards as the prize. It was great to pull some new favorites in my box along with my sister’s and mom’s. I’d have been thrilled with just a few cards. I got a Ripken, and I was happy. What developed magically though was a large group of kids collecting the cards at the garbage bins provided for folks to get rid of their unwanted Cracker Jack (horrible look for Cracker Jack btw). I quickly and silently joined the group in a way that you can only do when in grade school. For a time, I had new friends joined in the glorious purpose of card collecting.
After about half an hour, we all had stacks of 50-100 cards. The fun didn’t end there though. Nope. Now it was time to trade. I quickly snagged on the idea of completing a set, but others focused on getting as many of a favorite player or team. Others were hustling and looking for things that would be worth money one day. There was even a kid there who spent the entire time searching for well-centered copies. He was ahead of his time and I like to think he’s made millions grading cards (not likely, but I can hope).
Wrap Up
I’m sure others have similar memories about the Cracker Jack program. It was local here, but the idea was widespread amongst department stores which were also widespread at the time. What are your favorite hobby Black Friday memories? Score some absurd deals in 2018? Win a contest at an LCS? Let me know in the column.
