I remember when I was 15-years-old, I had no job and was getting rejected by every McDonald's in my area. I had about $100 saved up in my bank account and usually every Sunday my father would drive me to the flee market in Pickering. This was during winter of 1999, just when Gretzky was about to retire and I remember how hot the game jersey cards were becoming back then. I would always drool over them! And I remember even a common GJ card from the 1999 UD "Year of the Great One" hockey set was like approx $150! Still couldn't afford it! My father would give me like $20 to spend on cards, I would throw a few bucks here n' there and get a few crappy cards. Would also buy the beckett to see if any of the cards' prices went down since last issue, was hoping some would go down enough so I could eventually get my hands on them. But it was always a DREAM of mine to own Gretzky's GJ card from the year of the great one set. I remember it was over a grand back then, I would always think about how great it would be to own one. Would dream about it all day and night - it was crazy! And they also had the double patch version as well numbered to /99. That booked at like $2,500 back then! I only had enough cash to buy packs from that set, but I never pulled a GJ card. I really can't remember the odds, I believe it was 1:2500 packs! LOL! But hey, I still tried! I think the best card I ever pulled was a Profiles card of Jagr which booked at like $10 back then.
Over the years the Lord has been good with me, and I managed to get a few good jobs and save some dough. I often browse eBay and see many of these GJ cards which I always wanted - but I never bother bidding! lol Even a Gretzky at $30, I'm like "ahhh, hell with it!" WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME!!! It's crazy how fast we can change!
:: I don't own the above card, think it sold on eBay for around $300 a few months back::
For me, although topics directly dealing with vintage hockey are the focus of this board, the general sharing of cards/the sport of hockey/collecting habits, etc. are relevant as well.
I remember the 1st $100+ card that I ever bought. No, it wasn't a Lalonde, Vezina or Morenz. Heck, it wasn't even vintage hockey or hockey at all. It was the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan rookie card. I was about 14 or so. I saved up enough money from various things to afford it. I knew the one I wanted. I kept worrying that it would gone by the time I had enough money. No printer's dots, nice centering, bold colors and registration. $400 + tax. All of us remember the feeling of holding that 1st expensive card, not wanting to ding it, get it dirty, accidentally drop it or anything else that would make you have to buy it. I don't get that same sensation anymore, even handling something that's 5 digits or more.
I think if someone wants to share there card stories they should with out being told thats if its not 100 years old or more they dont want to hear it. Well guess what its to bad not all of us were born in the 1930's I started in 1985 on my way to school i would by 3 packs ervey day from there it just went on from opc to pro set, score upper deck and so on every one starts somewere.
I think the issue here is whether discussions of modern cards are appropriate here. Certainly, the final decision on this is not up to me, but my thoughts are that such discusions may be appropriate, to an extent. I think we need to remember that this is a VINTAGE hockeycard site. There are many, many sites to discuss modern cards. It is possible that this site might not be the best place to discuss modern cards at length. That doesn't mean that such discussions are bad. You just might want to try a different site sometimes. However, it's my thought that some discussion of modern cards makes sense here, ESPECIALLY when there is a link to vintage cards. Of course, you could argue that today's modern cards will eventually be "vintage" cards, but that's pushing it.
Hey James; I think the board members were trying to throw you a bone by taking the high road after your retard comment. If you were born in 1983, that would make you 24 years old yet your writing sounds like you are 14.
If you don't like the theme of the board, go back to your Britney Spears website and post your garbage there !!
I tend to agree with David. Basically, this IS a Vintage Card Forum. I spent some time on the Beckett Hockey Forum before I found this one and every day it was "this patch is just SICK! 4 colors with part of the logo!" I felt pretty out of place with my vintage cards. At the same time, there were other postings about somewhat older cards and other topics entirely.
I still feel that most of the discussions on this forum should pertain to vintage cards and players, but if a vintage collector has a story about a newer card, then it should be allowed here. In this case James made the point that even though he could afford that Gretzky card now, he didn't have the same passion for it that he once did. Many vintage collectors, myself included, started out collecting newer cards when they got into hockey cards, and eventually became interested in the older cards and retired players.
The 1956-57 Parkhurst "Missing Link" set really pushed me towards collecting vintage. I just loved the look of the old cards, and I still do to this day. So I don't think the occasional story about a newer card, especially when it has a link to your past, is going to cause any harm.
Also, James--I don't think that the age of the collector directly relates to the era of cards that they collect. I was born in 1965, but I didn't become interested in hockey cards until the early 1990's. I didn't ever see Lalonde, Vezina, Plante, Richard, or Horton play, but I still collect their cards! Their cards are timeless!
Nice. This is becoming the baseball board. Just a matter of time before we're referenced in the NY Daily News.
Seriously, though, nice post, John. I don't know if it's because I'm now purported to be an adult or because cards have been almost completely commodotized, but almost no acquisition yields the same feeling as they did 20-something years ago.
