Collecting sports cards is certainly on a down slide as described in THIS recent article. I used to collect hockey cards up until college when I realized it was taking up a lot of money and space. I do however still have every card I ever collected over the years. Probably aren’t going any where any time soon either. Back in 2005 I used to work at a sports memorabilia shop in the mall. I was constantly amazed how much coin people would drop on these cards.
The hobby has changed though. What started as a way for kids to learn about players and the game, not to mention build a little collection, has turned into a way for adults to make a tiny investment. The industry has changed too, creating not only run of the mill cards but making cards more valuable. Putting swatches of game used gear in a card can increase the value, many fold. Autographed cards, numbered cards, misprinted cards, etc are all on a collectors watch list. But adding value to the product has increased prices. I wasn’t willing to drop 25-30$ on a single pack of cards with a chance of scoring a Sidney Crosby signed rookie card.
My dad’s a big sports memorabilia collector. It’s ridiculous some of the stuff he has in his collection. When I was a kid, I went to baseball card shows with him all the time. This was in the 80s when baseball cards got VERY popular. I think it’s actually around when baseball cards got caught up in that speculative bubble. Then the card makers started printing more and coming out with eleventy billion special edition cards (thanks, Upper Deck) and the whole thing collapsed on itself like, well, a house of cards.
Didn’t know they were putting swatches of game-used gear in…kinda sad really. Makes me miss the days when baseball cards were all about getting your favorite player or your entire team, or that one rookie card. To me the valuable cards were always a happy accident.
Another thought - is collecting beanie babies dead? Please?
I think some hobbies don’t die… they just cycle around… Like my model building… As a kid and early to mid teen I built alot… then, early 20s…to mid 30s… especialy the 20s, I faded away from it, as my life settled down some… I drifted back into… now, I am full bore again, as much as my job, and firefighting, life and family allow…
So, what ever hobby your in now… or was in… or know someone else was in… might be in a recession right now, waiting for the boom.~!
what about kids just getting outside and playing football or baseball in the street? All my kids wanted to do was play video games. Then I hear, “I dont have amy friends” . Well get the heck outside and meet some!! I mowed lawns when I was a kid. They dont want to work for anything. give me give me, If my parents saw me before dark, my friends had plans with their parents. I could go on about this topic.
Ham Radio and Citizens Band radio clubs used to be real popular in the 70’s and early 80’s, but you hardly hear anything about those groups anymore. I suppose they are still out there somewhere.
I think there is truth in what you say, but it is a little overly simplistic. A lot of people may want to spend time with their kids, but that is a luxury they don’t have (or have as much as they’d like) because the do have to worry about money. They may not prefer spending time at work, but they HAVE to spend more time at work. I spend more time time that I’d ideally like at my jobs, but the weekend is, mostly, family time. That being said, since it is family time, I rarely do any modeling, since that is a more solitary endeavor. Still, my kids know I build models and have been excited to build the ‘Snap-tite’ kits I’ve brought home to them.
