Declan’s Baseball Card Collection
Declan has had a passion for baseball cards since he was just 5 years old. One day, his grandfather took him to a baseball game and also gave him his first pack of cards. Declan was instantly hooked on trying to collect as many different cards as possible. Over the past 10 years, Declan has amassed an impressive collection that now numbers in the thousands.
When Declan first started collecting, he didn’t really have a strategy or focus for his cards. He would buy packs whenever he could afford them and add the new cards to his collection. In those early years, Declan’s collection grew quickly but it lacked organization or particular areas of focus. The cards were stored loosely in boxes in his closet. After a few years of this more casual approach, Declan started to learn more about the hobby and decided he wanted to take his collection more seriously.
Around the age of 10, Declan began researching different players, teams, and years online to learn more about the history of baseball cards. He started focusing his collection on specific sets from different eras. One of the first set Declan targeted was the iconic 1952 Topps set. This was one of the first modern baseball card sets released in the post-World War 2 era. Declan loved the classic design of these cards and began searching garage sales, card shows, and online marketplaces to track down the complete set. It took him over a year but he was eventually able to find all the cards in various conditions to finish his 1952 Topps collection.
From there, Declan began honing in on other vintage sets from the 1950s and 60s that captured his interest. Sets like 1957 Topps, 1964 Topps, and 1968 Topps held particular appeal. Declan enjoyed learning about the players and designs that defined these early formative years for the modern baseball card industry. To preserve the condition of these valuable vintage cards, Declan started carefully storing them in magnetic plastic sheets within custom binders. This protected the fragile old cards which continued gaining in value as the years went by.
In addition to vintage set collecting, Declan also took an interest in rookie cards showing when particular star players first appeared in the hobby. He started seeking out rookie cards for legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, and Nolan Ryan. Declan was particularly proud to add a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie to his collection, a true grail card for any vintage collector. As players’ careers progressed, Declan also enjoyed following them year by year with their subsequent Topps and other brand cards. This allowed him to chronicle whole careers like Reggie Jackson’s through his collection.
By his mid-teens, Declan had amassed a huge collection focused on the early decades of the baseball card industry. But he also didn’t ignore more modern cards. In particular, Declan followed the players and teams he enjoyed watching on television. He started completing sets from the 1990s like 1993 Upper Deck, 1994 Stadium Club, and 1995 Finest. These provided a look at stars from Declan’s childhood like Ken Griffey Jr, Frank Thomas, and Greg Maddux. Declan also made sure to grab rookie cards for today’s young stars as they entered the league like Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, and Juan Soto.
Organization became a big focus for Declan as his collection grew into the thousands. He developed elaborate binders and boxes to neatly store his cards sorted by player, team, set, and year. Declan also invested in several large filing cabinets to hold all his collections. With his detailed organization system, Declan can now quickly find any card to look at the history of a certain player or set. He keeps detailed inventory lists on his computer to track exactly what is in his collection. Declan’s attention to organization has made his huge collection accessible and allowed his passion for the hobby to continue growing well into his high school years.
Aside from actively collecting cards, Declan also enjoys learning more about the business side of the hobby. He reads sports card industry news and price guides to understand the factors that influence the rising and falling values of different players and sets over time. Declan finds it fascinating to see how certain rookies skyrocket in value if a player breaks out while veterans tend to hold steady values. Scarcity also plays a big role, which is what makes his complete vintage sets particularly valuable. Declan hopes to one day open his own sports card shop after college to share his love of the hobby.
At this point in his collecting journey, Declan’s baseball card collection numbers over 5,000 individual cards in carefully curated sets and players. The sheer size, organization, and focus areas of Declan’s collection consistently draws admiration from other collectors. But above all, Declan simply enjoys baseball and the nostalgia of reliving history through his cardboard treasures. His collection is a true testament to a lifelong passion that started with that first pack from his grandfather so many years ago. Declan’s baseball card collection will continue growing for years to come as he passes on the hobby to the next generation.
