Linus was a huge baseball fan. Every year for his birthday and holidays, he would ask for collectible baseball cards to add to his growing collection. By the time Linus turned 10 years old, he had amassed an impressive collection of 58 baseball cards spanning many years and players.
Baseball card collecting had become a passion project for Linus over the past few years. He enjoyed learning about the histories of his favorite teams and players by reading the backs of the cards. Some of his most prized cards included a rookie card of Mike Trout from 2009, a rare Babe Ruth card from the 1930s, and a signed card of his hometown hero, David Ortiz. Those were the crown jewels of Linus’s collection so far.
In addition to rare and valuable cards, Linus also liked collecting players from across multiple eras of baseball. He had cards from the 1950s featuring legends like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. He also enjoyed cards from the steroid era of the 1990s with stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire. More modern players in Linus’s collection included Clayton Kershaw, Christian Yelich, and Mookie Betts. Having representations from different decades allowed Linus to trace the evolution of the sport and players over time.
While Linus enjoyed simply looking through and admiring his collection, he also took the time to properly organize and store his cards. He had several binders with sheet protectors to keep each card mint condition. The cards were categorized by player, then sorted chronologically by the year on the front of the card. This allowed Linus to easily find any player to show friends or just look up stats. He also had top loaders and sturdy boxes to transport his prized gems when going to baseball card shows with his dad.
Part of the fun for Linus was attending local card shows a few times a year. Here, he could look through boxes upon boxes of cards from dealers and other collectors. Sometimes he would find bargain bins with discounted commons that helped fill out sets. Other times, with money he had saved from chores and holidays, Linus would treat himself to a pricier rare find. He enjoyed chatting with the dealers about players and valued their expertise in authenticating vintage cards. The hustle and bustle of the shows was exhilarating for any dedicated collector.
Through collecting for the past few years, Linus had learnt a lot about the business side of the hobby as well. He understood concepts like supply and demand influencing the values of different players over time. Rookie cards tended to spike in price if that player turned into a star. Alternatively, injury-plagued players or those caught up in scandals sometimes took a hit in their collectible worth. Grading services that analyzed centering, corners and condition also played a role. But Linus was just as interested in the nostalgia and stories behind his favorites no matter the monetary value.
As Linus’s taste evolved, he also made sure to properly care for his growing collection. Any duplicates were sorted to potentially trade with friends. He meticulously cleaned any smudges from the plastic sleeves using approved supplies. Humidity and temperature fluctuations could damage cards over time, so Linus stored his prized items in a cool, dry area. During the summer, he refrained from displaying outside where UV light accelerates fading. These preservation practices would help maintain and possibly increase the collection’s worth down the road.
By age 10, Linus had gained a wealth of knowledge about America’s pastime through his addiction to baseball cards. While the 58 cards in his binders were constantly growing, the memories and enjoyment gained from the hobby were priceless. Displaying clear dedication through organization and care, Linus hoped to one day pass on his enthusiasm for the sport to the next generation. Until then, he aimed to keep adding rare finds to his prized assortments of stars from baseball’s storied history.
