Collecting baseball cards is a fun hobby that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for decades. With the start of a new baseball season in 2023, here are some tips for how to get started or expand your collection in the new year.
The first step is to determine your budget and collectable focus. Baseball cards come in all price ranges. Budget-friendly options include current year retail packs from brands like Topps, Panini, Leaf, and Donruss which can be found at most drug stores, supermarkets, and hobby shops. Each pack usually contains 5-20 cards and retail for $1-5. For a larger upfront investment, hobby boxes containing 36 packs can be purchased directly from manufacturers or local card shops. Vintage cards from the late 1800s to 1980s in higher grades can fetch substantial prices, so researching condition and demand is important if pursuing those.
Once you have decided on a budget, the next step is following the upcoming release schedule. Major brands like Topps, Panini, and Leaf release new baseball card products starting in late January/February leading up to opening day. These include flagship sets, specialty inserts, autograph and memorabilia cards. Pre-order deals are common where hobby shops offer bonus packs/hits. Mark release dates on your calendar and check with local shops for availability. Maintaining an open dialogue with retailers is helpful for restock notices.
Scouring card shows is another great way to build a collection. Many cities host monthly or bi-weekly baseball card and memorabilia shows with hundreds of vendors. Admission is usually $3-10 and allows access to unopened boxes, singles, autographed items and more. Using a show checklist ahead of time can help identify targeted cards and players. Always inspect condition closely and negotiate if possible for the best deals. Major national card shows in late winter/spring offer the most selection.
Online group breaks are now a popular alternative for those who don’t have a local shop or can’t attend shows regularly. In a group break, multiple participants pay an equal share to have a randomized spot in a box/case break that is live streamed. Any hits pulled are shipped to card owners. This spreads out costs while still allowing chances at rarer cards. Research reputable breakers through references on trading/selling platforms.
Speaking of platforms, the most heavily used sites for buying, selling and trading cards are eBay, COMC.com and Twitter. eBay has the largest volume of daily listings but requires sale prices while the other two primarily offer “Want Lists” of specific cards/players users are looking to trade or purchase. Building references helps increase buying/selling limits over time. Consider joining baseball card enthusiast forums as well which have Classifieds sections.
Properly storing and organizing your growing collection is important. Ultra Pro and BCW supplies make affordable binders, boxes and toploaders to showcase hits and protect cards from damage. Organizing by sport, set, player or year issued keeps everything easy to browse. Display cases are great for high-value vintage cards or autographed memorabilia pieces. With a plan and dedication to the hobby, your baseball card collection has strong potential to become a long-lasting collection.
