Ethan Salas has been collecting baseball cards since he was just 5 years old, starting with a few packs of cards he received as gifts. Now at age 17, his collection has grown exponentially to over 100,000 individual cards that he has amassed throughout more than a decade of passion for the hobby. What started as a casual interest spurred by his love of the game has evolved into an all-consuming endeavor to obtain as many rare and unique baseball cards as possible.
As a child, Ethan’s favorite player was Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux and he eagerly sought out any Maddux cards he could find at local card shows, shops and in packs. This laser focus on one player helped build the foundation for his collection and taught him the value of special parallel and autographed versions that could be found. By his early teens, Ethan had collected dozens of Maddux rookie cards in various brands and conditions, supplementing them with autographed balls and bats when possible.
As he grew older, Ethan’s interests expanded beyond just Maddux to encompass collecting entire sets from the 1980s and 90s era that he felt represented the heyday of the baseball card industry. Sets like 1987 Topps, 1988 Donruss, 1992 Leaf and 1994 Fleer were particular favorites that reminded him of his own childhood experiencing the cards. He found completing full base sets to be extremely satisfying and it allowed him to attain cards featuring all of his favorite teams and players from those eras in an organized fashion.
Beyond just sets and players though, Ethan became enamored with the distinct visual designs and photography styles that each brand brought to their cards year after year. Companies like Topps, Fleer and Score all employed unique graphic artists that gave their products distinct feels. Appreciating these differences led Ethan down a path of also acquiring oddball and insert sets that carried special serialized printing techniques, materials or variations. Examples include the rare gold and black bordered Topps cards of the early 90s, the embossed front photos of 1992 Donruss Elite and the tri-colored parallels found in 1995 Collector’s Choice.
As his teenage years progressed, Ethan gained a new level of card-collecting sophistication. He broadened his event horizon to embrace the vibrant independent card scene through companies like Leaf, Pacific and Pinnacle that offered novel artistic visions outside the mainstream Topps/Donruss/Fleer model. Memorabilia cards integrating autographed swatches of jerseys or signed bats began occupying premium real estate in his collections. Rookie cards of burgeoning young stars like Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Barry Bonds became highly sought after chase pieces as their careers blossomed.
The dawn of the internet age in the late 1990s coincided with Ethan reaching high school. He began using online forums and early online auction sites like eBay to seek out valuable vintage cards from the 1950s through 1970s that were nearly impossible to find in his local shops. Honus Wagner, Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente and Nolan Ryan cards from the golden era enticed Ethan with their historical significance and eye-popping price tags. Through savvy research on population reports, grading scales and market trends, he was able to add some truly astounding gems to his collection like a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie (PSA 8), 1957 Topps Mantle (PSA 4) and a 1973 Topps Dave Kingman with an awe-inspiring mustache (PSA 9).
As the new millennium dawned, Ethan was fast becoming one of the most knowledgeable teenage collectors in his area. Local card shows and conventions provided regular opportunities to peruse the tables of eager dealers while also allowing him to show off his constantly expanding binders. His personal collection remained deeply rooted in the 80s/90s era of his childhood with a special focus on stars from his favorite St. Louis Cardinals such as Ozzie Smith, Tom Herr and Keith Hernandez. Continuing education through reading trade magazines and by befriending older collectors always had Ethan looking to incorporate scarce vintage and autograph items whenever possible.
The modern explosion of parallel and Memorabilia cards starting in the 2000s has provided an endless deluge of collecting possibilities for Ethan. Insert sets highlighting milestones, anniversaries and achievements give him reasons to target specific years. Parallel cards with ultra-short print runs like Topps Chrome, Bowman Sterling and Leaf Metal have become highly coveted based on their exquisite designs and scarcity compared to the standard base issues. At the same time, he has embraced newer sports card companies like Panini, Leaf and Topps Archives that have revived classic set designs of long-dormant brands like Donruss, Fleer and Topps.
As Ethan enters his senior year of high school, he remains deeply passionate about maintaining and growing his collection. Scouring online auctions and communicating with collectors worldwide allows him to fill ever more niches on his want lists. Local competitive card shows have also presented him opportunities over the years to wisely invest his savings into sizable vintage pickups that will continue accruing value. He hopes to leverage his baseball card and sports business knowledge into a fulfilling career someday, whether as a buyer/seller or working directly for a major company in the hobby industry. And of course, Ethan’s cherished binders will remain prominently displayed at his parents’ home, brim full of memories from his decades dedicated to collecting cards.
Overall, Ethan Salas’ extensive baseball card collection stands as a testament to the joys and rewards of passionately pursuing a hobby since childhood. Starting with humble beginnings in the late 1990s, he has amassed over 100,000 individual cards through perseverance, research and a lifetime of enjoying America’s pastime on cardboard. Whether celebrating star players, completing sets or seeking out the rarest gem, Ethan’s journey perfectly encapsulates the allure of collecting for collectors of all ages. His story will surely inspire other kids just beginning their own lifelong pursuits in the cardboard kingdom.
