(Originally published August 2, 2011.)
What better topic for my first hobby blog than a little background information about me and my collecting life?
The first baseball cards I ever bought were at a flea market in June of 1989. I've been a Blue Jays fan since the mid-1980's, so when I saw a 1989 O-Pee-Chee team set for $2.00 I picked it up. I was hooked. For the rest of that summer I bought packs of 1989 O-Pee-Chee for 35 cents apiece, and the occasional pack of 1989 Donruss trying to find the hottest rookie in the set (according to my friend)... Tom "Flash" Gordon.
In 1990 I collected 1990 Donruss and that's when I pulled my first John Olerud card. I promptly traded it for the Jerome Walton because after all, Walton was the 1989 Rookie of the Year and his cards were HOT, and Olerud was some Blue Jay I had never heard of. As the 1990 season went on and I learned more about John Olerud, I grew more interested in him. I identified with his quiet demeanor and reputation as the "strong silent type". Plus, he never played in the minors so I wouldn't have to search out any minor league cards. I started collecting John Olerud and my friend (Flash Gordon Guy) decided to collect Travis Fryman.
I've been collecting Olerud ever since. Through my high school years, university, and entering the workforce, my card collecting fluctuated as other interests took over my time and money. Now, with a house mortgage, two children (and #3 on the way), and other "grown up" things, my card budget has become pretty modest but still I collect what I can.
Once I no longer have daycare expenses, car payments, and other pesky adult things I hope to get back into set collecting and expand my Olerud budget. Eventually, when we finish the basement of our house there will be my own "Man Cave" where I'll display my collection.
I welcome your comments, especially any collecting stories and memories you'd like to share.
Happy collecting!