(Originally published October 28, 2011.)
I miss the days of trading face-to-face with another collector for a card of your favorite player.
Nowadays I buy 100% of my Oleruds online, mostly from eBay.ca, checkoutmycards.com, or Beckett Marketplace. My local card shop doesn't carry a lot of baseball, let alone any selection of Oleruds. I can't remember the last time I interacted with an in-the-flesh person and exchanged cardboard, but some of my first trades involving John Olerud are still fresh in my memory, even now more than 20 years later.
In the spring of 1990 I actually pulled an Olerud rookie card from a pack of 1990 Donruss. It could have been the first in my collection, but instead I traded it to a guy for the 1990 Donruss Jerome Walton. I needed Walton for the set, and figured I pulled one Olerud, so I could pull another, right?
Later in 1990 I traded a 1987 Topps Will Clark for a 1990 Upper Deck John Olerud. Both were selling for around $5 at the time, so I thought it was a pretty even trade. Neither is worth anywhere near $5 anymore, but I'd still do the same trade in a heartbeat.
When 1992 Bowman came out, it was pretty hot stuff. To land the John Olerud from that set, remember trading a card shop owner a 1990 Upper Deck Olerud (by this time I had 3 or 4) plus $5 for the 1992 Bowman Olerud. Wonder if I went back if the guy would give me my change? Actually, I wonder if the guy even is still in business. Probably not.
My first "low" serial numbered numbered card was 1996 Circa Rave (out of 150!). I remember doing a trade/purchase in 1996 or 1997 that included $15 cash plus a stack of other cards, probably another $20 to $30 worth. Looking back now, this might not have been a such bad deal because the cards I traded away are likely now considered commons, and numbered 1990's inserts, even /150, are actually selling well right now.
And little more recently, in 2002, the "Big Trade" that I remember landed me my only 1-of-1 Olerud card, though this trade was by mail. I sent a 2002 Upper Deck Vintage Aces Nolan Ryan patch card (then listed at around $120) plus another $25 worth of Rick Ankiel & Cardinals inserts. I received a 2000 Upper Deck Exclusives Gold 1/1. This card is pictured in my Gallery.
These trading memories have prompted me to start a traders list link on this website. I hope that by listing some stuff I have available it may start some cardboard swapping. Check it out!
As always, I welcome any comments and feedback.
Happy collecting!