30 Day Baseball Card Challenge

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

So Long, Farewell

Baseball cards are awesome.  I mean... why else would I still be collecting them after nearly four decades?  However it's not always fun and games.  At the end of last year, I stumbled across this card on COMC:

2002 Topps Traded and Rookies Farewell Bat Relic #FW-JC

When I first saw it, I knew that I wanted it for my Oakland Athletics collection, because Canseco was such a big part of their franchise's success during their 1988 to 1990 World Series run.  The best thing about this card is that it's a tribute to his retirement earlier in the 2002 season.

Then like a big old brick, it hit me... it's been almost sixteen years since he made the announcement to retire.  My brain immediately tried to put things into perspective.  I started off by thinking about where I'll be sixteen years from now.  And there's a pretty good chance I'll be retired or at the very least counting down my final years of standing in front of the classroom.

I also started reminiscing on Canseco's career and realized that 2018 is the 30th Anniversary of his 40/40 and AL MVP season.  That's right about the time that his rookie card prices skyrocket and this card reached triple digits:

1986 Donruss #39

With the exception for graded gem mint copies, this card hasn't been worth triple digits in decades.  How much as hit gone down in value?  Well... I was able to grab this card at the TriStar Show last year for under a buck.  Talk about sports card depreciation.

I wonder how much this card will be worth in thirty years.  Heck... it'll be interesting to see if there are any card companies still around in thirty years and whether or not any of us are still collecting.

2048 may sound like it's a long way into the future for some of you, but if you've been collecting for as long as I have... then maybe you're like me and can feel it just around the corner.

That brings us to today's question...

Do you see yourself still collecting sports cards in 2048?

Until my next post...


So long, farewell... happy Tuesday and sayonara!

25 comments:

Rob said...

I'd be in my 70's...hopefully with disposable income...so yes!

Dennis said...

No--Topps will be the lone licensed producer of cards for all sports, and every card will be of Henry Owens. All redemptions and damaged card replacements will be Henry Owens until Topps runs out of his stickergraphs in 2068. Panini will attempt a comeback in 2028 where every $20 box will come with a legit Babe Ruth auto, 20 gem mint 10 Aaron Judge RCs, and a wad of 100s, but that product will fail when collectors complain about the lack of logos.

Zippy Zappy said...

Depends on if cards are still physical and also if I even live that long. I'd be in my early 50's around then.
A lot of things could happen but the most likely scenario is that I give up on a retirement fund (like I could ever have one hah!) and just decide to spend money on these stupid stuff hoping I croak before I start having expensive problems as a geezer.

Rod (Padrographs) said...

I hope to still be collecting Padres autographs by then. Although in 2048 I will be 91.

Jeremya1um said...

I’ll be 65 around then and hopefully have some more money to spend on them. I really hope that the industry doesn’t change much at the worst, and perhaps gets better and focuses a little more on the low-end small budget collector. If it just keeps getting worse, I could see an set made by custom card makers actually being produced and I would probably help make it and maybe get a set. It will be fun looking back at this post in 30 years.

Matt said...

I am not sure actually. Depends on how my health goes and where life takes me

Hackenbush said...

Yes, but I'll probably have trouble lifting a showbox full of relic cards. Oh, I guess I'll be a relic by then myself.

acrackedbat said...

i'm shooting for just being alive and cognizant in 2048. the card industry has changed rapidly since I began collecting in 93 so it's hard to imagine what the hobby might look like in 2048. maybe by then, Topps will have moved back to white borders.

Tony L. said...

In 30 years, I'll be 76 years old. I'm hopeful that I'll still enjoy sports and baseball at that point. I'm also hopeful that football will not have been outlawed by then, but I have my doubts that it will exist in its current form. Indeed, I'm not sure what *will* still be in its current form in 30 years.

But, if I'm alive, I'll probably be a junk collector somehow, pining for the days of Pitfall Harry and Def Leppard.

Robert said...

Chances are if I can still see or stand I'll probably still be collecting in 2048.

Although death may have something to say about that, because I'll be 80 by then.

Billy Kingsley said...

If I'm still alive I will still be collecting. I'll turn 50 that year but with my health problems it's not a guarantee. I'll probably still be writing Cardboard History and by then maybe I will have my Excel files where I want them to be.

Big Tone said...

I'd like to pick up a graded 86 Donruss Canseco one day with all of the counterfeits going around.In fact I'm not so sure the one I have now Is the real deal.

Big Tone said...

I'd like to pick up a graded 86 Donruss Canseco one day with all of the counterfeits going around.In fact I'm not so sure the one I have now Is the real deal.

night owl said...

Like most of the commenters, goal No. 1 is just to be alive in 2048 (I'll be 83).

Whatever else I'm doing then I'll just be happy I'm doing it.

Nick Vossbrink said...

2048 huh. I'd be 70. My eldest would be 39. With any luck I'd have a grandchild just getting really interested in baseball and the hobby. And that sounds almost heavenly.

Nick said...

YES!

(And although I didn't collect in the heyday of Canseco rookies, I was still floored to find a copy of his '86 Topps Traded rookie in a 12/$1 box a few years back.)

SumoMenkoMan said...

As long as my wife doesn't throw away my cards, I'll probably still be collecting.

Corky said...

If I make it to 2048 I’ll be 76 and I expect the hobby will transition to all digital by that point. My only hope is that the Mariners will make it to the World Series some time before I die where they will probably loose to the Cleveland Browns in a hybrid baseball-football sport.

BobWalkthePlank said...

I'll still try to collect in 2048. Just might be hard to find time between all the trips with super models. I'm assuming a lottery win between now and 2048.

The Lost Collector said...

I have no idea! It is crazy to think how long ago many of my heroes played. Tino's last game was in 2005. 13 years ago!

sg488 said...

I will be 87 in 2048,just hope to still be alive.

Collecting Cutch said...

If I'm still alive I will probably be collecting. I will be in my sixties and hoping for the Pirates to win a World Series still, but their payroll will still be bottom 5 in league.

Swing And A Pop-up said...

I'd like to think I'd still be collecting, but at 79 years old I'll probably be too busy making trips to the dump and yelling at kids to get off my lawn.

Mario said...

My guess is probably not as I will be pushing 70.

Fuji said...

Rob - I'm crossing my fingers for some disposable income too.

Dennis - Lol. Awesome comment. Henry Owens mom will be one excited lady.

Zippy Zappy - I'm hoping both of us are still around buddy.

Rod - Can't wait to see how many different Padres autographs you've accumulated by then.

Jeremya1um - Based on the past, I can see it getting better, than getting worse... and going back and forth a few more times. But hopefully the hobby is still around and there's enough of us out there still collecting.

Sport Card Collectors - Let's hope you (actually both of us) stay healthy and then we'll worry about the collecting part when the time comes.

Hackenbush - We'll both be relics. By then I hope my whole collection is digital, so I won't have to lift anymore heavy boxes. I'm sure by then, smell-o-vision will exist, so I can smell the bubble gum as I flip through card scans

Julie Owens - Sounds like a reasonable wish. BTW... I predict white borders on a topps flagship within the next five years.

Tony Lehman - Yeah... it'll be interesting to see how long the NFL lasts or what it'll be like in 10 years... let alone 30 years. Love me some Def Leppard. Gonna look up a concert on YT and hit play while I reply to the rest of these comments.

Robert - Dang it. I forgot about sight. My eyes are getting really bad. I hope I can still see too. And in 30 years... 80 will be the new 60. At least I hope so.

Billy Kingsley - I'm predicting you'll own Trading Card Database by then. ;)

Tony - Yeah... I'd like to own a graded copy myself. One day. Hmmm... hopefully by 2048.

night owl - Solid goal. I'll be right behind you at 75. When we're that age... 8 years age difference will feel like 1.

Nick Vossbrink - Keeping my fingers crossed for you. I've never regretted not having children... but I'm sure it's gonna hit me at some point that no children means no grandchildren... and no grandchildren means no future baseball card collectors in my family :(

Nick - Wowza. That's a great deal. I always wonder if the vendors realize they have those cards sitting in their boxes.

SumoMenkoMan - Keep buying her those delicious cookies you sent me and that won't be an issue.

Corky - Bite your tongue. If there are only digital cards to buy in 2048, then I'll be strictly a vintage guy (assuming I'm still around in 30 years).

Matthew Scott - I hope you remember your loyal readers when you start taking all of those trips with gorgeous super models.

The Lost Collector - It's weird that 2005 was 13 years ago.

sg488 - I hope so too. Damn. Starting to realize this was a depressing question to ask collectors.

Collecting Cutch - Maybe Cutch will recruit an investment group, buy the team, and become the modern day New York Yankees.

Swing And A Pop-up - Let me know if you're dumping baseball cards and I'll be there.

Alejandro M - 70? Is that too old to collect? The real question is... will Wax Heaven still be around?