Collecting on a Budget
Every day, it seems that there is a new post on the SCN Facebook group about money ruining the hobby. While there might be some merit to their claims, I’ve heard such complaints since I started collecting in 1989.
The complaints have been steady, but what has also been constant is that there have always been many ways to enjoy the hobby on a budget. I’m a high school teacher in MS. Budget is what I do.
So, I wanted to mention a few ways I’ve enjoyed collecting that won’t break the bank. This list is far from exhaustive.
1. Topps Now- I’ve always liked Topps Now, but I’m more excited about it than ever. It’s not the autos or crazy memorabilia they are putting in it that has me pumped. It’s that I’m finally realizing how cool it is to collect a complete run of a player.
I’ve been grabbing James Wood Topps Now cards, and I plan on continuing to do so. That way, one day I’ll be able to look through them and get a great idea of the story of his career.
That’s always been part of the allure of cards. Each year’s card adds a new line of stats that tells the story of the previous season. Topps Now allows for a much more detailed picture of a player’s career. I’m just kicking myself. I didn’t do this earlier for Ohtani or Judge, although I might start slowly piecing their runs together.
The cards are affordable if buying directly from Topps, but one can normally find the base cards for much cheaper on eBay. I’ve picked up most Wood base cards for $4-$7. Parallels even make for an affordable collection as they tend not to carry large premiums.
2. Topps Design Runs/Santa Archives- Earlier this year, I was thinking of what combinations of player runs I could do that would get me one card from each year of Topps designs.
Enter Santa. Topps has been doing the Santa Archives (cards featuring Santa using all 70+ Flagship Topps designs) in Topps Holiday the last two years and should finish it up this year. While “case hits”, the cards are readily available for $5-$15, making them a fun and affordable set to chase.
I’m still trying to figure out what players to chase for my project, but the Santa Archives offered an easy way to grab a card with each Topps design, and I’ve enjoyed putting the set together. Topps has done a good job with photo selection, and the write-ups on the back are entertaining, detailing the most popular toy of the year from the design used.
My only complaint/worry is that Topps inadvertently mislabeled the 2020 card as a 2024, and that Topps won’t include a card with the 2024 design this year, but will give us another 2020 instead. I’m hopeful they caught the mistake.
If Santa’s not your thing, one could piece together several insert sets that Topps has done that also use the various Topps Flagship designs, none of which cost more than a few bucks a card at most, with many found in quarter boxes.
For many modern players, it is possible, or close to it, to put together a run of Flagship designs. I’m reasonably certain Ohtani has had a card using every design, even if some are very limited. Depending on the player, this could be an affordable option.
3. Vintage- I normally roll my eyes at the guys who pop into every thread or conversation extolling folks to “buy vintage” largely because vintage cards are not immune to the ups and downs of the card market, but vintage is a great place to enjoy collecting on the cheap, as long as one stays away from the biggest names like Mays, Mantle, and Aaron.
Stars in the next tier are surprisingly affordable. Non-rookies of guys like Bob Gibson, Stan Musial, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Steve Carlton, Yogi Berra, Warren Spahn, and dozens of others can be had for surprisingly reasonable prices in low to mid-grade. A nicely centered 1964 Bob Gibson in PSA 4 grade might set you back $45. A 1966 second-year Topps Rookie Trophy Joe Morgan only costs around $30 in PSA 5 grade.
One can build quite an impressive collection of all-time greats at $20-$50 a card. If one picks up raw cards, that number can be substantially lower.
I think the biggest values are the guys from the mid-60s to the late 70s. Those guys get overlooked completely in the hobby. That may never change, but picking up some affordable Johnny Bench cards seems like a fun way to collect on a budget to me.
4. Non-rookie refractors- Rookie refractors can cost a fortune. Non-rookie refractors tend to go to bargain boxes. With so many different cards made each year, they often get overlooked for the newer, shinier parallels.
The refractors have staying power, though, built on years of repetition. Collectors like base refractors, and they like the base Topps designs. As the novelty of new cards wears off, a slow but steady demand remains for the refractors.
One won’t get rich buying base refractors, but one can put together a cool team or player collection for under $5 a card for most players not named Ohtani, and even he is not priced outrageously (2020 Topps Chrome refractors cost about $10).
5. Junk Wax- Sometimes you just gotta rip some packs. I’ve switched to pretty much singles only, but I have picked up some older wax for fun in the past year. Prices skyrocketed for older wax during the pandemic. Prices have returned to sanity, and one can find quite a few fun, quality 1990s products for under $50.
I had a ball ripping 1990 Upper Deck, which cost me a little under $30 delivered. My experience with bricked Pinnacle boxes left a lot to be desired, but at least they were cheap.
Choose a few favorite 1990s cards and then go grab a box or two from the products they came from and try to hit one yourself.
Wrap Up
Box prices are going up. I expect that to continue. Still, I’m more excited about collecting than ever, even though I’ve basically stopped ripping packs. There are still more fun, affordable ways to collect than I can do. This list is far from exhaustive, and I know it. Let me know how you collect on a budget in the comments.