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Could also be what typically happens to white fabric, yellowing.

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Yeah, I’m leaning toward sitting on the MJ for now too. If the grading situation settles down and the card looks clean under closer inspection, I think it could be worth the gamble.

And honestly, getting all three for under $20 is what makes the haul so fun. Even if one of them doesn’t grade as well as I hope, I’m still into them at the price I paid.

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Honestly, I think a LOT of collectors probably feel that way and just don’t say it. There are some incredible cards at shows, but that doesn’t mean you need to have a six-figure collection to belong there.

I’d go into October with the mindset that you’re there to look, learn, talk to people, and hopefully find something you like. Your collection doesn’t have to impress anyone else to be worth collecting.

And honestly, the first bad experience may have just been a bad show. Give yourself another shot. I think you’ll have a completely different experience once you find your comfort zone.

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It’s kinda how I collect MJ now. Is it a cool looking insert with high grade potential, then I grab it.

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Yeah, I’ve seen some of those unlicensed designs that are honestly better looking than the licensed stuff. 😂 The lack of logos doesn’t bother me nearly as much when the card itself looks that good.

It’s definitely dangerous when you can get a cheap pack and suddenly find yourself thinking, “Well… I might as well grab a box.” 😆

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Least expensive teams were the Cards and Jets at $20 and the most expensive was the Giants at $485

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Yeah, that’s the scary part. You see guys throwing harder and harder every year, but there has to be a point where the body just can’t keep up with what they’re asking it to do.

And Strider is a really interesting example because he seems to do everything he can to take care of himself. If even someone that meticulous keeps running into injuries, it definitely makes you wonder what the long-term outlook is for these high-velocity guys. Hopefully I’m wrong too, because watching a healthy Strider pitch is a lot of fun.

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Yeah exactly. Downtowns are a perfect example because the design can be incredible, but if it’s not a player you care about, it’s probably not making its way into the PC.

I think that’s where I’m trying to draw the line too. Find the player first, then let the cool cards within that player’s market fight for a spot. 😂

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That’s probably the healthiest way to collect . The player is the reason you’re buying it, and the cool design just makes the decision easier.

I’m trying to get better at that approach myself, because once I start buying cards simply because they look cool, the PC can get out of control pretty quickly.

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Yeah, Olsen is one of those guys I think gets overlooked sometimes because he’s been around for a while. If he keeps putting up numbers like this, though, I could see his cards getting a little more attention. Definitely seems like he’s found another gear this season.

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Yeah, I agree. There’s something special about a kid pulling a card that they’ll probably remember for the rest of their life. I’d probably hold onto it too, at least for a while. You can always sell it later, but once it’s gone you can’t really get that first-pull experience back.

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Yeah, that’s the frustrating part. When he’s healthy, Strider is the kind of pitcher I’d want in my collection regardless of the investment side. Hopefully he can put together a stretch where he stays healthy, because it’d be a shame for injuries to be what defines his career.

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Okay, so we’re officially running the Bobby Witt Jr. investment strategy on supernatural analytics now. 😂

You’ve got Rory as the successful precedent, so I can’t completely dismiss the vision. If the October prediction hits too, I’m going to start taking notes.

And if it misses… well, clearly the universe is telling you to find a different player. 😆

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That makes total sense 😂. “Cool card” is basically the collecting equivalent of leaving the front door wide open and hoping the wallet behaves itself.

Having the player as the guardrail gives you a reason to pass on the random shiny stuff, even when it’s tempting. Although I’m guessing there are still a few cards that manage to sneak through the defenses anyway. 😂

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Yeah, Pristine is one of those sets where I can understand the higher price. The cards just feel premium when you have them in hand. Sometimes the extra cost is worth it when you actually enjoy looking at the card instead of just chasing the hit.