I used to collect baseball cards as a kid and now want to get back into it. Is anyone here into Baseball card collecting? If you don't mind, can you catch me up a little on the business side- what cards are hot, etc. Also do you know of any forums that are specific to baseball cards? Thanks!
Check out Beckett's. Ebay has a lot of cards for sale. I have pretty much everything from 1980-1999. Most of which are still unopened. None of it is graded and grading is really the best way to get your cards sold for decent $.
I saw the 2007 Topps design, they are going to be tough to keep from getting banged up on the corners. They look like Donruss 86. That was a very difficult year to keep a mint condition card.
here's what's happened over the last 10+ years or so of cards: new set comes out. cards immediately get marked up the few weeks before beckett comes out (used to be before the monthly came out; now it's before the online part of the monthly comes out). beckett prices things. everyone then crashes prices at "half beckett" except on the super hot card, or if (during season) someone takes off unexpectedly. if you're a collector who wants the basic sets without putting things together, you've got a great deal. many people will blowout their sets on ebay and other places, at a loss...why? because they need to get the cards and hope the special cards, inserts, etc. get them enough profit. it's near impossible to make money off cards now unless you're basically playing quick-turnover middleman. there's no reason to keep cards around longer, as they retain little of their value. (and as uptik said, graded cards are where it's 'at'. and that's on the hot or speculative items, in super pristine condition). oh, one other thing. i got into cards in '75, did some flea markets and shows from the late 70s - mid/late 80s, and stopped collecting (the second time) a couple years ago, though i still keep up with things. anyhow...what was considered "MT" or "EX-MT" then is likely considered EX or worse today. the dogbeat mickey mantle cards still retain some value, and the wonderful condition mickey mantle cards retain it. but the inbetween condition ones - enough that it looks nice, but not pristine - there's a significant difference between what you could have gotten (% of topline) 15-20 years ago and today. those middle grade cards have a lot less demand...
If you wait a month or two before getting back it to it, word on the street is they are coming out with a new kind of baseball card. The cards will have a protective steroid film on them and you just take the card of your favorite player, rub his face (which is the side the steroid film will be on) against your biceps area every morning and viola, instant bulging powerful biceps!