Shaping up the collection for 2015 - A resolution-free zone

New Years resolutions have a bad connotation with me. It seems like people say they are going to do things this year and then a week later, it’s forgotten about. You just spent a few bucks on a gym membership, and you are never going to use it after January. Well, maybe again right before spring break and just as summer approaches.

But it was a waste of money and time, and just gives you an opportunity to make the same resolution next year.

Instead, I like to have goals for each year. Not something like losing weight or being nicer (I’m just peachy, so no need for that), but things that are attainable, or, in my case, collectible.

These aren’t easy goals either. My new year goals are comprised of things I think about doing or projects that I am in the middle of doing and want to finish. So, writing it down and making myself accountable sometimes works. If you looked at my three goals from last year, you will see sometimes it doesn’t.

Here are my 2014 goals (which are mostly all collecting related).

Goal #1: Create a Derek Jeter want list

I know what I have, but what do I want? That’s a damn fine question. Because I actually don’t want every single Jeter card – nor is it really attainable – I need to make a detailed list of everything I actually want and go after it.

Here’s the thing about being a player collector. If someone owns a 1-of-1 that means my collection will never be complete. Being a completist in this day for player collectors is so difficult, so you have to figure out what exactly you want so you don’t drive yourself crazy going after every card.

In reality, my Jeter want list will include no hits (relics, autographs) and no 1-of-1. It will likely include manu-relics, but that’s still something I am figuring out. That should bring the list down significantly while still giving me an incredible amount of cards to chase.

Goal #2: Finish my Supernatural collection

After opening a case, I still needed a handful of autograph and wardrobe cards. My plan is to finish that set this year without spending a ton more money. I might have to wait it out a little bit to get some of the cards, but I am making progress with recent eBay purchases.

Goal #3: Keep A Cardboard Problem going

We had 74 posts in 2014 on ACP, which is not a lot considering in the heyday of the blog we had more than 550 posts in each 2010 and 2011. But that 74 is still way better than 2013 (0) and 2012 (3).

I’ve enjoyed writing about cards from a collector point of view again without feeling obligated to do it. I write when I want. I write when the mood strikes me. And since my writing is at the minimum these days because my career is no longer relied upon it, the itch is greater than ever.

Goal #4: Finish the first draft of my novel

This isn’t a collecting goal. In fact, my novel has nothing to do with cards or sports. However, it’s something I have been working on for a couple of years. I have 30,000 words to it and it’s time I get at least a first draft done.

Now that I got that out there, tell me your goals for 2015.

Looking back on 2014 - so I missed a resolution or two

Another year of collecting is gone. My hobby and my regular life have merged. I collect baseball cards. I make baseball cards. I collect baseball cards I make.

Yet, I still want more. I want ALL the baseball cards.

One would think that seeing cards every day would perhaps desensitize me to the hobby, decrease my desire to collect. Oh no! Not even a little bit. I am still a collector and I want others get as excited as I do about cards.

Every year, I make some resolutions on what I plan to do with my collection. Some years are better than others when it comes to sticking to them.

Last year, I posted my three resolutions to Beckett.com (remember when I worked there?).

Binders of Jeter cards

Goal #1
Keep a running tally of my Jeter cards

I would give myself a half point on this one. I put most of them on a spreadsheet. I have counted 2,037 unique Derek Jeter cards in my collection. But this does not include a small box of cards I haven’t logged and any of my hits.

Goal #2
Buy a case of Supernatural cards when it releases

NAILED IT! I bought a case and posted one part of it so far on the blog. I will get to the autographs soon.

Goal #3
Find more stories about collectors

This was more of Beckett-based resolution. I left Beckett at June, so I had half a year to work with. I didn’t do as well as I hoped. I wanted to do this because one thing I love about this hobby is how there are so many people who come from different places, collect in different ways and still have fallen in love with these little pieces of cardboard. I still want to talk to all those people. That part hasn’t changed.

As far as 2014 goes, it was a milestone year for me personally. I got married. I started a new job. We resurrected A Cardboard Problem. Overall, pretty damn good.

I collect because I want to

Collectors are all over social media. It's great. This collecting community isn't as small as it can feel sometimes, especially when your closest trading partner lives three states away.

But there is a drawback that comes with social media.

It seems everyone wants to tell you what a collection should be or what cards you should collect or what packs of cards you should open (none!)

You spend money on cards – FOR SHAME!

How can you give money to these big, greedy corporate card companies who produce the same cards year in and year out?

Well, maybe it's because I like collecting.

I know why some people don't collect certain things – and that is their right. Some will spend hundreds of dollars on hobby boxes where the return value is 20 percent. And you want to know why? Some people aren't trying to make money out of their hobby because it’s fun!

Most people still feel the same rush they did as a child while ripping open a new pack of cards. It could be a 99-cent pack of Opening Day or a $100 box of Triple Threads. At the end of the rip, it's supposed to be fun, and I usually have it.

So just because I don't hate my hobby anymore doesn't make me any less of a collector or make me wrong. You're allowed to your disenfranchised opinions as much as the next person.

Just don't tell me what to do with my cards because I am collector not a seller.

Time to search the old NES box

... if I had one.

As collectors, we know the concept of supply and demand, and the value of an item. A card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

In this case, an old, rare NES game is apparently worth THOUSANDS ... and I mean, THOUSANDS.

Last I looked, a rare cartridge of Nintendo World Championship Cart was up to $41,000 on eBay (check the auction here). I shouldn't be amazed by this, but I really am. As someone who enjoys collecting and those rare "barn finds," I think this one ranks up there as pretty neat.

Despite the label being torn off and a scribble on the paper, it seems video game collectors have to have their hands on this item.

Of course, when something starts getting into this price range, you have to wonder if the seller is even going to get paid. It is eBay after all and there are enough buyers who squelch on $5 deals never mind those in five figures.