Six cards, from Ripken to Jordan, trace how childhood collecting moments shaped my lifelong perspective on the hobby.
Posts published by “John”
As the junk wax era card boom gathered momentum, Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen wasn’t just selling cards—he was selling the hobby to the world.
A short 1992 Topps Magazine piece by Bruce Chadwick on vintage sports games.
A complete scan of The Trader Speaks, Vol. 3 No. 1 (November 1970), preserving a snapshot of the hobby as it existed over 50 years ago.
Unused Topps artwork for Johnny James challenges hobbyists: intended for 1961, 1962, or merely a concept? A tangible “card that never was.”
A raw T206 Honus Wagner spotted in a 1998 catalog leads to a three-sale trail ending with a $1.39M result.






