Collecting Philosphy

Well from really scouring the blogging community, I came to realize I need to have some idea of what I collect. Even more importantly, I need to write it down so others know. I did a quick brainstorm when I originally put up the blog (which is the sidebar info), but I think I could be a little more detailed. This is definitely going to be a post that continues to change and get updated, so please bare with me and check occasionally.

Let me begin with the most important thing first- I only collect baseball cards and I only spend twenty dollars a week. Hence the words budget and baseball in the title of my blog. I may wait a week or two to get a forty or sixty dollar purchase, but that rarely happens. Now that the major rules are established, on to the specifics.

The main thing I collect are player collections, mainly Evan Longoria and BJ Upton Cards.

Lately, it's been all about Evan Longoria and occasionally a blaster here and there. Back in July 09, I did wait two weeks to cover my budget and got a hobby box of Topps series two, hoping for a Beckham redemption, but I drew number seven- which turns out to be Matt Latos. I definitely like to be a player collector. In the mid 80s it was Reggie and Rose then in 87 it was McGwire and the A's. Remembering back, I think meeting Canesco at an autograph session started to sour me on collecting and then I joined the Navy and collecting became a faint memory. In 2001, when Ichiro came on the scene, I picked up the itch again and even started picking up a few Nolan Ryans. In 05 i started fantasy baseball, which lead me back to buying an occasional pack or blaster. On a side note, I really like players that can stay with a club their whole career.

Player Collections (links to be added eventually)
Mainly
Evan Longoria - WOW, he really burst onto the scene, hope he stays with Tampa his entire career and avoids the juice
BJ Upton - Was actually at his first game in the bigs and saw his first hit, so I am along for the ride

Tier two
Carl Crawford - Just an amazing player, really hope Tampa keeps him and makes him a franchise player, I really hate all the speculation Tampa might lose him after this season.
Ichiro - Hall of Famer already and would have decimated Rose's record if his whole career was in the majors

Some other players I like
Gordon Beckham
Ben Zorbrist
Reid Brignac

Well if you noticed my player collection pages, I am constantly editing them to keep them current with what I acquire. Not a bad thing it just makes you realize if you really like a player or not. I just haven't been as enthusiastic as I should be with DiceK so I have cut him. I still like him but maintaining his page just hasn't been as fun as the other players I have been collecting.
So I have been flirting with the idea of collecting
Kevin Youkilis - mainly because so many bloggers hate him
and
Dice K, Pedroia, and Ellsbury cards are always welcome

Other players I pick up on occasion or All Time Favs
Reggie, Rose, Ryan, Rickey
Aaron,Bench,Carlton
Sandberg, Puckett
Biggio

The next thing I collect is the occasional set.

I like set building but never seem to have the patience for it or really the funds to buy enough boxes to come close to a set. Thanks to blogging though, I think I will definitely try to complete one... which hopefully will lead to two and so on.

Sets I will try and complete
2009 Topps Chrome Needs
2008 Topps Heritage Needs

Okay, if you don't have any cards of players or sets that I collect, I will accept cards from my favorite teams, but I must admit I don't value just random team cards the same as player cards or set needs.

Teams I like, are the Tampa Rays and Boston Boston Red Sox. I spent close to thirty years in Florida and six in the Tampa area while they were called the Devil Rays. I got to go to a couple games at Tropicana Field. I know there are a lot of critics of the Trop, but I think it's really nice. The walk to the stadium from the parking made me feel that I was going to a ball game, parking was convenient, the inside was nice with restaurants and shops, (wish they had the tank of rays when I went though), and leaving didn't take too long. I really enjoyed watching the games in the AC as opposed to the Florida sun and humidity. I also like the Boston Red Sox. Mainly, because it was my first big league game and Fenway just blew me away. It was everything I imagined and more, my fifteen year old self was .... (there are still no words for it, but here's trying) awesomely astounded. I was in Boston on a soccer tournament and it was before Florida had a MLB team. The most vivid thing from that day was going up the ramp and seeing a big league field for the first time and then seeing Kirby Puckett take batting practice. He was effortlessly swatting balls over the green monster and to deep center field. I now live two hours away from Fenway and look forward to going again.


Thanks for reading.