Great work, love the look back. I have fond memories of how Pens cards coincided with the early 90's Pens teams that won back-to-back Cups. The big chase for me at the time was getting a Pro-Set Jagr rookie card and a Pro-Set Mark Recchi card, those were huge for me at the time. I think we had to eventually go to a card shop to get them, but even then, having them in my hand (miscut like crazy) was so cool while watching them play.
It’s true! When I was a kid, I knew nothing about corners, edges, surface or centering! I just wanted that card! Hence, why I have many jacked up cards from my youth! But I love those dented cards! Haha thanks, Patrick!
Great Piece David! This resonates a lot with me. The little time machines line was great. Isn't it funny how opening a pack now from our favorite childhood set, or just looking at one of those cards can take us back in time to that specific year and age, even more than the art direction of Stranger Things :)
This is a wonderful piece, David. As you might or might not have noticed, I traffic in nostalgia, so I loved the story. For me, opening new stuff is kinda more of the distraction between being able to open some older stuff, ha.
I keep trying to get my kids into cards, so they can have these stories/memories, but they haven’t really bought in yet, we’ll see., don’t wanna force it. I remember ‘85 being the first packs I opened, although I think it was just a few judging from my childhood cards, but I still love the set. Anyway, great read, thanks for sharing.
I don’t have kids, but I can certainly understand how awesome it would be to get your kids involved. Look at it this way: It might not be something they attach themselves to, but you can bet they attach you to the hobby, and that might be enough to have them dip their toes in a bit. Also, what would be more heartbreaking: Your kids don’t grab on to the hobby, but love something else similarly — or — they latch on and decide to become card flippers in a grotesque scale? Haha
Haha, good point. And there are definitely worse things than eventually having to open all this stuff I’ve saved. Maybe I could bring some to the first annual Happy Hobby Conference someday!
How cool will it be if you can get your kids going. Mine never did, as much as I hoped. Cool to spend quality time when you share the same hobby, hope it works.
Uh oh, I may have my hopes way too high, then. I don’t want to overstate it, but ever since I had my son, I’ve been making myself save certain unopened things, purely with the hope that I can entice him into the hobby with me someday. My latest attempt at enticement is picking up a ‘25 Absolute Football Holiday Calender, where you get a little pack out each day of December. It’s just hard to beat out the video games that he currently loves, though. Maybe I should start tempering my expectations, ha.
Keep the hope up, it is all we have. Video games are hard to compete with, especially if they are not sports ones. Getting him on the couch to watch a game or two with you may help as well. Hope the Holiday Calendar plants some seeds!
Great work, love the look back. I have fond memories of how Pens cards coincided with the early 90's Pens teams that won back-to-back Cups. The big chase for me at the time was getting a Pro-Set Jagr rookie card and a Pro-Set Mark Recchi card, those were huge for me at the time. I think we had to eventually go to a card shop to get them, but even then, having them in my hand (miscut like crazy) was so cool while watching them play.
It’s true! When I was a kid, I knew nothing about corners, edges, surface or centering! I just wanted that card! Hence, why I have many jacked up cards from my youth! But I love those dented cards! Haha thanks, Patrick!
Great Piece David! This resonates a lot with me. The little time machines line was great. Isn't it funny how opening a pack now from our favorite childhood set, or just looking at one of those cards can take us back in time to that specific year and age, even more than the art direction of Stranger Things :)
Hahaha very much so. Thanks for reading and commenting, Randy!
This is a wonderful piece, David. As you might or might not have noticed, I traffic in nostalgia, so I loved the story. For me, opening new stuff is kinda more of the distraction between being able to open some older stuff, ha.
I keep trying to get my kids into cards, so they can have these stories/memories, but they haven’t really bought in yet, we’ll see., don’t wanna force it. I remember ‘85 being the first packs I opened, although I think it was just a few judging from my childhood cards, but I still love the set. Anyway, great read, thanks for sharing.
I don’t have kids, but I can certainly understand how awesome it would be to get your kids involved. Look at it this way: It might not be something they attach themselves to, but you can bet they attach you to the hobby, and that might be enough to have them dip their toes in a bit. Also, what would be more heartbreaking: Your kids don’t grab on to the hobby, but love something else similarly — or — they latch on and decide to become card flippers in a grotesque scale? Haha
Haha, good point. And there are definitely worse things than eventually having to open all this stuff I’ve saved. Maybe I could bring some to the first annual Happy Hobby Conference someday!
haha THAT would be awesome!
How cool will it be if you can get your kids going. Mine never did, as much as I hoped. Cool to spend quality time when you share the same hobby, hope it works.
Uh oh, I may have my hopes way too high, then. I don’t want to overstate it, but ever since I had my son, I’ve been making myself save certain unopened things, purely with the hope that I can entice him into the hobby with me someday. My latest attempt at enticement is picking up a ‘25 Absolute Football Holiday Calender, where you get a little pack out each day of December. It’s just hard to beat out the video games that he currently loves, though. Maybe I should start tempering my expectations, ha.
Keep the hope up, it is all we have. Video games are hard to compete with, especially if they are not sports ones. Getting him on the couch to watch a game or two with you may help as well. Hope the Holiday Calendar plants some seeds!