2020: the year of the Collector
By: Francisco Gonzalez
Tags: Collecting, NBA, Collectibles, Sports Cards, Sports Cards Investing

A few of my 2020 pickups, not everything can be MJ’s!

It has been an incredible year for collectors. The growth we have seen over the past year is simply unprecedented in the hobby and it shows no signs of slowing down. As I look back at what I have been able to add to my collection during this year, I can say it has been an incredible journey, and unexpected in a lot of ways. Leading the charge this year was basketball cards. The sports world was rocked by 3 important events this year, 2 of them directly affected the basketball card market: Kobe’s passing and the Last Dance Documentary. Both events turned the spotlight on basketball like never before. Factor in the lockdown most of us experienced starting in March, and you have a perfect storm for growth. A lot of us had more time to spend with our hobby. Others rediscovered their long forgotten childhood cards, while a new group of collectors emerged in the midst of it all. If you would have told me back in January the year would end up on such an incredible high note for collectors, I wouldn’t have believed you.

And it's not just sports. Pokemon, one of the world's leading trading card games also saw another explosion in popularity. Pokemon has been present since the late 90’s. To this date, it is a cultural phenomenon that has touched the last 4 generations with no signs of slowing down. 80’s kids like myself were teens when it started, so even if we saw them has childish at some point, we all knew who Pikachu and Charizard were. Those of us that also delved in the trading card game scene, like Magic the Gathering, were bound to be in contact with the trading cards at some point. In my case, I also have younger brothers that got into the game and the Pokemon fever, so it was natural for me to learn the game, the cards, and everything there was to know about Pokemon back then. Little did I imagine it was about to become one of the most recognized franchises in the world 20 years later. While I have been involved in the trading card game at all levels (player, tournament organizer, and judge), I did not imagine the collectivity of the game would reach these unprecedented heights.

While the recent growth in the industry means a lot of our collections have gained substantial values, it has also brought a bit of frustration. Several collectors I speak daily with have all expressed at one point or another how they are getting priced out of the cards they were chasing. Want lists have started to shrink significantly every time a new record price is set at auction. The sentiment, “I can no longer afford the cards I like,” is starting to resonate slowly among collectors. While this is frustrating, the best way to combat this is to properly set up a plan and budget for the upcoming year. You can always hustle and grind, but not everyone has the time to do it that way. After some consideration, here is the plan that I believe works for me, and I hope it can help others make their own collecting plans for 2021.

Make a list, and check it twice:

The first thing I do each December is check my list of cards that I still want to add to my collection. I make sure I have crossed out all the cards I have added during the year, and then prioritize the remaining cards in the list. Given how much prices have gone up, this process took a bit more time than usual. I want to add cards that are significant to me. After landing the #1 card in my want list this year (MJ Star 101 XRC Rookie card), I have decided to go for my next grail card.

Revise your collections:

Collections are ever evolving. Cards that we liked last year, maybe don’t have the same feeling now. See if there are some cards you can move to fund the new purchases. I have to admit I am incredibly bad at this! I’m a completionist at heart. I like crossing off stuff from my lists, and once a card comes into my PC it’s incredibly hard for me to move it. I did take a step in the right direction this year as I have started to move every single card that is not related to my PCs. And, even those got some major cuts. My autographed PC was reduced to 1/3 of what it was. I realized the original goal of it was no longer fun for me, so I revamped the focus and got rid of all the other cards I didn’t need. If you find some cards that you can move, go for it.

Make a plan and stick to it:

Whether this means saving some cash from your weekly paycheck, selling those extra cards you no longer feel you need to have, or having less of those $8 lattes; make a plan and stick to it. Budget for the cards you want and consider the current price jumps that will continue to happen. This is especially important if you are chasing blue chip players (MJ, Lebron, Brady, etc.). Those cards you may consider “overpriced” now, will just become more expensive by this time next year. Make your plan and follow it, it’s all about maximizing your purchases and above all paying a price you are comfortable with. Educate yourself on the products and the sales. Learning the stories behind the cards will help you understand the prices they are selling for.

Appreciate what you have:

Your collection is unique, it’s an extension of who you are, what you like, and what you cherish. Be grateful for it. Enjoy what you have and don’t feel bad if you can’t add cards at the same rate as years before. Adapt and above all continue to have fun. There is more than one way to enjoy the hobby.

Network:

I can’t stress how important this is. The more people you reach out to the more chances you have of finding those cards you want. Get yourself out there, reach out to fellow collectors, content creators, to anyone that will listen and get to know them. They may hold the key to finding that card you have wanted for so long.

Let’s make 2021 an even more incredible year in the hobby, not because of the cards, but because of all the amazing people behind the cards.

You can find me on IG @frankie3500