hackadeandre
OzCardTrader
I love the NBA. No other sport in my opinion comes even close. I do enjoy watching most sports, some more than others. The NBA has been ingrained in my make-up ever since I discovered a basketball. Every spare moment as a kid spent either on a court or a makeshift one in my backyard. Always wondered what could have been if I broke the 6 foot barrier, unfortunately for me I didn't even get close.
Started collecting cards with the 1993-94 releases, by then MJ was in his prime leading his Bulls to a 3-peat and cards were approaching their prime. Everyone collected, some didn't even know why, they would even struggle to name a player in the NBA apart from MJ. Kids would bring their cards to school bound together with rubber bands and couldn't understand why you won't trade with them.
Then by the time the 1998-99 season rolls around, cards are a thing of the past. The part-time collectors were gone years ago and the kids are now late teenagers. The plethora of local basketball card stores (or video stores that has a nice array of packs) had all but whittled down to one. It felt like the hobby had gone though something like when the machines had taken over the world on the Terminator. I remember the day walking into the lone remaining store and handing over some folders and Ultra Pro 100 count card containers and saying 'Can you hold these for Tony for when he comes in next and give them to him? I'm done.'
When you're 17 or 18 years old, it wasn't that hard. I don't even remember feeling a loss walking out the door. The love of the game never left but collecting cards did. A 17 or 18 year old has much more bigger fish to fry than chasing the last card of his Scoring Kings set.
Fast forward to 2012-13 season, the kid is now a husband and a dad, and life is consumed with responsibility with every day going quicker than the last. Dad spending his spare time looking on Gumtree for something (probably a fridge to put his beer in as the one in the kitchen is bursting at the seams), stumbles across a collection of 90's cards. 'Man, I remember those days, they were really awesome'.
So long story short I buy every single one of the cards, take them home and commence looking, reading, sorting. It was like they had all come back in one foul swoop and it was bloody fun. Which brings us to today, a few years later. Lucky enough to have some extra to spend on a hobby (as opposed to the early teenage years where it was a milestone to be able to afford the weekly NBA paper which I cannot remember the name of).
Which brings us to the collection. I love the history, the story, the snapshot cards can create of the league at each point in time. So basically I am trying (as close as I can get) to collect 1 card of each base, insert and auto or memorabilia card that has ever been made. It may seem ridiculous but there are many exceptions (simply because I don't have a money tree), and I will explain more as I go through the years and cards.
The journey begins at the 1986-87 releases, I am guessing that it will be 12 months before this thread is complete and realistically it can't end. I hope everyone who decides to look at this thread enjoys looking at the last 30 year heritage of cards and any feedback will be appreciated.
1986-87 Fleer
Base card #32 Patrick Ewing RC
The reason I chose this card... honestly... because it's the only one I have! Nice example and always great to have a RC of an all-time great, although it could be upgraded to 'you know who'. Many of these 'rookie cards' aren't actually rookies in the 1986-87 season, this was Fleer's first release of the '80's.
Insert Sets
1986-87 Fleer Stickers
As a consolation to not having a Jordan RC was to grab this Jordan Rookie Sticker. A great example again and an iconic card, especially with MJ and his trademark 'stick the tongue out'!
And that's 1986-87 done! 1 release! The first few years are going to be easy and then it's going to get tough. Slow and steady...
Started collecting cards with the 1993-94 releases, by then MJ was in his prime leading his Bulls to a 3-peat and cards were approaching their prime. Everyone collected, some didn't even know why, they would even struggle to name a player in the NBA apart from MJ. Kids would bring their cards to school bound together with rubber bands and couldn't understand why you won't trade with them.
Then by the time the 1998-99 season rolls around, cards are a thing of the past. The part-time collectors were gone years ago and the kids are now late teenagers. The plethora of local basketball card stores (or video stores that has a nice array of packs) had all but whittled down to one. It felt like the hobby had gone though something like when the machines had taken over the world on the Terminator. I remember the day walking into the lone remaining store and handing over some folders and Ultra Pro 100 count card containers and saying 'Can you hold these for Tony for when he comes in next and give them to him? I'm done.'
When you're 17 or 18 years old, it wasn't that hard. I don't even remember feeling a loss walking out the door. The love of the game never left but collecting cards did. A 17 or 18 year old has much more bigger fish to fry than chasing the last card of his Scoring Kings set.
Fast forward to 2012-13 season, the kid is now a husband and a dad, and life is consumed with responsibility with every day going quicker than the last. Dad spending his spare time looking on Gumtree for something (probably a fridge to put his beer in as the one in the kitchen is bursting at the seams), stumbles across a collection of 90's cards. 'Man, I remember those days, they were really awesome'.
So long story short I buy every single one of the cards, take them home and commence looking, reading, sorting. It was like they had all come back in one foul swoop and it was bloody fun. Which brings us to today, a few years later. Lucky enough to have some extra to spend on a hobby (as opposed to the early teenage years where it was a milestone to be able to afford the weekly NBA paper which I cannot remember the name of).
Which brings us to the collection. I love the history, the story, the snapshot cards can create of the league at each point in time. So basically I am trying (as close as I can get) to collect 1 card of each base, insert and auto or memorabilia card that has ever been made. It may seem ridiculous but there are many exceptions (simply because I don't have a money tree), and I will explain more as I go through the years and cards.
The journey begins at the 1986-87 releases, I am guessing that it will be 12 months before this thread is complete and realistically it can't end. I hope everyone who decides to look at this thread enjoys looking at the last 30 year heritage of cards and any feedback will be appreciated.
1986-87 Fleer
Base card #32 Patrick Ewing RC
The reason I chose this card... honestly... because it's the only one I have! Nice example and always great to have a RC of an all-time great, although it could be upgraded to 'you know who'. Many of these 'rookie cards' aren't actually rookies in the 1986-87 season, this was Fleer's first release of the '80's.
Insert Sets
1986-87 Fleer Stickers
As a consolation to not having a Jordan RC was to grab this Jordan Rookie Sticker. A great example again and an iconic card, especially with MJ and his trademark 'stick the tongue out'!
And that's 1986-87 done! 1 release! The first few years are going to be easy and then it's going to get tough. Slow and steady...
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