I’ve never talked about this openly, but I think it’s the perfect time. It’s the time to finally reveal and reflect on one of my greatest addictions right along with music and artisanal sandwiches. As a kid growing up in the 90s, I fell in love with sports cards, and man did I fall hard. What I didn’t know then was that the industry generated $1 billion annually, but in reality, those details didn’t matter to me. I knew sports cards had value. Baseball and basketball cards were my thing, and they allowed me to create imaginary connections with the players, who, before the days of social media, were just distant celebrities behind a tv screen.
I still remember the smell of new cards and the precarious stale gum that came in each pack. I could tell you all about the teams and an all-star player’s rookie year, recite some of their stats, and even recognize their autographs. My heart would pump in excitement opening a new pack of cards, wondering what would unveil behind its wax wrapper. Some describe the feeling similar to taking a seat at a blackjack table.
Luck was an integral component in all this, and like many things in life, that chase was alluring…
