Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not financial advice. Please do your own research before making any financial or purchasing decisions.

When I look at my collection, there are cards that I cherish the most and can recall from memory; oftentimes, they are rookies, game-used memorabilia, and/or autographs. In contrast, the countless base cards I accumulated as a kid now sit in boxes, and I’d happily sell them for dimes each (if I could even find buyers).

Quality Over Quantity

I find a certain satisfaction from owning a few high-quality cards rather than a mountain of lower end ones. Focusing on higher-end cards brings several advantages:

• Focused Collecting: With a smaller, higher quality collection, I put more thought into each purchase, prioritizing the players and cards I truly love, rather than worrying about saving a few bucks here and there on bulk lots
• Easier Management: Managing, storing, and organizing a streamlined collection is simply more enjoyable for me. I remember the standout cards I own, while the lower end ones tend to fade from memory.
• Long-Term Value: While higher end cards require a bigger upfront investment, they also tend to have more room to appreciate (and depreciate) in value. Even if a $1 base card doubles in price, the profit is negligible (and often eaten up by fees). In contrast, a higher-end card can see meaningful gains, and it’s much easier to sell a few high-end cards than hundreds of low-value ones (although you may need to use more expensive auction houses)

Collecting Strategy

As I continue to build my collection today, I focus my budget on acquiring a few standout cards, which for me is normally in the $300+ range; however, what you consider “higher-end” may be much lower or higher depending on how much you want to spend. Regardless of price point, my advice would always be to:

1. Prioritize collecting players you love
2. Choose cards you’ll truly enjoy owning
3. Focus on quality over quantity

Looking Ahead

There are still plenty of high-end cards on my wish list, and I know I’ll never be “finished” collecting. However, I’m confident that continuing to focus on higher end cards that truly excite me will bring me the most satisfaction in the long run.