How to collect football trading cards
The Industry
The football trading card industry has been around for believe it or not over a century! It has been ever growing since its inception in 1888 from the Goodwin Co. That was the start of a new and exciting hobby for many, and a big business idea for some. There have been many companies trying their hands at the card industry throughout the years, but now only a few remain. Now the top 3 big names in the field are Topps, Panini, and Upper Deck.
"It has been ever growing since it's inception in 1888"
How I got myself sucked into it
It started a few years ago when I was trying to fill my free time. I had bought a few cards way back in the day and nothing ever came of it. But now I was serious, ready to buckle down and start collecting. So I got onto eBay where I heard of a thing called a "box break" and bought into one. What happens in a box break is people buy either a division, a team, or a player. Once all the spots are filled you wait until the scheduled break time which is listed in the details. When the break happens, its a live stream on a website such as YouTube, or breakers.tv, or something similar. You go to the live stream and watch someone open the box you bought in to, and if your division, team, or player gets pulled from the box they ship it to you. If nothing you bought gets pulled you're S.O.L. and it's that simple.
"If nothing you bought gets pulled you're S.O.L."
Different ideas to consider
It's really a gamble to try this method of collecting, but it can also be a cheaper way of getting some nice things. Instead of going to the local store or hobby shop and buying a whole box of cards, you can pick and choose what team you're looking for and it will cost a fraction of the price. But again, no guarantees you'll be successful. I have also joined in some Facebook groups made up of other collectors who buy and sell. This is a great way to find rare cards or products, and a way to make trades or deals to get exactly what you want. But be careful, online transaction can be sketchy so find a trustworthy group.
"It can also be a cheaper way of getting some nice things."
The excitement
Whichever way you decide to go about your collecting, I wish you the best of luck. Each method has it's ups and downs, but still gives you a thrill. It's like winning the lottery if you hit a monster card. Try not to spend too much on it, which you can do in the blink of an eye. I've spent much more than i'll ever admit to, and I've won and sold some very nice cards. And if you do get into the hobby, I would personally recommend Panini as my favorite brand. They put out some new and cool products every year.
