Several decades ago, kids would run down to the candy store and buy bubble gum and inside each packet would be small cardboard pictures of favorite and famous sports stars. These took off in popularity to such an extent that even up today, baseball cards are swapped and sold by the adults who were kids back then. Perhaps the most famous, and favorites even now, are Topps baseball cards which everyone has a set of in their collection if they are serious about collecting.

So big is this pastime that there are seminars, fairs and all kinds of meetings surrounding the hobby these days where people from all over the country come to gather and talk about everything to do with this favorite pastime? These days, people do not have to buy gum of course since the items can even be sold in full sets. The rarer specimens, although not as valuable as they once were way back when, are still bartered and swapped for other rare specimens by people who just have to have this one or that one.

Indeed, the hobby went through a bit of a hiatus some years back when some shops were left with boxes of stock that no one wanted to buy. Consequently, many of them closed down and left just a skeleton of the suppliers that people were used to. Nowadays though, those that hung in there are favored by enthusiastic fans and they have even put up websites so that people can find them more easily. This does not mean that the collectors have given up though. Rather, it left behind people who want to collect, with fewer suppliers, so those who have pushed themselves in twenty first century ways of selling have really come out winners. Indeed, they have blogs and contact pages on site too so people can revel in their favorite pastime for as long, and as often, as they want to.

On these sites, friendships can be set up, new sources of these wanted items found, and swap meets can be arranged around the hobby. These have now become social sites so that people can even arrange to meet up at the fairs and seminars too. It is very easy to see why they would group together in this way since avid fans may just feel a little alienated even within their own families who cannot understand the fascination for this kind of hobby.

Getting these items signed by the sportsman was also the thing to do in the past. Although this may also be desired now, some people like to keep their items in pristine condition, and in the same packaging usually, so that when the time comes to sell, they are like brand new. This will certainly keep the price high so that they can swap for one or two wanted items that are missing from the collection. Lastly, as with all websites, be careful about giving out personal information since the other user is a real unknown entity. Take the usual care with credit card details too.

Author Bio: Ellie Lewis recently sold her old baseball cards to a collector for a nice profit. Her son purchased Topps baseball cards to give to his younger brother.

Category: Business
Keywords: baseball cards,Topps baseball cards