What is more important to you: the player or the card?

[rms13]

When I collected as a kid I definitely wanted cards of my favorite players. When I got back in as an adult I also wanted specific players. But after a few years back in the hobby my mentality has switched to caring about the cards more then the players. Now I only collect Red Sox cards because I'm a Red Sox fan but for the same money I'd rather have an NT auto or numbered refractor of a utility player or middle reliever than a base refractor of Devers. The aesthetics of the particular card matter a lot more to me now. Of course if I find a good deal on a nice Devers card I get it but I'd rather have a nice numbered auto of a lesser player for $10 then pay $100 for the same card with a superstar player on it.

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[gmarutiak]

I guess I’d have to go with player for the sole reason that, in my opinion, when busting packs or boxes, there’s nothing worse than pulling a beautiful, autographed, multi-colored patch card of a total scrub.

[RedLabelRecords]

Originally Posted by gmarutiak

I guess I’d have to go with player for the sole reason that, in my opinion, when busting packs or boxes, there’s nothing worse than pulling a beautiful, autographed, multi-colored patch card of a total scrub.

There’s nothing worse than the big letdown. Busting wax hurts so much more often than not.

The player matters most.

[rms13]

Originally Posted by gmarutiak

I guess I’d have to go with player for the sole reason that, in my opinion, when busting packs or boxes, there’s nothing worse than pulling a beautiful, autographed, multi-colored patch card of a total scrub.

I solved that problem by not opening packs anymore. If I have that urge I join a team break so I'm only getting Red Sox cards. I've recently pulled some nice autos from Connor Wong and Bobby Dalbec. Not the players I would hope for but honestly there is very little worth pulling from Red Sox right now unless it's retired players. But mostly buying singles which is what led me down this path since I can get those nice cards from players that aren't as collectable for pretty cheap. But I understand the frustration when you pull a sweet Mariners auto and see that it's Dylan Moore and not J Rod

[RedsFan324]

I was going to say card because there are so many beautiful and rare cards, but then I thought about pulling guys like Dylan Moore and James Bouknight and I decided to change my answer.
The player is more important.

[MoreToppsPlease]

If you’re more of an opportunist or a player collector of said player, the player matters most.

Collectors appreciate the little things.

[awz50]

I would say the player easily for me

[rms13]

I see that I'm in the minority here which is what I expected. I will say I've been building a very nice collection of Connor Seabold cards. Unfortunately he's already been traded from the Red Sox but i'll have some nice NT and Immaculate RPAs to remember him by that cost me less then $10 shipped and some nice on card Stadium Club and Heritage autos that cost about $3-4 shipped

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by rms13

I see that I'm in the minority here which is what I expected. I will say I've been building a very nice collection of Connor Seabold cards. Unfortunately he's already been traded from the Red Sox but i'll have some nice NT and Immaculate RPAs to remember him by that cost me less then $10 shipped and some nice on card Stadium Club and Heritage autos that cost about $3-4 shipped

Sounds like you’re more of a team collector.

First and foremost, the player is the most important to me.

I have zero interest in a superfractor of some scrub journeyman on a team I like.

I’d rather save up to buy a superfractor of my favorite player.

[rms13]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Sounds like you’re more of a team collector.



First and foremost, the player is the most important to me.



I have zero interest in a superfractor of some scrub journeyman on a team I like.



I’d rather save up to buy a superfractor of my favorite player.

Yes I've definitely become a team collector. I was collecting a couple of players from teams I follow but now I've switched fo team collecting. I started going back through the years and remembering all the Sox players that were not stars but were meaningful to me as a fan. Unfortunately I've found that a lot of other Sox fans feel the same because guys like Trot Nixon and Mike Greenwell for example get bid up on ebay a lot more then I expected. But still cheaper then chasing a lot of other players.

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[Baseball4life90]

Its funny, as I used to say it was the player and the card. Meaning, only Upper Deck...and then only Topps...but now I've collected some Panini cards- yes they dont have team names or logos- but they still can be some pretty awesome cards. So, at this point the player is more important than the card company...also I only try to collect jersey-auto combos. Not a huge fan of ONLY relics and ONLY autos....though I pulled a Trout auto today w/out a relic, that's an exception to my PC!!! Lol.

[Hallco]

Mostly the player, but if I hate the design of the particular release, or don't like the picture for whatever reason, I will pass 99.9% of the time. On the other hand...if there is a player I don't know or don't usually collect and it's a great card photo or action shot, I will usually add it to the collection.

[Jolten Joe]

I think we all go with player first because we are chasing the top name guys for any given year. But after that for me it's the photo. I would rather have an absolutely cool photo of a scub than a ho hum Mike Trout just because it's Mike Trout.

[cardsin47]

Without the Player as the focus, all you have is 2 cents worth of Cardboard

[tkraft24]

I start with players I like but focus on sets I enjoy. The days of picking a player and just buying everything that’s produced indiscriminately are long gone.

I also work on select refractor team sets so that’s a case where the set comes first but I’m not nearly as serious about this part of my collection.

[pewe]

I can't imagine enjoying a card of a player I do not also enjoy.

Case in point I had a highly desirable card ('18 Sapphire Superfractor 1/1) of a player I didn't care about. I was happy to find someone else on BO who does like the player, though, and sent it to them.

[FT35]

This is how I’d rank things:

Let’s use base refractor, blue refractor, and gold refractor as the card tiers and Elvis Andres, Freddie Freeman and Mike Trout as the player tiers.

Low end card of no name player
Andrus Base refractor

Low end card of mid tier player
Freeman base refractor

Mid end card of no name player
Andrus Blue refractor

Low end card of big name player
Trout Base refractor

High end card of no name player
Andrus Gold refractor

Mid end card of mid tier player
Freeman Blue refractor

High end card of mid tier player
Freeman Gold refractor

Mid end card of big name player
Trout Blue refractor

High end card of high end player
Trout Gold refractor

[TBTC Baseball]

Because I focus on Throwback/TBTC/Negro League jerseys it is actually the Uniform that is most important, with player followed closely behind. My guess is Team collectors would prioritize uniform over player also.

[PeteD]

Player 'cause i have an limited budget.