The first sports card I ever remember seeing is this 1985 Topps Bob Baumhower single:
It was wedged in the back seat of my parents' station wagon. My dad never mentioned collecting football cards; it might have belonged to my (half) brother. I can't imagine how seeing this helmetless, non-descript headshot of a non-descript player, whose name is listed sideways on a black-bordered card, got me interested in the hobby.
The first hockey card I ever remember seeing is this Ulf Samuelsson single from 1988-89 Topps. It was one of a pack's worth of cards scattered in dad's sock drawer, along with an Old Spice shaving kit, weed rolling papers, and a couple pairs of socks. My dad never mentioned hockey and I never saw any packs of 1988-89 Topps anywhere. Ulfie probably wasn't the first card I saw but it's the one I remember because I recognized the Whalers logo.
I do remember my dad bringing home a pack of 1988-89 Fleer basketball cards one day. I don't think I had any interest in the NBA until the next year, and I didn't recognize any of the names.
One of the cards in that pack was Milwaukee Bucks center Randy Breuer. If I focused really hard I might be able to remember another card or two. (I'm almost certain there was an All-Star subset card in that pack.)
I don't actually remember the first baseball card I ever saw. I do remember that the first packs of baseball cards I came across were also Fleer products. We were in a WaWa and I spied an opened box of 1986 Fleer adjacent to the shelf with Wonder Bread. I picked one off the top and brought it home. Really wish I could remember any specific card I pulled for certain, the logos were more interesting to me than the players. I know I pulled an Expo and a Pirate. I don't think I pulled a Yankee.
I'm about 98% sure Pat Clements was in that pack.
Do you remember your first sports cards?
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My first two cards were a 1990 Starline Darryl Strawberry and a 1987 Ralston Purina. Both were given to me by the older brother of a friend because they were creased.
ReplyDeleteSome of my first cards were mid to late 1960s baseball cards and some football. I forget exact firsts but the 1965 Ernie Banks and 1968 Willie Mays were among some of my first cards. I recall they were part of a trade with my brother I forget who had which, eventually both got into my collection over the years as my brother quit collecting around his pre-teen years and I never really quit. I don't recall what the firsts of the other sports are except that it was probably 1970 when I was 5. I think Football was 1969 or 70, Basketball 1971 or 72. Ditto with Hockey. My memory of that Banks/Mays trade I think of as being in 1968 or 69 could have been as late as 1970 I guess.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall specifically each card, but I'm fairly certain my first baseball was a 1981 Topps and hockey was the set with the scratch-off puck on the front (I forget the year).
ReplyDeleteA ripped up 1986 Topps Dickie Thon on the ground in summer camp in 1986.
ReplyDeleteYup, I've written about several on the blog:
ReplyDeleteFirst baseball card: 1974 Topps Tommy John, story has been too repeated to repeat it again here.
First football card: probably a 1975 Topps Alan Page, saw it while riding in a car with friends
First hockey card: 1975-76 Topps Gerry Hart. Not sure if it was first, but it was in my first pack.
First basketball card: Don't remember but it was a 1978-79 Topps card.
There are so many reasons not to like 1985 Topps football, yet I love it every time I see it. Also, how weird to me that 1986 Fleer were the first baseball cards you saw. That is one of the few sets in the '80s that I never saw sold.
my first packs of sports cards were either 1981 topps or 1981 donruss baseball, but the first packs i ever opened were 1977 topps star wars.
ReplyDeleteMy first cards didn't come until a few years later: 1988 Topps football. I do remember that Baumgartner specifically, however. It was one of the three cards I owned that were older than 1987 for a long time when I was just a kid.
ReplyDelete*Baumhower
DeleteI don't; I was way too young. The first cards I bought seem to have been 1971 Topps baseball; I turned 5 that September.
ReplyDelete1994 Jason Sehorn topps special effects was my first remembrance of a card
ReplyDeleteThe first card I ever paid attention to was 93 UD Then and Now Nolan Ryan.
ReplyDeleteFirst pack 1969 ,first card I can rember 69 Boog Powell.
ReplyDeleteIt was a 1972 Topps card don't specifically know which one, I know the one card I did not get was Vic Davillo.
ReplyDelete