It sometimes seems as if every person and organization has its own blog. While this isn't quite the case, the blogosphere has grown to the point where it covers every topic imaginable, including collecting sports cards.
With so many blogs out there, it's always helpful to have a guide to point out some of the best. The following list is in no way comprehensive, but every blog on it has interesting and relevant posts on a regular basis.
The Baseball Card Blog
With its straightforward title, the subject of Ben Henry's blog is no mystery. It's about baseball cards only (okay, cards from other sports make an occasional appearance), and it's written by an articulate hobbyist who's been chasing his cardboard dreams for nearly two decades.
Henry is refreshingly candid about why he loves to collect, and it's got nothing to do with the latest hot pull or selling on eBay. He has an eye for aspects of cards overlooked in many corners today - like design, photography and errors - and while he's often critical of the modern industry, his passion and sense of humor always shine through.
Beckett.com posts articles by Henry twice a week, but his own site is worth visiting daily.
Beckett Behind the Scenes
Speaking of Beckett, the publishing and grading company began its own blog in the Fall of 2007 with the stated purpose of letting collectors see what really goes on at the industry giant. The subject matter can be a bit of a mixed bag, but the company's insider access to the hobby is second to none, and since a number of Beckett staffers post on the blog, there's a nice variety of voices.
Beckett is in business to sell its own products, of course, so grains of salt are occasionally necessary. That aside, this is one of the best places to go for news on what's hot in the hobby - and why.
Lizard's Rant
Adam McFarland, the creative force behind the SportsLizard marketplace and price guide, keeps his own blog entitled Lizard's Rant. And rant he does, with his posts often touching on the less positive facets of the world of sports cards.
He clearly does it out of love, though, and he has an excellent handle on the issues facing today's collectors. McFarland's August 22 post entitled "A Reality Check on What Your Cards are Worth" should be required reading for anyone who wants to know the difference between the real and perceived values of cards.
Cardboard Junkie
The best description of the humorous bent of this blog is given by the author himself:
One man's tireless crusade to promote card collecting as an addictive alternative to more pharmacological pursuits. Remember kids: Do Cards, Not Drugs.
Along with the jokes and the occasional off-topic post (plus some off-color language), there's a lot of knowledge and some serious collecting. For instance, the author is attempting to put together the original Allen and Ginter set which is over a century old.
Don't miss this one if you'd like a smile served up with your sports cards.
The Infield Dirt
If you're looking for experience and bona fide journalism, you'll find it in The Infield Dirt with T.S. O'Connell. As a columnist for hobby staple Sports Collectors Digest, O'Connell is already a well-known name, and this blog gives him an additional way to share his expertise on older cards and the business side of the hobby.
This blog differs from others on this list in that it isn't updated nearly as often - in some cases, only once a month. The plus is that each post is a long, well-written and researched item that could stand as a column or article of its own. That makes it well worth subscribing to this blog to catch new posts when they do appear.
Dave and Adam's Card World Blog
So much is said about the declining number of sports card dealers that it's good to read about one that's still around. Founded in 1991, Dave and Adam's Card World is doing more than just surviving - it's grown to become one of the largest dealers in the world. Though it does most of its business online, the company operates two retail stores in New York State. But perhaps the easiest way to visit is through its official blog.
Amidst the usual hobby news and opinion are some very unique peeks behind the curtain, like pictures of athletes at autograph signings and insights into the logistics of running a business. The blog is usually updated several times a week, just often enough to whet your appetite for more.
Stale Gum
Longevity isn't a word that's usually associated with bloggers, but Chris Harris definitely has it, as he's had Stale Gum around in some form or another for almost ten years. Along with box breaks and the writer's own experiences at card shows, you'll get his witty, irreverent take on the hobby, complete with numerous pop culture references.
You can even trade with Harris (yes, trading is still alive and well) thanks to links he includes at the top of the blog. Be forewarned that the language is often PG-13, but the humorous mix of information and entertainment makes for good reading.
SqueezePlayCards.com
The unique joy of busting packs of sports cards really comes through at squeezeplaycards.com, where long-time collector Joey shares the contents of just about every pack he opens with his readers. Next time you're feeling jaded about the hobby, reading through a couple of posts here can help you remember everything that's good about it.
Make sure not to miss the $10 Weekly Wax Pack Challenge, where you can vote on how Joey should spend $10 on current packs, simulating how a younger collector might go about enjoying today's cards.
