So, I decided to get into collecting Stephen Curry basketball cards a while back. Wasn’t like a big plan or anything, just sort of drifted into it. I was watching some games, you know, seeing him drain threes from everywhere, and it kinda sparked something. Reminded me of collecting when I was younger, that simple fun.
First thing I did was rummage through my old stuff. Dug out some boxes from the attic, hoping maybe I had something stashed away. Found a bunch of older players, but no Curry. Makes sense, he wasn’t around back then, haha. Felt a bit silly for even looking there.
Next step was obviously hitting the web. Spent a lot of time just browsing, mostly on places like eBay. Man, that was an eye-opener. Seeing the prices for his rookie cards, especially the popular ones like Topps Chrome or National Treasures? Wow. Quickly realized this wasn’t just pocket change stuff. Some cards cost more than my first car probably did.
Trying to Figure Out My Angle
Okay, reality check time. I knew I couldn’t just go buy every shiny Curry card I saw. Had to narrow it down. Decided chasing those super high-end rookie patches right off the bat wasn’t realistic for me. So, I thought, let’s just start with cards I actually like the look of. Maybe some cool action shots, or those flashy Prizm parallels everyone talks about. Focused on just getting some Curry cards first.
Started bidding on a few auctions online. You win some, you lose some. Got that little rush when you snag a card right at the end. Picked up a few decent ones this way – nothing earth-shattering, but they were my Curry cards. Felt good to finally hold them.
Dipping My Toes In Deeper
Then I found out about a card show happening nearby. Decided to check it out. Totally different experience than online. You can actually see the cards, hold them (carefully!), talk to dealers and other collectors. I actually traded a couple of doubles I’d accidentally bought online for a Select card I’d been wanting. Much preferred seeing the condition in person.
- Started looking up card values more regularly, trying to understand what makes one card worth more than another.
- Learned about grading companies like PSA and BGS. Seemed like a big deal for value and protection.
- Took a leap and sent one or two of my better cards off to get graded.
Let me tell you, waiting for those graded cards to come back is painful. Takes so long, you almost forget you sent them. Finally got my first one back – it was a PSA 9. Not the perfect 10, but seeing it sealed in that plastic slab was pretty cool. Felt official.
Keeping Track of It All
Pretty soon, I had cards piling up. Toploaders here, penny sleeves there. It was getting messy. Had to get some proper storage. Bought a few binders for the common stuff and lower-end inserts. Got some nice magnetic cases and boxes for the graded cards and the ones I liked best. Makes it way easier to look through them without worrying about damage.
It’s an ongoing thing, really. Still searching, still learning. Maybe one day I’ll track down one of those monster rookie cards. But for now, I’m just having fun with the process, picking up cards I think are cool, watching Curry keep doing his thing on the court. It’s a neat little hobby, keeps me occupied, and connects me back to the game.
