1986 Topps Football were the first cards I bought from a Quik Trip store. I remember not knowing anything about the players being only 10. I looked for QBs, but later I discovered I had a Jerry Rice RC and sold it the next year at school for about $30.
1986 Garbage Pail Kids were a huge hit in my 6th grade classroom and I wanted some, but my step-mom thought they were too gross and obnoxious, LOL.
1987 Topps Baseball was the first I understood more about the players and trading. I knew Mark McGwire would be a Superstar and that began my collecting. The following year's 1988 Topps Baseball set being my first complete set gifted to me sealed. My Dad said to keep them and they could become valuable someday. I pulled each card and stuck them in a binder. Basically I collected the Junk-ERA in my 10-14 years of age (86-90). "I coulda been a contender! But instead I'm a bum with no class (big-hits)."