General Forum

I enjoy collecting TCMA cards. I enjoy the long history of the brand and the history of one of its owners, Mike Aronstein. I have bought Megacards, Ted Williams company, Kelloggs cards, Sporting News, Cardtoons etc.... I am starting to recognize others, that have created their own cards in the past, such as Stephen and Linda Mitchell, with their brand of Big League collectibles cards. I am a collector, so not focused on investment. I buy what I enjoy, not the trend. In case you are wondering why a person would stray away from the pack. What are your thoughts on buying cards from brands other than the major brands? What other brands do you enjoy in baseball, that are not major brands?

I really liked the TCMA minor league cards in the 70's and 80's. They are also very scarce to obtain certain cards also.

Love the TCMA cards from a variety of different sets. Love the SSPC cards, too. Those brands often featured players not found in the major brands. Various Fritsch issue cards, too. Probably others I'm forgetting!

Though I'm not an investor, either, I do love to diversify my collection and go after all those you mention, and more.

I also collect for fun rather than "investment", and I focus on certain teams/players, so if that brand has a player I'm looking for, I'd probably want it in my collection.

You’re collecting for all the right reasons.  Do it your way, and collect what makes you happy.  I currently collect a specific minor league team, every brand and set ever made with players in the uniform or display the teams logo.    When I was younger, sure I bought packs from the major brands.  But I really enjoyed collecting the oddball stuff.  In the 80’ & 90’ it was food issues like Post, Ralston Purina, King B, Jimmy Dean, Jiffy Pop, and sets contracted to Topps like KMart, Kay-B-Toys, Woolworth.  

No

 If you were to look at the cards I've managed to collect after losing them all you'll see quite a random array of what I've listed on here and I've learned not to be embarrassed or feel awkward for putting up a checklist for Enertainment Play's My Little Pony promo foils after adding a checklist for a Panini Absolute NFL insert set because this community has never made me feel anything bt appreciated. I like some of the TMCA cards and remember one of my first "Promotional" cards was from a Babe Ruth set they did or remade...I thought it was so cool and I still keep it with my higher valued cards even though it probably isn't worth much :) 

  Thanks for this post!!

    Becky Elizabeth

Absolutely live TCMA and SSPC.  About the players instead of the flash.

I love oddball stuff.  I wish there was more of it these days.  Food issues, team issues, store-branded sets, etc.  I suspect all that died because MLBP likely jacked up their licensing fees through the roof in the 1990s.  I know my breakfast cereal and Cracker Jack consumption dropped dramatically when there were no longer baseball cards inside.