Like most people, I need a way to disconnect and give my brain and emotions some rest from my work. Collecting cards again has become a form of therapy for me. As a Gen Xer, I prefer the "old" stuff called Junk Wax. It's not worth anything; it's very cheap, but the walk down memory lane is quite soothing. I kept a large part of my childhood collection and have been adding to it with the cards I never had, which has become a lot of fun.
As I have reconnected with cards, I have been consuming social media groups and content to find some community with others like me. Once I found it, I started posting shorts on YouTube. A YouTube channel is a way to share this and be a part of the community. Posting pack opening videos has been a lot of fun and a place where I do not see the ugliness from other parts of the internet.
Some creators do very well with engagement on these videos. Personally, if I get 1,000 views per video, I'm pretty happy about it. That tells me people are enjoying the same getaway that I am, with cards they are familiar with. It's very rewarding.
A few months ago, I came across a pack of 1988 Donruss with Mark McGwire visible on the front of it. I really wanted to keep it as a fun souvenir, but I also really wanted to open it. I polled the collectors of the internet, and they said to go ahead and open it because it is worthless. 😒 I held it for a while, but I eventually caved in and made a video of opening the pack.
1988 Donruss is a wildly unvaluable card set. Some actually think the card design is ugly (it kinda is), and despite a few good cards, it is forgotten about until you post a video bringing it to life. This one became one of my more popular videos because we all remember being kids and racing to a card shop or store to get a pack of cards for 40 cents. Hoping desperately to find our favorite players inside. This was how I connected with baseball when there was no internet. You had the stats on the back of the card and the box score in the paper.
I think older people like old junk. It reminds them of simpler times, good friends, and a time when the responsibility of adulthood was far from their minds. Nostalgia can definitely be found on some cardboard. Take some time to get your fix however you like.
You can see this video and many others at my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@cassripspacks/shorts
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