The card hobby wasn’t always autos, 1/1s, case hits and game-worn patches. Fred explains how collecting exploded during the Junk Wax Era, w

The card hobby wasn’t always autos, 1/1s, case hits and game-worn patches. Fred explains how collecting exploded during the Junk Wax Era, when sports cards and other collectibles were produced in huge quantities as demand took off. The problem? When supply becomes massive, simply being “collectible” doesn’t automatically make something scarce. After that era, the hobby continued evolving—and modern cards started giving collectors completely different reasons to chase. Today, you can open a pack and potentially find a certified autograph, rare case hit, or memorabilia card containing material connected to a player. For Fred, that changed the connection between collectors and athletes. When he was growing up, getting an autograph might mean going to the stadium and hoping your favorite player stopped to sign. Now, that connection can potentially come straight out of a pack. Junk Wax Era or modern collecting—which era was more fun? 👀 #SportsCards #JunkWaxEra #CardCollecting #TradingCards #TheHobby