Okay, so I wanted to share a bit about something I’ve been getting into lately, or rather, back into: collecting Tiger Woods cards. It’s been a funny sort of journey, thought I’d jot down how it went.
Getting Started Again
It really kicked off when I was digging through some old boxes in the attic. Found a small binder with some sports cards from years ago, mostly basketball and baseball. But tucked in the back were a couple of golf cards, and yeah, one of them was a Tiger Woods card from his early days. Nothing super valuable, I don’t think, just a basic card. But seeing it again sparked something. Made me remember watching him dominate back then. Crazy times.
So, I thought, why not see what else is out there? Curiosity got the better of me. I wasn’t planning on going crazy, just wanted to see if I could pick up a few more interesting ones, maybe build a small collection just for fun.
The Hunt Begins
First thing I did was just look around online. You know, the big marketplace sites. Typed in “Tiger Woods cards” and wow, a lot popped up. It was kinda overwhelming at first. So many different sets, years, variations.
I decided to keep it simple. I wasn’t aiming for those super rare, graded rookie cards that cost a fortune. Nah, just wanted cards that looked cool or reminded me of specific tournaments or eras. I started picking up a few base cards from different sets, like Upper Deck and SP Authentic. Just trying to get a feel for things.
- Checked online sellers regularly.
- Sometimes browsed local flea markets or card shops, though golf cards aren’t always easy to find there.
- Focused on cards from his peak years initially.
- Didn’t worry too much about perfect condition, just wanted decent looking cards.
Organizing the Haul
Pretty soon, I had a small stack building up. Loose cards are no good, get damaged too easily. So, I grabbed some simple supplies:
Stuff I got:
- A couple of standard card binders.
- Lots of those clear plastic pocket pages (9-pocket pages, mostly).
- Some soft sleeves and maybe a few rigid toploaders for any slightly nicer ones I found.
I started sorting them, usually by year or set, whatever made sense. Sliding them into the pages was kinda relaxing, actually. Seeing them all laid out, instead of just in a pile. It made it feel more like a proper collection, even though it was still pretty small.
What I Found Out
Man, the prices on some cards really surprised me. Especially those early ones, like the 1996 Sports Illustrated for Kids card or the 2001 Upper Deck rookie. People are asking serious money for graded versions. Made me realize this could get expensive fast if you weren’t careful!
I also discovered a bunch of cool insert cards and parallel versions I never knew existed back in the day. Some look really sharp. It’s kinda fun finding those oddball ones sometimes. You learn a bit about the different card companies and what they were putting out each year.
Decided pretty early on that getting cards professionally graded wasn’t for me right now. Too much hassle and cost for what I was doing. Just enjoying the collecting part is enough.
Where It Stands Now
So, the collection is growing slowly but surely. It’s not massive, fits nicely into a couple of binders on the shelf. It’s mainly cards from the late 90s through the 2000s. A few newer ones too, but I mostly like the older stuff.
Honestly, it’s just a simple, enjoyable hobby. It’s a bit of nostalgia, a bit of treasure hunting. Flipping through the pages brings back some good memories of watching golf history being made. I still keep an eye out online, pick up a card here and there if it catches my eye and the price is right. No pressure, just enjoying the process. That’s what it’s all about, right?
