Hi, My Name is John

Hi, my name is John. I like wax. This is where the support group chimes in:

“Hi Joh-”

(this is where I interrupt)

“Actually I LOVE wax. Wax packs, wax boxes, wax cases, low number wax packs, high number-”

“Uh yeah thanks John that’ll do for now.”

Probably the greatest card ever made

The above scenario has never actually happened (yet) but is probably pretty close to what would happen if I went into wax pack rehab, which I fully admit is probably warranted in my case. My name is indeed John; many of you know me as @waxtopia from Twitter. I am very pleased to announce that I have been asked to write about sports cards on Crackin’ Wax. Unfortunately for all of you I have accepted this offer so you will likely be subjected to many various bad puns and shameless George Brett plugs/features in the coming months.Some background on me: I was born in 1975. Yes, it’s the greatest baseball set ever (tied with 53T). Yes, I am biased. I collect baseball primarily, but also quite a bit of football and basketball. I dabble in hockey and WWE. I enjoy short walks on the beach and long rides in streetcars. I have an unhealthy obsession with all things Iowa Hawkeye related. I have a pile of unopened 91 Studio packs in my card closet. My card collecting started around age 12, when the junk wax era was really hitting it’s stride. I participated in Griffeymania, pined over 91 Stadium Club, and collected 91 Studio for my first ever full set. Left the hobby for girls and college in the mid 90’s; came back in the late 2000’s.

My story is not an altogether unique one, I hear similar ones all the time of guys and gals in their 40’s who have found their way back to this hobby that so many of us fell in love with as kids. What keeps bringing us back? I believe it’s because few things can make you feel more like a kid than tearing open a pack of baseball cards. Let’s get crackin’!

Have a favorite set or card you want me to write about? Let me know! I’ll probably ignore your request and write about something else but I fully support the illusion of an interactive user experience, so keep the ideas coming!