My sports card collecting focus has changed many times over the nearly 30 years I’ve done it. To simply fast forward to how I’m still active today, my focus now is filling star player career arc “groups,” and will try to engage in regional athlete collections.

The career arc thing goes like this: One card of a player for every team they played on. Let’s take Darryl Strawberry for an example; he played for the Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Yankees. So I would look to collect the career arc of Strawberry with at least one Mets card, one Dodgers card, one Giants card and one Yankees card. (I actually have this, as his Giants card was the last on my list since he played just the 1994 season with them).

For a star such as Dennis Eckersley, he played for the Indians, Red Sox, Cubs, Athletics, Cardinals and Red Sox once more. So I’m looking to collect the career arc of Eckersley which would include his final year in Boston.

Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken are easy; they only played for one team.

By “star,” I am referring to the criteria as defined by Beckett; which is a scientific equation in itself. Long story short, if a player was not a common during the post-vintage era of collecting (1973 and later), this would be a player that I’m seeking a career arc for. I have many examples of those in a list at the bottom of this post.

Collecting cards of people who are from my geographical area is the newest collecting endeavor I’ve undertaken. Much of this is influenced by my background in high school sports journalism. Of primary importance are people from Sterling/Rock Falls, such as Gary Kolb, Dan Kolb, Mike Foltynewicz (born in Sterling, is a Minooka alum), Jakob Junis and Seth Blair (I have none of each!). Dixon native Isaiah Roby of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks is another on my list.

Regional athletes of note are Toronto Raptors star Fred Van Vleet, who I covered a handful of games of during his days at Rockford Auburn High School; New Jacksonville Jaguars player James Robinson, who I also covered a few games of when he tore up opposing defenses at Rockford Lutheran High School; and Rock Island native tennis player Madison Keys (do they make tennis cards anymore?).

Several regional high school legends never made it to the professional ranks, but have starred in the college ranks. I’m thinking that perhaps smaller card companies have printed cards of these college athletes, and they are on my search list as well.

Contact me for details about any of the above, or for more information about my list, which is below …

Here’s my updated Want List after most recent acquisitions:

• ANY GARY KOLB and DAN KOLB
  
• ANY JAKOB JUNIS
• ANY SETH BLAIR
  
• Any college sports card or professional-licensed rookie card of anyone who played high school sports in north central Illinois (message me for particular schools). Rockford Auburn star hooper Fred Van Vleet and new Jacksonville Jaguars player James Robinson (Rockford Lutheran/Illinois State) are examples; that is, if there is a pro card made for Robinson.
• 1993 Topps Derek Jeter rookie card (ungraded; looking to complete my 1993 Topps set. Will pay $10.)
• 1990 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football cards (Nos. 1, 100, 101, 120, 170 & 200)
• Jim Abbott Brewers, White Sox
• Moises Alou Marlins, Mets
• Robbie Alomar Diamondbacks, Devil Rays
• Doyle Alexander Giants, Dodgers
• Bob Abreu Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, Mets
• Garrett Anderson Dodgers, Braves
• Brady Anderson Indians
• Don Baylor Twins
• Harold Baines Indians
• Ron Blomberg 1974 Yankees
• Bobby Bonilla Braves
• Adrian Beltre Red Sox
• Carlos Beltran Astros, Giants, Dodgers, Cardinals, Yankees, Rangers
• Bruce Bochy Giants (manager)
• Bobby Bonds Yankees, Rangers, Indians
• Kevin Brown Orioles, Padres, Yankees
• Jeff Burroughs Rangers (or Senators)
• Jeromy Burnitz Indians, Dodgers, Rockies, Cubs, Pirates
• Jose Canseco Expos
• Jose Cruz Yankees (rare)
• Bartolo Colon Red Sox, Yankees, Athletics, Mets, Braves, Twins
• Ron Cey Athletics
• Steve Carlton Twins
• Jose Canseco White Sox
• Rico Carty 1973 Topps
• Joe Carter Cubs, Giants
• Vinny Castilla Astros, Padres
• Mike Cameron Padres, Red Sox, Marlins
• Ken Caminitti Rangers, Braves
• Chili Davis Royals
• Rick Dempsey Twins, Yankees, Brewers
• Johnny Damon Athletics, Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Rays, Indians
• Yu Darvish Dodgers
• Adam Dunn Diamondbacks, Athletics
• Darren Daulton Marlins
• Jim Edmonds Padres, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
• Chuck Finley Indians, Cardinals
• Julio Franco Brewers, Rays, Mets
• Terry Francona Reds, Phillies (manager), Indians (manager)
• Steve Finley Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Rockies
• Cecil Fielder Indians
• Mike Foltynewicz rookie card or Astros card
• John Franco Astros
• Shawn Green Mets
• Ken Griffey Jr. White Sox, final stint Mariners
• Adrian Gonzalez Dodgers
• Dwight Gooden Astros, Rays
• Goose Gossage Pirates, Giants
• Luis Gonzalez Tigers, Dodgers
• Troy Glaus Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Braves
• Joe Giardi Cardinals
• Jason Giambi Rockies, Indians
• Kirk Gibson Pirates
• Eric Gagne Red Sox, Rangers
• Gary Gaetti Red Sox
• Ralph Garr Angels
• Ron Gant Angels, Rockies, Athletics, Padres
• Andres Galarraga Angels
• Oscar Gamble Cubs, Indians, White Sox, Rangers
• Phil Garner Pirates, Dodgers, Giants
• Matt Holliday Athletics, Yankees
• Larry Hisle Twins
• Toby Harrah Senators (1972 Topps)
• Al Hrabosky Braves
• Tim Hudson Giants
• Orel Hershiser Mets
• George Hendrick Indians, Padres
• Ichiro Yankees
• Raul Ibanez Royals, Phillies, Yankees
• Tommy John Indians, Dodgers
• Reggie Jackson Orioles
• Andruw Jones Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees
• Jay Johnstone Angels, White Sox, Padres, Athletics
• Howard Johnson Rockies, Cubs
• Wally Joyner Braves
• Jeff Kent Indians
• Ryan Klesko Giants
• Matt Kemp Braves, Padres
• Dave Kingman 1978 Topps
• Eric Karros Cubs, Athletics
• Kenny Lofton Giants, Cubs, Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers, Rangers
• Ray Lankford Padres
• Jim Leyland Marlins
• Carlos Lee Rangers, Astros, Marlins
• Tony La Russa Cardinals
• John Lackey Red Sox, Cubs
• Mickey Lolich Tigers, Mets
• Javy Lopez Orioles, Red Sox
• Randy Myers Blue Jays, Padres
• Jaime Moyer Orioles, Red Sox, Phillies, Rockies
• Tino Martinez Devil Rays
• Kevin Mitchell Athletics
• Willie McGee Red Sox
• Rick Monday Athletics, Cubs
• Gary Matthews Giants
• Billy Martin Twins
• Hal Morris Tigers
• Shane Mack Athletics, Royals
• Bobby Murcer Giants
• Tim McCarver Red Sox
• John Mayberry Astros
• Willie McCovey Athletics
• Al Oliver Giants, Dodgers
• Ben Oglivie Red Sox
• Amos Otis Mets, Pirates
• Magglio Ordonez Tigers
• Graig Nettles Twins, Indians
• Joe Nathan Twins, Rangers, Tigers, Cubs
• Hideo Nomo Royals
• Lance Parrish 1993 Dodgers Police card (he was on the Indians, but no card ever made of his short stint there. He never played a game for the Dodgers!)
• Gaylord Perry Braves, Padres, Rangers, Indians, Giants
• AJ Pierzynski Rangers, Red Sox, Cardinals, Braves
• Lou Pinella Orioles, Royals, Indians, Cubs (manager)
• Mark Prior Padres
• Andy Pettite Astros
• Jake Peavy Red Sox
• Kenny Rogers Mets, Tigers
• Jerry Reuss Astros
• Willie Randolph Pirates
• Manny Ramirez Dodgers, White Sox
• Tim Raines Athletics, Orioles
• Rick Reuschel Yankees
• Frank Robinson Indians
• Fernando Rodney Angels, Rays, Mariners, Cubs, Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks
• Mickey Rivers Angels
• Jose Reyes Marlins, Rockies
• Reggie Sanders Padres, Giants, Royals
• Bret Saberhagen Rockies
• Ruben Sierra Blue Jays, White Sox, Twins
• Richie Sexson Diamondbacks, Yankees
• BJ Surhoff Braves
• Rusty Staub Tigers
• Pablo Sandoval Red Sox
• CC Sabathia Yankees
• Miguel Tejada Astros, Padres, Giants, Royals
• Joe Torre Dodgers
• Mike Torrez Cardinals, Orioles, Yankees
• Mark Teixeira Angels, Braves
• Frank Viola Red Sox, Reds, Blue Jays
• Javier Vasquez Yankees, White Sox, Braves, Marlins
• Omar Vizquel White Sox, Blue Jays
• Greg Vaughn Rockies
• Fernando Valenzuela Cardinals
• Devon White Dodgers
• David Wells Red Sox, Dodgers
• Billy Wagner Red Sox, Braves
• Vernon Wells Angels, Yankees
• Dick Williams Athletics
• Jayson Werth Orioles, Phillies, Nationals
• Jimmy Wynn Astros, Yankees, Brewers
• Kevin Youkilis White Sox, Yankees
• Todd Zeile Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, Yankees, Expos
• Don Zimmer Padres, Rangers, Yankees
• Richie Zisk White Sox