When I was growing up and collecting, it was possible (and not
financially prohibitive) to get all three or four complete sets every
year, along with the traded series cards, as well.

Now, with card companies deliberately making cards that are ultra-rare
and valueable, collectors are forced to choose.

Also, baseball has come under attack by the steroid scandal, of course,
not to mention that players move around so much nowadays that following
your favorite player can have you "rooting" for a rival team at some
point.

Still, I think the real baseball fans see through all of this, and
appreciate the game for what it is. I think steroids are bad for
baseball, but gosh - wasn't it exciting when MgGwire and Sosa were
battling it out? By comparison, Bonds 73-homer season hardly seemed to
be mentioned at all.

Bonds is also a tough guy to like. He doesn't have a habit of talking
very well to the media, teammates don't always like him, and he seems
to be in a bad mood a lot of the time. But the same could be said of
Ty Cobb.

Anyhow, collectors will find ways to keep enjoying what they do, I
think.