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Bloomfield, an osteopath,
started collecting 13 years
ago with his 11-year-old son
Steve. The son is now in
medical school, but the father
has continued collecting.
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"I collect strictly for invest-
ment reasons," Grant said. "I
do enjoy having certain cards,
like Lou Gehrig — my favorite
player. But I believe collecting
helped Steve's maturity, such
as in learning values and
handling money, like it does
for a lot of kids." Steve's cards
helped him defray college
expenses.
Cards increase in vlaue if
the player wins an award or
has an outstanding year, or if
it's the player's rookie card or
he's inducted into a hall of
fame.
Another boost to card-value
is if there's an error on it. In
1987, for instance, the card of
Billy Ripken of the Baltimore
Orioles contained an obsceni-
ty on the bat he was holding.
But error-cards decrease in
value after awhile, according
to Grant.
Now basketball and football
cards have joined the parade.
"Obviously, Michael Jordan
is the hot card," said Lopatin,
who collects them. "Basket-
ball, as a sport, is growing in
popularity and that is helping
the value of the cards.
"I believe the value has
peaked and doubt if it will get
any higher," he noted. "But I
do think the popularity of
them is here to stay."
Basketball card-collecting
has had an erratic history,
thus lessening interest. The
first hot basketball card was
made by 'Ibpps in 1957, when
Bill Russell became a pro
star. In 1961, when Jerry
West and Wilt Chamberlain
were rookies, Fleer began
making the cards. Then the
cards stopped until 1969,
when Lew Alcindor, later
known as Kareem Abdul Jab-
bar, became a rookie. Over the
next 15 years card-manufac-
turing was irregular. In the
mid-80s, when Charles
Barkley, Michael Jordan and
Patrick Ewing entered the
National Basketball Associa-
tion, cards again became
popular, with both Fleer and
Hoops making them by 1986.
Part of the success of
basketball cards today is due
to the play of such superstars
as Earvin "Magic" Johnson,
Larry Bird and, of course,
Jordan.
"Basketball cards have
been on the back burner for a
lot of people, but now their
value has sky-rocketed,"
Lopatin said. "I have seen a
Jordan selling for upwards of
$1,000. Other hot cards are
Barkley, Ewing and Akeem
Olajuwan rookie cards. The
big rookie card this year is
David Robinson of the San
Antonio Spurs."
Joe Montana and Bo
Jackson are the hottest foot-
ball cards. In fact, anything
with "Bo Jackson" on it is
hot. At any weekend show,
there is plenty of Bo
memorabilia — jerseys, bats,
even autographed footballs.
Lopatin wanted to start a
'oasketball and football card
investing group.
"It seemed like a novel idea,
but the response wasn't so
great," he said. "There are no
other groups in the area that
would have been like it. But
I guess people want to invest
"It was a positive
thing for a rabbi
and a student to
have something
like that in
common."
Rabbi Rod
Glogower
individually and not with
other people. It's still a live
idea, but I have to get a bet-
ter response."
But not everybody sees col-
lecting as a financial
investment.
Orthodox Rabbi Rod
Glogower, who is with the
University of Michigan-Hillel
Student Center, started col-
lecting cards in the early 60s.
Now age 38, the rabbi collects
them to bring back enjoyable
childhood memories.
"Baseball has a powerful
grip on America," the rabbi
said. "When people think of
their younger years, they
often think of a baseball
game they went to, or a soft-
ball game they played. I enjoy
collecting cards of players
from the 1960s — Hank
Aaron, Roberto Clemente
and, of course, Sandy Koufax.
"Times and players have
changed now, however," he
noted. "I grew up in Pitts-
burgh and Clemente would
give autographs to anybody.
It was unthinkable back then
to take money for an
autograph. Now, at the shows,
kids are asked to pay for any
autographs they wish to
have?'
There are some card-dealers
looking to make a fast buck,
even from children. But, says
Rabbi Glogower, "Kids are
smarter now I have a 9-year-
old son and I tell him how to
take care of himself and to
stay away from certain
dealers. Kids will learn on
their own as well.
"It's a very positive hobby,"
.