The Super Collector is Dead. Long live the Super Collector.

As of 11 August, these are the total cards for Kirby Puckett (selected randomly) and Kevin McGonigle on TCDB. 

That's Puckett with 6,304 (from 1983-2026) and McGonigle with 25,364 (from 2022-2026). Who knows, but now McGonigle could have 12,000 more. (Actually, he's already grown a couple of hundred and that's likely from 1 set with 130 parallels).

One could Super Collect Puckett. There probably are. Can you Super Collect current players? I don't think so. Unless you just simply go for the "rainbow" thing? The Super Collector is Dead. Yet, long live the Super Collector. 

I'm not even sure what makes you a Super Collector in the first place. For me, I think it means you go after more than just cards: balls, bats, bases, uniforms, batting gloves, cleats, cups, autographs, helmets, hats: the gamut of whatever it is that's vital to a players role in the sport. But maybe that's going too far? 

I have more than 1,300 Darryl Strawberry baseball cards and I think some would consider me a Super Collector of him. Of his cards. Just the cards. (Though I do have a signed picture framed and I honestly wouldn't mind a bat.) Would they be right? Can I call myself that? Even if others don't? This does sound like a good moment to shake a Magic-8 Ball. 

Here's the card I got signed by Strawberry when I met him in person for the first time in November, 2023.

I chose 1988 Fleer because I like the design. The 1987 Topps lover in me wanted to get that one; but I also knew I wanted it signed in Orange Sharpie. And I think that this looks better than it would have on the 1987 Topps card.

But, maybe you can tell me. What do you think a Super Collector is? Am I one?

Thanks for stopping by!