I'm not a big fan of getting cards graded. PSA has had many many headaches over the years. I like the BGS criteria better (Beckett's grading service), but also, like PSA, the grades can be 'purchased', if you know what I mean.
I can see if the card is super-premium and you're going to sell it, then great - it's worth the investment. But if you're just going to hold onto a card, you might as well not waste your money. The turn around is ridiculously long and not worth paying a premium to speed up, and the subjectivity is 'spotty', to me.
Anyhow, as for my collection. I have a sweet Robin Yount collection and several 70s/80s Brewers autographed cards (certified ones, obtained by the card companies). My 75 Yount mini rookie is the prize of my baseball collection, outside of a piece of Hank Aarons bat I have as well as his autograph.
I collected hockey cards a LOT - but they're mostly worthless outside of the Gretz-Lemieux era. I have tons and tons of jersey cardss, stick cards and autos. My favorite set is one that Fleer put out before they went under. It was called "throwbacks" and it featured goons, tough guys and grinders ONLY. There was a subset that had a piece of the tie down from inside of the jersey on the card - that was never done before.
My football collection is my 'crown jewel', though. I have about as nice of a Favre autograph/3 color patch card that destroys anything I've ever seen. With football I only go for super cheap or super unique. The Favre patch off his jersey is all beat up - it's beautiful. I don't have a scan anymore of it, but it's my pride/joy. I had a ridiculous Ahman Green collection with tons of 1/1 cards (I had all but 1 of his NFL patch cards in circulation at one point). I still have a really sweet Ahman collection, with lots of unique game worn jerseys, autos, patches, etc. I regret having to sell all his unique cards, but rent needed to be paid and that was before his cards crashed. I have so many autos/jersey cards of other NFL players - but it's my brother that has the awesome collection.
I like to collect mostly game-used helmet cards now. I love my Earl Campbell one - it's 2 colors and looks all dinged up. You KNOW that helmet killed a few DBs.
I just dont' have money to go after 'top tier' premium cards anymore, which stinks - but when I get loose money, it's always blown on sports memorabilia and cards.. Although, I don't buy cards anymore unless it has a piece of game used material or an auto on it... Those are sweet, unlike the 3 or 4 monster boxes of '87 topps that I tossed out a few years back when my folks cleaned out their attic haha.
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