Anyone know if cards are still a big thing? I found all my cards at mom and dad's today and am wondering if I'm sitting on a gold mine or trash. Several rookie cards and error sets in plastic amongst the pile.

You're not sitting on a gold mine, but I wouldnt trash them either. Keep them for your kids or grandkids.

It's been about ten years since I've looked into it. I also have all of my old cards. I don't think that Topps has made a set since 1985 that was worth anything. I ebayed a hand collated 1988 near mint Topps set because I was curious about them (I have 11). They were "buy it now" for $4.50 each. Ouch. Other than the 1989 Upper Deck set, I'm not sure there's been a set of any value since the 1985 Topps set (Clemens rookie card). Topps was guilty of massive over-production beginning in 1986.

Before the 1994 strike, my 1980 Topps sets were retailing around $250 each. Last I heard (again, about ten years ago), they were down to about $110, any no one is buying. Rickey Henderson's rookie card from that set used to be priced at $125 by itself. Same story for my 1981 and 1983 sets, although 1983 has Tony Gwynn's rookie card, so maybe it's hot right now?!?

I would expect that things like the 1952 Topps set (their first), old tobacco cards, old-school Bowman, etc have held their value, but that's really a different market than your average childhood collection.

Please let me know if you find out anything else.

I still have season complete sets from 2000-2006 sitting in my attic

I have a ton too, 1984-1994 complete Topps and the traded series to go with them.

I just looked on ebay and saw the 1984 Topps were going for $20ish (45 Buy it Now). Not the gold mine I was hoping for when I was a kid. I do have some 1960ish cards that have value and some of my older Nolan Ryan cards. I still want that Nolan Ryan rookie that I drooled over as a kid.

Same here, wish I could've got my hands on a Nolan Ryan rookie. I have a ton of Nolan cards, several error sets even.

not an expert here...but I think 1975 is kind of the cutoff year for Topps sets holding value (and many individual HoF player cards as well). 1975 featured the Brett & Yount rookie cards.

then the dropoff comes in 1976 and forward