15 Things Kids Collected Obsessively Before Pokémon Cards Existed

Before Pokémon cards became the ultimate currency of the playground, there was an entire universe of quirky, colorful, and downright awesome stuff we collected with obsessive joy.

As a kid in the ’80s, my room looked like a museum of childhood passion projects—shelves crammed with sticker albums, drawers overflowing with scratch-and-sniff stickers, and shoeboxes packed to the brim with trading treasures.

We traded Garbage Pail Kids like stockbrokers, hoarded jelly bracelets like fashion dragons, and guarded our prized marbles as if they were ancient relics. Each collection had its own lore, its own playground economy, and its own moment in the spotlight.

Who needed a digital monster when you had a glow-in-the-dark yo-yo or a pencil topper shaped like a mutant? Let’s rewind to a time when collecting wasn’t about screen time or apps—it was about bragging rights, bubble gum-scented glory, and the thrill of the trade.

1. Baseball Cards

Ah, baseball cards—the OG collectible. Kids traded them, flipped them, stuck them in their bike spokes, and prayed for that one ultra-rare rookie card. Remember that thrill of opening a new pack? It was like unwrapping a present, never knowing if you’d get a legendary player or just another benchwarmer.

Those cards weren’t just cardboard; they were our currency, our bragging rights in the schoolyard. And the smell of a fresh pack? Pure nostalgia.

We’d gather on the playground, cards clutched in hand, ready to swap and deal like mini Wall Street brokers. But, oh, the heartbreak when a card got bent! And let’s not forget the infamous “Mom threw them out” stories. True tragedy right there.

2. Stickers (Especially Scratch ‘n Sniff)

Had a sticker album? You were royalty. But scratch ‘n sniff? Now that was next-level. From bubblegum to rotten eggs—there was a scent for every mood, and boy, did we sniff them all.

We’d trade them during recess, each sticker a prize, each album a kingdom. The scratching sound was music to our ears—and sometimes, a source of endless giggles.

Some scents were delightful, others downright revolting—but that was the fun. Collecting stickers was more than a hobby; it was an olfactory adventure. And let’s admit it, we all had one sticker we refused to scratch because the scent was just too precious.

3. Marbles

Marbles—cats-eyes, steelies, shooters… and that one kid who claimed his could never lose. These were basically the Pokémon battles of the playground. We’d crouch down in the dirt, eyes focused, ready to strike like mini sharks.

The clink of marbles was the soundtrack of many a recess. We’d debate which marble was best, though everyone knew steelies had the ultimate cool factor.

Trading marbles was a skill. You had to know your worth and never underestimate the power of a good shooter. And when you won a game? Pure victory. But lose your favorite marble and it was like losing a piece of your childhood soul.

4. Garbage Pail Kids Cards

Gross, weird, slightly terrifying—and absolutely addictive. Garbage Pail Kids cards were a parent’s nightmare but a kid’s delight. Just one look at their disgustingly creative art, and you were hooked.

Parents groaned, but we loved them more for it. Each card was a masterpiece of the grotesque, a rebellion in a 2 x 3-inch rectangle.

We’d sneak them into class, swapping under desks, each new card a treasure. The grosser, the better—and let’s face it, we loved making adults squirm. Collecting these cards was our way of saying, “Hey, world, we’ve got our own rules!”

5. Pogs and Slammers

Pogs and slammers—cardboard discs that somehow caused full-blown playground wars. Everyone had a favorite slammer, bonus points if it was metal and dangerous-looking.

The thrill of the slam, the chaos as pogs flew everywhere! Who knew cardboard could spark such passion? We played for keeps, and the stakes felt sky-high.

Swapping pogs was serious business. Each trade was a gamble, each slam a chance at glory or defeat. And when the school banned pogs? We took our battles underground, whispering strategies like playground conspirators.

6. Wacky Packages

Wacky Packages—parody stickers of real products like “Crust” toothpaste or “Gloom” detergent. They were the original meme stickers. The puns were glorious; the art, wonderfully gross.

Every sticker was a joke, a punchline you could stick anywhere. We’d decorate our notebooks, lockers, even our lunchboxes with them.

Collecting these was more than just a hobby—it was a statement of humor. Each swap was like trading laughs, each new sticker a badge of comedic honor. If you had the rare ones, oh boy, you were the king of comedy.

7. Cabbage Patch Kids Birth Certificates

Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were the stars, sure—but those names and birth certificates were prized possessions. Forget about the toys; it was all about the paperwork.

We compared, traded, and guarded those certificates like gold. The names were absurd, delightful, and totally unique.

Having a rare name meant serious playground prestige. The more certificates you had, the better. It was a collector’s dream—each certificate a step up the social ladder, each trade a power move in the world of Cabbage Patch diplomacy.

8. Matchbox & Hot Wheels Cars

Whether you played with them or just displayed them, Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars were serious business. Some kids even had tiny garages and racetracks.

We raced them, launched them off ramps, and collected them like mini automotive treasures. Each car was a piece of art, a tiny speed demon we could call our own.

Trading cars was an art form. You needed to know the value of a rare model, and having the right car meant everything. The thrill of finding a new car for your collection was unmatched—pure, unadulterated joy.

9. Friendship Bracelets

Friendship bracelets were half art project, half social status. If your wrist wasn’t covered in hand-tied embroidery floss, were you even alive in the ’80s?

Making them was a rite of passage. We’d spend hours knotting threads, each bracelet a testament to our dedication and creativity.

Giving one was the ultimate sign of friendship. Receiving one? That was pure bliss. Trading bracelets was like trading a piece of your soul, each color and pattern a secret language only you and your friends understood.

10. Erasers Shaped Like Food/Animals/Everything

Those cute, tiny Japanese-style erasers that looked like food but weren’t great at actual erasing? We didn’t care—they were collectible gold.

We’d trade them like currency, each eraser a miniature work of art. You couldn’t bear to use them; they were too precious.

The crazier the shape, the better. From sushi to dinosaurs, each eraser was a tiny testament to creativity. They decorated our desks, our pencil cases, our entire lives.

11. Pins and Buttons

Kids pinned them on jackets, backpacks, and hats—usually with slogans like “I Love Homework” (ironically) or your favorite band.

Each pin was a badge of identity, a tiny piece of flair that told the world who you were—or at least who you wanted to be. We’d swap and trade them, each pin a new piece of our personal mosaic.

Collecting pins was like building a museum of our lives. The more you had, the cooler you were. And when you found that one pin you’d been searching for? Victory!

12. Rubber Pencil Toppers

Monsters, animals, weird wiggly guys… Pencil toppers made school supplies actually fun. Plus, they were totally tradable.

We’d collect them, swap them, and battle them like tiny desk warriors. Each topper was a new discovery, a new friend in our school day journey.

From aliens to dinosaurs, these little guys were the talk of the classroom. And when you had the rare ones, well, you were the king of the pencil case.

13. Plastic Army Men

You could buy ’em by the bucket—and if you had the paratroopers, forget about it. Everyone wanted those.

We’d stage epic battles, entire wars waged in sandbox terrain. Each figure was a hero, a legend in plastic form.

Trading army men was serious strategy. You needed the right mix of soldiers, the perfect squad. And when you scored a rare figure? Total victory.

14. PEZ Dispensers

The candy was… fine. But the real prize was the head: Yoda, Snoopy, or that one weird clown? Collect ‘em all.

We’d line them up like an army of character heads, each dispenser a trophy of our collecting prowess.

Trading dispensers was more art than science. You had to know your characters, your series. And when you found a rare dispenser? Pure collector’s bliss.

15. Bubble Gum Wrappers (Especially Bazooka Comics)

Bazooka Joe comics were tiny treasures. Some kids even tried to collect every version—others just wanted that sick fake tattoo inside.

We’d read the comics, laugh at the jokes, and trade them like mini comic books. Each wrapper was a new story, a new adventure.

Some wrappers were common, but the rare ones? Those were gold. Collecting them was a quest, a journey through the world of bubblegum lore.