Do you remember how much fun you had collecting cards as a kid? You'd take your allowance, head off to the local store, and buy a pack or two of baseball cards. It was so much fun.

Now, I'm in my mid-twenties and I have taken up that hobby again. I'm out of college and I have more time and money to invest in the hobby. I'm quickly realizing that the rules have changed since I was ten years old I'm finding that practically any card my little heart desires - even the really elusive ones - are literally at my fingertips. That's right - the World Wide Web has completely revolutionized the art of collecting.

There are many websites that are priceless to the serious collector, but I haven't found one that is more valuable to me than Ebay. It's no more than a game of chance. All I have to do is log on and I'll find thousands of auctions that are any collector's greatest fantasy. There are cards from the vintage greats, such as Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth. There are cards that celebrate the more recent past with cards from Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Tug McGraw. Then, there are cards from this year up for sale.

Some might say this "edge" takes some of the fun out of the hobby. I couldn't disagree more. Most collectors - like me - have something that they are looking for. Some like to collect cards from their favorite team only. Some like to collect only rookie cards or otherwise valuable cards. The ability to go online and find exactly what you need eliminates the guesswork and frustrations that often came along with the hobby. Thanks to the World Wide Web, I will not have to buy a pack of cards and be disappointed to find that I already own every card.

Another perk of Ebay (among other similar sites) are the great deals that can be found. Just the other day I bought a box of 400 cards for only one dollar. The next day I won an auction on 100 cards from my favorite team - the Cincinnati Reds - for $1.25. Try to find deals like that at your local card shop.

As the cassette tape has evolved into CD in the last decade or two, collecting cards has evolved as well. I, for one, happen to like the change.