As I dug deeper into the toy box, I discovered my own tattered, well-loved doll that I played with as a little girl. I now understand why my mom couldn't just discard her. The memories of days ...

Many vintage toy collectors enter the hobby out of passion and nostalgia, experts say. Caravoulias recalls laying in bed as a kid in 1985 and wishing he could buy a $5 Rambo II action figure.