Is there a reasonable way for me to get a positive return on my childhood baseball card collection?

Eddie, why don't you try advertising on Craig's list, put some of your very best cards on there & see what the response is. This way it at least would give you an idea of how many folks out there would be interested in them & IF it would be worth while to do more with them to sell them. What the heck, it's worth a try...good luck...:)