You know you've been collecting baseball memorabilia for too long when...

[mr2686]

1. You refer to your wife or girlfriend as your companion piece
2. You have 10 of the same autograph, card, memorabilia piece...all of which is in better shape than the next, but you can't bare to part with any of them.
3. You've never met your best friend, but you message and trade with him regularly.
4. You name your child after an obscure ball player that's been dead for 100 years.
5. You tell your wife that you don't have a problem and that you can quit collecting anytime.

[HexsHeroes]

.


Not sure where the transition line is from being a "collector", to becoming an "accumulator" or "pack rat".


If one item is good, two is better, three is wonderful, and each one thereafter is out-of-this-world sensational.


I have a problem curbing my limit to just one or two, or five.

Anyone else ?

[Scott Garner]

1. You refer to your wife or girlfriend as your companion piece
2. You have 10 of the same autograph, card, memorabilia piece...all of which is in better shape than the next, but you can't bare to part with any of them.
3. You've never met your best friend, but you message and trade with him regularly.
4. You name your child after an obscure ball player that's been dead for 100 years.
5. You tell your wife that you don't have a problem and that you can quit collecting anytime.

Very good, Mike! Here are a few more (we'll call these # 6 and 7):

6. You've transitioned from attempting to collect everything to becoming a "specialist". This allows you to emotionally part with way too many collectibiles that were formerly viewed as being "untouchable" in the collection....

7. As a "specialist" you determine that creating new "subcategories" of a particular collection is a great idea. For example, instead of just collecting the autograph of a particular player, you now feel that collecting an index card, GPC, signed check and a signed photo or photo postcard of the player is an absolute must! (Please refer to point # 2 above)
LOL

BTW, I haven't yet began calling my wife the "companion piece", but I do feel that that day may be coming soon!

[T206Collector]

4. You name your child after an obscure ball player that's been dead for 100 years.

I named my second son Mathewson. We all call him Matty. He is now 3. And recently he has begun asking questions about his name. Pretty cool....

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

"Death to Flying Things" Birkholm has a nice ring to it. I suspect the kid would not be too happy with Mordecai "Three Finger" Birkholm.

[D. Broughman]

When your Grandson is named Nolan (my favorite post war player) and is born on Honus Wagner's birthday and you get excited!:D

[Butch7999]

When you see a great item (card, bat, game, pin, &c') at sale or auction that you absolutely must have, spend a week arranging your finances to be able to obtain it, and only at the very last minute remember that you already have one in your collection...

[mr2686]

OMG Butch...that's so true! Even worse if you buy it and then realize you already have one. :eek:

[drc]

For a number of years I communicated only through email with a collector far away who was interested in the same types of items. We discussed, traded, bought and sold, etc. His job transferred him to where I live and we get along great in person, and still discuss collecting but in person, go to the ball game, etc. This shows that these internet relationships aren't only smoke and mirrors.

[slidekellyslide]

"Death to Flying Things" Birkholm has a nice ring to it. I suspect the kid would not be too happy with Mordecai "Three Finger" Birkholm.

Ha! When my wife was pregnant last year and we hadn't learned we were having a girl yet I suggested to my wife Mordecai Peter Centennial Bretta...she gave the emphatic "NO WAY!" on that one. When we found out we were having a girl and she suggested "Addison" I went with it because my first thought was Wrigley Field.

Now I just need to go down to the courthouse and get my son's name legally changed to "Clark." :D

[slidekellyslide]

6. You've transitioned from attempting to collect everything to becoming a "specialist". This allows you to emotionally part with way too many collectibiles that were formerly viewed as being "untouchable" in the collection....


This is exactly where I'm at.

[cliftons8]

My son's initials are MLB..and this is no accident. Once my wife decided the first name of Mitch, I knew his middle name would start with an L.

Mike

[olsport]

I named my son after James Bond 007 "SEAN" Connery. His name is Sean Paul, which sounds dignified (like the pope John Paul) since my first name is Paul.
I have the same birthday as Bob Feller Nov. 3 and grew up within 5 miles of where he did. I plan on going to the Bob Feller museum in a few weeks in Van Meter, Iowa http://www.bobfellermuseum.org/theMuseum/Location_Hours.asp

[thekingofclout]

My folks gave me the middle name of Joseph, from Joe D. And for my seventh grade conformation I chose the name Paul so my name was James "Joseph Paul" to finish what my parents started with my middle name being named after that great Italian Baseball legend... Joseph Paul DiMaggio.