A few things at once, but mostly an intro

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Posted By: <b>Jason Schwartz</b><p>I was an obsessive collector in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. For me, the sign that it was time to get out was going to card show after card show dominated by promos and inserts, rookie cards of players with 0 AB or IP going for more money than Schmidt, Mays, Aaron, etc., and new packs retailing for $4. There also seemed to be something fishy about 99.9% of dealers selling their cards for the Beckett high value and 0% of dealers selling at the Beckett low. As far as I could tell, the increase in card prices was fueled less by real demand than it was by the format of the dominant price guide.<br /><br />15 years later, I still have my old collection, which I can separate into two categories.<br /><br />1. A couple boxes full of the all-time greats, ranging from 1933-1976. My triumvirate of 33 Hack Wilson, 34 Greenberg, 34 Foxx is a highlight, as is my 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers team set. I got close to Hank Aaron's career but never finished.<br /><br />2. About 200,000 other cards accumulated along the way--mainly 1981 and up (my mom threw out my collection twice, so my late 70's sets are all at the bottom of a trash-heap somewhere).<br /><br />I stumbled across this board by accident, but I'm thrilled to find such a lively community of people who, like me, are disgusted by the current state of the hobby--torn-up Clemente jerseys and all.<br /><br />I'm realizing there are two ways you might be able to help me out.<br /><br />1. Like a recent poster, I wouldn't mind getting rid of a couple hundred thousand cards or so. A good cause would be my first choice. Anyone know anywhere in the Santa Cruz, CA area that would appreciate such a donation?<br /><br />2. I'm writing a book, essentially a memoir told through baseball cards. If anyone has time on his/her hands, I'd enjoy having a few folks who share the love of baseball cards give some of my stories a read and pass along some comments.<br /><br />Jason<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Adam J. Moraine</b><p>Hey Jason,<br /><br />Glad to have you aboard. Just a suggestion: try donating the cards that you no longer want to your local Salvation Army, or other Thrift Store. I am sure they will gladly accept them, as will others. <br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br />Adam J. Moraine

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Posted By: <b>Bruce Dorskind</b><p><br /><br />Hi Jason:<br /><br />I have been an active collector of rare baseball items since 1976.<br /><br />My focus has always been on rare type cards, advertising signs, books,<br />player endorsed sheet Music, 19th Century items and materials from<br />leagues like the Federal League, Players Association and Union League<br />I am the person behind America's Toughest Want List.<br /><br />The most interesting thoughts I have on the hobby was the correspondence<br />I had with the legendary collectors back in the mid 70's and the correspondence<br />they shared with me dating back to 1934. <br /><br />Now it is about grade and value--then it was about completing a set or identifyting<br />cards= I use to trade with Wharton Tigar whose collection is now in the British<br />Museum, Buck Barker, Frank Nagy and Bob Richardson...most of those guys are<br />gone.<br /><br />Still have hundreds of letters including letters from the head of Goudey Gum, Delong<br />and Tatoo Orbit as well a New Yorker article published in the 1930's by a man<br />who collected Old Judges as a kid.<br /><br />I have often thought about writing about the legendary collectors--did you know<br />someone once issued a card set showing all the top collectors and the back discussed<br />their areas of interest.<br /><br />Let's talk about what we could do together...lots of memories to share.<br /><br />I live in NYC...where do you live?<br /><br />Best,<br /><br /><br />Bruce Dorskind

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Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>Bruce,<br />I bet there would be a lot of interest if you were to write about some of the legendary collectors and older habits of collecting. I, for one, am very interested in the history and roots of the hobby. Do you happen to have an exact referrence for that New Yorker article? Or would it be possible to get a scan or photocopy of it?<br />Thanks,<br />JimB

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Posted By: <b>Scott M</b><p>I, for one, would love to hear some of the stories you have as I started my modest collection back in the mid 70s as well...<br /><br />I didn't get to deal with some of the legendary figures that you mentioned but I will always be grateful to another hobby veteran of that era, Irv Lerner, who helped my father and I with our collection when we got started in the hobby.<br /><br />Scott<br /><br /><br />Edited because I forgot to add to Jason who started the thread, please email me whatever stories you'd like to share or tell me where I can see them as I'd be interested in reading what you've put together...

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Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>I live in Berkeley, but can't get any further south than Freemont. Ever come to the Bay Area?<br /><br />oh: rvognar01@comcast.net<br /> and<br /><a href="http://www.julievognar.com/home" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.julievognar.com/home</a> <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/BN300Gl004.jpg">

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>I've always wondered: who was/is Renata Galasso; and what became of her?

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Posted By: <b>Chris Counts</b><p>Jason,<br /><br />I live in Pacific Grove, which is about 45 minutes south of Santa Cruz. I have been collecting vintage cards since the 1970s, I am a writer and I'm also involved with several very worthy local charities. If you're interested in talking, you can send me an e-mail at ...<br /><br />chriscounts@earthlink.net