What do you do when you can't find anything to add?
 

Was curious to know what people (in this kind of spot) find themselves doing.

Over the last few months for me, almost nothing has come across any of the major auction houses or eBay that I really feel I would want in my collection. My Jackie Robinson/integration themed collection has most of the "major" pieces I am interested in, except for a few items that I expect will be exceedingly difficult to find. Almost no vintage lineup cards of any sort have been listed, and there has been little in the way of WWII-related baseball items.

For me, as I left my previous job a few months back, and have been working on launching a business, the timing has been fortuitous, and I would not be in a position to buy much of anything if items I was looking for did show up.

That said, how do you handle slow times in your collecting? Do you save up money for when the (inevitable) rush comes? Do you expand out and buy other random items? Do you try to find another area to collect?

Jeff,

That is a very good question. What I would recommend is to pick out another side project that is easy to complete and something that is inexpensive. Therefore, you're getting the best of both worlds... Saving up for your main focus, and having fun completing something.

Just my .02

Good Luck

The same happened for me and I haven't been able to meaningfully add to my card collection in months. I picked up a side project but hit the same stumbling block. My recommendation is to use your free time to read about the hobby. i know I am on Net54 more frequently and considering picking back up one of my books.

Maybe people who were influential in Robinson's career?

Clyde sukeforth, the scout?

Dixie Howell teammate

George Shuba "the handshake"?




There must be more

Welcome,
1. You have a disease. Don't be ashamed. We all have it here.
2. Its incurable. Proceed with caution.

The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world.

Consider a new area to collect. Consider trying something totally different.

I often hit the stumbling block. I try to pay attention to things outside my comfort zone, and during down periods I dabble there. Sometimes for a day, a week, or a few months. Some of my favorite cards I have acquired during this period. Maybe inconsistent with "T206Collector" but I try to keep an open mind.

I try to enjoy having a little borrowed time to spend with the things on my "sell to fund the next purchase" list.

For me, card collecting took over when my other collecting endeavors and hobbies slowed down. So, maybe look into another hobby?

I haven't bought anything for a few months. Sometimes I will pick up a few cards at the same time, or relatively close together. During down times I will spend time looking through cards I already own, and of course I'm always checking listings to see if anything worth adding to the collection is available.

I don't mind these periods of inactivity as it can help to get funds together for a bigger purchase. And when I do go through the cards I already own, I'm able to identify cards is be willing to let go when something else comes along.

That's hilarious Chris!!!

Jeff, I can ALWAYS find something to add!

The smart thing to do is nothing. When you go outside your area of interest you are often just wasting money.
BTW, have you noticed the Syracuse Stars cabinet in REA with Moses Fleetwood Walker. He was the last African-American player in MLB before Jackie and his cards are extremely rare.

During a time when you're not actively collecting more items, perhaps work on improving the storage and/or display of the items you already have.

I would recommend you appreciate what you already have. Catalog it. Share it. Enjoy it.

Jeff,

I am in a similar place collecting-wise. To keep "in the game" during my pre-War hiatus, I have launched a through-the-mail autograph campaign with the mass produced cards I collected as a kid in the 1980s. For a few weeks now I have been sending out a couple of cards/auto requests every day and they are starting to come back. I absolutely love opening up my mailbox every day and finding an SASE containing freshly signed 1980s cards intermingled with my junk mail and bills. And no cost beyond postage!

Scot

I would first have to know what I have to enjoy it. :eek: Just waiting for the urge to go through some boxes of periodicals I have had for a year or more.

Or go back to looking for the few things I am looking for. Doing a T205 (or other multi hundred card set) set can keep someone busy for a good while if they are picky. Plus I would bet a lot of us acquire things, even though we don't collect them, but just because we think they are neat.
,

Lots of interesting responses here.

For me as I mention, the gap in items that fit my collection has been welcome since it coincided with me leaving my last job and now working on launching a venture; so in this case it was less about me specifically than people in general and how they respond to such a situation.

@jasonc - That makes a ton of sense, and is probably closest to what I am doing. I started collecting some modern day cards (particularly 2001 Fleer Stitches in Time) which feature Negro League players. Many of the cards are $10-$20 so it doesn't break the bank, and it's a rare set to feature Negro League players exclusively.

@Bestdj777 - I've picked up a few baseball books and been doing some learning about the Negro Leagues which has been cool.

@pawpawdiv9 - :)

@edjs - Love that show!

@drcy - That sounds scary lol. I already feel I'm focused on too many areas, although if I reach a point that a collection seems "complete" I may think about that.

@Jobu - I hear that.

@silvor - It may be just focusing more on other hobbies. I already have more than I have time for.

@pokerplyr80 - Would be nice to have the funds ready when something really big hits. Inevitably it will eventually...

@oldjudge - That Fleetwood is incredible, but out of my price range unfortunately. Would definitely have been a fit in my integration collection.

@Orioles1954 - Blasphemy! Enjoying a collection :) Probably the most reasonable thing to do

@sreader3 - That sounds awesome. Have you posted anywhere about your progress?

@Leon - I hear that! I've found if a collection is not focused on something that I am particularly interested in, I lose interest pretty quickly. (And I struggle with sets because I am always torn about buying the commons and the like. For some reason I just don't enjoy that part of it.

Collecting
 

I typically work on one of my side projects I have going on when I hit a dry spell. They are typically less expensive items that I really don’t actively search.
Here’s the issue I have had and continue to have with doing this (this is probably just me so you’ll probably be fine). While the side project is less expensive items I start to purchase these type items and continue to purchase and then don’t have enough money when an item I really like more comes available.

That's a concern of mine, so I definitely here you.

Of course, as I'm responding to this post a couple of lineup cards I like pop up, along with a card that I am interested in. Didn't realize it was that easy :)

Look for the under appreciated
 

We have very similar interests. I have collected integration items for years- though in the last 2 years I have been consentrating on the Long Branch Cubans

There are a lot of things out there that you might not realize (many books)- cheap stuff that will cost less then 100 bucks but is very worth it

Try google book searches and a lot of neat things will pop up

A couple of examples of the kind of stuff

1 Man on Spikes - few know it has an entire chapter on integration
2. The Negros in Sports by Edwin Henderson - the 1949 edition had an whole chapter on integration
3. Baseball Joe Around the World - has a number of pages about a game with a fictionalized version of Jose Mendez brought in as a ringer

I am sure there are many others out there, they won't hurt the bank account, and the search will fill the void until something big comes up



Jason

Start selling?

Get some therapy?
More seriously, looking through auction catalogs, either current or past, always gets me revved up to add some new stuff. I have an extensive stash of old catalogs from AH’s. Come to think of it, I should probably throw those out and be more content with my collection.

Would love to see some of your collection!

Love this idea as well. Picked up quite a few baseball books over the last 3 years, but am not familiar with the ones you mentioned here.

Collecting is the therapy :cool:

Proof there is always other stuff out there
 

Here are a couple of items that show there is always uncatologed stuff that fits your focus
1. Behold Thy brother - fictional integration accounted published in 1950
2. The Negro is Sports
3. Woodcut from 1880 edition of the Fairport Nine- published in St Nicholas Magazine- early baseball story where black character makes the game saving out
4. Page from handmade scrapbook that contained the box scores and write ups for the 1886 Buffalo team from the International league - important as this team featured a 21 year old player named Frank Grant - the negro leaguer who would be elected to the HOF