When was the first time you spent a thousand or more on a piece/card/autograph...
 

and where did you buy it from. Auction House, ebay, Card Shop, National or other show? Also, show a scan of it and do you still have it?

Mine was several years ago from a major auction house. Cost me like $1100 but I've yet to see another TYPE I come up for sale...

Vintage original TYPE I photograph and one of the most recognizable images in the hobby. And you bet your sweet bippy I still have it :)

Attachment 4755

$1,012.99 on April 12, 2005
 

And, yes, I still have it....

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7veQJg9UvEi626KFf0RQQw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Ys7fw31kTDs/Rouve0_nESI/AAAAAAAAAks/432RYcZ0b58/s800/DemmittStLouisSGC10.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/pmifsud3d/SGCGradedCards?feat=embedwebsite">SGC Graded Cards</a></td></tr></table>

My first $1,000 sports item was this original 1936 Summer Olympics poster, found in an antique poster shop back in 1990. The image itself is approximately 25" x 39".

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...36Olympics.jpg

The first baseball item I ever paid $1,000 for was this 1935 Dizzy Dean Winners Club store standee. It stands about 40" tall and is 26" wide. I bought it in 1994 when a group of store displays was discovered.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...PHOTOS2036.jpg

Dizzy, Awesome image.

Did you know., There isn't a grape nor one nut in the entire box?

I'm getting verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves!

1895 Omaha cabinet photo...bought it from Terry Knouse about 6 months ago for $1,000. It is the most I've ever spent on one item.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...1895omaha1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...1895omaha3.jpg

A few years ago I bought this bound volume of a short-lived baseball publication from 1885 for a bit over a grand.

I think the first expensive thing I bought was an 1873 Bostons Bostons cabinet originally from the Jim Copeland collection. I bought it from a Net54 member via eBay. It came in a custom plastic sleeve with Copeland's name on it.

Joseph- what publication is that? Is it just called the Official Record?

Barry: The name on all subsequent pages (other than the page one graphic) is "Official Baseball Record". There are a number of individual issues from the second volume (mine is the first) available for sale at Timothy Hughes Rare Newspapers where you can see all sorts of scans of pages. This is a really nice publication.

So far as I can tell, there aren't any grapes on the Net 54 forum.:D

More than I should have spent Over 1K
 

Card is great but is MC. Slabbed as a GAI 8 for now. Will be in SGC slab on the 4th of SEPT.

Thanks Joseph. That's one I'm not familiar with.

This is the most I have ever paid for a muffin

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/5...40ad8698ed.jpg

Timmy's muffins are fresher than that! That book wouldn't taste good with a large double-double!

2003
 

Makes those of us who are poor jealous, who mainly are here just for the chance to see some great items, etc.

Please don't feel that way Scott....
 

As you know from our private correspondence, I've had many high and low times in my life and I would imagine most of the net54 members would say the same.

It wasn't my intention to make this thread a class separation in any way shape or form. It's just that the first time you spend four figures on a baseball piece, it must be pretty darn special and something that you'll probably not forget.

Hell, I drive a Jeep Patriot, don't own a house, and the only vacation I take is to the National every year.

I'm done being married and both of my ex-wives are paid off, my kids are grown, and my girlfriend (who is a U.S. citizen) lives in China for eight months a year and stays with me the other four.

So, it's just me, my little dog, Babe, Lou, Joe, and the Mick (by choice I should add) and I've never been happier. I must also say that I have more great friends then any man should be entitled to and for that, I am most grateful.

I think that many people here are at different stages in their life, and everyone's priorities and responsibilities are different.

I have also stated in multiple PM's with other members that I have three very close friends who are also collectors and between the four of us, my collection comes in dead last. Not even close. But I collect what I like so I never feel bad about what I don't have.

Just wanted to set the record straight.

Happy collecting to all, and to all a good night.

Sincerely, Jimmy

P.S. I don't spend all of my money on baseball stuff as I did take Grace on a four day cruise last year from money I made turning some baseball memorabilia :)
Attachment 4778

I've had an adequate build up in my collection fund several times over the past 20 years, but have paid $1,000 for memorabilia only twice. Although I have never regretted any my major acquisitions, I sometimes struggle with the big purchase because it means I'll need to pass on small to medium purchases for a while.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...0/IMG_1054.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...0/IMG_0498.jpg

No offense from me, if anyone got that impression, I apologize. Its hard sometimes is all. That said, seeing so many people on here who collect stuff I love, and acquire some amazing pieces is another part of the reason why baseball is the greatest.

Someone asked me how I love baseball so much, its a slow game, etc. Well, the history it has, the passion people have for it, and the amazing collectibles it brings, etc, those are my reasons.

Now, if I ever have the chance to get a 1000.00 item, I think a signed AG Spalding ball, like in the newest CC auction, may be the ticket..haha.

And the beauty part is that you can pick it up for far less than $1k!

the first is a incredible 1880s ring bat 39" long and is like it was made yesterday. and a yankee stadium seat. others luckily i did'nt have to spend a 1000 dollars for.

sorry here are the other 2 i wanted to post.

$1000 bucks!!!
 

Well, I am generally one of the fishes lost in a sea of mediocrity, though never an "armpit" collector, as I find that phrase utterly disgusting...as such, my best cards are generally in the $50-100 price range.
However, I have parted ways with $1000 or a little more on two occasions in my collecting life, and they were both excruciating exercises in self-reflection...happy to say, though, that I still have each of the items and I have never regretted obtaining either.

I will try to post scans when I get home tonight, but they are:
1) a Kirby Puckett GU bat, PSA 7 for $1200 from an auction house (my only-ever auction house purchase)
and
2) a T200 Pittsbugh, SGC 60 with strong image quality for $1000 from a fellow board member

Clemente single signed
 

First time I spent over $1000 (and it was well over the $1000 mark, although a good deal based on today's value) was on this Clemente single. I since sold it and miss it a lot =( I only collect Gehrig and Clemente, but back when I bought it, I didn't focus on these two.

Back around 92, soon after the Louisville find, I decided to pick up a bat that was used by my father's favorite player, Paul Waner. So I chose this O'Doul bat that has Paul Waner sidewriting. It is from 7-8-33, right around the time of the first all star game.

It's been well over four months since the last post in this thread...
 

and the net54 board has seen substantial growth in that time. So I felt a bump was in order to give the newer members a chance to post or if anyone else has made the plunge!

This Paul Thompson image of Nap Lajoie was the second time I dropped a thousand for a piece ($1,000 plus shipping). This one is in spectacular condition and comes from the 1996 Christies/Baseball Magazine Archives auction and has said hologram and Thompson's stamp on the back.

Attachment 12429

Very nice, Jimmy...

That LaJoie image would sure make for a nifty Graig Kreindler "Original" ;)

A beautifully composed photo...