How did everyone do this year?

[mr2686]

I know it's not quite the end of the year, but I wanted to see how everyone felt they did this year based on your want list at the beginning of the year. Did you stick to the list, stray off the path, or a little of both.
For me, it was a little of both. I wanted to make some headway on the 61 Yankees and ended up almost completing it with only two autos to go. I also picked up a couple more Mantle signed magazines and a couple more 1919 Sox autos. What I didn't complete was the 34 Gashouse gang, and with only 2 autos to go I thought that it was a no brainer but didn't find the right pieces at the right price (should be able to complete next year). I also got side tracked by starting a collection of autos and tickets based on famous and infamous players or plays (Slaughter's dash home, The shot heard round the world, Merkle's boner, etc). Last but not least, I only had to frame and mat my 1960 Pirates project, but at the last minute decided to add both the traveling secretary and team trainer, as well as games 1-6 tickets to go along with my game 7 ticket. I'm chalking this up to having a problem with letting go of this project. Sometimes I find that you have so much fun and spend so much time on something that you keep wanting to add to it even though it's not necessary. I will, however, draw the line at the batboys!
How about everyone else? How was your year?

[margoaepi]

Actually a pretty good year for me, although I found myself going after more cards than memorabilia. The three big memorabilia items I picked up this year were a Hughie Jennings letter to Hugh Duffy, on Jennings & Jennings letterhead, an 1894 Baltimore championship bandana (featuring Jennings, Mcgraw, Keeler, Kelley, Robinson, Gleason and others), and a 1907 Tigers silk featuring Jennings, Cobb and Crawford.

[Scott Garner]

I was fortunate to have many great, bordering on unbelievable, pickups in 2011. I would go so far as saying that 2011 may have been my best year for pickups, which is saying a lot!

Highlights would include adding several new vintage no-hitter tickets, a couple of very tough early no-hit pitcher sigs, several great Type I photos, and a few unique and game used items to my advanced Nolan Ryan collection.

I'm not sure if the economy is creating great buying opportunities, or it's purely serendipty. Most likely it a combination of both. Either way I'm a happy camper!!

I hope all of your collecting year's have been successful as well!

[Runscott]

You guys have such amazing stuff, and very interesting collecting directions. I'm having to collect vicariously through the bunch of you.

I did not pick up all that much this year, but I did write two articles that were associated with my most treasured baseball memorabilia, and I'm fairly certain that both will be published. Also well on the way to completing a book that also stemmed from the memorabilia. So it was a great year.

Collecting-wise, I have been picking up RPPC baseball postcards with generic teams and players, but with great baseball imagery, for use in a documentary. I have almost all I need, but still keeping an eye out.

The best single item I picked up this year was a partial book of 1909 Gunther Park tickets from a season ticket holder - that year games were played there by many of the great black teams (Cuban Giants, Lelands), and also a game between the Leland Giants and the Chicago Cubs, Reulbach and Foster pitching. Also a few integrated team cabinets with great composition.

On the card side, picked up my favorite cards of Gehrig ('33 Goudey batting), Mathewson (dark cap t206),Baker (CJ), Wagner (M101-2 Supplement) and Cobb (t205). Still looking for Ruth ('33 Yellow portrait) and a Johnson T206 portrait upgrade - those will be my projects for 2012.

[slidekellyslide]

I definitely hit my goal...which is usually pick up a program or two of the Lincoln minor league clubs that I don't already own...I was actually able to complete my run from 1947-61 of Lincoln Athletics/Chiefs programs and I was only half way there at the start of the year...with the help of Dave Eskenazi and an ebayer who was selling major league programs but noted that they came from his grandfather who lived in Lincoln...I emailed him and sure enough he had every single program I need to finish my run...and he also sold me two 1920s Lincoln programs which I had never even dreamed I'd be able to find...also added a few schedule cards, a couple of team signed baseballs, and some awesome pre 1920 real photo postcards. One of my best years ever.

As far as my Nebraska Indians collection goes I was able to add my first Ticket to a game, and an advertising postcard for the team, but the two postcards that I really want did not show up for sale anywhere.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

As far as my Nebraska Indians collection goes I was able to add my first Ticket to a game, and an advertising postcard for the team, but the two postcards that I really want did not show up for sale anywhere.

Did you buy that Nebraska Indians 1800's team cabinet from me, about 7-8 years ago? If not, shoot me your email in a pm and I'll send you a scan - it was very cool.

[slidekellyslide]

I've bought many over the years, but don't recall if I bought yours Scott...was it one of these? (you have to click over to page 2 to see all the cabinets)

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...seball%20Team/

[T206Collector]

So far this year, I have only been able to acquire 1 signed T206 card that was signed by a player that I did not already have. However, it is a wonderful signature, on a crisp Sovereign back, so I would say it was a successful year. Plus, I'm not sure how many more signed T206 cards are out there that I have a realistic chance of acquiring any time soon.

[mschwade]

I strayed off.. I started out with one single project in mind.. 1927 Murderers Row... That turned into 1927 Yankees and 1927 Pirates World Series Game 4 (clincher) piece... That led me to a couple of other Yankees projects. I had four big projects on the year... Completed one, have nearly completed the 1927 World Series piece (only includes Game 4 starters), and I think the focus of 2012 will be the other two projects. Still need a Hal Chase and Thurman Munson for next year's projects