What card did you never think you'd own, but now you do?

[danmckee]

1910 Washington Times Frank Oberlin, it resided in an advanced collector's collection for ions and I had offered well in excess of $10K and couldn't pry it from him. I then won the exact card in an REA auction for $2750 after he sold his collection.....

Every now and again some dumb luck has to happen thank goodness.

Dan Mckee

[Rich Falvo]

None yet, but I've got a list of cards that I want and I hope to be able to one day say "Never thought I'd get that one..." about at least one of them.

[paul]

For me, it's probably the Zeenut Jimmy Claxton.

[KingFisk]

Jason Greco touched on this, but oftentimes I still look at my whole collection with a childlike sense of amazement. Like many of us on here, I entered the hobby during the junk-wax mania and bought new factory sets and "special" sets (Donruss Opening Day, Donruss Baseball's Best, anyone?) because the older cards were permanently out of reach. Things to gaze at that sat in a display case, or to be owned only as detachable reprints from a glossy book my dad bought me. I eventually "outgrew" the hobby and never dreamt I'd be back in 20 years later.

I know I am a pretty small fish compared to many collectors, but to survey my collection now - to own all of the post-war rookies - Mantle! Mays! Aaron! - all of them! And on top of that, over half of the mythic T206 set, not to mention a bunch of other cards from the 30s, 40s and 50s - well, I never stop getting a thrill out of this fact. The 10 year-old collector in me is still alive and well and in disbelief that I grew up and is blessed enough to have the resources to afford an incredible collection of baseball cards that may as well have all cost a million dollars each back in the '80s. And that junior collector in me is also pretty thrilled that we finally have an '86 Donruss Canseco and '89 Ripken FF stashed away.

[clydepepper]

Well, with apologies to the OP, I'll reverse his question:

What card did I always think I would eventually own, but never will:


1952 Topps #311- Mickey Mantle


-

[Sean]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Well, with apologies to the OP, I'll reverse his question:

What card did I always think I would eventually own, but never will:


1952 Topps #311- Mickey Mantle


-

When I first got interested in T206 (in the late '90's) I always figured that I would someday get a Doyle variation. I didn't realize how truly rare (expensive) that card really was.

[edjs]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Well, with apologies to the OP, I'll reverse his question:

What card did I always think I would eventually own, but never will:


1952 Topps #311- Mickey Mantle


-

I was thinking on a similar line, but more "What card did you think you would never own, but now that you do you think, eh, not as cool as I thought it would be?"

[Sean]

Originally Posted by edjs

I was thinking on a similar line, but more "What card did you think you would never own, but now that you do you think, eh, not as cool as I thought it would be?"

This one:


scan0003.jpg

[JohnP0621]

When I first started to collect T206 , I never thought I would own one with a Drum or Uzit back. Years later I got both and with the same player front.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by edjs

I was thinking on a similar line, but more "What card did you think you would never own, but now that you do you think, eh, not as cool as I thought it would be?"

It's coolness only waned when after I picked up his RC and the two '41 DPs- so I let it go.

I'll get it back someday...too much a TED fan not to.

1941 Play Ball TED WILLIAMS SGC-60 SOLD.jpg

[steve B]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Well, with apologies to the OP, I'll reverse his question:

What card did I always think I would eventually own, but never will:


1952 Topps #311- Mickey Mantle


-

That's more like how it is for me.
When I started everything was cheap even if it didn't seem that way. And I thought someday I'd have "everything"..........

Now 40 years later I know there are a lot of things with so few copies known that getting a set is incredibly unlikely even with a fantasy unlimited budget. Also my concept of just what "everything" includes has changed drastically. Well beyond the then available reference works.

So it's minor stuff, like figuring I wouldn't find another George C Miller I could afford, but then a beater turned up on ebay listed simply as "old baseball card". There's a bunch of cards now that I figure I simply will never have the money for - Wagner, 52 Mantle - Or have to opportunity to buy. (Funny how the most expensive stuff is usually available if you have the money. I was told that back in 78 or so, but didn't believe it at the time. )

Overall I'm pretty happy with what I've put together so far, some of what I have now has become more expensive than I'd be willing to pay so I'm glad I bought it years ago.

[invest]

For me, It was The Babe Ruth RC. I read about it and saw it many many years ago and thought their would be no way I could ever afford that card. Then fast forward 20 years. My business was doing really good and my wife convinced me to pull the trigger and get it. I still wake up every day and can't believe I own it. Now, my son likes it even more then I do!!!, lol

Troy

[Sean]

Carl, great description of how it feels to collect something that you love. I feel the same way, I'm just much less eloquent about it.

[KingFisk]

Originally Posted by Sean

Carl, great description of how it feels to collect something that you love. I feel the same way, I'm just much less eloquent about it.

Thanks, Sean!

[CobbSpikedMe]

I have a little side collection of Jersey City Skeeters prewar cards and there are several cards on my wantlist that I don't think I will ever obtain. This T215 Red Cross of Billy Purtell listed with Jersey City was one of those cards I never thought I would find considering the rarity of Red Cross cards let alone finding a specific non-HOFer. I was very happy to have this example fall into my lap years ago and was able to acquire it. I don't even care about the condition, I don't think I'll ever see another one.


Thanks,

AndyH

[Sean]

Originally Posted by danmckee

1910 Washington Times Frank Oberlin, it resided in an advanced collector's collection for ions and I had offered well in excess of $10K and couldn't pry it from him. I then won the exact card in an REA auction for $2750 after he sold his collection.....

Every now and again some dumb luck has to happen thank goodness.

Dan Mckee

Dan gives me hope that someday I'll get that T215 Merkle.

[pete zouras]

The card fell in my lap in a trade from a collector who contacted me out of the blue for a card he needed that I had won years ago in a B&L auction. (It helps that I'm not a stickler for condition.)