Would you trade in your collection to see one specific game?

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Posted By: Sean

If you trade in your entire collection you can see one specific game. Which would it be?
If not, why?

for me, Id trade my entire collection to see the sept 23, 1908 fred merkle game

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Posted By: Bill Stone

October 13, 1960 Pirates vs Yankees.

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

What I love about baseball is how it's one huge story told in multiple chapters, multiple paragraphs, and multiple sentences.

You can talk about how great Game 3 of the 1978 World Series was, but it loses some of its luster without knowing the story about how great the 1978 season was. And that loses some of its luster without knowing the story about the 1976 and 77 seasons. And those lose their luster without knowing about George Steinbrenner buying the Yankees and setting the goal of restoring the team's dominance of the 1950s - which, of course, is a story you would need to know as well. And it's not as great a story without knowing the story of the Brooklyn Dodgers. And the New York Giants. And those two teams have great stories that make it worth learning about the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers.

Which is a long-winded way of saying "Hell, no, would I trade in my collection for just one game." To me, that's like asking an art collector if he'd trade in his entire collection for a drop of green paint. There's always another highlight.

-Al

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Posted By: Phil Garry

Absolutely not, no matter what game it is

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Posted By: Joann

Wow Al. That is the coolest thing I have read in a very long time. How profound and eloquent. It sounds like it should have been included somewhere in the Ken Burns "Baseball" series or something.

Not sure I agree that I wouldn't trade my collection to see a particular game. I'd have to think about which one, plus my collection isnt' all that extensive so it might be a good swap. But the analogy of a drop of green paint is great too.

J

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Posted By: Sean

but a paint make a painting, baseball cards do not make up a baseball game. You may possibly have the opportinity to meet someone really cool! Poor fred merkle

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Posted By: Addie_Joss

I'd trade it in to see Dock Ellis' no hitter on LSD when he hit like 6 batters.

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Thanks, Joann. I must have had too much to drink last night.

Speaking of which, maybe I might trade my collection for that Dock Ellis game, too. That's one game that stands alone.

-Al

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Posted By: Paul S

You could get to the Merkle game beforehand and warn him with a friendly reminder -- that would change some baseball history! Or is that too Twilight Zone-ish?

Otherwise, I'm with Al...wouldn't do it.

*edited: spelling

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Posted By: boxingcardman

I might trade one card to see Larsen's perfect game though.

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: Jason Carota

Without hesitation, I would trade my collection to go back in time to witness the September 6, 1912 duel between Joe Wood and Walter Johnson.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

well said Al...

as awesome as it would be to attend any one game in history...to trade my ENTIRE collection for that would be ridiculous.

either way, i'll list a few games i would like have been at...

-Ruth's called shot ('32 WS, game 3, 5th inning)
-1919 WS, any game
-1909 WS, any game, wagner/cobb
-Maris' 61st HR game
-1986 WS, game 6, buckner game

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Posted By: dennis

i would not trade my collection to see one game no matter what game it was. but, i would, if i could pick up some cards on the way to the game. then, i would go back to 1933 and watch any game with babe ruth. i would get a big suitcase buy all the goudeys and other cards,and then return to the good old right now.
game i would like to see from the past is harvey haddix "almost" perfect game in 1959 vs the mil. braves!

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Posted By: ken McMillan

October 5, 1921.........game 1 of the first World Series that the Yankees ever played in. My great great uncle was the lead off batter and he got a single. 2 batters later Rutn drove him in.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

WOW...very cool Ken!

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Posted By: brock

I would trade all my stuff to see Lou gehrig's farewell speech.

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Posted By: Phil B

The correct answer to this question is that you'd trade it all to go to one more game with your dad.

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Posted By: paulstratton

I would trade my collection in a second to re-attend game 5 of the 1984 World Series with my pops, who passed away a few years ago.

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Posted By: bruce Dorskind

In fact, we regret have ever traded or sold any card we ever owned.

In retrospect it was a mistake.

We have been very fortunate indeed to see many, many famous games
Our 10 most memorable were:


1. 1977 World Series Game 6- Reggie three homers
2. Dave Riggetti's no hitter against Boston
3. 1986 World Series games 6- Mookie through the legs of Buchner
4, 1986 World Series - Mets win
5. 1963 World Series- Koufax sets stikeout record
6. 1969 World Series- all 3 Met Home Victories
7, 1999 All Star Game in Fenway-Ted Williams last public appearance
8. 1958 Larsen shuts out Braves in world series - our first game
9. 1964 -Mickey Mantle homers off of Barney Schultz in World Series
10. 1961- classic 9 inning battle Ford vis a vis Mossi- Yankees win 1-0


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

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Posted By: Jim Dale

So long as I could start over at that point in time...man with what I know now..that'd be fun.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

"Field of Dreams...The correct answer to this question is that you'd trade it all to go to one more game with your dad."

Phil- great post.

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Posted By: Ed Ivey

Indeed, opening day with Dad, who passed 25 years ago this week.

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Posted By: Bill

I would if I could go back to 10/12/1907 World Series game 5. I Would just like to see Cobb, and the Cubs win a Championship.....Then again I like to see the 27 Yanks.

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Posted By: Anonymous

June 22, 1957. Yankees v. Chisox at Yankee Stadium. Tommy Byrne came in to relieve and pitched 9 innings of 1 hit ball. In the bottom of the 13th Yogi strolled up to the plate and my father said "Yogi's hitting this one out and we can go home". Paul LaPalme threw it, Yogi hit it and we were able to go home. This 8 year old looked at his dad like he was the smartest person on earth. This nearly 59 year old would give it all to do it again.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I'd sell 25K worth of my collection to see Cobb play in his prime.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

Jeff-

only 1% of your collection?

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Posted By: peter ullman

no

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Posted By: Steve

My Mitchell Report team set for,

1919 WSC, Cincinatti Reds vs Chi Sox... Did Joe and the Ginger Kid truly make an honest effort? We all know Shoeless was on the take, by his own admission. But when push came to shove, Did he really take the dive? Regardless, the point is moot -he took the cash.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

No, Mike, you're 100 percent off. It's 2% of my collection.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

jeff- does that make me 98% correct?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Yes!

You should have been a lawyer!

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Posted By: MVSNYC

jeff- i went to design school for 7 years...i SHOULD have went for law or medicine instead...hahaha

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Posted By: John J. Grillo

Yes, either game...1975 Game 6 WS Red Sox vs. Reds or 1984 NBA Finals Celtics vs. Lakers Game 7.

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

No. I would not trade in my collection to see a specific game. Not even a dozen specific games....

Bruce, you saw Mantle homer in the 1964 WS. I saw him hit one in the 64 Series, too. The one I saw was in game 7... my Cards won 7-5. Lemme think, the Cards are up on the Yankees 3-2 in World Series... yeah, that's it.

I saw game 7 in 1964, and 7 more WS since. Saw Brock's 3000th hit. Saw Rose's 4192nd hit. Saw Jose Jimenez win a no-hitter against Randy Johnson in 1999, and finally met Lew Lipset in person at that game, after talking with him a zillion times on the phone.

No, I don't think any of us here would trade our cards to see have seen a specific game. I'd trade in having seen Pete's 4192nd hit, ticket stub and all, for just one of the T206s I lack.

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Posted By: Jason L

never

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Posted By: Joe D.

my collection has let me see many many games.

I saw the 1906 World Series between the Cubs and White Sox. I saw Walter Johnson pitch for the Santa Ana California team. I watched Honus walk to the plate. And... Matty - what a joy it was to see Matty and the Giants.

You see... the best part about my collection is that it drives me to learn more and more about the players / the games / the rivalries / the stories of the time. So - I have experienced many games - through my collection.... why would I go backward and limit it to one?



Jeff -
Can I pick out the $25K cards that you would have to give up? Its no fair just to give up a monetary amount (or stuff you would sell anyway)... it has to cut deep.



BTW -
I would give up the entire collection (I think).....

If I was able to golf a few rounds in a tournament with Bobby Jones.

And I would give them all up if I was able to play in a series as part of the Giants..... any series would do... but lets make it the 1904 World Series.

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Posted By: john/z28jd

If anyone wants to trade their collection for upcoming games such as the Yankees playing in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1960,which I just happen to have 2 extra tickets to each of the 3 games and its already sold out.....please let me know,because i can make part of that dream come true,youll have to get yourself to the stadium though

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Joe, are you telling me that you wouldn't give up one of your Old Tom Morris cards to play a round with him? We're talking Old Tom Morris!

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Posted By: Dan Kravitz

never!

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Posted By: Joann

I guess I would.

I'd trade my entire collection to see one Detroit Tigers game from 1909. It would have to be in Detroit, and in June so it's not very hot (and after school is out, because locals know that for some bizaare reason the Tigers always do better after the kids get out of schoool - never count them out before about June 10 or so). It'd have to be a game they won and in which all of the regulars, especially Cobb, played pretty much the entire game. That game I'd trade my collection for.

I'd also trade it for any game in the 20's in NYC in which Ruth hit more than one home run. (Again, in June before it's too hot out, and preferably a Yanks win.)

And of course, in both cases the seats would have to be pretty good too! Gotta watch the fine print when it comes to this wishing business.

I think, though, that this reflects the extent of my collection as much as a desire to see a game. I could always simply start collecting again as soon as I got back.

J

(Jeff - really? If you genuinely somehow had the ability to go back and see Cobb play you'd only go $25K for it? Somehow I thought you'd go all out, since you are such a Cobb fan.)

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Posted By: Ken W.

June 14, 1870

The Cincinnati Red Stockings vs. the New York Atlantics in Brooklyn. The day the Reds lost.

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Posted By: Joe

Without hesitation I would give up an Old Tom Morris card to play a round of golf with Old Tom himself.

thats an easy one.

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Posted By: Richard S. Simon

If I could take my son and daughter with me (both big baseball fans) how about the Bobby Thomson game?? I have the stub, but it's not mine.
--

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
Unknown author
--
We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.
No retreat baby, no surrender.
The Boss

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Posted By: H Murphy

yes I`d trade my entire collection to see one game. As others have said, the whole collection to go back to the summer of 1968 for my 1`st game at sunny Fenway Park. My father, rest in peace, picked up my brother and me and we sat in the best seats I ve ever had. 3`rd base side about 6 rows back behind the Indians dugout. Ken "the Hawk" Harrelson hit a huge 3 run bomb and the Sox won big, obviously I`ll never forget it. Thanx Dad, I know you looked down and smiled in 2004 and 2007!

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Posted By: Bob

Yes but only two games would be worth it:

1908 Merkle Boner game Giants v. Cubs
1919 WS Game 7 when Eddie Cicotte tried to win (and did)

I've attended in person the greatest college football game ever played Dec. 6, 1969 Texas 15 Arkansas 14, both undefeated playing for the national championship on ABC with one present and one future president Nixon and Bush in attendance. It was the greatest sports heartbreak I have ever had and have still not fully recovered 39 years later. I would trade my entire collection if Randy Peschel of Texas had dropped that 4th and forever pass late in the fourth quarter.

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Posted By: Hank

Scott,

Box up your collection and tie it in a nice ribbon ... I'm taking you to a ballgame!

Love,
Dad

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Bob, the greatest college football game of all time was played in Norman, Oklahoma on Thanksgiving day 1971.

http://espn.go.com/classic/s/ou_neb_memories_mildren.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLvv3KPNHfY

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Posted By: Bob

Whenever the "greatest college game ever played" is debated the '71 OU-Nebraska game is the other one mentioned. The Hogs-Horns game was played in 1969, the 100th year of college football and was named the greatest game ever played in the first 100 years of college football. OU-NU was 2 years later and was a great game also.
One interesting note, the '69 game marked #1 and #2 both undefeated playing on the last day of the season and it was the only game on TV. More interesting, both teams were all-white and is of historical significance for that reason even if the game had not been such a nail-biter and cliff hanger. Both Texas and Arkansas destroyed their opponents all year long and were easily the two best teams in the nation (although Penn State also finished undefeated and Paterno has never forgiven Richard Nixon for going in to the Horns dressing room and proclaiming them national champs).
And yes I would trade every single card including every E94 color variation if somehow Sherman and Peabody could whisk me back in time and I could alert the referee to call the clip on James Street's long touchdown run which opened the 4th quarter or for the line judge not to call the phantom holding call on Chuck Dicus' touchdown reception from Bill Montgomery which would have made the score 21-0 and UT could never have come back...