A card collector's mortality- slightly OT

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Posted By: Bob

I had an interesting and sobering experience last night when my 5 year old grandson got his first peek in to grandpa's safe and the many cards slabbed and stacked therein. I showed him some (although he was much more fascinated with the 1909 Domino Disc metal set)and his eyes got as big as pie plates. I told him that some day these would all be his (or at least 1/2 depending on whether his older sister cared enough about money or cards to be interested) when he asked how old he would then be. I told him, "oh, when you are about 30." He turned to me and with that solemn and innocent look on his face, said, "Gee Paw-paw, you'll be dead then." Wow. I guess I would be 81 if I make it that long but suddenly my own mortality and the sudden apprehension that I might not indeed be around to see my grandson hit 30 was very sobering and more than a little depressing. It kinds of brings things in to perspective, doesn't it? Sorry for the "downer" thread but it's been a slow day, card and otherwise. I have resolved to make that last 25 years of life as packed full of adventure and wonderment as I can make it. I guess one reason for this post is that I was amazed at the other thread on here which indicated so many others like Steve, Ted, Max, Barry, Jay, etc. are about my age and I wondered if their reaction would have been similar to mine.
Well, I'm doing my best to cheer up and trying to resolve to make each and every day worthwhile. A noble effort and one which is surely beyond reach but, "a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for," as someone once said. (Browning?)

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

Yes, Pete Browning. But didn't he also say "keep all of your assets liquid, and not outta my reach"

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Posted By: E, Daniel

It's funny, I went through some of the same emotions yesterday but came to them a different route.
I was looking at some 19thC. sporting themed cabinets and cdv's on ebay and took time to really look into the players, or should I say people's - faces. Each looked out toward the camera from a setting probably close to home, and a life evolving at the time to be who know's what and end up who know's where. I mean, what happened even to the rest of that day for them, and did they reflect on the image later with untold stories.......And then I thought, you know, those guys (every one was male) lived so and so many years, maybe had kids, maybe grandkids, but after a certain generation - usually the fourth - your face, your person, your history, your connection to people who had lived around you and knew you, ends. Just like that. I mean, unless one goes on to become renowned and remembered publicly through the ages, then that's what happens. The family stories really only last 3-4 generations, and then peter out.........it's so very strange to be a part of something important in your time, and then just not be even a memory to anyone, ever again......?

So, enjoy the cards and your memories, make loved one's around you happy, it's all you can guarantee.
Although I guess that's why belief and religion are so popular!

Daniel

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Posted By: joe brennan

I didn't add my age to the "how old are you and how long Prewar thread,". But I will do it here. I just hit the big 50 and for the first time in my life a birthday really hit me hard. I know its just a number, but this is a sober number.
Not to blow my own horn, but I will a second to come to a point.
I was a great baseball player in my youth. Accually, a great all around athlete. Baseball, football track, basketball anything I tried I excelled.
I played minor league ball and then played pro softball. I retired and played locally on 3 Texas state championship teams, being all state 3 years in a row and state MVP in 1989. I retired for good in 1992.
I am with my second wife now, and all she has is the stories of my once glory years. No one is left anymore to say' " I seen you play."
The years have come and gone and all that is left are fond memories and pictures of a younger man enjoying the days of his youth.
I don't feel like I'm ready for the grave, but I do miss the days when I could do any thing I wanted and not feel the effects of it for 4 days.
Someone smarter than me once said something to the effect "I want to go skidding to my grave used up and nothing left to give" or something like that. Problem is I gave so much in my youth that I feel the effects of it eveyday now.
Yes 50 is a very sober number.

A scared man can't gamble and a jealous man can't work.

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Posted By: jackgoodman

A couple of thoughts to add:

E.Daniel - I periodically drive past the cememtary where my grandparents are buried. I always say a silent "hello" to them. But I'm also cognizant of the fact that my niece and nephew, who are now in their 30's, will be the last generation to probably remember them.

Also, don't remember who said it but they realized their own mortality when they recognized that when they were 20, they had a fairly good shot at seeing 40. When they were 40, they had a probable chance to see 80. But now at 50, the odds are they wouldn't see 100 and they realized that they were truly into the second half of their life.

Now can we talk about baseball again, please.

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Posted By: Chris Counts

Bob,

I had a similar baseball-related mortality moment today ... every so often, especially when I start worrying too much about the trivial details of life, I look up the following website ...

www.thedeadballera.com/

It's an amazing site, dedicated exclusively to dead ballplayers. Yes, it's morbid, and it could be described as a "downer," but I actually find it somewhat exhilerating. Here, on one website, are the obituaries of so many of my favorite ballplayers. When I look at my favorite Diamond Stars, Batter-Ups, Play Balls and Exhibit cards, I see images of players frozen in their youthful glory. And yet when I look at the Dead Ball website, I see that most of my favorite players are not only dead, but died before their time from hard living ...

For me, the website is a not-so-subtle reminder of how short and sweet life is. As a collector, such experiences inspire me to buy fewer new cards and simply appreciate the ones I have. And as a certified baseball nut, such experiences inspire me to read fewer box scores and drag my rusty 45-year-old body out onto some dusty old sandlot with a couple of my rusty 45-year-old buddies and knock the ball around one more time ...

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Posted By: warshawlaw

He was here at a good time and he had a good time while he was here.

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Posted By: steve f

Terrific gravemarker in old Key West;

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Posted By: MikeB

I don't want to say at the end..."I wish I had spent less time
at the office." I try to convince my business associates that we need to work fewer
hours. I think that collecting baseball cards keeps me younger...
at least mentally.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Or so the wife says

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Posted By: Dean H

Thank you Bob for starting this thread. Thank you for the great responses. I am very much guilty of sweating the small stuff in life that in the end is very inconsequential. This kind of discussion helps remind me how lucky I am to have the family I do and to enjoy life more. Of course that does inlcude enjoying my cards too!.

Dean

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Posted By: martin dalziel

Bob M,
Thanks for the post. Its something that we all need to be reminded about - perspective, and from the mouth of babes to really emphasize the point.

Unfortunately i have way more perspective than i'd want, or would wish on anyone else. I've lost a child. Our son Jamie passed away two and half years ago. He was eighteen. He was a collector and i'm so grateful for the card shows, etc. that we attended together. We shared season tickets for the Thrashers and we'd talk sports all the time. His older brother has no interest and though he tries hard, still doesn't have that gene that a lot of us sports junkies have.

I'd make idle joking threats with Jamie, as to how if he didn't do such-and-such or so-and-so, his whole inheritence would be on Ebay in a heartbeat. His usual response was "Dad, no one cares about your old baseball junk, so go right ahead".

Love your cards and love your kids and grandkids, and make sure you give both lots of hugs and kisses along the way.

Sorry if i've downered (is that a word?) anyone but its important for me to keep Jamie's memory alive even if its just some small way like this. Thanks for indulging me and thanks agin Bob for this post and the perspective it provides.

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Posted By: joe brennan

Martin, I don't know the pain of losing a child, but I do know the pain of losing my father at an early age. He was my mentor, teacher and my best friend. He groomed me to play professional Baseball from the time I was 6 yrs. old. I'll alway cherish the time we spent on a diamond together and him in the stands watching. It's been 24 yrs now and every time I see "Field of Dreams", I alway think of the last line in the movie as a tribute to my dad. "Hey Dad, Wanna have a catch."


Now back ot our regular scheduled program, little pieces of cardboard.


A scared man can't gamble and a jealous man can't work.

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Posted By: DJ

Sometimes thoughts go beyond cardboard and that thread about ones ages in some ways humble you and you wonder exactly where thr first part of your life went. I'm amazed how many young people collect and I was taken back as some started out their collections when they were embryos! That is truly amazing and Bravo to them all! I know a twenty-four year old who puts every dime into his stupid red automobile. The car looks like a space ship and doesn't even resemble an automobile anymore. It has wings now.

My friends would rather go a "nudie-bar" * and blow a $100-150 while all I can think about is that I could come closer to my goal and maybe pick up 3-4 VG T206 singles for the three hours spent feeding the harmless stimuli.

I started collecting when I was seven some thirty years ago and even today, I can't find anyone in my area that shares my passion. When I eventually have children, based on my surroundings, I can't really imagine my son finding the same passion as I did with cards and may do something stupid like sell them for the Playstation 8 or worse, put wings on his freaking automobile. So maybe my Uncle Bill (Mastro) will help me out so I can buy that house in the middle of nowhere in Hawaii.

My father didn't hand down his cards to me because he would rather improve his "bike" experience by placing those 1933 Goudey's in his spokes than pass down an eventual fortune to me. I guess that's what makes those pictures valuable.

A few years ago, I chose to live life to fullest, see more fo the world, connect more with loved ones and started to disallow little things to harbor my being (I quit having road rage a few...who am I kidding).

Peace!
DJ
* not my thing.

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Posted By: Max Weder

Tbob, what could possibly have given you the idea I'm 48?



Max

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Posted By: Keith O'Leary

Thoughtful and thought provoking posts. Thank you all.

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Posted By: Matt E.

Over my career I have placed everything inside a casket at the request of the family from: deceased pets, ashes of the spouse who went first, liquor, joints, photos, letters and lots of golf balls and clubs etc..

There were even times when the families decided to leave the Rolex and diamond rings on.

I am a funeral director of 20 years and currently a casket sales rep in Ohio.

But the funny thing is I have never seen any baseball cards make that final journey. It really is amazing how these pieces of cardboard can become quite meaningful when you get right down to it.

Would any of us consider giving Dad that PSA 3 Cobb to take with him since he loved cards so much? Mmmmm? On second thought make it a PSA 2, no 1. I'll just keep it.... It was his, now it's mine, this will be yours someday son. This card was your grandpa's.
See what I mean.