Greatest Bargain Buy and/or Pack Thirll?
 

I love to bust open packs and boxes but I also love scanning the local garage sales and flea markets in search of that incredible deal that seems too good to be true.

So my question to the community is, what is your biggest bargain buy and if applicable to your collecting style...you're best wax bust?

Here are mine:

In 1994; I was 9 years old and used my grass-cutting money to buy a "high end" pack of football cards. I think it was Press Pass or something like that. Seven bucks a pack in 94! You were guaranteed to get an autograph card in every pack. Most auto-cards where "limited" to 7,000 or 10,000, some outrageous number back then. I opened my pack and didn't get an autographed card. I was really upset and told the card shop owner I should get my money back. He said, let me see the cards.... I showed him and he said, "Yeah, I'll give you your $7 back right now!" I declined because there was a redemption card in the pack, which was UNHEARD OF back in 1994. It was for a Steve McNair autographed mini-card. At the time I didn't know who McNair was. The card shop owner grabbed the Beckett and looked up my card. He then offered me a $100 and I asked to see the Beckett. He told me to buy one, he was an ass. Luckily my buddies house was near by and we went to his place to look the card up. The "Mail Out McNair Auto" booked for 1K LOL! We went back to the card shop and I eventually got $500 worth of trade in the store. My friends and I got soooo many boxes and packs of cards and even some ice cold sodas and snacks, went back to my house and opened cards ALL DAY LONG. Nothing beats that when your a nine year old with 10 or 12 bucks to spend on cards every week or two. One of my favorite memories as a kid and regarding the hobby.

My biggest bargain, which fits the pre-war category is that I once obtained a 1933 Ruth Goudey from a local flea market for a fifty dollars. It was an old lady with various odds and ends she was selling out of her van. I looked in a cigar box she had sitting out and saw a dozen or so cards. At the time, I collected post-war, only newer stuff but I knew the name Babe Ruth. I didn't know what it was worth (wish I still had it) and I asked the lady how much she wanted for it. She said "Make me an offer." I offered $20 and she said "It's probably worth more, I'd let it go for $50." I didn't have $50 (I was a kid, maybe 12 or 13) so I convinced my buddy to pony up his money too. Together we had fifty bucks and bought the card. We saw the book value and were shocked! I don't remember the exact BV but it was thousands! Most of our cards as kids booked out at a max of $20-$50 IF THAT. We didn't take condition into consideration back then, it was pretty beat up and peeling. In a tragic incident, my parents basement flooded and the Ruth, along with many other of my cards where stored in the basement. We had insurance and the company paid the book value of the card to my parents, they did give me the money for it after and I split it with my friend. We ended up buying a lot more cards with it haha!

Any similar stories or exciting/memorable finds for anyone?