Like many here, i have collected for a long time, and like others, i have my share of "valuable" cards.
But when asked "what is your BEST card in your collection?"
This is my answer:
In 1985 i was 14 years old and had been a big pack ripper for the better part of three years. Born and Raised in Flushing New York, i was born to be a Mets fan. In 1985, it was all about Dwight Gooden. Topps wax packs were ripped by myself (4 or 5 a day) before JHS started, in the morning in the school yard as we waited for the homeroom bell to ring. We (my best friend, who never caught the collecting bug) ripped them looking for Goodens rookie card! we got to know the sequence. they were great times in life indeed.
He's still my best friend, we're still Mets fans. Life goes on, things happen, yada yada yada
a little more then three and a half years ago i was diagnosed with diabetes. being down about it, i went through a section of my cards that i hadnt looked through in a while. Low and behold i ran into a stack of 1985 Topps Goodens that i pack pulled 25 years earlier.
So, i decided that if Bob Costas can put a Mantle card in his wallet, i sure as heck can put a Gooden in mine!
and in it went.
Flash forward to last years National. i was invited to a party that Gooden was going to be attending. Having been invited i said of course id like to go. it was only after confirming that i would be going that i remembered that the card was in my wallet.
i told Dwight my story and he was very nice and politely agreed to sign my card. He even personalized it "To Eric, Best Wishes" Man i couldnt believe it, i really couldnt. i was like a flustered kid again, having just conversed with my childhood idol.
Well, i had to give it the protection it deserved after that, so i had it slabbed at the show.
