One of the truly special results of running a website about T206 player autographs is that collectors I’ve never met will send me notes of appreciation, and share their own love of the hobby. I’ve gotten some pretty great emails over the past nearly 20 years running it.
When someone I haven’t met passes away and there is a report on Net54, I always check my emails to see if we ever connected. This morning I found this wonderful, and apropos, email from Bill that he sent me 15 years ago on May 14, 2009:
Hi,
My name is Bill Hedin and I'm a 48 year old collector who made his
living running shows and operating stores since the 1970's. I first
fell in love with T-206 cards when my Mom & Dad gave me a stack for my
8th birthday. Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and so many others shined at
me and I was immediately a vintage card collector and historian of
Baseball.
I had virtually everything but Plank and Wagner over the years. I had
all the sets like George Millers, all the Goudey's, most of the T's,
some E's and some great rare regionals. I even had over 300 different
N-172's and about 50 cabinets. Cards treated me as well as I cared for
my treasures.
In the 1990's I sold virtually everything to pay for tuition in order
to put my two daughters through college, graduate school and medical
school. At the same time I paid to send my wife back to college to get
her PhD. I paid for the funerals of my beloved grand-parents and my
best friend, my Father. These people were so supportive in my
unorthodox life as a Card Dealer, that I feel the collection was well
spent upon liquidation. Yes, I miss the cards but I'm slowly buying a
few vintage cards every week or so. I still love cards even though I'm
not in love with what has happened to our hobby.
Now, at 48, my health is horrible. What I pray for is a few more good
years. I get through my days with the love and support of my children,
wife, mom, new-born grand-daughter and the rest of my loving family.
When God calls me home, I plan to leave some very nice vintage cards
and stunning rare coins to my family. Each card and coin I now buy has
extra special meaning.
I certainly had a great career in this hobby and spent my money on good
things when it was time to sell. I have but one regret that keeps me up
nights:
I retired from running shows in November of 2008 and out of the 1000's
of dealers and 10's of thousands of customers that saw me every week,
less than a handful have even called me to see how I'm doing. I suppose
they were all just customers. How sad it is, because I thought these
people were my friends.
May God Bless you always and keep enjoying our hobby. I'm afraid guys
like us will be forgotten in the years to come.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, articles and brilliant writings.
Sincerely,
Bill Hedin
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