[jingram058]

When I graduated from USAF/USN weather forecasting school (MOAF C-1 School, yes, the Air Force and Navy go to the same weather schools) at Chanute AFB, Illinois in 1988, I re-enlisted in the Navy for a $20k bonus. They gave me $16k in cash; the other $4k went to the IRS. I bought a 1988 Ford Mustang LX hatchback with 5.0 litre V8 and 5 speed manual transmission at Rantoul Ford with cash for the $13,525 sticker price. I still have that window sticker as a souvenir. Same as a GT, but without GT trim. Lots of police used this same car for catching speeders on the expressways.

At Chanute AFB, they had a small shopping mall built in to the front of the base PX. They held card shows there on base on a regular basis. I used to go to them and salivate over all the neat cards and memorabilia.

Well, with the change from the Mustang burning a hole in my pocket, at one of the Chanute AFB card shows conveniently taking place the weekend after I graduated, I bought a 1934-39 official AL baseball autographed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb, from NationalPastime with a letter of authentication from Harvey Brandwein. Paid $500 for the ball, and I still have it. I also bought a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144 and Lou Gehrig #160, both cards for $500, also authenticated by Harvey Brandwein. I still have both of them, but I foolishly sold a 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #61 and some other cards a few years later when I got into a monetary jam but that is another story. The $1,000 I paid for the ball and 2 cards remains the most I ever paid to this day.