[bsuttonosu]

Very interesting book idea. One of the reasons I still collect is because of the memories it evokes for me. My Dad took my brother and me to card stores and shows all over the place and even got into collecting some himself of his childhood heroes and current favorite players. We went to a show together a few weeks ago and I had to talk him out of buying a '71 Ryan I know was trimmed. He liked the condition for the price!

I remember exactly the story behind lots of my cards. One I'll never forget is my 1958 Topps Orlando Cepeda RC. A friend of my Dad's knew we collected and asked if we'd sell an old box of cards he had as a kid. They were '57s and '58s, maybe a shoe box full. Most of the stars were mangled from being played with but the rest were in decent shape. He thought we might get him $100 or so. I was only a young teenager but my Dad took us on a road trip to a big show and I worked the room for $1000. The friend had offered up front to pay me for selling them. When I gave him the money he was shocked and I asked instead of paying me if I could keep one card...the Cepeda. The only star he had in good condition.

I still remember that show. My cousin went with us and won a door prize for an '82 set with a Ripken RC. We got Rollie Fingers autograph at that show. I nearly worked a trade of some of those '57s and '58s for a Ryan RC that I thought would be easier to resell but it fell through at the last minute. I so wanted to own that Ryan for just a second before I would have flipped it! And I still have that Cepeda today.