new member intro, who else had their early collections thrown out

[billyb]

Hi all,
I am a new member but have already posted one thread about wire photos. I have enjoyed this site so much that I am hooked, so it is time to introduce myself.
My name is Bill, and from Michigan (please no Lion jokes), and am 65 years old.
I started collecting cards in the latter 50s when a penny would get you a 2 card pack. I had all the stars of the era, Ted, Mickey, Pee Wee and Duke, even Satchel found my collection. I did not worry about condition at the time but I enjoyed these cards, but rubber bands adorned each team and some doubles found my bicycle spokes.
I collected until cars and girls entered my life, and then the military called. The cards were stored in the attic, but while I was away, my father remodeled the house and the attic became a second floor and items that were stored in attic were thrown out, including, yes Mantle, Mays, Williams were all gone.
My collective juices were not restored until the 1980s when I went to my first card show. That is when I realized what was lost, but what was still available. My only problem, I hate to sell or lose what I have. But I enjoy buying. Because of all money going out and nothing coming in, my purchase power (the wife) is limited. But I enjoy just the same.
My interest is mostly in baseball, but enjoy all sports.
My most valued possessions is a Mantle model mitt with Mickey's autograph, and a team autographed 1992 Red Wing hockey stick with which include some 5 or 6 hall of fame signatures.
And some 1953 picture negatives of Tigers in Spring training which I have not yet developed.
A small time collector, but this site has got my juices going again, and enjoy all the conversations as well as all the knowledge you all provide.

So who else lost their early collections or, part of a collection?

billyb

[EvilKing00]

Hey Billy,

Your story sounds just like what my dad told me about all the old cards he used to have. Sad really all the awesome cards just thrown out.

Anyways - welcome!

[billyb]

EK,
Yea, my dad did not believe in collecting "cardboard". I just hope the garbage collector or somebody found them. Several thousand cards.

Billyd

[ethicsprof]

welcome aboard!!!
no one threw mine out---i wish i could say that.
I sold all my cards---many mantles, mays, musial,spahn,etc.--- at a mall full of card vendors in 1984. I was newly married and in grad. school and thought
i'd get a bundle for them. I did get a bundle (ones and fives). Around $250
or so. C'est la vie. Several good meals out of it, luckily.
all the best,
barry

[sdkammeyer]

Welcome to the site!

Mine were burned. Well, they werent mine, but they would have been mine a decade later

My father (born in 1955) collected DIE-HARD as a kid. Every extra penny he had went to buying cards. During his high school years he was in a perpetual argument with his brother (my uncle) .... and yes it was over a girl
One afternoon the argument got extra heated so my uncle took all dad's cards out to the burn barrel and they met a wicked demise. Fast forward about 10-12 years ...... i'm 8 years old and dad bought me the 1984 Topps set (since he didnt have his own cards to give me). That started it all for me right there.

I put all those 84's into nice shiny new pages and in a beautiful blue binder. I still pull that binder out from time to time and flip through the pages.... although not the most valuable monetarily, they are my sentimental favorites.

[kmac32]

I went away to college and got a last minute phone call from mom. Cards got saved and later became my Topps Cubs only collection. Traded or sold all the cards except the Cubs and still add Cubs team sets and updates every year. That leads to my prewar addiction to E121 Yankees and Giants and my W572 set.

[jbsports33]

Welcome to the Board,

My Dad had a 1933/1934 Goudey collection thrown out by my grandmother, when I was in High School he went to get them thinking they would still be there. Later in my early 20s I showed him some that I was collecting and he said I had two shoe boxes full of those. If I started collecting prewar when I was 14 years old becuase of those cards he was going to give me, I can only imagine. It may have changed my direction on collecting, but still glad what I have learned in the hobby over the years. Maybe I would be just selling or just collecting or nothing - but happy to be doing both now!

Jimmy