Considerations while collecting

[cubsfan-budman]

Do you take into consideration the character of the athlete that you collect when collecting?

As a new vintage collector, a huge portion of the enjoyment that I receive is reading about the athlete's lives as I collect. One of the things that shouldn't have been surprising is the extremely varied lives that these guys lived. On one hand you have what appear to be great guys like Gehrig and Gehringer and then questionable characters like Cap Anson and Ty Cobb.

I've been drinking, so bear with me, but I don't imagine that anyone would collect cards of a modern player who was a well known racist or cheater. So anyhow, again, as a new collector, I guess I don't bear the burden of thinking that Ty Cobb needs to be the centerpiece of my collection.

Does this occur to other collectors?

If you're not building a set, do you avoid Chick Gandil or Eddie Collins?

Post Script, I certainly mean no offense to any that collect these players! Just wondering!

[Bicem]

what's wrong with Eddie Collins?

I don't take character into consideration, I personally admire these guys as ballplayers and not men, and what they did on the field and not off. My only exception would be maybe Waddell who's off the field antics I find interesting. Of course, if he wasn't the great player he was, I wouldn't collect him.

[z28jd]

I would do it with newer cards if I collected more of them. Unless I was putting together a set, I'd trade(or sell) away any Yankees, and some various players for various reasons, such as Pirates players I didn't like when they were on the team, BJ Upton because he shouldn't be allowed to play baseball after all the times he gave zero effort, AJ Pierzynski because he is an annoying human being, etc.

Older players didn't have a chance to personally annoy me so I don't get mad at things they did well before I was born. Heck, I even like old Yankees players

[rainier2004]

I don't take into consideration character, its hard to really know anyway. I don't care too much for anson after reading about him, too bad he's the key card to the N28s which I am going for if I ever finish my CJs. Its about their ball playing.

[ValKehl]

Yes, I take character into considration. This ia one of the reasons that I collect Walter Johnson and Sam Rice.
Val

[Texxxx]

I don't take character into consideration. If I did I would collect Mother Teresa cards but I don't. I collect "Baseball" cards.

[Bocabirdman]

I do take character into consideration. The MORE of a character the player was, the more likely it is that he will wind up in my collection, sooner than later.

[kmac32]

Could care less about a players character. I collect the set I like. Into black and white issue.

[Paul S]

You might be best served by picking up the CD pack of The Glory of Their Times. You would find that players have not changed all that much in 100 years:
Following is a man of excess, a misanthrope, and a cheat. You would deny yourself these cards? As for modern, I dont collect them, so I don't Buy Bonds.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

I do take character into consideration. The MORE of a character the player was, the more likely it is that he will wind up in my collection, sooner than later.

Mike, you must have handfuls of Germany Schaefer!

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

Do you take into consideration the character of the athlete that you collect when collecting?

Two of my favorite pre-war baseball players are Ty Cobb and Hal Chase.....so my answer is obviously no.

[ullmandds]

I like to collect players I like as well as the best of the best.

I think you'll find in most aspects of life that the best of the best...the most successful in their chosen field...especially athletes...tend to be flawed...ultra competetive...prone to excess and extravagances...and sometimes cheating and brutality. Much more interesting to me as well than someone more vanilla!

[Exhibitman]

A bit. I've never been much of a fan of Joe DiMaggio, for example, because of how he treated fans, so I probably place less value on having cards of his than his place in Yankees and baseball history otherwise merits. I used to idolize Willie Mays until I met him at a card show and was so disgusted by his behavior that I dumped my entire collection of his cards. I also don't bother with the steroid boys even though Bonds and Clemens should be in the top echelon of player collections. I'd normally go after a nice signed card of each to represent them but haven't bothered.

[Eric72]

“Character” is somewhat important to my collecting habits. For good or ill, I do take into consideration the stories behind the players. Whether it might be the eccentricities of Rube Waddell or the wholesome goodness of Christy Mathewson, the lavish excess of Babe Ruth or the quiet reserve of Lou Gehrig, the passionate (and somewhat questionable, by today’s standards) drive of Ty Cobb or the similarly driven Pete Rose, along with Jackie Robinson’s admirable and hard-fought contributions to the game and Roberto Clemente’s generosity of spirit, these players (and many more) pique my interest in ways that .300 hitters, the 500 Home Run Club (Rafael Palmeiro, anyone?) and 3,000 Strikeout members never will.

As a side note, I agree with Jeff in asking, what is wrong with Eddie Collins?

All the best,

Eric