N172 Old Judge Collectors - Age Poll

[Joe_G.]

I thought the T206-specific thread on collector age was interesting. I realize T206 collectors outnumber N172 by 100:1 or better , but the stats on collector age would be interesting. I'm curious to see how similar or different the statistics come back. Both sets have many similarities and differences. Old Judges can be a bit more expensive, harder to find in pleasing condition, and tougher to find cards on want list, etc. Many of these items may better appeal to an older collector, but I do know others and myself included began collecting them while young (teenager).

So if you consider OJs to be part of your collecting scope, anywhere from the die-hards to those that pick-up an occasional copy, please weigh in.

[Joe_G.]

I opted to keep the poll anonymous to hopefully garner more votes, but encourage you to share your age in a reply. I myself turned 40 a couple months ago. I remember being one of the young guys on the forum in my 20s. Seems like only yesterday

[cyseymour]

36

[cfc1909]

48

[timn1]

the choices only go up to 99. I been smokin them OJs since I was three, and so I am now 138 years young, koff koff.
--

mebbe all that nicotine has impaired my ability to cipher -- I am actually 128,

[Cardboard Junkie]

62.....feel like 25Dave. (Life long collector....but just dipping my toes in the 19th century water.)

[kkkkandp]

Like Dave, I was 62 on my last birthday.

Bought my first Old Judge (Tim Keefe) back on January 19, 1997 from Terry Knouse, Senior, at a Gloria Rothstein Show in White Plains, NY.

If I only knew then what I know now...

[Matthew H]

I just turned 33. I plan to stay this age for awhile.

[Joe_G.]

It's good to see a strong 30-something representation (so far). I do wish there were more collectors in their 20s and even some teens. I know I wasn't the only teen back in the 80s seeking these cards. Of course they were more affordable and that could be the main reason.

My first OJ purchase was Emil Geiss in fair condition from Southern cards in the late 1980s for $12. I also remember winning a small lot of cards in a Lew Lipset auction for an average price of $30 each (unfortunately no Detroits). The first Detroit Wolverine was from Lew Lipset in 1989; a Bill Watkins N172. I paid a healthy $130 for it back then at the age of 16. I have chosen not to upgrade the card as it is nice enough and has some sentimental value.

[RCMcKenzie]

Here's a later Watkins..




My first OJ purchase was on ebay around 1997-98. It was Al Maul and I sold it about 3 months later. Had it not been for ebay, I would have never resumed card collecting.

[z28jd]

I got my first OJ when I was 18, a Christmas present ordered out of the Larry Fritsch catalog, but I wanted one well before that. Saw a Ewing/Mascot in a book around the age of ten and always said I would get one. I didn't really start collecting the set until I was 26 though.

[Matthew H]

John, you have too many OJs for your age, you need to let some go.

I saw my first OJ at the 91' national... Wayyyyy out of my price range. Prices were pretty high back then. I left the show with some beater Cracker Jacks and Goudeys, I think I paid close to what they'd be worth today. I've heard that oj prices came down for awhile between now and then... I wish I knew, although I did lose touch with card collecting in high school.

[z28jd]

I'm just under 10 OJ's per year I've been alive, that's not even one a month. I've got some catching up to do

[kkkkandp]

I need to catch up, too.

If I do 10 per year, I should be able to complete the set (minus the California Leaguers) by the time I'm 87! : )

[Fred]

JD,

How old were you when you got your first "Larry"?


Joe,

How would you define an OJ collector? Is this someone that has "one" or "two"? Someone that knows about OJs and has a few or someone that has more than a dozen? I collect Zeenuts but I only have a couple dozen and the Zeenuts are not the focus of my collection. Could you start a "rider" to this poll? Perhaps - how many OJs do you have? I'm not very site savvy and I don't know how to start a poll.

0 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 100
101 - 250
251 - 500
> 500

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Fred

JD,

How old were you when you got your first "Larry"?

19th birthday present. My second OJ and it too was from Fritsch

[Matthew H]

Fred, wouldn't you consider anyone gathering OJs with intent to collect, a collector?

I hope to hit the 100 mark by early next year. I think collecting +/- 25 a year is a good attainable goal for me (while easy ones are still out there)

[ValKehl]

I'll turn 70 before this year comes to an end. I collect only Washington players - I have approx. 70 different (counting different poses and variations).
Val

[Fred]

Matt,

I suppose you could call anyone that owns an OJ, an OJ collector. I was just wondering how you define a "collector" of a certain series of cards. As I mentioned before, I have Zeenuts but they're not a focus of my card collection. I guess I'm a Zeenut collector.

[Matthew H]

Fred,

If someone had one OJ and was planning on buying more, I'd call them and OJ collector. If you are planning on buying more Zeenuts, then in my opinion, yes you are a Zeenut collector.

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by kkkkandp

If I only knew then what I know now...

Sounds like a Bob Segar song. Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then...

[scooter729]

I better hurry up and answer the poll today while I'm still in the 30-39 category. If I wait a few more days I will skew the stats to the 40-49 category - ugh.

[markf31]

33.

I've picked up 4 OJs so far, starting on a Pittsburgh/Pittsburg set.

[Matthew H]

RC -- Nice Orr, He was one of the first cards I wanted to pick up... I still don't have one.

[piedmont150]

Just took the dive into Old Judges after reading the wonderful book you guys wrote.. Now working with Jay and others to feed my collection. I am now hooked.

Age 53.

[Joe_G.]

Great to hear from some newer collectors of all ages. The set is certainly addictive.

Fred, I may start another poll but it will be more about the way the set is collected as opposed to a card count. I will however encourage voters to reply with more details including how far along they are in their journey. If for example you are trying to collect just the Browns Champs, how many of the 13 card subset are you away from completion.

I see one vote casted for 0-9 and a couple under 90-99. Would love to hear from those who cast those votes if they were not cast by mistake.

79 votes cast so far, not too shabby. There may be more of us on the board than I thought.

[jcmtiger]

I have around 30 of the Detroit Players. Have 26 of the 28 1887 team.

Looking for more.

Joe

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Joe_G.

Great to hear from some newer collectors of all ages. The set is certainly addictive.

Fred, I may start another poll but it will be more about the way the set is collected as opposed to a card count. I will however encourage voters to reply with more details including how far along they are in their journey. If for example you are trying to collect just the Browns Champs, how many of the 13 card subset are you away from completion.

I have 348 with no real direction, collected Pittsburgh players once, then team type cards, once bought cool looking poses. Now just look for tough players that slip through the cracks. Wanted to go for a player set, at least as far as I could. Who knows now, my collecting goal is as unorganized as the picture looks... just noticed this pic has my first OJ showing, right above the right stack of Corcorans. My priceless Joe Mulvey!

[oldjudge]

Great group John. I can see some beautiful images.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Great group John. I can see some beautiful images.

Thanks. That was really just a "me being lazy" picture. I was going to send someone random scans. At the time, I was trying to figure out what extra doubles I had(turns out I only had three, but only one actual pose double) and just snapped a pic of all of them(345 at a time) instead of scanning individual ones.

[Bosox Blair]

Perhaps this poll will silence some of the "sky is falling" naysayers...over 60% of Old Judge collectors are younger than 50.

Some seem to believe that vintage card collecting is dying with the current generation and that we'll see a massive sell-off and devaluation of these items (there was another recent thread on this).

I think this poll shows - at least for Old Judge - that this prediction is unfounded, at least in terms of the demographics.

Cheers,
Blair

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by Joe_G.

It's good to see a strong 30-something representation (so far). I do wish there were more collectors in their 20s and even some teens.

Hi Joe,

I think this is generally true of high-value collectibles. You need to have disposable income and interest to get involved. These days most folks don't have the cash to throw for these things before 30 (IMO).

There is also the factor that some vintage card collectors come to Old Judge later. Another person in this thread indicated this was true for him. That is my story...I collected pre-war (post-1900) for over 20 years before buying my first Old Judge cards pretty recently - over the age of 40.

Cheers,
Blair