My Stanton collection

[Coninefan]

I've been collecting Marlins since '93. I have pretty bad luck when it comes to attempts at a player collection...

Jeff Conine - traded
Gary Sheffield - traded
Charles Johnson - traded
Beckett, Cabrera, Logan Morrison...you guessed it - traded

My first high end Stanton purchase was the 2010 Bowman Chrome Topps 100 Superfractor back in 2011. I sold it to pay rent and always regretted it. I bought the 2013 TC Super later just so I could have one, and started picking up a few low-end Stantons here and there. Last year, the 2010 came back up for auction. I ended up rebuying it for $300 less than I sold it for. After that, I picked up a few more. I was hesitant to start ANOTHER serious collection, just to see him end up in NY or St. Louis.

When he resigned, I kicked it up a notch and started buying. A LOT. Five Star (my favorite set) was released around the same time, and he had a knob, barrel, and MLB logo auto. The odds that all got pulled were astronomical, and I knew they wouldn't be cheap. And they weren't - those alone were around $3k.

I don't have everything scanned. I have around 400 total. I have no interest in many of his cards. I'll never buy a sticker auto, and with base cards I'll usually only pick up one or two parallels. No need to have 19 versions of the same card (unless I'm doing the rainbow, of which I have 2 finished)

[Coninefan]

I try to pick up everything from 2008-2010 in graded form. BGS is a joke, but at least they have decent holders. I stick to gems because I'm anal about slab uniformity. Plus, they're 5 year old cards. They should be gem mint.

[ALR-bishop]

Do you have one of the Topps factory inaugural Marlins sets ?

[ls7plus]

What happens if Stanton poops out early, and turns out to be Rocky Colavito or Dale Murphy?

Best of luck,

Larry

[t206blogcom]

Really nice collection, thanks for sharing!

[Mountaineer1999]

Awesome collection... Some really nice looking cards

[1963Topps Set]

I thought Rocky Colavito was great. He had some monster seasons. He should be in the hall.

[quinnsryche]

WOW! What a great collection. You couldn't have picked a better guy to collect in my opinion. What's your favorite card in your collection? I like that bat barrel that says "Crafted for Giancarlo". Congrats!

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

I thought Rocky Colavito was great. He had some monster seasons. He should be in the hall.

Yep--right along with Norm Cash, Graig Nettles, Don Baylor, Dale Murphy, Willie Horton, Boog Powell, Gil Hodges, and, oh well, you get the idea! Monster seasons in place of long sustained excellence may make it if they're on the magnitude of those of Sandy Koufax or Ralph Kiner, but the Rock had too few even approaching that level!

Best,

Larry

[Enfuego]

Beautiful Collection.

[7nohitter]

Awesome collection! What's been your most difficult acquisition?

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

What happens if Stanton poops out early, and turns out to be Rocky Colavito or Dale Murphy?

Best of luck,

Larry

its a hobby not a money maker ..he will have fun collecting..if Stanton gets hurt etc who cares..

[VintageBucs]

Holy crap, incredible collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

its a hobby not a money maker ..he will have fun collecting..if Stanton gets hurt etc who cares..

Not at those prices, with that downside risk its not simply a hobby! By the odds, what lies ahead is monetary PAIN. Wait until the speculative and transient demand for the latest and greatest slugger dies down and see what he truly achieves before spending the bucks--believe me, as someone who went through the same phase in the early '90's, the cards, rare and desireable as they appear to be now, will still be there--the prices are simply likely to be quite a bit cheaper. A PSA 10 McGwire rookie in 1998-1999 was $5,000--lately they've been going for $530-$690. More recently, gold refractors of Joe Mauer and David Wright came out of the gate at $1500-$2000. Try getting a tenth of that for either now! Lots of bad things can happen, and more often than not, do, to derail a promising player's career.

Larry

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

Not at those prices, with that downside risk its not simply a hobby! By the odds, what lies ahead is monetary PAIN. Wait until the speculative and transient demand for the latest and greatest slugger dies down and see what he truly achieves before spending the bucks--believe me, as someone who went through the same phase in the early '90's, the cards, rare and desireable as they appear to be now, will still be there--the prices are simply likely to be quite a bit cheaper. A PSA 10 McGwire rookie in 1998-1999 was $5,000--lately they've been going for $530-$690. More recently, gold refractors of Joe Mauer and David Wright came out of the gate at $1500-$2000. Try getting a tenth of that for either now! Lots of bad things can happen, and more often than not, do, to derail a promising player's career.

Larry

if he pulling them from packs it not bad...people go to the casino and lose money..people lose money on hobbies...its a hobby

[bbcard1]

Love the collection... I have bought a few Stanton cards myself

[chaddurbin]

nice stuff!

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

if he pulling them from packs it not bad...people go to the casino and lose money..people lose money on hobbies...its a hobby

Just so long as he's aware that Juan Gonzalez, Jose Canseco, Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood, etc., etc., as well as David Wright and Joe (give the Twins a refund, Joe!) Mauer all had their all too brief days in the sun too. We thought Juan Gonzalez was the new Reggie Jackson in the early '90's. Except for Wright and Mauer, been there, done that. I was, like a lot of collectors, deceived by a lot of the juicers (don't ever kid yourself that PED's are gone from the game--there are media scoops hiding in the wings just waiting to happen with regard to a lot of current stars--that is one genie that they'll never be able to get entirely back in the bottle!). Then too, some simply peter out far too early, through injury or otherwise (see Kerry Wood--almost unhittable early on, with a 100 mph fastball and nasty, sharp, late-breaking curve). Albert Belle's 50-HR, 50-doubles season was once the talk of the town too. MAKE NO MISTAKE--it certainly was not fun seeing $$$$ being transformed to pennies, but seems like every generation of new card collectors of current players has to experience it.

Hope you win out on Stanton,

Larry

[chaddurbin]

if hes not concerned about it, why are you? i think he knows all about the perils and downfalls, can't the dude just show off his collection which he's obviously proud of without you shitting all over the thread?

[Coninefan]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Awesome collection! What's been your most difficult acquisition?

None of them have been particularly difficult. It's mostly just planning and timing. If you know a high end set is coming out, you'll need plenty of disposable funds.

So far, the most difficult acquisition is one I haven't even picked up yet...a base 2010 Topps RC BGS 9.5. No one bothers grading them.


As for the talk about whether or not it's risky...of course it is, but I don't care. Every penny I've spent on Stanton and other Marlins have come from selling other stuff. I'd frankly rather see his stuff tank because I'm tired of spending so much money on it. It'll stop being a hobby when it stops being fun.