hello from Kit Young

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Posted By: Kit Young

Hello from Kit Young

I have been a fan of this site for some time now; I think it's a terrifc resource for advanced collectors and is a well-managed site. I also know a great many folks here, including Ted, Barry, Mark, Dan, Levi, Huggy, etc. as well as many collectors from over the years. Leon has been very helpful in getting me set up here and has encouraged me to post some thoughts from my perspective as an oldtime dealer.

I'd like to comment on a recent posting concerning whether dealers collect cards. Yes, almost all dealers are collectors. Fritsch has a terrific collection, one of the best anywhere. Levi is said to have a stellar collection as well, as do many other dealers. I have just a modest collection of Mantle and Vada Pinson cards and various memorabilia. Also, one of you asked if being a fulltime dealer takes some of the thrill out of collecting. He's got a point. When I first started back in the Stone Age it was great to have stacks of 52's or cigar boxes of t-cards sitting around from my buying trips. But as time went on, it became harder to get excited about 1957's when you had 10 each of Mantles, Koufaxes, Williams, etc in stock...For me, the passion for cards didn't change, but the passion for big-time collecting did.

I am hardly complaining..Fritsch, Pat Quinn, I, and others are indeed fortunate we were each able to channel our card-collecting passion into actual livings.. I'd hate to go back to sitting behing a desk in a bank. Kit