What would you collect if it wasn't Baseball?

[thekingofclout]

Earlier this evening when I started the new "Oct. Pick up" thread, I wrote this... I always said that if I didn't collect Baseball Memorabilia, it would be the Beatles.

So I now pose the question to the board; What would it be for you?

And if you already have some pieces to share, please do.

Another recent pick up for me was this original Abbey Road outtake photo taken by Linda McCartney...

BeatlesAbbetRoad-ByLindaMcCartneyCROPPED.jpg

[HRBAKER]

[mjkm90]

Great thread!!!

My first impulse is to say football, but that was too easy and too similar to collecting baseball.

It would have to be non-paper items, so no comic books (which I do like)etc. I like things I can display, that have visual appeal, are rich with nostalgia, and that at least some people can relate to.

I could easily see myself collecting brewerianna, or old advertising trays.

Here is a KILLER collector site. I could get into these soooo easily.
http://www.trayman.net

[oriolesbb6]

Same, I started collecting lots of hockey and even more antiques

[karamaxjoe]

If I hadn't gravitated towards White Sox jerseys, I would have collected vintage concert posters. My basement is full of reproductions, but I would love to have an original.

Mike

My website: http://www.freewebs.com/karamaxjoe/

[Rob D.]

I've always been tempted to dabble in Houdini memorabilia, along with early magic-related items, but haven't taken the plunge. Mainly because I've not paid close attention and/or learned enough to make intelligent purchases.

[calvindog]

I'd collect Ranzino Smith shooting shirts and help the orphans.

[BrockJacob]

Probably college football memorabilia. But like Mike said thats a little too easy. I work for Anheuser-Busch so collecting AB stuff would be a natural fit. I think old household electronics and small appliances are cool as well.

[mcgwirecom]

I dabble in signed album covers (remember those?) If I were wealthy I would collect vintage guitars.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I'd collect Ranzino Smith shooting shirts and help the orphans.

I know where you might be able to get an internship.

[canjond]

Entry stamps in my passport.

[perezfan]

Paintings, Sculpture, and Mr. Peanut memorabilia (dating back to the early 1900s).

[slidekellyslide]

I collect toys...I especially like Hanna Barbera stuff

[bbcard1]

I have always liked rocks and fossils, though I don't really collect them.

[Kawika]

I collect Hawaiiana: artwork, old postcards, hula dollies etc etc.

[Oldtix]

Baseball is only one of my collecting vices. I collect items from most forms of entertainment in the 1930s & 1940s -- music, radio, movies, sports, comics, pulps, magazines, worlds fairs, newspapers -- plus political, historical and wartime homefront memorabilia.

My latest acquisition is the original windowcard for 1934's "THE BLACK CAT" (shown alongside a diecut promotional puzzle issued by theaters to promote "KING KONG" in 1933).

[calvindog]

Rick, I love that Black Cat piece; one of my alltime favorite movies.

All the seats in Congress held by Liberal Democrats- Would replace each with a true patriotic Republican- then we could each have the finest tea known to man,
(and woman) together with President Palin

If we could afford that hobby, we would also add ultra high condition, rare US
patterns and Territorial Gold coins-

In the interim, we're investing heavily in our own currency- ultra rare, top condition baseball memorabilia.

Bruce Dorskind
Do What's Right For America
bdorskind@dorskindgroup.com

[FUBAR]

bedpost notches!

[Scott Garner]

Fine red wine. It's to be consumed, y'know...........

[sayhey24]

Dan -- love the Secret Squirrel!

Rick -- just curious -- what exactly is the Black Cat poster enclosed in? It looks terrific.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

[Oldtix]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Rick -- just curious -- what exactly is the Black Cat poster enclosed in? It looks terrific.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

It's an old chrome display case, commonly mounted to exterior walls of theatres, drug stores, etc. The case locks shut and has a thermometer built in at the top center. There isn't any manufacturer data on it. I picked it up a couple of years ago; I like to use old cases and racks display things as they were originally presented. Here are a few other examples:

[barrysloate]

Right now I collect large cents, those big American pennies that were issued between 1793 and 1857. The thing I like best about them is there is so much to learn. I'm still at the stage where every time I pick up one of my large cent books I discover something new. That is as much fun to me as acquiring a new coin.

And if I ever start a new hobby I would want to add to my LP collection. I have about 700 rock and jazz albums, but rarely add anything anymore. And I listen to them all the time.

[Exhibitman]

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by Oldtix

It's an old chrome display case, commonly mounted to exterior walls of theatres, drug stores, etc. The case locks shut and has a thermometer built in at the top center. There isn't any manufacturer data on it. I picked it up a couple of years ago; I like to use old cases and racks display things as they were originally presented. Here are a few other examples:

Boy Rick. That comic book rack is sweet! Your vast collection continues to amaze!

Great responses from all. I don't think we've had any dupes as of yet, which is very telling.

Best, Jimmy

[albrshbr]

Comics would be a possibility, but my grandfather gave me a great appreciation for Sci-Fi. Be it books, artwork, or movie items, I think that's where I'd be.

[sayhey24]

Thanks for the explanation Rick -- I love those chrome displays. And I agree with Jimmy -- that comic book rack is sweet!

Greg

[steve B]

I collect a bit of everything, All the big sports, Some ephemera, pretty much anything I like and can afford. Always trying to spend less on the cheap stuff so I've avoided the flea market and yard sales for awhile.

I still do stamps, and have dabbled in coins.

My other sports collection is bicycles that were actually raced. I've shown the one from the 84 Olympic team, so I'll do another one. Built for the US team in 86 for the team pursuit. Used for a few events, but disqualified for being too aerodynamic just before they would have used them at the world championships. The fork and front wheel aren't original, and the back is close but not quite right. Original parts like the wheel and fork aren't available anywhere.

Steve B

[E93]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

And if I ever start a new hobby I would want to add to my LP collection. I have about 700 rock and jazz albums, but rarely add anything anymore. And I listen to them all the time.

Me too. I have about the same amount in the same categories. I probably have some rare LPs that I do not even realize. The most desirable one that I know of is the first edition of John Coltrane's Ascension. Apparently they did two takes. They mistakenly released the take he did not like as well first. He realized it right away and had the presses stopped but a few got out. The second edition is not easy to find, but not nearly as tough as the first edition. This was Coltrane's big band outside jazz experiment. Pure genius IMHO.

I would also love to have more rare Tibetan manuscripts, but have not actively pursued them. This one is about 150 years old. It is a collection of poems by one of Tibet's most revered mystics, Milarepa. It is known as The 100,000 Songs of Milarepa.

Apologies my scanner was not long enough to capture an entire page.
JimB

[ethicsprof]

religious iconography

in 'weak' moments, i have picked up a few belgian pieces of stained glass,
a Joseph with lilies statue from a cathedral niche in st. tropez, and gorgeous
Russian orthodox icons, and a few others---
but the Monster's eyes always twinkle in glee so i settle down to do my baseball fairly quickly.

best,
barry

[paulcarek]

I'd collect vintage Subbuteo (table soccer game invented in England in the late 40's) teams and equipment.

[barrysloate]

Jim B.- I just went through my Coltrane albums and I have thirteen different, but not "Ascension." That's not including the ones with Miles, or others, just under his name.

I don't think I have any rare ones- I just like to have the music- but I do have the Moby Grape album where Don Stevenson is flipping the bird. That cover was quickly reprinted with his middle finger airbrushed out.

[E93]

Both takes of Ascension were released on a double cd a few years back. This is the really outside late period Coltrane. I just close my eyes and let the music untangle all the knots in my brain.
JimB

[nameless]

If boxing wasnt around I would collect baseball

[tolstoi]

Probably would be comic books, definitely bronze and silver age ones. I really like those and they are pretty affordable compared to collecting tobacco cards.

[ksfarmboy]

The Civil War always fascinated me. I'd probably gone in that direction or Native American artifacts like arrowheads and such.

[olsport]

I think I could write a hundred+ page book on all the collecting stories, and collections I enjoy. Here is a short list of some of the items that fascinate me: Any sports items from the 1800s, especially photos, gems and minerals since about age 12, Artwork of all types: paintings, bronzes, sculptures, computer history items, advertising signs, game used NBA shoes, jerseys, floors, skateboard decks as art from 1970s to today, vintage 70's to today Nike sportswear, and shoes.
I actually collect anything that catches my eye while on my weekly collecting trips: from an old 100 lb carved granite Buddah head for $40.00 to a mint condition 1940s Coca-Cola sign for $60.00! Anything artistic or historic for bargain prices! That's why my saying is, "Variety is the Spice of Life" as I get tired and bored of one thing and go into other things. I think auction catalogs are some of the best things to collect, as you can never come close to owning even 10% of the stuff in those. Here are a few pics: