Introduction

[Mdmtx]

Hello all,
I am new to the site and rekindled my collecting of sports and non sport cards over the past couple of years. I have been a member for a week or so, but a post today made me want to introduce myself.

The post I mention is here: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=190251 (Hope I did that right). Anyway, it was a post regarding Hack Wilson. You see, in 1980 (13 years old) I attended my first card show (Kansas City - Jim Cumpton and John Mehlin - if they are still around this hobby) and bought four cards I will always remember - a T206 Mordecai Brown, a T207 John McGraw, a 1950 Bowman Yogi Berra and a 1933 Goudey Hack Wilson. Man oh man, I loved those cards and had a very significant collection to add them too. My memory continually tells me that the Hack Wilson was a PSA 10, maybe an 11!!! But reality would probably place it closer to a current day 5. Regardless I had some cool stuff.

Fast forward a few months and three "friends" and I gathered for a night of Monopoly and card trading and early discussion of our female classmates. The next day as I began to put my new trades into the rest of the collection, I realized one of my "friends" felt that they needed my four prized possessions more than I did and they were now stolen. I questioned and questioned these guys and I have my suspicions, but no proof. Alas, I learned at an early age to pick friends very, very carefully.

On to my other card adventures: Traveled extensively throughout the midwest and west coast on show circuit from 1984 - 1990 (summers only in '84 - had to finish high school). Opened a shop, highly inventive name of Marks Baseball Cards, in Olathe, KS in 1985 and closed it in 1990 and liquidated all the accumulated stock.

I have begun collecting a couple of other times in the past 20 years, but lost interest each time and sold off the acquired items. The things I am currently working on include the following: 33 Goudey, 33 Goudey Indians, 33 Goudey Sea Raiders, Chicle Sky Birds, 33 Goudey Sport Kings, Bowman Wild West, 1950 Bowman Football, 1963 Topps Football, 57-58 Topps Basketball, 51 Topps Ringside, 48 Leaf Boxing and several more. Some are very close to complete and others need lots of help (Sea Raiders only one lonely card). 1958 Topps football is complete!!

I have a desire to start a T206 set as well. Years ago, I probably would of had a monster # around 300 or so, if I had known such a thing existed. I almost won a beater common today. Sniped again!!

As far as condition goes, I do prefer nicer, but don't see the value in the giant premiums. I prefer raw, but have many graded cards, including the illustrious GAI. I like to buy bulk lots and for some weird reason, that I am sure many here can relate to, I don't mind having duplicates of duplicates.

I have enjoyed lurking around these forums and am anxious to get to know some of you, but I am not bringing my cards to your house to trade!!! One of these days I will replace those four....

Mark Medlin