My son's National epiphany

[kailes2872]

Steve,
When I was 8 years old (in 1980). a really nice teacher's assistant gave me a shoebox full of 71-75s. There were probably 200-300 cards and all were stars. Several Aaron's, Mays', Clemente's, Kaline's, Gibson's etc.

I was 8 and all I did was collect baseball cards - yet someone told me they had value. So, I asked my mom to take me to a local card show. I proceeded to sell everything for $8. I am not sure why I was so eager to sell. All I did was collect baseball cards and I wasn't going to be able to buy anything better than what I just sold.

In recent years, I have collected all topps sets back to 1957. I will keep going until I get all of them and then leap into prewar.

The one thing I have tried to instill into the boys is love the cards for the joy of collecting not the dollars. If it is about the dollars then we can take your allowance and find a mutual fund.

I don't mean that they shouldn't appreciate the value and find the best deal, but to this day, I regret that decision to sell my cards for $8 - even though they have all been replaced. It is probably why I can't seem to part with any of my doubles even though it could help the progression of my set building.

When I go, the boys know my cards will be there and they are not supposed to sell them. Of course, if they are destitute that is a different story, but hopefully that won't happen.

Long winded way of saying, I think I have them down the right path of enjoying the hobby for all of the right reasons versus what a VCP or card target or SMR or, Beckett tells them their collection should be valued. I hope it sticks but I think the foundation is there.