You ever consider that collecting might be a bad idea?

[tazdmb]

It brings me great joy, although I have come close to selling my collections several times. My son is 9 and I take him to all autograph experiences with me that I can. He loves meeting his idols and the thrill of the chase. I also tell him about the players so he has an understanding of the players so he can have an appreciation.

[CooperstownExpert]

Originally Posted by tazdmb

It brings me great joy, although I have come close to selling my collections several times. My son is 9 and I take him to all autograph experiences with me that I can. He loves meeting his idols and the thrill of the chase. I also tell him about the players so he has an understanding of the players so he can have an appreciation.

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That all sounds good! Seems like you're teaching him the game.

[mighty bombjack]

What we do is pretty irrational, no doubt. You have to hold on to that whimsy, that adulation for a game and the players who play(ed) it, for if you stop, if you cut of the feelings in order to plainly THINK, you see very clearly how crazy it is to spend the kind of money that we do on cardboard squares and scribbled-on pieces of paper.

I think that's why I continue to do it. I haven't bought much recently, but I've held off on selling because of the tingle I get, my collection a regular reminder that life isn't all cold and rational, that childlike wonder remains.

[mighty bombjack]

I've also often wondered about the evolutionary component of collecting, because it is 99.99% percent men, we traditional hunter/gatherers, who tend towards compulsivity about "completing" things.

My wife and mom think my dad and I are crazy, but they see the joy it brings us (even if they can't understand it). And I've heard that same thing from many a member here.

[JohnnyFinance7]

Let me offer my two cents. I recently started collecting again (in January) after a 30 year hiatus. When I was a kid, I wrote letters to baseball HOFers and was able to get a few autographs through the mail. I always remember looking forward to coming back from school and finding one of my SASE in the mail. Some players such as Joe Sewell took the time to write me back. Back then, I always wanted to see how many HOF autographs I could collect and I've always enjoyed the history of the game as well. Fast forward 30 years, and I'm trying to re-live my childhood and pick up autographs and rookie cards that I have always wanted.

Cool website by the way and that's awesome that you were able to find a Ty Cobb check for $40!

[packs]

I take joy in preserving history and collecting autographs, so long as you aren't destroying something in your pursuit, is a great way to preserve the history of the game, it's players, and your own history because there will always be certain pieces in your collection that will be attached to a distant memory.

[CooperstownExpert]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFinance7

Let me offer my two cents. I recently started collecting again (in January) after a 30 year hiatus. When I was a kid, I wrote letters to baseball HOFers and was able to get a few autographs through the mail. I always remember looking forward to coming back from school and finding one of my SASE in the mail. Some players such as Joe Sewell took the time to write me back. Back then, I always wanted to see how many HOF autographs I could collect and I've always enjoyed the history of the game as well. Fast forward 30 years, and I'm trying to re-live my childhood and pick up autographs and rookie cards that I have always wanted.

Cool website by the way and that's awesome that you were able to find a Ty Cobb check for $40!

Back in the early to mid 1980s Cobb's granddaughter flooded the market with his checks. I think she sold them to dealers for $10!

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by CooperstownExpert

Back in the early to mid 1980s Cobb's granddaughter flooded the market with his checks. I think she sold them to dealers for $10!

A friend of the granddaughter brought 100 checks to NY. He found a local ad of mine.
I paid $20 apiece and got $60 each for them, selling them individually at shows and SCD.