Ebay and Auction Houses vs the Real World

[jingram058]

I have a number of cards that would seem to be worth quite a sum these days (33 Goudey Ruth 144, etc.), but mine are all raw. I am in the process of moving them to a safe deposit box. The thing is, I got them years ago when the cards were cheap, and the Navy pay was flowing (yes, the good old days when you could by Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, DiMaggio and all the others for a little of nothing). I re-built my boyhood collection, and then some, without going to the poorhouse. I'm embarrassed to say what I paid for them; many were given away free to me. I actually bought a real Babe Ruth signed ball for $500. Anyone remember when you could do that? But ungraded, I will bequeath them all to my daughter. So I guess I am lost in this crazy "real world" of today.