We See Opportunities Where Others Don't

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Posted By: Rich Klein

I remember that was never an easy card to find raw either

Regards
Rich

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Posted By: Alan

OK, all sing together now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyu7nN3kBnw

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Posted By: Fred C

I, Loser!

I compete for the bottom of the barrel stuff. I guess if I win the bottom of the barrel stuff that makes me a minimally exceptional winner (or loser, depending on how you view bottom feeders).

I figure if you compete at high levels and do things ethically and without screwing thy neighbor then you've done well. When you start screwing people in order to "win" then you really need to start weighing how the victory was achieved.

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Posted By: PC

Further to Alan's post, I got past all the songs at the "hard" level in Guitar Hero, Rock of the 80s. I've now moved on to "expert".

I'm a winner. Or a loser. But I rock (at least according to my kids).

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Rich,

Yes--I paid $7,500 for the Landrum and Witt in 8.

Jim

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Heh. I put $7500 down on my CAR.

-Al

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Posted By: James Feagin

I may be of limited means (in comparison to others on this board). But I do have an incredible family, a wife that loves me, and two beautiful children. When I die, I'll be happy that my cards and money and everything else will go elsewhere. However, I'll be overjoyed to have an eternity with my loved ones.

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Posted By: Craig W

I enjoy reading Bruce's posts. They kinda remind me of the Borg Collective in the Star Trek sequels: "We are the Borg. You will be assimmilated. Resistance is futile."

Personally, it would be hard for me to say which writing I think is best, Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" or Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata".

When it comes right down to it, I suppose the best advice comes from Odes 1.11 "... carpe diem ..." (harvest the day) in whatever manner (within the law and without infringing on others) one sees fit.

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Posted By: dennis

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Posted By: Jeff Prillaman

I think I missed the cab altogether - I'm still trying to figure out who Eddie Witt is?

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Posted By: JimCrandell

He is a cross between George Witt and Eddie Watt

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Posted By: barrysloate

That could be a law firm:

Witt and Watt

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Posted By: Fred C

Yeah, what James Feagin said...

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Posted By: Bob

I guess it all depends on your definition of vintage card collecting. For many of us, we do it because we love the cards, love the history of the game and it is a pleasant diversion which does, truth be told, also make us money as the prices continue to soar. I do think though that life is way too short to be a bloody and competitive battle from day to day. I would rather sit in the stands and watch my grandson play baseball than to score a PSA 7 E94 card (when I can get one in PSA 4 with great eye appeal). The enjoyment and thrills simply do not compare.
Bruce, I understand your philosophy and am not criticizing you for it but maybe you need to just stop and smell the roses once in a while. At the nightfall of our lives, all we have left are our memories and our friends and loved ones and those pieces of cardboard just don't seem so important after all. Someone once wrote on this board that all we do is merely rent our card collections, to enjoy during our lifetimes. That is so simple a statement, yet profound...

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Posted By: JOHN

We read thru this adventure whilst watching some boob tube and must say that we collect our cards solely for fun and enjoyment. We even try to get our children involved a bit.

We are also going to make the soon-to-be arriving case of Topps Heritage a family affair. We challenge anyone to have that much family fun. As you know life is all about winning and losing and we consider family fun to be the ultimate victory.

We would be happy to match our family fun knowledge with anyone in the world. Our family fun far exceeds that of any other collector in the hobby. We don't believe that money is everything. We have fun.

Goose
The Geese Gaggle
Money don't matter

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Posted By: Brian

If there aren't losers, what's the point?

Now go out there, collect some cards and kick some ass!

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Posted By: Cobby33

"There are only two outcomes in competition
winners and losers."

And those who can't punctuate. Gee. Should we teach our kids this too? "Hey Johnny- if you don't win this race or baseball game or if your card collection isn't as nice as that rich kid's, you're a LOSER!"

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Posted By: JOHN

my kid can beat your kid up.

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Posted By: Cobby33

Sticks and stones!

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Posted By: DD

If it is a competition, then the Hall of Fame wins. Nothing will top their collection in sheer volume, uniqueness, and scarcity. You also have Burdick's collection, regardless of what is missing.

Then we have Larry Fritsch (rest his soul), who not only had an incredible collection, but the sheer volume of material in his warehouse could keep several auction houses busy for the next decade.

Let's not forget Keith O, as well as some of our own members, including Leon (modest as he is, his collection is world class even without the FBH Kelly), Jim Clarke, Preece, Corey, and others.

I promised myself I wouldn't chime in here, but could not help it.

Enjoy life Bruce, and everything it has to offer. You seem to be intelligent, and a very busy man. Whoever has the most toys doesn't win. And if it does mean that, then you have already lost. May as well sell everything right now.

BTW, you keep misusing the word cadre. Look it up. Plethora, assortment, potpourri, gaggle, collection, accumulation, hoard, random pile, stack, abundance, and well you get the idea.

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Posted By: barrysloate

That's correct. "Cadre" refers to a group of people, not a group of things.

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

A wise man once told me; "The one who dies with the most toys is still dead!"

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Posted By: DMcD

It is, as we recall, a free country and we will call a cadre whatever we wish.

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Posted By: Brian

(A wise man once told me; "The one who dies with the most toys is still dead!")



That's what the losers tell other losers to make them feel better about losing. Now go out there and win!

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

Brian,

I left out 'POOR OLD' wise man...

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Posted By: T.Ferg

"If there aren't losers, what's the point?

Now go out there, collect some cards and kick some ass!"

Classic stuff, I'll be laughing for awhile.

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Posted By: DD

"Think big, think positive. Never show any sign of weakness. Always go for the throat. Buy low, sell high. Fear . . . that's the other guy's problem." - Louis Winthorpe

“The tendency of aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man ... it constitutes the most powerful obstacle to culture.” - Sigmund Freud

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Ok, that Boston Garter sheet is just about the coolest thing in our hobby that I have ever seen. And I can't help but notice that the bottom panel is Hal Chase....

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Posted By: boxingcardman

"Life is about competition

Whether it is for baseball cards
Winning the pennant
For political power
For Oil
And For Water (soon to be a major geopolitical issue)
A seat on the train
A mate
Golf
or anything else

There are only two outcomes in competition
winners and losers

If one want to acquire the very best one can afford
one must study the market, understand the competition,
take risks and be able to act quickly. Take no prisoners.

This is a billion dollar business, regardless of whether
or not you choose to call it a hobby. The average lot
price in Robert Edward Auction or the major Mastro auctions
exceeds $5000.

One must do anything one can (within the law) to achieve one's
goals. We greatly admire the hedge fund mega stars. They have
the intelligence, courage and savvy to move ahead...

We often wonder why hundreds of people wait in an orderly line
for a taxi on a rainy day...when one can walk a block and grab the cab,

As a lifelong Yankee fan...we believe, if you don't win the World
Series, it is a losing season. True success in this hobby is about winning.
And one wins someone else loses"

You are a scary dude, Bruce:

It's not a billion dollar business; it's a freakin' pastime.

It isn't a competition; it is a hobby where most of the participants come to spend some weight-lightening time with friends in the pursuit of enjoyment and nostalgia.

It's not a single set of goals; there are as many goals as there are collectors.

True success isn't about winning; it is about being satisfied with what you have and how you got there.

If you can't see that, you are never going to be satisfied no matter how big a mound of slabs you hoard under your bed.

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I often wonder if Bruce is really trying to get conversation going or if he's starved for attention.

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Posted By: T.Ferg

I've only been reading this forum for a month, so I don't know his story. I see nothing wrong with his posts, he is giving his take on the hobby/business and life as he goes through it. I'm sure he knows what kind of responses he(they) will get, I find it entertaining and funny.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Bruce's posts elicit different responses from various members, and they run the gamut.

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Posted By: Craig W

... for posting the Boston Garter image. That is just uber kewl! My congrats to Bruce if this is what he has (oops, they have)!

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Posted By: Bob C

Jeff I could be wrong but I think that particular scan of the Boston Garter Panel is a reprint. I can, of course, be convinced otherwise...

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Posted By: Andy

Regardless of how much money Mr. Dorkind has (or his "group"), he is without question one of the most emotionally and socially ignorant human beings I have ever come across. Downright hilarious though, I laugh out loud on virtually every one of his posts. Thanks Bruce, keep em coming - you're the best!

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

Bruce - those Garters are off the effin card chain !That is nasty rare and unfathomable.

Edited to also say that the 4 together like that the 400k mark would be close.

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Posted By: Richard Masson

In the world of the real "winners" (Bruce's definition) competition for collectibles as status indicators, for things like art, sculptures, ancient coins, islands, private jets and estate mansions, baseball cards don't even hit the radar. For the price of a Renior or two, someone could have purchased every baseball card ever put up to auction. We are mere guppies in a sea filled with whales.

Fortunately for us, whales don't like baseball cards. Some guppies might be bigger than others, but we are all still just guppies, even Bruce.

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Posted By: Fred C

Thanks for putting that into perspective!

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Posted By: Harry Wallace (HW)

Dan: $400,000? Boy am I out of touch for the hobby. There have been some great sheets in the hobby. Have any of them every broken $100,000?

Richard: Very well said. I think that some single Sotheby's or Christies art auctions do more in sales than the combined yearly total of every auction house in our hobby.

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Posted By: Eric Brehm

The T206 Honus Wagner card certainly holds a special place in the hobby as a desired artifact that is like no other. When I tell people I collect baseball cards, they always ask about the Wagner. It is the only card they have heard of. Nope, don't have one of those, I say. Personally, I have no interest in "The Card" (i.e. the McNall/Gretzky one) but the next time an authentic beater example comes up, you never know...

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

the last Bescher and Chance sold privately or in auction combined
for 75k+, wit hthe recent hi monies for the color 14's will add more , then the fact that CHase and Clarke woould most likely fetch 125k easily wit ha suitcase included ,I believ maybe the only attached remaining pieces would hold a much greater value.

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Posted By: George Dreher

I own most of the property in the town I live in. If I sell just one large building, the proceeds could buy Dorskind's entire collection. One house buys the uncut Boston Garter strip. Cards are fun to collect and invest in, but they need to be kept in perspective. Hedge funds are collapsing even as we speak and a few of the managers have committed suicide since the market started collapsing a few months ago.

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Posted By: BcD

and Jim told Bruce to compete with Chad!
Pleeeeeeeeeese Jim!
Who would you rather be stuck on a desert island with!
There is no competition as Chad has class and manners as well as humility.
I would think you would respect those qualities.

BcD

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Posted By: Ed Ivey

"We are Chevy Chase" and you're not.

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Posted By: Steve

Bruce has got to be grinning from ear to ear.

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Posted By: Jason L

George D,
easy come, easy go, huh?
arrogance often disables the hedge fund managers' ability to see the game they are actually playing.

Richard M,
Well said.
I continue to hope that the aforementioned whales never develop a taste (or subsequent hunger) for my hobby. At least, not until I have accummulated far more!

Of course, your point also drives home the fact that if you and Bruce are guppies, well....then I can't be more than a humble single-celled amoeba.