O/T but may be somewhat helpful

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Posted By: Dave

With so many longtime regulars here and then a few of us "newbies", I thought it may be helpful to start a thread for those interested in giving some background on themselves. If nothing else, it may help to keep the arguements down to a minimum if we know a bit more about each other, I understand the longtime posters pretty much already know each other. anyway, I'm Dave, 30 years old, married with three kids, live in atlanta, i'm a project manager/estimator for a paving contractor. I used to like everyone my age collect cards back in the 80's then got out of it when I found girls. I've enjoyed the past few months getting back into it, and after originally getting back into it by collecting 1952 topps, just found it too hard to stay away from the older stuff. Cheers.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I'm 54, married with no kids, live in a state of existential madness and sell baseball cards to make a living. When I feel stressed out I go onto network54 and realize I'm not the only crazy person out there... a little tongue in cheek, but I just seem to find many absurdities in everyday life. And I like to listen to a lot of music- 60's rock and 50's jazz, that helps me chill out, too. I'm a hippie from the 60's who never quite grew out of it.

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Posted By: Turner Engle

I'm Turner and I am 15 with no kids from Colombus, Ohio. I like baseball cards and Nationals.

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Posted By: ScottIngold

Scott,

Commercial fisherman from southern NJ. Little Egg Harbor to be exact.

Married with 2 children ( 6 & 10 ) and never grew out of my pre war card thing.

I dabble in real estate and work at a bait and tackle store in the off season to stay busy.

Hey John.....That be tUckerTOwn. The town with 3 teeth.

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Posted By: jay behrens

i'm Jay and I am a baseball card terrorist, all around bad guy and misanthrope.

I've moved down in the world from nuclear engineer to common laborer. I've done a little of everything in my life. I threw raves in SF in the 80s (known as underground clubs back then), owned a gaming and comic book store in Sacramento for a 3 years in the late 90s and drove limos for 10 years. I've collected just about everything at one time or another. I've traveled the world, visiting 40 countries and 44 states. I grew up in MN and moved back there 5 years ago.

I have one son, 16 years old, who is 6'5, still growing and has an IQ 25 points higher than mine.

My collecting goal is to acquire one card of every major leaguer that appeared on a card as a major leaguer from 1908-45.

Jay

I love pinatas. You get to beat the crap of something and get rewarded with candy.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Hi everybody, my name is Dan and I am addicted to vintage baseball cards and memorabilia.

I have lived my entire life (39 years) in Lincoln, Nebraska and have collected cards since I was about 12 and memorabilia for about the last 8-9 years. I am married and I have a 5 year old boy who doesn't quite yet share my love for cards, but he loves to play baseball. I own an independent video store and we're going on our 22nd year in business and still going strong. My major focus is memorabilia, but I do collect cards too. I focus on Lincoln minor league items and items from the Nebraska State League. I also collect vintage photographs with a focus on fan-taken photos (snapshots). Some of my eclectic interests can be seen on my photobucket site here: http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/nudan92/

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Posted By: Mike

My story is similar to yours Dave.

Also 30 years old, married and we have a 2 year old. Living in Southern California after moving here from Austin, TX 8 months ago. I'm the Director of Construction for a small homebuilder. Collected from '86 until I started college in '94. Just got back into the hobby about 5 months ago. Vintage collection consists of mainly T206 and Diamond Stars. Also trying to collect the 1970s Topps sets ungraded when I get the urge.

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

My name is Steve Dawson. I'm 43 years old, single, no kids, and have been in the U.S. Air Force (enlisted) for 22 years. I grew up in San Diego CA, and the Air Force has taken me to Columbus MS, Stuttgart Germany, Colorado Springs CO, Great Falls MT and San Antonio TX (twice).

I've been collecting baseball and football cards seriously since 1975. I bought my first pre-WW2 cards (three T206s) in 1978, and have had a fascination with them (pre-WW2 cards in general) ever since.


Steve

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Posted By: barry arnold

Barry Arnold, 55, married to an opera singer and music teacher,no kids.
I've been a professor for nearly 25 years---presently Professor of Philosophy and Allied Health/Life Sciences and Director of a Center for Health Care Ethics. authored/co-authored/edited 13 books in the areas of
ethics and psychoanalysis...... But i now am a T206 scholar.
Like Barry S. i'm still a bit of a hippie and was lucky enough to find
a vocation which lets me be relatively free.

best,

barry

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

I'm 25 years old, living in Manhattan. I'm unmarried and without kids. I'm, as Jason Miller says, one of those damn lawyers that he never wants to be.

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Posted By: Paul

My name is Paul & I'm 45yrs old. I live with my wife, 3 kids, mother in law, & a dog in Austin, Tx. Been out here for 5 years, & I'm an equipment maintenance technician in the semiconductor industry. I've been collecting on & off since about 1970, & pre war starting in 1998. My favorite cards are deadball era postcards. Other family hobbies are martial arts. My two boys are both black belts in Kuk Sool Won, & the oldest was just crowned grand champion last month in a Kuk Sool world tournament Before moving to Texas, I lived in Arizona. My favorite pro teams are the Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals , & Phoenix Suns.

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Posted By: john/z28jd

Hey Scott i know you live in Tuckerton but where do you go to get the electricity to use your computer?

Maybe you can answer a serious question about your area.What town on rt 9 has the big old house with the chair on top the roof? I remember seeing that alot when i was a kid but my mom couldnt remember the name of the town.Frankly i was shocked she had me that close to Tuckerton,but she said its close.

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Posted By: Brendan

I'm Brendan, 23 yrs old. Long-time lurker. Grew up on Long Island, played baseball nearly year round (they have "winter ball" in NY if you can believe that), huge Yankee fan. Went out to california for college, studied molecular biology, which apparently prepared me for my current job as an analyst for a buy-side asset management firm in San Diego. Go figure. Collected a bunch of shiny stuff when I was a kid, but now I have a handful of pre-war cards: a T206 Matty, and the Dizzy/Daffy Dean Rice-Stix set. At this point, my card-picking abilities are much better than my stock-picking ones

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Posted By: Zach S.

I'm Zach (S. not R.), 26 yrs old, single for the most part w/ no kids. I'm in the Navy and currently stationed in Italy. I live on a small island off the mainland so the only collecting contacts I have are ebay and you guys here on the board... I don't think vintage American baseball card collecting has caught on here just yet. I should be back in the States near the Washington area next year.

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Posted By: Aaron Cowan

I'm Aaron Cowan and I'm 23 years old. I recently graduated college with a BS in Engineering Physics. I moved from Kentucky to Boise, ID in August this year when I got a job with Micron (they make semiconductors). I've been collecting cards since I was a kid but about 5 years ago got interested in T206s. Now, my goal is to put a T-type card set together of all St Louis players (Browns and Cardinals). I also collect some Albert Pujols cards but only the vintage looking ones. If anyone else on here is a Cardinals fan, they probably share my shock of them winning the W.S. Obviously, the rest of the world thought the season was over when the New York teams were defeated...


Aaron Cowan
acowan19@gmail.com

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Posted By: ScottIngold

John,

That would be Parkertown. Right between manahawkin and us. Actually a tree service company owns that property now and they totally refurbished it. But the chair is still there.

Damn i had to get the wife up early this am to answer you. What with the whole electricity thing. I still have to hook up the bicycle generater thingy. But it works. Plus it gives her good exercise. When the kids are bigger i figure i can electrify the whole downstairs.

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Posted By: Trae R.

Hi Dave, I'm Trae. 25 Years old, soon to be engaged, currently living in the Greater Daytona Beach, FL area. I own a small business (Thinkable Inc.) doing web application programming and project management. I graduated from a private college in Tampa, FL with an AS degree in Interactive Media in 2001. In short, I'm a nerd... but you wouldn't know it if you met me on the street. I have 15 tattoos and I surf a few times a week.

When I'm not working or spending time with my girlfriend I am doing something relative to T206's whether it be shopping on eBay, browsing Net54, or doing some web/print projects with the ole' White Borders. As a "kid" (some would argue I still am...) I collected shiny crap... baseball and basketball until I was 11 or so and got back into collecting at 21 buying up a bunch of 50's & 60's Topps stuff until I came across T206's and I quickly sold all of the crap and focused soley on them. I've handled about 1000 in 3 or 4 years which has been lots of fun. I still haven't completed any group of cards that would be considered a set or sub-set. I buy and sell often, however I am finally sitting on some mid-grade cards I have deemed "house savings" - but I don't know how I am going to part with them when the time comes. I'm trying to focus on portraits only right now, but for my "keepers" collection I've been contemplating a low-grade full set attempt and I see you are as well. We'll see how that goes. Anyhow, that's the nutshell version of who I am. Cool thread idea by the way.

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Posted By: Steve M.

Hi Dave:

I'm Steve. A young 63. Lawyer still in practice. Married 32 years. Three kids (all on their own in San Francisco, Blachly, Oregon and Chicago). Two cats. Collecting for 30 plus years. For more see my website:

http://www.freewebs.com/jacklitsch/

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Posted By: Dave

my father in law is 63, nothing old about him either

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

I am 52 years old, married to a great lady. (I definitely married up). Wife is a school teacher. I was a commercial banker for 23 years with US Bank, and then Wells Fargo. Left two years ago, and started my own real estate investment company. I was written up in the Old Cardboard two issues ago. Things are great. Two kids, daughter 24, son 22. Both are college grads, who are well on their way to success. Daughter was two time fast pitch all conference shortstop in high school, and one time all state selection, and went on to a Div. 2 school and was also all conference. Came in second in home runs in her Senior year to a "rather large girl" from the University of Minn.) My son is great, and is with Medtronics here in the twin cities. I have been collecting cards since I was 5. My goal is to collect everything, cards, mags, pins, series tickets which he played in, anything relating to Jimmie Foxx. I would guess I am half way there. I am only missing one mag. as far as I can tell. I have all the pins. Including one that is uncat. Who knows if I will ever make it. All cards are graded, by the big three. I also collect a bit of Hack Wilson, and a bit of Black Sox. Former SABR member. Active in local Rotary. Board member of three other civic groups, one of which is the Historical Society. I live on a large lake. Beautiful view every day. I prefer waves and water, to looking at ice. I am a possessed collector, for which there is no cure. I am truly crazed. But loving it....Thanks to all the forum members who have helped me locate cards. I tend to fly under the radar. Thanks much.

Edited to add: I also collect foxx wire photos and news photos, and personal non-baseball related Foxx photos. I love the ones where is like sitting by his Christmas tree with his kids... feeding some geese with Goose Goslin etc. etc. I have about 50 originals of him.

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Posted By: peter ullman

i'm pete ullman...i'm a single, dentist living in st paul, mn. i've been collecting cards since a little pup...vintage seriously for 20 or so years. i've always been a type collector but considering changing my focus as type collecting has become ridiculously expensive...if not impossible to complete!

pete

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Posted By: Bill K

I'm 33, married and a father of two (3-1/2 y/o boy & 8 m/o girl). They are my true passions. I've been collecting pre-war now for about 4-5 years and wish I didn't blow my allowance in the 80's on Topps & Fleer cards (but back then I loved them).

I am a IP Communications Consultant in Madison, WI. (GO BADGERS!) I grew up in the Twin Cities (GO TWINS & VIKINGS!) My vintage collecting has gone from just Polar Bear backed T-206's to T-206 HOF Portraits, to E95's, back to HOF Portraits, to now just getting cards that a) I really like the looks of & b)fill a void in my type card set (which is really small now).

I'm not a fan of MLB, but love the deadball era. Other hobbies include golf, basketball, bar-league sand volleyball, and wood working. I can also create the coolest Thomas the Tank Engine track designs for my son (after years of practice).

Once I stop paying $20K/year in child care I'll have a bit more disposable income to put towards cards (I hope!)

Bill



My personal collection - http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f176/fkm_bky/>

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Posted By: Dave

Once you stop paying the childcare, then comes the more expensive years. Daughter 11, son 9, and daughter one year old. I cringe at how expensive things are about to get.

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Posted By: Mike Campbell

Bill, I got news for you, it never ends.....never. College.....first car....wedding....first house.....

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

I am 55 and live in Closter, New Jersey. I work as the Director of Order Processing for book publisher, Pearson Education. Married to a phys ed/health teacher. Have 3 needy kids (I need to eat, I need to go to college, I need that Ipod, I need to go to soccer camp) that cramp my collecting style.

I was out of collecting for 20 years until 1983 when my son was born. I had the bright idea to use ex-major leaguer Jim Bouton's company to do his birth announcements, which looked like baseball cards. I bought wax packs of 1983 Topps and inserted my son's card with the rest before handing them out. Unfortunately for my wallet, that whet my appetite to get back into the hobby.

I started out as a type collector, then a HOFer, but have now drifted to pretty much exclusively 19th century, primarily Old Judge. Some day I hope to have as many as John Dreker.

P.S. Scott - if you think electricity is great, wait until you get indoor plumbing in Tuckerton like we have on Long Beach Island!

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Posted By: Darren

Hello my name is darren and i've been a vintage collector for 30 years now. I'm 36 and live in a small town (Cut Off) on the gulf coast of louisiana. I went to college for 7 years collecting multiple degrees including History, English, Business, Chemistry and Microbiology before deciding on a career in medicine.

We're a family of three myself, me lady, and me daughter who turns four on Sunday.

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Posted By: Sean

To keep the Minnesota streak running...

My name is Sean. I'm 28 and live in the beautiful city of Minneapolis (in the Minnehaha/Highland park area) with my wife who works for Land O' Lakes (she makes the $$) and our cat (no kids yet). Hobbies are sailing, scooters, EPL (English Premier League(Blackburn Rovers)), T206 and long walks on the beach.
Like so many before me my colleting started when I was 10 or 11 buying 1986 Topps packs and it continued to grow until I was 16 or so and decided it was better to save my money for traveling and that stuff. I used to record music at a studio in Cannon Falls called Pachyderm (Nirvana, Mudvayne, and PJ Harvey just to name a few) and after some problems with the studio I left to return to Minneapolis.

Well 5 years later I came across a Minneapolis T206 card on an eBay search and the rest is history. Now I'm starting to work on a Minor League T206 set.

Sean BH

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Posted By: Mark Tylicki

Hello-

I am 32, engaged, with a wedding planned for May 27, 2007. She's a Gator and I'm a Buffalo. I graduated from CU with BA degrees in Anthropology and Latin American Studies, and received an MBA from University of Phoenix in 2000. I'm a first generation Pole - been to Poland three times - I love traveling. De La Soul, The Rapture, The Cure, Rolling Stones, and The Faint are currently my favorite bands. I love the Denver Broncos. Collecting HOFers, snowboarding and swapping bottle caps worldwide are three of my passions. I am an SAP Global Trade Services (Denied Party, Embargo, Export/Import) and Materials Managment consultant currently staffed at Merck & Co. in Lebanon, New Jersey. And, I also enjoy messing around with my website - selling a card every once in awhile.

Regards,
Mark



------------------------------
MY COLLECTION: http://www.rustywilly.com/MYCOLLECTION.htm

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Posted By: leon

I think most on the board knows my name but for any new lurkers, it's Leon Luckey. I am 45, definitely married up- to a wonderful wife named Kim...have a 9yr old daughter that is the love of my life. As someone else mentioned in another thread she also likes to watch the prices go way up at the end of ebay auctions. I live right outside of Big D on a few acres.....very small community and most people know each other and are very friendly. I sell technology for a company called MoreDirect, Inc...part of a much larger company PCConnections. I have been an addicted type card collector for almost 10 yrs and on the message boards almost as long. I volunteer every week at the Salvation Army and it's very rewarding. It really feels good when you help someone and they can get back on their feet because you kicked them in the rear a little bit. I also play softball as much as possible, coach my little girls team, and am on the board of directors as the umpire scheduler (and just volunteered for next season too). If it weren't for rainouts it would be pretty easy. I enjoy moderating the board and have tried to help almost anyone that has ever asked. I believe I am extremely accessible and believe communication is the key to success, in anything we do. I like studying the way collecting used to be too and like reading about the pioneers of our hobby... (I have also failed miserably at buying some restaurants and they are still kicking my behind.....but things are getting better)

edited spelling

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Posted By: Mike Ernst

I'm Mike Ernst--59 years old--Lutheran Pastor--Milwaukee, WI, area. Collected as a kid, then again in late 60's to about 1977, again a bit in the early 90's, and again the last couple of years.
My wife is an RN, we have 4 daughters, now all through college--in Rockford, IL, Sacramento, Houston, and Washington DC--two played NCAA Div. 1 volleyball on full rides (my favorited daughters!!??)
I completed T206 (less the big four), T205, Bowman and Topps (less the 51's) in the mid 70's. Had about 110 e cards since. In the past two years have filled in and completed e98, e101, e90-3, and all but three e95's.
Still play softball two days a week--spend too much time at church (congregation is 7500+ members)--life is good, except my Cornhuskers (I grew up in Lincoln) lost to OK state last weekend!

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Mike, I share your pain. I lost my voice at the Texas game two weeks ago and last week I was glad I could barely speak because there was just nothing to say about the Okie state game. I'll still be at Memorial Stadium on Saturday rooting them on against Mizzou though.

GO BIG RED
CLASS OF 1992

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Posted By: Ed McCollum

I live in Omaha, NE, moving here two years ago after 20 years in Lincoln (I'm sure I must have visited Dan's video store many times, although he hasn't said what the name of his place is). My para-educator wife, who works with behavioral disorder children, 15 year old son and I live in an older part of town and I work as art director for a national and international non-profit provider of services for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled.

I started collecting baseball cards at 9; my grandfather, who bought me my first pack, couldn't figure out why a diabetic kid wanted baseball cards, thinking I wanted the gum I couldn't have. My parents, then wife and son probably wish he hadn't bought that first pack.

Have complete sets of Topps from '72-current, and my wife bought my first vintage card as a first anniversary gift in 1989 (cobb/red back T206). I was hooked. Things went well until I lost a job in 2003, which forced a cut in pay that still has not been recovered. Plus, a 15 year old son takes a lot more to feed, cloth, transport than in previous years. So from 178 T206s in the first 14 years, I've been able to purchase only one a year for the past two years. Low grade commons to match all the other low grades in my collection.

But I do have plans of living another 345 years so I can complete the set eventually.

I appreciate the camaraderie and knowledge found on this board.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I am 67 and retired. After College and US Air Force (4 yrs) Radar Specialist in the early 1960's, I was
with AT&T Bell Labs for about 30 yrs as a Senior Electronics Engineer. I designed the "modems" you
are now communicating with and designed Hi-Speed data communications' Links in present day use.

I'm married with 2 beautiful Daughters and 3 wonderful Grandchildren. We live on several acres in scenic
Pennsylvania.

I collected Bond Bread cards, LEAF's, BOWMAN's, and TOPP's as a kid from 1947 - 1952....I was very
fortunate to re-discover all these cards in our old attic when I returned to the hobby in 1977.

At first, I started to complete these sets from my youth. Then, in the early 1980's I became very
interested in the real "oldies, but goodies".....19th Century, T205-6-7's, Diamond Stars', Goudey's,
PlayBall's, and various Caramel cards. I love to collect BB sets in multiples....and have just started
my 4th T206 set.

Since the early '80s, I have written about the N162 set, 7 articles on the BOWMAN sets (BB & FB),
and the LEAF BB set (in the current Old Cardboard magazine).

TED Z

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Posted By: Troy

Hello,

I am a longtime lurker on this site. I am 30 years old, married with 2 kids under 2 so I am a little busy. I became a pre war collector in 2002 when Topps introduced me to T206. Prior to 2002, I collected the shiny crap, Mickey Mantle,Ted Kluszewski,and Thurman Munson cards. I work as an Operations Engineer for Northrop Grumman in Virginia.

Troy

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Posted By: Jeff Prizner

Collected as a kid - 1989 Score football and ProSet got me into the hobby. (not counting my Garbage Pail Kids collection a few years prior to that.) Stopped collecting in high school but kinda got back into it in college (went to Texas) thanks to ebay and PSA. Sold off all my modern stuff after graduation in 1999 after seeing my friend's t206 Cobb red portrait and thinking how much cooler the pre-war stuff really was.

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Posted By: Rich Klein

I thought out beloved Moderator dude was going to get a Dallas area Net 54 folks get together going at one pt -- if so -- let's get it going soon before the Holiday season hits full bore

Rich

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Posted By: JimB

I am a professor of Buddhist philosophy, author (two books out, two in the pipeline), and translator (from Tibetan - including some translating for the Dalai Lama). I love to travel and have been to all 50 states and 25 countries. I lived in Nepal and India for more than two years, mostly in Tibetan refugee communities. I like all kinds of good music, especially jazz (from swing to free jazz), rock (from punk to classic rock) and enjoy seeing live music. I am a veteran of 80+ Grateful Dead and Dead related shows and still miss Jerry. I am married to an incredibly wonderful woman. I enjoy films. That is probably enough for now.
JimB

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Posted By: martindl

Martin here, 47 and semi-retired - I work a three day week for a technology company that manufactures Hardware and Software and provides services for the Restaurant, Retail, Convenience Store and Cinema industries. I head the Cinema division.

I'm English and moved to the States 25 years ago and live in the Atlanta area. Married 22 years to a wonderful woman, two kids, both boys and two Grandchildren who are the love of my life. Our youngest son Jamie tragically passed away at age 18 almost three years ago. An event like that certainly gives perspective as to what is really important, which is why i'm semi-retired at 47. Thursday is normally my charity volunteer day, but they didn't need me today

I've been a collector of something since early childhood (it started with birds eggs) and my passions are chiefly around T3's, M101-2's, rare back T206's and early baseball memorabila. Southern Pottery is a current obsession also.

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

3 months removed from still being in my 30's, so I guess I'm 40. Married a second time with 14 and 10 year old step sons and waiting desperately along with my wife and kids for a little girl in China. Likely looking at January-March next year before we get her. Then the kids experiment really kicks in.....work for UPS for last 22 years and last 2 years owner of a UPS Store. Wife is a nurse about 40% of the week (2 days) who, as a single mom, did a great job of raising two boys....Enjoy and collect lots of baseball issues, pinbacks, Louisville slugger and Louisville baseball team memorabilia, non-sports cards and a bevy of other crap I shouldn't have started to begin with.

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Posted By: Mike H

Jeff P,
I graduated from Texas also. Good to know there's another one on here.

Mike

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Posted By: Bill K

Martin,

My sincere condolences to you and your family. I can not imagine ever losing my little ones and I wish you the best. I read that and immediately my heart sank.

Thoughts and prayers,

Bill

My personal collection - http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f176/fkm_bky/

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Posted By: leon

My sympathies are the same as Bill's. Nothing could be worse, imo. Best of luck ....

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Posted By: Mark Evans

I'm 57 and live in Falls Church, Va, with my wife and french bulldog. I have a step-daughter (31) and granddaughter (12), who is our first priority. I retired last year after 30 years as a lawyer with the federal gov't, mostly the Department of Justice. My wife retired as a paralegal at the FBI. Like the two Barrys (who I've not met), I feel somewhat a relic of the 60s. I took up golf last year and volunteer on Sundays at a local county course. I enjoy eBay, music, movies, reading, poker, pool, chess and Singha Thai beer (not necessarily in that order). I collect mostly the heroes of my youth (Mantle, Mays, Unitas, Chamberlain, etc.) but also chase vintage cards of Jewish ballplayers. I'd enjoy grabbing a beer with others who live in, or have occasion to vist, the D.C. area. I look forward to seeing and meeting board participants at next year's National. Mark

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Posted By: Anonymous

I as well extend my sympathy for that. It is nice to know however of someone else here in the Atlanta area. Seems few and far between, and I'm not even gonna mention the fact I never see a decent card show in town.

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Posted By: Joe Tocco

I'm Joe, and I'm a nuclear engineer in a small town about 70 miles south of Chicago. I was born in Detroit, grew up in Cleveland, and met my awesome wife (another "married up" guy here) while getting my Nuke degree in Cincinnati. We moved to Orange County CA and escaped back to the Midwest after 8 years. No kids yet, but this time next year I hope the answer to be different .

I've been collecting since 1980, and have dabbled in just about everything. Today I collect 90% football. Unlike most on this board, I did not jettison my modern collection when I started collecting vintage, although these days I limit my modern purchases mainly to Marcus Allen cards. I'm also working on a low/mid-grade SGC N162 set, a pre-1951 football type set, a high-grade PSA 1962 Fleer football set, and I just completed a PSA 10 1989 Score football set. I absolutely love the vintage stuff, but I love modern and semi-modern too... I just have so much love to give .

Joe

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

I'm Bruce, I'm 55 and married to a choral singer, no kids. We live in Glendale, CA and serve as the staff for two demanding cats.

Mike, my grandfather was a Lutheran minister for decades in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin and my uncle was a Lutheran pastor in Milwaukee. The Braves were my team. Many in the familiy went to St. Olaf. My wife's family, too. Uffda to all of you Minnesotan's out there!

The family business was astro-physics on my father's side and the clergy on my mom's side so I did the only rational thing - became a musician! As I've said before here, I've worked with everyone from Angela Lansbury to Metallica.

My collecting interests are remarkbly unfocused. Sets, type cards, 19th century, pre-War, you name it.

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Posted By: Joe Jones

Good Thread! I live in a small Northern Michigan town. I am 25 years old. I have collected baseball cards for as long as I can remember. I have been collecting prewar for 1 year now after Richard Lloyd directed me to this forum (Thanks Richard!). I am now a dedicated set collector after selling off all of my cards in the last few weeks that were not a part of the sets I am working on. I enjoy the live chat function on this board, so it may not seem like I am a regular poster on this forum, but I am chatting almost daily.

http://www.imageevent.com/joejo20

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Posted By: Jason L

I'm now nearly 35 years old (though sometimes I feel 42, for various reasons), married 11 years, w/2 kids under 5, we live in CT after having moved around from Chicago (grew up there), Sydney Australia, Washington DC, and NYC before this most recent stop...

Employment: As an equity analyst, I used to pick small cap stocks for a mutual fund, and I was rather good at it, but it wasn't a sustainable environment for me - real fun at times, but too manic, not enough family time, just not a healthy fit overall for the long run...so I moved over into the Private Client side and now manage personal portfolios for wealthy folk...far more rewarding to directly help people become and stay wealthy, at least for me....I was right there on the ground for 9/11, and that too played into my decision to try and take a breath

Undergrad: Indiana U
Grad: Georgetown
Die-Hard Cubs fan (to this, I only say, you can't pick your family)...I actually think that if they don't get the rings in the next couple years, MLB should seriously look at kicking them out of the majors...I mean, how can you have a 100-year loser? it's a disgrace....he said, before putting on his Cubs hat.

Collecting interests:
-Chicago stars (your usual suspects like Payton, Ditka, Sayers, MJ, Sandberg, Banks, Santo, etc)
-Relatives - I had two cousins play MLB in the 30's and 40s, so I snap up anything I can of theirs
-HOF rookie cards
-Still developing my tastes in the vintage area, but the early interests thus far include tobacco Cubs cards, Diamond Stars, and 1940 Play Ball...I really don't have the budget for the area right now to do anything really fun, but I live vicariously through the rest of you. Having listed all of the above, please don't think that I have anything but a very modest collection...my most expensive card is still worth $500, maximum! (And no, I don't have dozens of $400 cards!)

I have a fairly addictive personality, so it is a constant struggle to control my spending. This Board is a tremendous resource, and I sincerely thank all of you who contribute & monitor it, because it helps me manage my "illness!"

far more than I intended to write...sorry...

and wow, it looks like I should move to MN when I can afford to start collecting more!!!...quite a contingent in the Great White North!

signing off, thanks for listening,
Jason L

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Posted By: barrysloate

To Mark Evans- I too like pool, chess (used to play tournaments) and beer; maybe that's a 60's thing.

[Archive]

Posted By: Brent Butcher

My name is Brent, 32 years old today, married, no kids BUT do have 2 very spoiled dogs(its her fault!) I live on the north side of Dallas, TX.

I graduated from SMU with a degree in Mechanical Engineering about 10 years ago. I do contract design work for a company out of Houston that builds military vehicles and I also monitor/support all associated testing at the various Government test sites around the country. Since that only keeps me busy during the week I also decided to get into the gym business and currently own 2 gyms in the DFW area. Also own a financial company with my brother that specializes in debt negotiation/consolidation and bankruptcies.

I enjoy all sports, Ebay, poker, chasing that rare 19th century boxing card and cars.

My main collecting focus is vintage boxing, non-sports and football. I do pick up an occasional baseball card of a HOF'er from the T206 or T205 set. If I ventured into baseball I would probably choose the T204 set.