Last to go

[GKreindler]

Awesomeness. I grew up in Monsey and spent most of my life there. Rockland is always in my heart.

Graig

[packs]

Ah Monsey. I never got over there much but I used to take the bus from Suffern to the city all the time. I always loved Nyack too. Hook Mountain especially. My family from Rockland are the Cifuni's. I wonder if you knew any of them?

Did you know Ray Kelly?

My grandmother never liked baseball or even paid attention to it. Somehow she managed to grow up literally next door to Whitey Ford (who she said was a real jerk when they were kids) and later in life became good friends with Ray Kelly.

[GKreindler]

I don't think we knew any Cifunis, but I can certainly ask my parents. They might know better than me. Actually, I'm sure they do.

Monsey was a nice place to grow up, but certainly in the past 10-15 years, things have been getting pretty bad, community-wise.

I never knew Little Ray, but I do remember seeing an autographed photo of him up in the Palisades Mall right after it opened up. For some reason, I think it was in Chili's, not the sports memorabilia store they had on the top floor. But yeah, at the time, I was just really shocked that he had happened to walk into that place to begin with, as I guess it was only 2-3 years before he passed.

I do have wonderful memories of going to the Wizard of Cards in Nanuet, Mr. Comic at the Spring Valley flea market, and Danny's Dugout in Suffern for all of my baseball card needs. At the young age of ten, there weren't many.

And I even remember going to some of the Gloria Rothstein shows at the WCC with my father - it was there that he bought me a nice '64 Topps Bobby Richardson card for $4 when I wasn't more than 7 years old. I remember freaking out, thinking it was so amazing to own something of Bobby's. THE Bobby Richardson! Of course when I told my friends the next day, they had no clue who I was talking about. If the player wasn't named Mattingly, Murphy, Strawberry or Joyner, they probably never would have cared.

Graig

[71buc]

I have been collecting since the early 70s. I have four kids who could care less about my collection so I will eventually sell it all. Out of curiosity I asked each of my kids if they could pick one item for themselves from my collection what that item would be and why. I was shocked by their answers. My 23 year old son said, "Your Aaron and Clemente Rookie cards because they were your heros." My 20 year old daughter wanted my photo collection. She said, "Whenever I see old baseball photos I think about you". My twelve year old wants my autographed Roberto Clemente night poster because, "He cared about people just like you". My youngest is 10, she is claiming my 1971 Pirates NL Pennant because, "They were your favorites when you were little like me". Not once was the monetary value of the pieces mentioned. I will make certain each of them receives the item they identified. They may not understand my collecting but they sure understand me. I was touched. Ironically I have a worthless 1970 Red Sox Pennant that my Dad bought for me at the first game he took me to. It is the origin of my collection and a token of one of my fondest memories of him. It is also my favorite item in my collection.

[springpin]

What a touching response! While our items differ, the reason behind them often seems related to childhood, our own or others.

[GrayGhost]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I have been collecting since the early 70s. I have four kids who could care less about my collection so I will eventually sell it all. Out of curiosity I asked each of my kids if they could pick one item for themselves from my collection what that item would be and why. I was shocked by their answers. My 23 year old son said, "Your Aaron and Clemente Rookie cards because they were your heros." My 20 year old daughter wanted my photo collection. She said, "Whenever I see old baseball photos I think about you". My twelve year old wants my autographed Roberto Clemente night poster because, "He cared about people just like you". My youngest is 10, she is claiming my 1971 Pirates NL Pennant because, "They were your favorites when you were little like me". Not once was the monetary value of the pieces mentioned. I will make certain each of them receives the item they identified. They may not understand my collecting but they sure understand me. I was touched. Ironically I have a worthless 1970 Red Sox Pennant that my Dad bought for me at the first game he took me to. It is the origin of my collection and a token of one of my fondest memories of him. It is also my favorite item in my collection.

I nearly had tears when I read this reply. You must be so proud to know your children have such an emotional bond to you, as you did with your dad. Do you know what that means? You have WON in the ballgame called life, in the most important way. Thanks for making me smile on a day when Im not in a very good mood.

[Exhibitman]

Thanks, Nick.

You have to pick your funeral music carefully in advance. I was at a funeral last week and the music sucked. I can't believe that the dead guy would have wanted it that way. I'm putting together a whole play list. In addition to the Python sing-along, I know I want Led Zeppelin's In My Time of Dying and Run Like Hell by Pink Floyd. Also at least one of the George Harrison psychedelic Beatles numbers. And at least one song with an F-bomb in it because why not.