Unfortunately, considering getting completely 100% out. Advice/thoughts?

[h2oya311]

Wow Dan! Crazy news! It looks like you've gone "all-in" on this decision with the consignment of those three amazing pieces!

I'm sad to see another HOF rookie collector fall victim to the "reduced itch" bug, but for my own selfish reasons, I guess I'm okay with it. I'll certainly be on the lookout for much of your material!

I hope you continue to contribute to the boards in some fashion. Perhaps you'll get the itch again (as Leon and others have).

All the best in your decision.

Derek

[Hankphenom]

It's all part of the churn, and we will all do it someday--or our heirs will. I've found that selling can be almost as much fun as buying, and there is satisfaction in knowing these great things you've treasured and protected are moving on to those who will do the same with them.

[drcy]

I sold off my collection years back and don't collect anymore (maybe in the future), but get enjoyment reading the board and reading about the stuff. Definitely can live without all the Mastro-esque drama, though. That gets old fast, especially when you realize we're dealing with kid's collectibles. The hobby as a hobby good, the hobby as a industry bad. I figured if I started collecting again it would be in an interesting antique area where items have almost no value and look quaint on my mantle, so the financial part of it isn't involved-- and of course, nothing that is professionally graded.

Though I'm an art historian by trade and am teaching a photo history course, so am still actively involved in "the stuff." I just don't buy for myself as a collector.

[Snapolit1]

A lot of my drive in building a nice collection is the idea that I will be leaving it to my kids who can share it with their kids. Very few people have the foresight and patience to do things in their life like build a collection of something and pass it forward. I wish I had a distant family member had put some things in a box and said preserve these. Kind of a legacy that tells you grandkids and great grandkids a little something about a person they never met. I've never been happier in my life than sitting at a baseball game on a beautiful summer day drinking a beer with my family. Or reading about baseball history. And all the better if those things have some value that will inure to others.

[vintagehofrookies]

Thank you guys for the very encouraging words (it is very appreciated and helpful) as this is a very difficult decision to make. Also, I do have to little ones (ages 1 1/2 and 5) so the thought of keeping something for them is something I've always thought about ever since my 5 y.o daughter was born. So I will prob. hang on to some things for them. Also my signed 1954 Topps set (which I forgot all about during this decision) that I'm working on will stay until completion as I "only" need 30-something auto's left until its done.

Dan

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by vintagehofrookies

Thank you guys for the very encouraging words (it is very appreciated and helpful) as this is a very difficult decision to make. Also, I do have to little ones (ages 1 1/2 and 5) so the thought of keeping something for them is something I've always thought about ever since my 5 y.o daughter was born. So I will prob. hang on to some things for them. Also my signed 1954 Topps set (which I forgot all about during this decision) that I'm working on will stay until completion as I "only" need 30-something auto's left until its done.

Dan

so not getting out 100%, i am vindicated...didnt take long...

[Snapolit1]

Wow. . . . that seems pretty petty. Guy is trying to sort through some difficult sh*t and you stuck around just long enough to be "vindicated". What can I say other than Congratulations. You won something somehow.

[vintagehofrookies]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

so not getting out 100%, i am vindicated...didnt take long...

well I forgot about my set, so for now, no not 100% but you are wrong as I will be getting rid of close to 99% of my collection (sorry to burst your bubble) and once the set is complete it will go as well, unless I get a damn good offer for it now then I will sell it too!

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

A lot of my drive in building a nice collection is the idea that I will be leaving it to my kids who can share it with their kids. Very few people have the foresight and patience to do things in their life like build a collection of something and pass it forward. I wish I had a distant family member had put some things in a box and said preserve these. Kind of a legacy that tells you grandkids and great grandkids a little something about a person they never met. I've never been happier in my life than sitting at a baseball game on a beautiful summer day drinking a beer with my family. Or reading about baseball history. And all the better if those things have some value that will inure to others.

This pretty much echoes my plan--have it sold/auctioned after my death, dedicating some of the proceeds to a trust fund to help descendants get a college education, and leave a substantial portion to God's missionary work, possibly the Gideon's, an organization of which I am a member.

Dan, I would also consider the fact that the hobby is growing quickly--I have an REA auction catalog from the '90's that is about 8 pages of newsprint (compare that to the 500+ quality color pages of its latest editions!)--and it will continue to do so rapidly, IMHO, due to the internet and the large number of quality auctions. Also, so many of the big boys who are coming in and buying $525,000 PSA 8 '52 Topps Mantles and $300-$400K PSA 9 Aaron rookies will be expanding their collecting horizons over time, just as has regularly occurred and will continue to occur with coin collectors. I know you have some tremendous items, but would hang on to as many of those as you can, as it is my belief that the appreciation will be great and the payout much bigger later on, perhaps much sooner than you think. But you still have to do what you have to do, and I wish you the best of luck with whatever path you choose to take in this regard!

Highest regards,

Larry

[vintagehofrookies]

Thank You all for the kind words!


Dan