I'm Dreaming of a Cardboard Christmas

[uyu906]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Hey Rich,

thanks for that wonderful story. I can relate somewhat as I'm currently losing my father to cancer, and despite not having any hobby-related card stories between us, I'll never forget the endless early mornings he would take me and others to far and away locales for hockey tournaments. My father also taught me that integrity trumps all - something I try desperately to follow often falling short - as the man I was lucky enough to be raised by is, and always will be, a hard act to follow.

So do you still have the Cobb bat as well?
Brent

Hi Brent,

Thanks for the kind words. And, yes I still have the bat. There is more to that part of the story. My dad, who was a lifelong Brooklyn Dodgers fan, somehow got Pee Wee Reese's address at the Louisville Slugger company who he worked for back in the early 1980s and sent him a letter after acquiring the bat asking about whether it was a store model or a game used bat. Pee Wee actually wrote my dad back, with information from an old time company employee about the bat - he thought it was a store model except one word did not correspond with the records from that time period for Cobb store models. I have never looked into it further, as I am not a bat collector. I have always just thought it was cool to have a bat from the period that was the size and length of the model Cobb used at some point in his great career. I also still have my dad's original letter to Reese, and Reese's letter back that he signed. Priceless to me . . . .

Merry Christmas to all!!!


Happy Holidays my friends!!

[pingman59]

I had just started buying my first BB cards back in the spring of 1968 when I was 9 years old. So, for Christmas later that year, I get one of those Topps Fun Packs from Santa and it had 1968 Topps BB high number packs. I don't remember if they were in one-card packs or the typical 5-card packs, but I was so excited! Phil Roof, Manny Jiminez and the A's Team were some I remember getting. Funny, but that was the only Christmas I ever got BB cards when I was a kid.

[Stampsfan]

I'm gonna swap this around a little. These days, my youngest daughter (just turned 22 and still in school) asks me to submit her a list of cards I am looking for. I collecti so many sets, it's pretty easy. Plus I try and keep them to commons and under $10 each.

Anyhow, for the past three years I direct her to a bunch of cards that are listed in some private sites (off eBay), give her a list of items, and then I do not check the site(s) again. Come Christmas, she comes through.

Do I do most of the work? Sure. But the real treat is her knowing she is getting me what I really enjoy.

[mouschi]

I love reading your stories - thanks everyone for sharing!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by mouschi

I love reading your stories - thanks everyone for sharing!

It was a great opening act to follow. Nice thread.

[Iwantmorecards77]

I remember getting a box of 1992 Donruss for Christmas back in 1991. Exciting times. Those Diamond Kings were (still are) great looking cards.