Card(s) you wish you purchased

[Aaron Seefeldt]

A friend/collector was selling off some of his collection about 20 years ago. He offered me his 1915 Baltimore News Ruth and mailed it to me to look over in advance. He wanted $15K for it and I had the funds to do it. When I received it to look over I could not believe 1 of the corners was clipped and he still wanted $15K for it. I mailed it back to him saying it was not worth it and proudly told him that I only buy "whole" cards.

Doh!

[ASF123]

I guess my answer is "every card I bought in the last year and a half, ten years ago."

[Johnny630]

There have been many lessons learned along the way along with missed opportunities but I don't dwell on the past. I'm very happy and blessed with what I have.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

There have been many lessons learned along the way along with missed opportunities but I don't dwell on the past. I'm very happy and blessed with what I have.

Agreed. Otherwise you would drive yourself crazy with coulda shoulda woulda.

[sbfinley]

7-8 years ago REA had a lot of Rose PC's and I noticed this image when I bidding online. I read the lot description a half dozen times and not once did REA even mention the name Graham so I assumed it wasn't one in the same. Lot went dirt cheap too, another member here snatched it up. Should have done more diligence. Haven't seen another copy before or again. I can't remember what member here ended up with the card, but if they ever want to let it go I'm your guy.

[darwinbulldog]

On the one hand, there are countless examples I could rattle off that would have been tremendous bargains in retrospect, and even at the time in some cases. On the other hand, if I had bought all of them I wouldn't have been able to afford a house, children, food, that sort of stuff.

One example that comes to mind though is the time my bid for an Oscar Charleston Type I photo was delayed by a couple of seconds and just missed the close of the auction. It sold for less than half of what I expected it would, is worth considerably more now, and I learned afterward had been purchased by a museum.

[shagrotn77]

From a sports card perspective, I will forever be haunted by the fact that I didn't buy a '25 Exhibits Lou Gehrig rookie when they were affordable. Doh!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by shagrotn77

From a sports card perspective, I will forever be haunted by the fact that I didn't buy a '25 Exhibits Lou Gehrig rookie when they were affordable. Doh!

If you were like me, back then you thought it was too oddball and maybe not even a real "card."

[Wanaselja]

Originally Posted by ASF123

I guess my answer is "every card I bought in the last year and a half, ten years ago."

Nailed it.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Wanaselja

Nailed it.

Wow cut to the chase and that is it

[egri]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Wow cut to the chase and that is it

I heard the expression on here about buying cards "There's no too early, only too soon."

[steve B]

Over the last 40+ years?
No way to pick just one.

Goudey Ruths at 100? Nope!
Bobby Orr US rookie also for 100... What? A hockey card for that much?!
Pretty much any T206 Hof er for $10
Aaron rookie for 60
52 Mantle for under 1000 - not great ones, but probably solid 5-6s.
A boxful of tiny felt backed football cards, except most of them were college players, and there was no checklist anywhere.

So many things I just didn't go for.

But I did get some cool stuff, so I'm mostly ok with how it all worked out.

[Foo3112]

I remember seeing some cards for sale at the below prices which felt like a lot you had to be rich in order to acquire. Now looking at prices today, seems like even the most average collector can put just a handful of cards together and easily come up with 10K of value/sales. In fact, if you didn't have a card that was valued at even 10K during the pandemic hike, then you were perhaps collecting the wrong thing lol. Seriously though, looking back, I wish I would have picked these up but the reality also is that I didn't have the funds to purchase most even back then unless I was willing to sell some stuff and the stuff I did sell went towards other cards in my collection. I really like my small collection today so I cant complain as I realize I cant buy everything I want. I am happy with what I have and staying debt free is perfectly fine with me.

1954 Topps Hank Aaron RC PSA 8 10K (I had the chance to purchase one)

1981 Topps Joe Montana PSA 10. At 10K prices.

1982 Cal Ripken Traded when they were about $1,200. This card is still do-able today but they have begun increasing in price again. I believe they are around 7K today but they were even much higher during the spike.

1986 Fleer Jordan PSA 9 at $1,100 all day and the PSA 10's when they were just hitting 10K back around 2013/14. I thought 10K was a crazy amount of money.

2000 Topps Brady Chrome PSA 10 were at about $1000 back around 2016/17.

2003 Topps Chrome Refractor Lebron PSA 10 were at about 7K around 2017. Stupid me is all I can say.

2009 Bowman Chrome Refractor Mike Trout PSA 10 was at 17K on eBay back in late 2019. The last one I remember seeing sold at about 58K.

[rugbymarine]

When I first got back into collecting in 2004-2009ish, I wish I would've been more intentional about buying blue-chip vintage and older, instead of modern product. Instead of $600 on a case of 2007 Topps Heritage to rip, I wish I would've sought out a really nice Jordan RC or 51 Mays.

I look back at when I started buying again after another break (late-2014), and I have the same thoughts.

Whatever era you prefer or can afford to collect, stick with the greats.