Card(s) you wish you purchased

[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.

[Kevin]

I have discussed this before: mid 1980s, my family made the trek to Cooperstown. Larry Fritsch must have been putting the finishing touches on the “museum”/card shop he had opened up. My dad and I walked in there and the place was empty. What happened next is something that I’m blown away with today. We saw all of his cards; I believe he had Wagner on display. After this personal tour, he brought my father and I in the back room - his office - and started showing us rare cards. I believe we handled a Joe Doyle. He was putting one on display and I think he offered to sell my father another one that he had. (Dad was collecting 1950s Dodgers and 1950s Browns). He had absolutely no interest in tobacco. Me? I was locked in.

The Doyle was lost on my father and I. Why would we want that? So we left the back room and came to a display case. It was a big case with barely any cards in it. He had: Evers, Chance, Mathewson and 2 Red Cobbs. I had brought all my paper route money: over $100. Evers ($50), Chance ($60), Mathewson ($70), Cobb paper loss ($225), Cobb intact ($250). I had the $100+ and at that point, dad said “what if we take all 4?” and there was some negotiations. Dad let me choose which Cobb and me, being the good son trying to save my dad $25, chose the lesser Cobb.

35+ years later, it still bothers me. Here is a link to pictures from my Twitter page:

https://twitter.com/kevinseanfeeney/...983782407?s=21

https://twitter.com/kevinseanfeeney/...983782407?s=21

[commishbob]

Nothing as dramatic as some of the stories already posted but when I first kicked around the idea of putting the '67T set together a dealer I was talking to offered me the Seaver and Carew rookies and a small stack of other SPs for about $300 total as i recall. I passed thinking I could do better on eBay at some point.

In the last six months I finished the set and spent well over a grand for the two rookies.

[egri]

Originally Posted by 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.

Same. I think about all the money I plowed into junk wax and mid-2000s shiny stuff that I could have put towards vintage. I'd enjoy the vintage a lot more these days, and I'd still have it, unlike the modern stuff I tossed because it was taking up too much space. At least when I got back in to the hobby I didn't make that mistake again.

[kmac32]

Saw a 1921 E121 pSA graded Ruth with a grade of 3 at National for $7000. Last I checked card was going for north of $125,000.

[rjackson44]

Try not to think on this subject I’ll get sick 🙄🙄