Lurker Thread

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I get the impression the Pareto Principle also known as the 80/20 rule applies here quite often. I'm not sure what the member count is but I'm guessing there are some members who just lurk because they don't think their collecting story is important. You couldn't be more wrong.

There's cats here that could literally buy whatever they want, and do, it's fun to see. But the true mission statement of this sub is "all collectors are welcome, tell your story". You don't have to be rich, you don't have to be the big dog in the room. What is required is you have to be excited about what you are collecting and share it with the members here.

My good friend Andy Huntoon is a perfect example, he is a pure collector who just wants to help other collectors fulfill their goals. Thank you Andy. I might be able to afford a 14 CJ Cobb but he's a much better collector than me in my humble opinion.

It's not about the money, it never had been on this sub.

So, Lurkers, tell us your story, introduce yourselves and tell us what's important to you and your collection. If you're excited about pulling a $50 card I want to hear about it. Your opinion counts just like anybody else here.

Agreed!

[Stampsfan]

OK, I'll bite. Not sure if I qualify (there's that doubt going again) as a lurker with just over 1000 posts. However, one of the reasons I don't post on a lot of threads in the pre-war section is because I don't have a single pre-war baseball card. Being a Canadian, I have pre-war hockey and pre-was non-sports, and lots of post war hockey and CFL football going back to 1952. As a set collector, I always have a need somewhere in the hockey realm.

I subscribed to SCD in the late 80's and on through the 90's, until it essentially stopped publishing, so I've followed the baseball hobby. With a young family at the time, I simply didn't have the ability to spend a few hundred bucks on a T206 red or green Cobb. Now I look at them and want to jump in.

I have a few baseball, some of the old 60's OPC that I collected (and kept) as a kid. I've picked up a few 52 Topps... no Mantle, but a Mathews, Mays, Reese. Constantly looking at the high numbers, and some of the more desirable low numbers.

However, TBH I am a little embarrassed on this board to say "Hey, I'm now retired and ready to get a red Cobby or Matty portrait to my collection." after seeing the quality of others. I've also developed a real affinity for N28's and N162's, and would love to add a decent HOFer like Anson. Those cards and colors are simply beautiful.

While I have a nice collection of hockey and other things that, with price increases, is now well into six figures, I am a little shy on the pre-war baseball stuff.

That's why I lurk in this section way more than I post.
OK, I said it. I feel better now...

[Stampsfan]

And since "every thread needs a card", here are a few of mine.

[edhans]

Nice post, Phil.

[rjackson44]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

And since "every thread needs a card", here are a few of mine.

love vintage hockey

[jcmtiger]

Nice hockey cards!!!!!

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Hockey cards don't get enough love! Your collection rocks though...

It seems few people grade hockey cards in the US, and so we don't hear about many exciting sales. Looking at the numbers, hockey cards are being graded at a lower rate than soccer and even the generic "non-sport" category (non-sport is not the pokemon bucket, that's TCG). I wish there were more influencers who liked hockey! I do...

[GrewUpWithJunkWax]

It's amazing the number and quality of the collections here. So many fine items, and things I didn't know existed. I enjoy learning, reading about what others know and their experiences over the years - that's what brought me here.

I grew up in a small Midwest town, and started collecting in the late '80s. McGwire was the guy I pretended to be in Little League, but on the playground I was a WR and wanted to be Jerry Rice. I regularly bought Beckett magazines at Walmart. I had friends who were also into cards, but none of us really had a whole lot to spend. Even if we did save up, our local card store options were a furniture store, trophy shop, and a pawn shop that each had a couple card cases on the side.

It was a relatively small bubble. Still, my collecting evolved. I eventually decided that it was more efficient to just buy the cards that I liked instead of opening packs. Occasionally, I would see some older cards, and those really grabbed me with their designs, the old jerseys, and the history. I realized that if I saved up a bit more, I could buy actual legends of the game. My options were limited though.

My first vintage purchase was made possible by spending an evening with my grandma playing Bingo. She was playing multiple Bingo cards each round, and she put me in charge of the dauber, marking each call-out on all the cards. At some point, we hit a Bingo. She won $75, but she wanted to split it with me for bringing her good luck. I took my share the next day to buy the best card I could find. I got a 1960 Topps Stan Musial. It was awesome holding that.

My first dozen vintage purchases as a kid, because I have since logged my items with good ol' Excel, were these cards:

1961 Topps 311 Whitey Ford
1957 Topps 135 Bill Skowron
1959 Topps 462 Rocky Colavito
1958 Topps 492 Bob Friend
1961 Topps 127 Ron Kline
1967 Topps 5 Whitey Ford
1958 Topps 476 Stan Musial
1960 Topps 229 Joe Morgan
1960 Topps 175 Pedro Ramos
1957 Topps 138 Minnie Minoso
1959 Topps 461 Mickey Mantle
1960 Topps 250 Stan Musial

They were modest cards. My friends never had any vintage, but I liked the cards and enjoyed learning about the players.

Like the stories of many others, life happened. My cards were stored away in my parent's house. In 2021, I went to gather my old belongings and move them to my place. I found my cards. The nostalgia was great, thumbing through my albums and remembering the time spent organizing the cards. It re-kindled something. Last year, I bought a T206 Rube Waddell. I never thought I'd own a tobacco card. Those had only existed in magazine pictures. I then picked up a Zeenut and a couple of T201 Double Folders. My collection is small but growing again.

I can go online and see so many of the cards that I had always wanted. I can learn the backstories to the cards I enjoy. I discover new sets and cards all the time. There's always more to learn. That's why I lurked, joined, and still lurk.

[joshleon]

Originally Posted by GrewUpWithJunkWax

It's amazing the number and quality of the collections here. So many fine items, and things I didn't know existed. I enjoy learning, reading about what others know and their experiences over the years - that's what brought me here.

I grew up in a small Midwest town, and started collecting in the late '80s. McGwire was the guy I pretended to be in Little League, but on the playground I was a WR and wanted to be Jerry Rice. I regularly bought Beckett magazines at Walmart. I had friends who were also into cards, but none of us really had a whole lot to spend. Even if we did save up, our local card store options were a furniture store, trophy shop, and a pawn shop that each had a couple card cases on the side.

It was a relatively small bubble. Still, my collecting evolved. I eventually decided that it was more efficient to just buy the cards that I liked instead of opening packs. Occasionally, I would see some older cards, and those really grabbed me with their designs, the old jerseys, and the history. I realized that if I saved up a bit more, I could buy actual legends of the game. My options were limited though.

My first vintage purchase was made possible by spending an evening with my grandma playing Bingo. She was playing multiple Bingo cards each round, and she put me in charge of the dauber, marking each call-out on all the cards. At some point, we hit a Bingo. She won $75, but she wanted to split it with me for bringing her good luck. I took my share the next day to buy the best card I could find. I got a 1960 Topps Stan Musial. It was awesome holding that.

My first dozen vintage purchases as a kid, because I have since logged my items with good ol' Excel, were these cards:

1961 Topps 311 Whitey Ford
1957 Topps 135 Bill Skowron
1959 Topps 462 Rocky Colavito
1958 Topps 492 Bob Friend
1961 Topps 127 Ron Kline
1967 Topps 5 Whitey Ford
1958 Topps 476 Stan Musial
1960 Topps 229 Joe Morgan
1960 Topps 175 Pedro Ramos
1957 Topps 138 Minnie Minoso
1959 Topps 461 Mickey Mantle
1960 Topps 250 Stan Musial

They were modest cards. My friends never had any vintage, but I liked the cards and enjoyed learning about the players.

Like the stories of many others, life happened. My cards were stored away in my parent's house. In 2021, I went to gather my old belongings and move them to my place. I found my cards. The nostalgia was great, thumbing through my albums and remembering the time spent organizing the cards. It re-kindled something. Last year, I bought a T206 Rube Waddell. I never thought I'd own a tobacco card. Those had only existed in magazine pictures. I then picked up a Zeenut and a couple of T201 Double Folders. My collection is small but growing again.

I can go online and see so many of the cards that I had always wanted. I can learn the backstories to the cards I enjoy. I discover new sets and cards all the time. There's always more to learn. That's why I lurked, joined, and still lurk.

Love this post! I felt the same as a kid. I was only kid with vintage cards.

[skil55voy]

I agree with Casey. I don't post very often but, I do scan and read everyday and I enjoy the stories and friendly banter. I had complete Topps sets from 1955 to 1982 but, sold them in 1986 to buy my first house. Even though they have skyrocketed in value since, no regrets. I saved my Post Cereal and Jell-o cards and have since collected only Detroit Tiger sets, Lions, Pistons etc. I started collecting in 1962 and traded a shopping bag of model car parts for 2 shopping bags of baseball cards. (1955-1961). I then traded a slot car for a shopping bag of 1962 Topps. As for newer cards I have kept my Tiger team sets to the current date and left my Lions, Pistons and Red Wings as vintage. (1951-1980) I decided to build a 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen to "celebrate" my 50 years of collecting. I am very close to a master set, but doubt I will finish. (Need mini GQ and Straight Cut backs) The hockey cards posted here are GREAT! So, here are a couple of pictures from me.

Attachment 509633

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by skil55voy

I agree with Casey. I don't post very often but, I do scan and read everyday and I enjoy the stories and friendly banter. I had complete Topps sets from 1955 to 1982 but, sold them in 1986 to buy my first house. Even though they have skyrocketed in value since, no regrets. I saved my Post Cereal and Jell-o cards and have since collected only Detroit Tiger sets, Lions, Pistons etc. I started collecting in 1962 and traded a shopping bag of model car parts for 2 shopping bags of baseball cards. (1955-1961). I then traded a slot car for a shopping bag of 1962 Topps. As for newer cards I have kept my Tiger team sets to the current date and left my Lions, Pistons and Red Wings as vintage. (1951-1980) I decided to build a 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen to "celebrate" my 50 years of collecting. I am very close to a master set, but doubt I will finish. (Need mini GQ and Straight Cut backs) The hockey cards posted here are GREAT! So, here are a couple of pictures from me.

Attachment 509633

Those hockey transfers are tough. Nice piece. Can I assume Unger was with the Wings, hence the addition to your collection?

Regardless, nice tough pickup.

[MarcosCards]

Originally Posted by GrewUpWithJunkWax

It's amazing the number and quality of the collections here. So many fine items, and things I didn't know existed. I enjoy learning, reading about what others know and their experiences over the years - that's what brought me here.

I grew up in a small Midwest town, and started collecting in the late '80s. McGwire was the guy I pretended to be in Little League, but on the playground I was a WR and wanted to be Jerry Rice. I regularly bought Beckett magazines at Walmart. I had friends who were also into cards, but none of us really had a whole lot to spend. Even if we did save up, our local card store options were a furniture store, trophy shop, and a pawn shop that each had a couple card cases on the side.

It was a relatively small bubble. Still, my collecting evolved. I eventually decided that it was more efficient to just buy the cards that I liked instead of opening packs. Occasionally, I would see some older cards, and those really grabbed me with their designs, the old jerseys, and the history. I realized that if I saved up a bit more, I could buy actual legends of the game. My options were limited though.

My first vintage purchase was made possible by spending an evening with my grandma playing Bingo. She was playing multiple Bingo cards each round, and she put me in charge of the dauber, marking each call-out on all the cards. At some point, we hit a Bingo. She won $75, but she wanted to split it with me for bringing her good luck. I took my share the next day to buy the best card I could find. I got a 1960 Topps Stan Musial. It was awesome holding that.

My first dozen vintage purchases as a kid, because I have since logged my items with good ol' Excel, were these cards:

1961 Topps 311 Whitey Ford
1957 Topps 135 Bill Skowron
1959 Topps 462 Rocky Colavito
1958 Topps 492 Bob Friend
1961 Topps 127 Ron Kline
1967 Topps 5 Whitey Ford
1958 Topps 476 Stan Musial
1960 Topps 229 Joe Morgan
1960 Topps 175 Pedro Ramos
1957 Topps 138 Minnie Minoso
1959 Topps 461 Mickey Mantle
1960 Topps 250 Stan Musial

They were modest cards. My friends never had any vintage, but I liked the cards and enjoyed learning about the players.

Like the stories of many others, life happened. My cards were stored away in my parent's house. In 2021, I went to gather my old belongings and move them to my place. I found my cards. The nostalgia was great, thumbing through my albums and remembering the time spent organizing the cards. It re-kindled something. Last year, I bought a T206 Rube Waddell. I never thought I'd own a tobacco card. Those had only existed in magazine pictures. I then picked up a Zeenut and a couple of T201 Double Folders. My collection is small but growing again.

I can go online and see so many of the cards that I had always wanted. I can learn the backstories to the cards I enjoy. I discover new sets and cards all the time. There's always more to learn. That's why I lurked, joined, and still lurk.

I love this post - it parallels my story in a way. Except my childhood collecting occurred three decades earlier — in the 1960s. What a beautiful experience to return to the old homestead and discover the cards from your youth. The memories of childhood – and collecting - come rushing back!