For seniors

[JCRedbird]

Bought packs of baseball cards since I was a kid and fortunately kept what I had. Nearly 70 now and have been collecting in earnest for over 50 years. Man has the hobby changed! I remember when finding a card you didn't have was more important than finding a star card, especially for the really old stuff. I never thought I'd sell but now I've got to admit, I'm thinking about it. Got some dishes my mom collected and they are in a box in the garage...where they've been for 20 years. Got a coin collection my dad had. Been in a tub for 10 years. I think my cards may have the same destiny. I've got a pretty extensive collection with complete sets back into the 50's and several notebooks of vintage cards. I've loved the chase and I've loved learning about the cards--who produced them and for what reason and the nuances of each set (why do some sets not have certain numbers, etc). But now I'm trying to decide if the financial comfort that a sale would give me outweighs pulling a notebook off the shelf and reliving "the good ole days". Any opinions on who to deal with if I opt to sell? Some I've looked at are Deans, Baseball Card Market, American Legends, Greg Morris, etc.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Morris has a great reputation. It sounds like you have a lot of mainstream cards from a certain vintage that Greg & Co. do well with. As many past and present consignors have noted on this site, some cards may fetch little lower than expected, while others have wonderfully pleasant, surprising outcomes. This is funny to me whenever I read it, as it seems like nearly everything I bid on with them goes higher than I anticipated! This is a great thing to hear for a potential consignor!

[rand1com]

If you have complete sets from the 50's/60's I would consign them to a major auction house such as REA, Heritage, Hunt, Leland's, or many other reputable ones.

They will determine which, if any, cards should be graded to cause the sets to bring more money or if they are lower grade they will just sell them as is.

Same with major rookies/stars from that era.

Breaking the sets to sell raw on Ebay through a third party would really only work through Greg Morris in my opinion and they do bring good money but complete sets make more sense to sell as such in my opinion.

Good luck with the sale.

[bbcard1]

I'm 62 and in good health. I do advertising consulting. My plan is to work until I am 66 and then turn my attention to slowly selling off my collection over the next then years or so. I have a "hit by a bus" plan, but i think I would enjoy selling off my collection and making sure it finds good homes, keeping perhaps ten good value cards, perhaps my sets from the 70s and my Marshall University players collection.

[Chicosbailbonds]

I have thought about this a lot in the last year. I just turned 59, and have been a caretaker for years. My mother recently passed from Alzheimer's, and having to deal with Medicaid really sucks. I would hate to lose my collection so a nursing home gets theirs.

[keithsky]

I'm 67 and I have thought about this year trying to get rid of some of my items. My main focus was the 59 white sox and 55 Brooklyn dodger stuff and I'm leaning more towards keeping the white sox items and getting rid of the Brooklyn items. Like what everybody else said just not to burden your spouse at a later time. I have even thought of just keeping a dozen high end items that maybe would fill one wall and I would be happy also with that. Been collecting for over 50 years so at some point it's time to let items go just. Wish the tax law wouldn't have changed for what it's gonna be this year compared to last year.

[Exhibitman]

I've already started the process of whacking the weeds in my card garden, but the plan as of now is to have an active picking and selling business after I stop practicing law, hoping to generate some modest cash flow, stay engaged doing something I love, and have fun. Some things that I think are really strong long term investments I will keep then let my daughter liquidate them after I pass away and she gets a stepped up basis for tax purposes. Probably most of my Ruth, Gehrig, Robinson, etc. I don't see a real downside to holding those. Plus, they are fun.

Thread needs another card

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I've already started the process of whacking the weeds in my card garden, but the plan as of now is to have an active picking and selling business after I stop practicing law, hoping to generate some modest cash flow, stay engaged doing something I love, and have fun. Some things that I think are really strong long term investments I will keep then let my daughter liquidate them after I pass away and she gets a stepped up basis for tax purposes. Probably most of my Ruth, Gehrig, Robinson, etc. I don't see a real downside to holding those. Plus, they are fun.

Thread needs another card

Since I have already posted my plans and Adam said it needs another card, I thought I might add a few card pictures just to spice this great thread up. I have really enjoyed reading all the other "Seniors" thoughts and plans. Here are just a couple that I haven't transferred to my daughter.

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I've already started the process of whacking the weeds in my card garden, but the plan as of now is to have an active picking and selling business after I stop practicing law, hoping to generate some modest cash flow, stay engaged doing something I love, and have fun. Some things that I think are really strong long term investments I will keep then let my daughter liquidate them after I pass away and she gets a stepped up basis for tax purposes. Probably most of my Ruth, Gehrig, Robinson, etc. I don't see a real downside to holding those. Plus, they are fun.

Thread needs another card

And there ya go trying to drag me back in by posting this terrific Minoso.