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#1
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I'm a younger collector, so definitly haven't been doing at as long, but man I wish I found SCF.com for TTM earlier, I could've gotten Kershaw and Trout man! Ah well, at least I can buy them with adult money now.
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#2
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. Minor regret compared to the wonderful examples shared above, especially as mine is one based on greed, but my biggest regret is not selling my vintage autograph collection sooner. So many times I considered it, and even had my finger on the send key with inquiries to some of the leading vintage dealers at that time. But never could. Guess the desire to pursue the hunt was still alive. Afew years later, finally followed through although taking a significant haircut in sales proceeds. I would imagine many other collectors and dealers alike may have a similar regret regarding a specific item or collection. But otherwise, I have no regret in having sold my collection as it was time to move on, and possibly freed loved ones from having do so in my absence, with absolutely no knowledge of who to approach or what a fair price might be for the collection. |
#3
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My biggest regret is not being born, oh, about 70 years earlier, so I could have collected every major issue from Goudey on forward straight out of the packs and had them signed right away.
Other than that, not writing to more of the old-timers when they were still around, and wasting money on a bunch of modern cards when I could have bought a handful of vintage ones. I probably saw Johnny Pesky half a dozen times over the years in Ft. Myers, or at McCoy or Fenway, and never once took him a card from his playing days. I have plenty of cheap photos and posters signed by him, but what I'd give for a 1948 Leaf. On the other hand, I'm glad I started my signed 1953 Topps project when I did (July 2014) because there were still over 40 players left then who were answering their mail, and corresponding with them was one of the highlights of this project. I don't think I have ever regretted pulling the trigger on a card I needed, either. About a year and a half ago, the most difficult one, Howie Fox came up, and I paid the sticker price, which almost made me sick and I thought it would be a while before I could look at it without cringing. 'A while' ended up being less than two months, because then the second most difficult card (Vern Bickford) came up, and sold for almost twice what I paid for Fox, and suddenly I didn't feel bad any more.
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Signed 1953 Topps set: 264/274 (96.35 %) |
#4
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I'm not so sure Bickford ranks as second-toughest, anyway. Yes, an early death, but also a very accommodating signer. I think Hal Rice would be tougher, potentially among others. He was unable to sign the last 40 years of his life after sustaining injuries in a car accident. Bill Norman is another that comes to mind who I'd rank above Bickford. Likely others, but these are two off the top of my head.
Last edited by BillyCoxDodgers3B; 09-17-2024 at 09:14 AM. |
#5
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How did you know about Hal Rice? I heard a story someone finally went to visit him and he was in a wheel chair. Nobody had known for a while he was unable to sign. I am glad I had started my signed 52 set over a decade ago, and although trying to finish was probably based on my own hubris, I came to my senses. I sold at what I think is close to the top of the market, and at the top of my estimate via auction. Best buys....1952 signed mantle on ebay. Within an hour of listing, my brother in law drove over and picked it up the card in person. 1952 signed jackie on ebay, owner stated it failed psa/dna quick opinion. It passed when I sent it in person. That was an uncharge email I won't soon forget
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"Trolling Ebay right now" © Always looking for signed 1952 topps as well as variations and errors Last edited by Republicaninmass; 10-02-2024 at 06:34 AM. |
#6
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I have to know these things; it's what I do! I honestly can't recall where I learned about it, but I've known for ages. I remember writing Rice as a kid and predictably not hearing back. The information wasn't known at that time. I recall that the address used was his son's.
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#7
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Not on the same level of difficulty as the above, but Vern Stephens and Jim Gilliam I always either just miss, or am the underbidder. Gilliam I'm especially surprised by; he is plentiful on issues from later years and hung around the game for the rest of his life. Stephens I was able to land without too much difficulty on every other card I needed (1949-1952 Bowmans) but he is much scarcer on his 1953 Topps. Must've been a high number thing, for both of them.
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Signed 1953 Topps set: 264/274 (96.35 %) |
#8
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The best decision I made was selling my balls! My signed ROMLBs that is! I sold them before they could fade! (Which we all known they will do over time) same with signed bats, the sharpie always bleed into the wood over time. Or just faded!
Next up I’m in the process of selling off my signed 8x10 collection as the resale value on them sucks! Will be happy to just get what I can get for them and just move on from them. In regards to signed 8x10 photos, As the old saying goes, ain’t no one got time for that! (Really no one in the hobby collects them anymore it seems) |
#9
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While postcards, vintage notebook/autos on paper material last nearly forever (not so much these days with modern pens, but more so fountain pen era and prior). We have documents written on paper from the 11th century that look like they could've been written yesterday. ![]()
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I have done deals with many of the active n54ers. Sometimes I sell cool things that you don't see every day. My Red Schoendienst collection- https://imageevent.com/lucas00/redsc...enstcollection |
#10
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#11
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Huh? What were you selling that you and these other collectors and dealers would have taken such a haircut by not selling earlier. Haven't most things appreciated in value over time?
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#12
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I returned to the hobby after a 15 year break. I spent money on sending in new OMLB to be signed for private signings. The autos came out great, but later (never seeing daylight)...would fade badly
![]() Last edited by GoCubsGo32; 09-19-2024 at 11:59 AM. |
#13
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. Hank, the majority of my collection was vintage Detroit Tigers ballplayers. So many common, less common, and obscure player autographs. So I immediately limited the interested market to Tigers (although some played for other teams too). Market has continued to be strong for HOFers, especially Ruth, etc. And Hugh Jennings has held up extremely well too. But for comparison sake, I'll reference the tougher 1955 Dodgers I also had in my collection. Bert Hamric, Karl Spooner, Frank Kellert. Generally I found that both selling prices and interest was stronger for those three in 2015-2018 when I was thinking of selling than in 2022 when I did sell. Every once in a great while someone will post in BST some interest in buying 1955 Dodger autographs, but I do feel interest has waned over the years. And I think there are generally less collectors of less/obscure ballplayers now than when I started 25-30 years ago. Perhaps Jody Birkholm would like to weigh in with his experience. |
#14
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Couldn't agree more regarding the '55 Dodgers. Over the timeframe you reference, there seem to have been more cuts and 3X5s surfacing for the tougher team members and asking prices have been lower, too. I'm holding on to mine as opposed to giving them away. Not sure what happened.
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#15
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My best and worst involve the same item.
About 20 years ago, I spotted a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie graded GAI 2 and with a rookie era autograph offered on Ebay with a $1000 BIN. I knew the autograph was authentic as Mike Guiterrez who authenticated autographs for GAI in the early days had authenticated the autograph. I assume the seller just thought someone else had written Mantle's name on the front of the card and that was the reason for the low BIN. So, I won it and got it in a week or so. I relisted it for $2000 and it immediately sold. Card has never reappeared on the open market but autographed examples with Mantle's card show era autograph bring $100K in today's environment so a rookie era autograph would obviously be worth more. Oh well, a thousand dollars profit is still a nice profit but oh what could have been!! |
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