Koufax’s prices are even higher from a year ago

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Or maybe we who buy and sell these items obsessively stop judging what others do? How am I going to tell some kid not to sell a Wemby jersey that might net him a college tuition?

This all reflects who we are as a society and as a subculture of collectors. The idealized innocent experience of meeting a hero and getting a valueless autograph as a memento is a fantasy that hasn't really existed for decades (except maybe in children's cancer wards), ever since the card collecting and memorabilia boom began in earnest. We are to blame, of course, for creating, enjoying, profiting from, and evangelizing collecting. It's capitalism, baby: we cannot expect to create a huge market for these items and then tut-tut anyone else for figuring out how to cash in using methods we never even considered. I'm just sorry I didn't get the idea first.

I largely agree. I don't know if the Dad had a bigger plan, but it could definitely be that he's a fan who wanted the jersey experience for his kid, and then when it actually happened, he stopped and realized he could pay off his credit card debt, or school debt or mortgage or pay for his kids braces and summer campe etc or whatever.

The freedom to get valuable items like that and not be in a place where the responsible thing to do is sell the item is a blessing. (Of course, the Dad might have had the whole thing planned and my rose-colored glasses might be being overly favorable, but I'll lean in this direction faster than assuming the worst when there is another explanation.)

[scooter729]

I actually went through something similar a year or so ago, albeit on a smaller scale.

My then 7 year old daughter loves Squishmallow stuffed animals, which are a popular toy for kids right now. They even came out with trading cards for the Squishmallows, so naturally I had to buy her a box of them (which was $30 or so).

In that box of cards, she popped the rarest chase card, which could be traded in for a special Squishmallow, of which only 250 were made. She was so excited for her luck, and we redeemed our card.

Lo and behold, the special Squishmallow was selling for over $1,000. Had she kept it, it would've just gone on her bed, like any other stuffed animal. So we made a deal that she could pick out two new Squishmallows from the toy store (which sell for $25 or so each), and we would sell the special one, and put the money in a bank account for her. She was thrilled, and got a nice jump start on a bank account.

So, does it seem bad that I was selling a toy that my 7 year old daughter won? On the surface, maybe - but after hearing why, maybe you'll think differently....

[packs]

I feel like there is traditionally no shame in catching a milestone home run ball and keeping it to sell. For some reason, emotions tend to change if there is a more personal transfer of an object to a fan, but I don't see why the principles are different.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Or maybe we who buy and sell these items obsessively stop judging what others do?

Precisely. It's ultimately the fault of the starry-eyed fans with deep pockets and collectors who willingly pay the nosebleed prices for these artifacts. What's next? The athlete's soiled underwear - or worse?

Originally Posted by packs

I feel like there is traditionally no shame in catching a milestone home run ball and keeping it to sell.

Me I'd sell the thing immediately to some starry-eyed fan. And I wouldn't be a buyer even if I won the lottery. I'm a card collector; not a sports groupie.

[packs]

It has nothing to do with being a groupie. You aren't a groupie because you won the lottery. You're in the right place at the right time.

I also don't think you're a groupie because you're a fan of a player. I'm not really sure what it is you're implying about people. We are here because we collect. Is it possible to be a fan of something and not be a groupie?

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by packs

It has nothing to do with being a groupie. You aren't a groupie because you won the lottery. You're in the right place at the right time.

I also don't think you're a groupie because you're a fan of a player. I'm not really sure what it is you're implying about people. We are here because we collect. Is it possible to be a fan of something and not be a groupie?

I’m not trying to be a groupie. I’m not a people person much, anyway. All I said for me is that’s what it would take for me to pay those kinds of prices for Koufax.

[packs]

Apologies I wasn’t directing that at you. That was in response to another posters comment about groupies.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by packs

I also don't think you're a groupie because you're a fan of a player.... Is it possible to be a fan of something and not be a groupie?

Yes. I'm a case in point. I'm a fan of many sports and I like certain players much better than I do others. (Some in fact I say I "hate" although that just means I cheer against them and their teams.) But do I hero worship the players I like? No, not since I was a little boy. (In a few ways anyway I guess I've grown up.) To me professional athletes are simply entertainment. They're professional entertainers and they exist to entertain me.

Originally Posted by packs

We are here because we collect.

Yes, and I collect too. I understand the collecting gene. But collecting need not be intertwined with hero worship. I collect certain artifacts, e.g. various boomer toys, milk and pop bottles, with basically no human element let alone hero worship involved.

Originally Posted by packs

I'm not really sure what it is you're implying about people.

I'm saying that paying $thousands to $hundreds of thousands for artifacts (game used memorabilia) or standing in long lines to pay $hundreds for a signature crosses the line into hero worship, i.e. being a groupie. If of course some of these autograph seekers and such are doing it professionally to make a buck by selling whatever, that I can understand but it just pushes my pondering/questioning a step down the line. And of course some fans/people have so much money that it doesn't really matter so that introduces shades of grey into the question/equation. So it's a case of degree or perspective if you will.

But to me the seeking of such personal contact with a professional entertainer (whether first hand or second hand) by a full grown man just seems silly. Well maybe some athlete or movie star or other might be interesting to meet but paying big $'s? If of course this entertainer has big tits and great legs, well that then is something else again.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I'm saying that paying $thousands to $hundreds of thousands for artifacts (game used memorabilia) or standing in long lines to pay $hundreds for a signature crosses the line into hero worship, i.e. being a groupie.

Would you pay a few thousand dollars for George Washington's favorite pewter mug, crafted by Paul Revere, and presented to him at his first Presidential inaugural ball? Assuming you would keep it and not just flip it?

If so, would that make you a George Washington groupie?

[packs]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I'm saying that paying $thousands to $hundreds of thousands for artifacts (game used memorabilia) or standing in long lines to pay $hundreds for a signature crosses the line into hero worship, i.e. being a groupie.

:

How do you collect anything without buying it or getting it yourself? It just seems like you're looking to insult people for collecting things but this is a collecting-based board.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by scooter729

In that box of cards, she popped the rarest chase card, which could be traded in for a special Squishmallow, of which only 250 were made. She was so excited for her luck, and we redeemed our card.

Lo and behold, the special Squishmallow was selling for over $1,000. Had she kept it, it would've just gone on her bed, like any other stuffed animal. So we made a deal that she could pick out two new Squishmallows from the toy store (which sell for $25 or so each), and we would sell the special one, and put the money in a bank account for her. She was thrilled, and got a nice jump start on a bank account.

So, does it seem bad that I was selling a toy that my 7 year old daughter won? On the surface, maybe - but after hearing why, maybe you'll think differently....

What you did makes all the sense in the world to me. Your daughter would have just mauled a collector's item. So now she's got two plush toys instead of one.