Topic: What is your most powerful and important memory with baseball cards?

[obcbeatle]

I’ll share 2, since the 1st moment was my introduction to the hobby. In 1965 my Mom & Dad decided to move from Indianapolis to SF. My Dad was a jazz pianist and he was encouraged by many of his musician friends who had already moved to the west coast, to make the move. So we did. We first moved to Daly City in SF and rented a house near one of his drummer buddies who had 2 daughters the same age as my sister and I. They had a house warming party for us and the daughters gave a me a handful of 1965 Topps baseball cards, with quite a few Leaders cards with Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Cepeda, Hart, Mantle, Koufax, Drysdale. My first ever baseball cards, and I was immediately hooked! I was 7 years old and my Dad started taking us to Candlestick Park for Giants games, Kezar Stadium for 49ers games, and the Cow Palace for Warriors games. A couple years later we moved to Ingleside in SF, to get away from the heavy fog of Daly City. My Mom and Dad started giving me an allowance and I discovered a Franklins 5 & 10 store on Ocean Ave. a few blocks from our house. I bought a lot of Topps baseball cards there for the next 4 years. Some 67’s, a lot of 68’s/69’s, and a ton of 71’s! For some reason I bought few 1970 baseball cards, but did buy some football. So that would be my 2nd most memorable moment, being able to buy a lot of baseball cards that ended up being the beginning of my set collecting, and also trading cards with one of my school buddies. Great topic, and thanks for sharing your stories!

[dbussell12]

really beautiful stories on here guys. thanks for sharing everyone + its a beautiful mosaic to get everyone here together on this thread + talk these wonderful memories.

hoping everyone has a great weekend!!
david

[dbussell12]

Originally Posted by obcbeatle

I’ll share 2, since the 1st moment was my introduction to the hobby. In 1965 my Mom & Dad decided to move from Indianapolis to SF. My Dad was a jazz pianist and he was encouraged by many of his musician friends who had already moved to the west coast, to make the move. So we did. We first moved to Daly City in SF and rented a house near one of his drummer buddies who had 2 daughters the same age as my sister and I. They had a house warming party for us and the daughters gave a me a handful of 1965 Topps baseball cards, with quite a few Leaders cards with Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Cepeda, Hart, Mantle, Koufax, Drysdale. My first ever baseball cards, and I was immediately hooked! I was 7 years old and my Dad started taking us to Candlestick Park for Giants games, Kezar Stadium for 49ers games, and the Cow Palace for Warriors games. A couple years later we moved to Ingleside in SF, to get away from the heavy fog of Daly City. My Mom and Dad started giving me an allowance and I discovered a Franklins 5 & 10 store on Ocean Ave. a few blocks from our house. I bought a lot of Topps baseball cards there for the next 4 years. Some 67’s, a lot of 68’s/69’s, and a ton of 71’s! For some reason I bought few 1970 baseball cards, but did buy some football. So that would be my 2nd most memorable moment, being able to buy a lot of baseball cards that ended up being the beginning of my set collecting, and also trading cards with one of my school buddies. Great topic, and thanks for sharing your stories!

wow jerry... the way you tell this is deeply idyllic... can feel the memory of it! one of my favorite baseball stories is that satchel paige used to hang out with count basie... how cool is that? i can imagine growing up with a jazz musician dad out on the west coast like that must have been awesome. you grew up in a great era for cards. love those 60s and 70s editions. cheers!! -- david