Worst Missed Buy of Sports Memorabilia

[sicollector1954]

I can think of one from about 15 years ago. It was a trophy belt buckle awarded to a Rockford Forest City player from the year 1866 for "Good Base Running". If I remember, the name was Charles Force but not positive. Opening bid was $800.00 on Ebay and no one had bid with 10 seconds left. Figured I would offer the person a little less once it did not sell. I was wrong. Someone bought it for that amount as there was only one bid and it happened with only a couple of seconds left. A couple of years later it showed up in a Hunt Sports Auction and sold for around $4500.00. Being from Rockford, Illinois, I could have owned one of the oldest pieces of baseball memorabilia in my fair city and I should have seriously bid when I had the chance. If someone out there has it--congratulations on a great piece of early baseball memorabilia and if you ever want to let it go--please get in touch with me!

[steve B]

I've passed up a few baseball things, probably more than I can think of. Stuff was much cheaper late 70's-early 80's.

The 1912 Red Sox World Series pennant sticks in my mind.

I was underbidder on Ebay for a bicycle built for Lothar Thoms that was intended for the 1984 Olympics. Being from East Germany he didn't compete. I probably bid around 500 as it was just the frame and in pretty rough shape.
It's been restored, and has changed hands two or three times since, most recently for 13,000.

Steve B

[stone193]

1952 Topps 5 cent pack for around 1600 bucks back in the 90s. Was a great source - from 8 pack cellos - so in superb shape.

Got outbid on a really nice Jack Norworth signed 1908 Take Me Out to the Ball Game sheet music. Underestimated the final hammer.

A really cool baseball gumball machine in superb condition - didn't bid.

1940s exhibit card vending machines in the early 2000s - they sold in the 1500-2000 range.

[71buc]

In the early 90’s I went to a local card shop and found four large stacks of the WG4 Polo Grounds cards. At the time my interest in pre war cards was minimal. They were the only vintage cards in the shop and it was unusual for him to have such cards in his inventory. I have no idea where he obtained them. Nonetheless I thumbed through the stack and he had multiples of all of them. The condition of the cards was outstanding. He wanted 25 dollars for the Joe Jackson. Being a small minded hall of fame collector I purchased Cobb, Wagner, and Collins instead for 20 dollars each. I didn't buy the others as I thought three examples from the set were enough or my collection. He was asking 20 for HOFers and selling the commons for 5 dollars each. He even had the original box. They remained in his case for two years before he eventually closed his store and disappeared taking those Jacksons with him. I was in that store many times during that time and never gave those cards a second look. Oh well live and learn. At least I picked up the three and was smart enough to hold on to them. I still kick myself for being so short sighted. To this day I have no idea where he went. I am posting these pictures to give an idea of the average condition of those cards I passed on.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by sicollector1954

I can think of one from about 15 years ago. It was a trophy belt buckle awarded to a Rockford Forest City player from the year 1866 for "Good Base Running". If I remember, the name was Charles Force but not positive. Opening bid was $800.00 on Ebay and no one had bid with 10 seconds left. Figured I would offer the person a little less once it did not sell. I was wrong. Someone bought it for that amount as there was only one bid and it happened with only a couple of seconds left. A couple of years later it showed up in a Hunt Sports Auction and sold for around $4500.00. Being from Rockford, Illinois, I could have owned one of the oldest pieces of baseball memorabilia in my fair city and I should have seriously bid when I had the chance. If someone out there has it--congratulations on a great piece of early baseball memorabilia and if you ever want to let it go--please get in touch with me!

Wow on that 1866 Rockford Forest City trophy belt buckle...that was a real could'a-should'a...I believe Albert Spalding played for them in 1866...alright alright I won't rub salt in the wound. Really that was a learning curve we're all subject to, so don't feel bad

[packs]

Last year a seller on eBay was selling a Smokey Joe Wood signed baseball and Joe had signed it on the sweet spot. The seller wanted $100 for it. I ended up passing because the ball had two or three other signatures on it. Haven't seen a signed ball since. Still wish I bought it.

[vintagechris]

My big regret was 1992. I had put an ad in the local paper buying cards. Someone responded saying they had a Tony Gwynn Minor League card and 1956 Topps Ted Williams. I can't remember if he had other cards. The Gwynn was pretty expensive back then, not sure what it sells for today.

I get there and buy those two cards and then asks me if I would be interested in old baseball scorecards. He then pulled out what was about 400 or 500 scorecards from the 30's and 40's. His Father or grandfather, I don't remember which, was a traveling salesman and would go to baseball games when he traveled. He would buy a scorecard and saved them all. I think he was asking $5 or $10 each.

I had very limited money and ended up buying all the Yankee ones he had and one from a Bob Feller no-hitter. They were all scored and they were very interesting. Some games where Ruth and Gehrig hit HR's, a couple from Joe D's first year as a Yankee.

He seemed to have a lot of Cub's but I passed on them as I didn't collect that kind of stuff.

Anyway, I ended up trading the 20 or so I did buy for some cards a few months later and regret that almost as much as not buying every single scorecard the guy had.

[Tomman1961]

Maybe 15 years ago there was an auction with a baseball, from a game, dated August 16, 1861. With the score, teams, and dated written on it. That ball was 100 years old to the day I was born. That would have been neat to have. At the time, money was tight.