exit strategy?

[glchen]

My wife has said that I should just leave my two best cards to my two sons (2 years old, and 4 months old, respectively), and sell the rest, which is probably a good strategy when I croak. I am still optimistic that at least one of them will pick up the collecting bug, however. If I have to exit the hobby for financial reasons, I would sell my most replaceable cards first, and my favorite, least replaceable cards last. Cards that have poor eye appeal or are "overgraded" would also go sooner. For example, my 33 Goudey set is easily replaceable. I have a few Ruth and Gehrig cards that are very low pops and would be hecka hard to get back. I would try to hold onto those.

[wrapperguy]

Interesting topic. I am going through a divorce and my collecting was a factor in the divorce, and definitely a factor in the settlement. Of course, she resented everything I enjoyed, but I digress. Anyway, the divorce has made me reassess my entire life and what really matters. Since we mutually agreed to file back in Feb., I have only purchased an Exhibit set via a Legendary auction, a McGraw T3, and a few E90-1s and T202s to finish those sets. That is not very much activity for me. Cards are just not very important any more.
Instead of spending the money on cards, I spent $1200 for up close floor seats to a Keith Urban concert attended by my oldest son and daughter and their friends. Those times will be forever in their memories rather than the card I may have purchased with that money, which they will never care about. My hobby budget has now become a travel/family experiences budget.
The new house I bought will need to be decorated and there is plenty of space for my collection and my Dad's collection, which I will officially own someday (hopefully later than sooner). But binders do not display well, so I am thinking about finishing the 20 or so sets that we have nearly completed (luckily many only need 5 or less cards) and either use the money to renovate the house, pay off the mortgage, put in a retirement account, put into display items, or use for another nice experience or vacation with my kids.
So, I guess I will start to phase out gradually by selling what I really do not need and saving some nice display items that the kids might find interesting in their homes that will remind them of me. The rest will get sold and split amongst them. Sad to think about, but no matter how long it has been apart of us (50 years for me), there always comes a time when it all ends.

[Gradedcardman]

I exited the hobby back in 1998 when my wife suggested what good the money could do for a car, down payment on a home and more...I sent it to Superior Sports in Beverly Hills and took a beating on the sale !! It included a 520/524 T206 set, a nice group of Goudeys in higher grade and much from the 50's and 60's. I dabbled in shiny stuff through the next few years just to stay in the hobby a little. Finally in 2006 after I divorced and finished getting resettled I decided it was time to get back in. I missed the hobby as it had been a large part of me since 1972. Now, it is and will stay a part of my life as it is one of my fallbacks to happier times. Everyone needs something that makes them tick...this is one of the "somethings" for me !!

[HercDriver]

I don't know that kids would do much with the cards other than eventually sell them. How many kids care about baseball these days? Very few, I'd guess. And of the ones that do, how many buy baseball cards? The reason we love them is that we grew up spending our paper route money on them and so they connect us to our childhood. Obviously, none of us bought T206s in packs, but it was a logical transition from the cards of our current heroes from whatever era you grew up in to wanting something older/more valuable. As we age and pass along, there will be less and less people that care, so the cards will be worth less.

I think looking at them as an investment is only going to disappoint in 50 years...sell 'em and buy a good whiskey/cigar stash!

Take Care,
Geno

[z28jd]

Instead of cataloguing everything for your heirs if you decide to keep it, don't catalog it at all and maybe they will learn something researching the cards and actually get interested in them. After all, you did all the hard work putting it together, let them earn it

My grandfather passed in 2007 and left his coin collection to my dad who had no interest. He planned on selling everything so he got a price for them and then my dad and I worked out a slightly lower price so I could buy it instead. I had a very small collection of coins but since I got these I've been researching the coins and have actually bought a few more since

I'll tell you another story that had me thinking for just a second. Most people who know me personally, know my dad and I get along great so remember that when I say this. The other day he asked me for the combo to my safe and I gave it to him, the next day I went to work and right before I went on a main highway(for 15 miles) to come home the low tire light came on, screw in the sidewall. I called my dad and said the tire doesnt look low, should I call AAA or try driving home? He said nah you can drive it home...got me thinking for a second. My dad does carpentry too

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

Obviously, none of us bought T206s in packs, but it was a logical transition from the cards of our current heroes from whatever era you grew up in to wanting something older/more valuable.
...
Geno

Geno, I think it might be because the turn-of-the-century players remind us more of how we played baseball as kids - you got beat up, you stayed in the game, you loved it. They played small-ball, which is what little leaguers were taught in the '60s, they used the same ball until it was black (just like we did). It was just a more pure game. The stuff today is generally hard to stomach, but it's all we have.

[HercDriver]

I know what you mean - when I was a kid and got a Jose Cardenal ball autographed at Wrigley, we'd play with it forever becasue it was the coolest ball we had! Today, if it gets signed, it goes into plastic. Actually, everything seems to go into plastic...

Take Care,
Geno

[FrankWakefield]

We'll go in plastic unless we're cremated.


Slightly aside, I sometimes have given cards to a kid. I'd give them a few modern cards of a team or player in which they have interest. Then I'd give them a T206 or two. Maybe a Goudey. I've given a couple of Cracker Jacks away... All to get them interested in collecting old cards. Because guys, when the time comes to move our stuff, if there aren't collectors out there for it then all we have is a bunch of bookmarks. We need that next generation of collectors.