With all of this banter about how much people are paying for memorabilia, I thought..

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

Very cool! That oversized photo of Ryan sounds like one taken by ken regan..am I right? I have seen a couple fantastic 1969 ws images by mr. Regan.

Ben,
You are correct! Ken Regan is the photographer.

[71buc]

I have always told my wife I am a bottom feeder when it comes to collecting. This post confirms it! My magic number has always been around $300-350. I have only strayed from that range a couple of times. Once I get in that neighborhood the wife gives me the evil eye. As a result my purchases are historically of the Wal-Mart variety. She quit asking me when I was going to grow up when I passed age 45. I think she has accepted that she is stuck with a balding middle aged child. As you can see I collect with a net not a hook so I am easily satisified with lower end items that intrigue me. The years 1997-2006 my collecting budget fell victim to select baseball. I have two kids in college now and the wife is looking over my shoulder everytime I log on

Autograph- Signed Roberto Clemente Night poster $300.00 purchased 1990
Game used ball- AL Rookie record HR Ball hit by McGwire $300.00 purchased 1991
Game used equipment- Tony Gwynn fielder’s glove $500.00 purchased 1996
Stadium Piece- Home dugout phone Municipal Stadium $325.00 purchased 1997
Type 1 photo- Babe Ruth tour of Japan 1934 $325.00 purchased 2006
Game worn jersey- 2002 Ivan Rodriguez Rangers home $650.00 purchased 2011
Cards- Tied 54T Hank Aaron, 55T Clemente $800.00 each purchased 2011
Advertising- Babe Ruth underwear box $300.00 purchased 2012

[MilBraves]

I'm with you Buc. Most I've spent is $420 bucks on an item, which was my Aaron Topps rookie card. The majority of the items in my memorabilia collection have come from rummage/estate sales and flea markets. I have found some really great items scrounging. For example, I've pieced together the entire '55 Braves Spic and Span die cut set, without buying a single card from a dealer, an auction or a card shop. My wife jokes that I should have my own pickers type reality show.

[mcgwirecom]

Me Too Mike. I forgot you were the guy who had that Mac HR ball. I love that. Here are my high payouts to my recollection (which is not great)..

Game used bat $1750 McGwire rookie 1986 signed bat
Ticket $400 Babe Ruth HR stub (sold)
Signed ball $650 1934 Yankees team signed (sold)
Signed piece $1200 500 Homerun Club Poster
Game Jersey $275 Adam Dunn 2003
Game used ball $400 McGwire 19th HR in 1998 (sold)
Game used base $250 Pujols 3 HR game used base

[GrayGhost]

Originally Posted by MilBraves

I'm with you Buc. Most I've spent is $420 bucks on an item, which was my Aaron Topps rookie card. The majority of the items in my memorabilia collection have come from rummage/estate sales and flea markets. I have found some really great items scrounging. For example, I've pieced together the entire '55 Braves Spic and Span die cut set, without buying a single card from a dealer, an auction or a card shop. My wife jokes that I should have my own pickers type reality show.

That is awesome sir. Flea markets and the like are the BEST

[mcgwirecom]

I don't think everyone here is showing off. Some are saying hey I paid a lot, but others are saying hey I paid a little.

[Splinte1941]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

I don't think everyone here is showing off. Some are saying hey I paid a lot, but others are saying hey I paid a little.

Agreed, but I do see Scott's point a little. What is there to be gained by sharing this information, one way or the other?

And I say this as someone who has volunteered my own information.

However, I disagree with Scott when he says that some of the prices people pay are outlandish, because he has that perspective based mainly on his own budget. Just because someone doesn't have the means to pay a certain price doesn't make said price outrageous.

[maniac_73]

Isn't the whole point/fun of collecting to show off? lol

[Splinte1941]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Isn't the whole point/fun of collecting to show off? lol

+1

[Ulidia]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

Isn't the whole point/fun of collecting to show off? lol

In my opinion, that's one of three possible mainstream reasons. The other two are for a) sentimental reasons and b) investment (capital appreciation).

Certainly, for me, when I used to spend thousands on memorabilia (probably in region of $50,000 - $70,000 over two years in early 2000s, albeit on soccer memorabilia not baseball memorabilia), it was primarily for potential capital appreciation but I was buying with my heart and not my head. In hindsight, incredibly stupid, given auctioneers' buying and selling fees.

It should be easy to understand (but took me some years) that if you want to make money by buying items at mainstream auctions, you need to be very lucky, very patient or really know your stuff.

These days I buy for sentimenal / like reasons only.

[johnmh71]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I have always told my wife I am a bottom feeder when it comes to collecting. This post confirms it! My magic number has always been around $300-350.

I'm with you buddy. I think the max that I have ever spent is $350.

[Cardboard Junkie]

I bought two shoeboxes full of Thai Sticks for 40K once....ooops..wrong forum. dave.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Cardboard Junkie

I bought two shoeboxes full of Thai Sticks for 40K once....ooops..wrong forum. dave.

lol

[Copa7]

I used to collect many sport cards and memorabilia. Now I am strictly a connoisseur of soccer items.

It helps when the prices are still extremely low for this sport:

1958 World Cup official program - $500

1928 soccer trophy - Penn. All-Stars v. Italy - $1000

1928 Greiling - Rudi Hiden - rookie - $150

While I still collect some hockey, I've sold all my NFL football and still selling off my baseball collection. For what I paid and collected and later sold in other sports, I've been able to put together a museum like collection for soccer.

I still enjoy seeing much of the baseball items here on the forum.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by Copa7

I used to collect many sport cards and memorabilia. Now I am strictly a connoisseur of soccer items.

It helps when the prices are still extremely low for this sport:

1958 World Cup official program - $500

1928 soccer trophy - Penn. All-Stars v. Italy - $1000

1928 Greiling - Rudi Hiden - rookie - $150

While I still collect some hockey, I've sold all my NFL football and still selling off my baseball collection. For what I paid and collected and later sold in other sports, I've been able to put together a museum like collection for soccer.

I still enjoy seeing much of the baseball items here on the forum.

I love it Copa! I too changed my collecting focus over the last couple years and although I had asked my self, several times - what the hell am I doing? I pressed forward and have absolutely no regrets whatsoever.

Boy, you're not kidding about the low prices. Now I know nothing about the value of vintage Soccer memorabilia but those prices seem very low to me, especially the 1958 World Cup Program. For Pele, 1958 was his first Cup, and at only 17 years old, he was unbelievable. Now I knew it was his first World Cup, but I had no idea just how great he was until I just read it on Wikipedia...

His first match in the World Cup was against the USSR in the first round of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, on the third game of the Cup, alongside Garrincha, Zito and Vavá where he gave the assist to Vavá's second goal.[66] He was the youngest player of that tournament, and at the time the youngest ever to play in the World Cup.[67] He scored his first World Cup goal against Wales in quarterfinals, the only goal of the match, to help Brazil advance to semifinals, while becoming the youngest ever World Cup goalscorer at 17 years and 239 days.[64] Against France in the semifinal, Brazil was leading 2–1 at halftime, and then Pelé scored a hat-trick, becoming the youngest in World Cup history to do so.[68][69]

On 19 June 1958 Pelé became the youngest player to play in a World Cup final match at 17 years and 249 days. He scored two goals in the final as Brazil beat Sweden 5–2. His first goal, a lob over a defender followed by a precise volley shot, was selected as one of the best goals in the history of the World Cup.[70] Following Pelé's second goal, Swedish player Sigvard Parling would later comment; "When Pelé scored the fifth goal in that Final, I have to be honest and say I felt like applauding".[71] When the match ended, Pelé passed out on the field, and had to be attended by the medical staff.[8] He then recovered, and was visibly compelled by the victory; in tears as he was being congratulated by his teammates. He finished the tournament with six goals in four matches played, tied for second place, behind record-breaker Just Fontaine, and was named young player of the tournament.

And you pick-up the '58 Official World Cup Program for just $500? I think you did pretty damn good on that one!

Good for you Copa and keep it up! My best, Jimmy

BTW... I would love to see scans of those three pieces...