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

[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

[thekingofclout]

When I started this thread with the statement:

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

I was referring to all of the incredible record prices that this years Spring auctions had produced, and how many of them (Wagner Cards, Dimitri Young's Collection, Ruth Jersey, Joe Jackson Photo, etc.) had been covered by that mainstream media. Simple as that! No "look what I have and you don't!" Or "I make more money than you do."

We're all pretty much in the same boat here, and I thought it would be fun for us average guys to have the media "spotlight" so to speak, right here on net54.

On a personal note, Due to my health issues of the last couple years, I'd be willing to wager that NO ONE here with a full time job made LESS money last year than I did. I grossed $16,953.96. My job is tip dependent and since I wasn't able to work as often as I needed to... that's life. I've never filed for either unemployment or disability either... NEVER. Nor have I ever inherited anything. But, the rainy day money has come in handy.

My collection completely feeds its self. Sell this to buy that. Repeat. Trade: I'll give you five Lou Gehrig's and one Babe Ruth for your 1 Babe Ruth?

I felt the need to clarify this as this isn't this first, or second, or third time that the whole "have and have nots" have been played out, and to be completely honest about it, I too, am tired of hearing it.

Sincerely, Jimmy

BTW... If anyone needs a good first car for a kid entering collage and has Ruth & Gehrig photos to trade for (Al) I have a clean 2009 Nissan Sentra...

[Splinte1941]

Originally Posted by thekingofclout

When I started this thread with the statement:

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

I was referring to all of the incredible record prices that this years Spring auctions had produced, and how many of them (Wagner Cards, Dimitri Young's Collection, Ruth Jersey, Joe Jackson Photo, etc.) had been covered by that mainstream media. Simple as that! No "look what I have and you don't!" Or "I make more money than you do."

We're all pretty much in the same boat here, and I thought it would be fun for us average guys to have the media "spotlight" so to speak, right here on net54.

On a personal note, Due to my health issues of the last couple years, I'd be willing to wager that NO ONE here with a full time job made LESS money last year than I did. I grossed $16,953.96. My job is tip dependent and since I wasn't able to work as often as I needed to... that's life. I've never filed for either unemployment or disability either... NEVER. Nor have I ever inherited anything. But, the rainy day money has come in handy.

My collection completely feeds its self. Sell this to buy that. Repeat. Trade: I'll give you five Lou Gehrig's and one Babe Ruth for your 1 Babe Ruth?

I felt the need to clarify this as this isn't this first, or second, or third time that the whole "have and have nots" have been played out, and to be completely honest about it, I too, am tired of hearing it.

Sincerely, Jimmy

BTW... If anyone needs a good first car for a kid entering collage and has Ruth & Gehrig photos to trade for (Al) I have a clean 2009 Nissan Sentra...

James, does the pigskin ever contribute to your memorabilia budget? I know it's taken it's fair share from mine over the last two seasons.

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by thekingofclout

When I started this thread with the statement:

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

I was referring to all of the incredible record prices that this years Spring auctions had produced, and how many of them (Wagner Cards, Dimitri Young's Collection, Ruth Jersey, Joe Jackson Photo, etc.) had been covered by that mainstream media. Simple as that! No "look what I have and you don't!" Or "I make more money than you do."

We're all pretty much in the same boat here, and I thought it would be fun for us average guys to have the media "spotlight" so to speak, right here on net54.

On a personal note, Due to my health issues of the last couple years, I'd be willing to wager that NO ONE here with a full time job made LESS money last year than I did. I grossed $16,953.96. My job is tip dependent and since I wasn't able to work as often as I needed to... that's life. I've never filed for either unemployment or disability either... NEVER. Nor have I ever inherited anything. But, the rainy day money has come in handy.

My collection completely feeds its self. Sell this to buy that. Repeat. Trade: I'll give you five Lou Gehrig's and one Babe Ruth for your 1 Babe Ruth?

I felt the need to clarify this as this isn't this first, or second, or third time that the whole "have and have nots" have been played out, and to be completely honest about it, I too, am tired of hearing it.

Sincerely, Jimmy

BTW... If anyone needs a good first car for a kid entering collage and has Ruth & Gehrig photos to trade for (Al) I have a clean 2009 Nissan Sentra...

Jimmy,
Now if you had said a 2009 Honda Accord then maybe we could talk my friend!

[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.