I fear the Monster...

[Archive]

Posted By: Jason L

is beginning to claim me as yet another of its countless victims.

I started with the goal of completing the Cubs team set. Seemed innocent enough, until I learned that it has the second-most number of cards of any other team, a rather scarce common, and then like, 13 HOFers. Great. Almost there, but still 7 HOFers short. Nothing like collecting 100 year old baseball cards, owning 30 of them, and still needing 7 HOFers!!! Clearly, I should have thought about this a little longer.

Then I discovered the card that I truly fell in love with, quickly acquired, and remain enamored with to this day. Nap Lajoie w/bat.

Then I discovered that the set has several other characters of the game that would be neat to own, and then, there were still other cards that have what I think are just amazing images. Merkle-throwing, Lobert, Speaker, Wheat, Becker, Willis-throwing, Doyle w/bat, McGraw port-w/hat, Chases pink and blue.
(You will find a wantlist among the tobacco card posts on the BST, should you wish to assist in the addiction). The only thing that saves me thus far is that I have no interest in any of the bigger HOFers.

Then there is another subset which I find highly entertaining and may start collecting someday: Players wearing big sweaters. To know me is to know that I am far from a clothes horse, but I find those cards to be an interesting statement of the era/period.

And don't even get me started on the sunsets.

I truly am beginning to hate this.
and yet...I love it.

Is this how the decline typically begins?
Is there any hope?
perhaps a prescription?