Baseball cards helped me acquire…

[brunswickreeves]

With life happening outside baseball card collecting, what are some things cards have helped you acquire through trade, sale, etc.? A needed car? A bucket list vacation? A dream home? A rental property? Trading up for a dream card!? Etc.? A safe and affordable SUV for the family and young drivers!

[NiceDocter]

The greatest thing I have gotten from cards is the long lasting friendships and great stories through the years. The “stuff” is not as important to me as the relationships! Thank you to the many friends I’ve met on here and done deals with…..

[egri]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

The greatest thing I have gotten from cards is the long lasting friendships and great stories through the years. The “stuff” is not as important to me as the relationships! Thank you to the many friends I’ve met on here and done deals with…..

Same here. I've made a lot of friends through the board and hobby and wouldn't trade those for anything. Also, when I got back into the hobby and started sending out some of my cards TTM, that led to correspondence with a lot of the old-timers who have since passed.

[terjung]

Relationships #1
New house down payment #2 (about 8 years ago)

[bmattioli]

I'm a collector and do not sell..

[perezfan]

In my case, baseball cards and memorabilia have hindered me from acquiring other things outside of the hobby.

But am interested to hear how other people can achieve a different result.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by perezfan

In my case, baseball cards and memorabilia have hindered me from acquiring other things outside of the hobby.

But am interested to hear how other people can achieve a different result.

My thoughts exactly!

[bnorth]

Like posted above I have made some great friends and sometimes we even still email about cards.

As for other stuff i have used cards for many many things including a German made Walther PPK, many vacations, all my weights and all the gear for it, vehicle repairs/upgrades, and a LOT of other stuff.

I bought/hoarded outrageous amounts of cards from the 80s until early 00s. The main thing I wish I would have done differently was buy tobacco cards back then. In my area you couldn't give them away and I could have bought a lot really cheap like I did the 50s-60s cards nobody wanted.

[Jstottlemire1]

Just in this past year cards have helped me acquire two lifetime dream cards, my dream home and so many great hobby friends. I’ve been extremely blessed and thankful daily for that. It’s been unbelievable. Now I’ll ultimately
acquire and add until I retire or my health begins to fail to provide for my family.

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by Jstottlemire1

Just in this past year cards have helped me acquire two lifetime dream cards, my dream home and so many great hobby friends. I’ve been extremely blessed and thankful daily for that. It’s been unbelievable. Now I’ll ultimately
acquire and add until I retire or my health begins to fail to provide for my family.

Awesome! Great timing and a little luck too. Any for examples? Card images?

[Bcwcardz]

A Private school education for my children. My biggest investment, my kids.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ullmandds]

most of the money i've received from card sales...I've reinvested back into the hobby.

I DID sell a t206 solly hofman w/drum back...the only one known i believe back in the early 2000's to buy a leather recliner...that my cat destroyed.

I will sell my collection someday to help fund early retirement/healthcare...atleast that's the "thought."

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

I sold my 57 Topps set for a down payment on my first house.

In 2012 I sold half my collection to buy Sterling Auctions!

Two of the best decisions I have ever made.

I have always bought what I liked and it thankfully has turned out quite well for me.

Lee

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I DID sell a t206 solly hofman w/drum back...the only one known i believe back in the early 2000's to buy a leather recliner...that my cat destroyed."

I used to own that Hofman. Mike S and I traded it back and forth a couple times it’s now the Drum in his back run. Great card.

[JollyElm]

They got me this...*

Burger-King.jpg



*But only after using a coupon.

[rjackson44]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

They got me this...*

Attachment 599587



*But only after using a coupon.

Jolly that looks Goood !!

[brunswickreeves]

The referenced Hofman?

[Trublubrucru]

In college, my card sales funded my partying. When I was a youngster, I was at a poorly attended auction, and I picked up pages of 54B, 54T, &56T stars. A couple guys on my floor were big card guys, and I would piece out a card here and there for big profit and have money for beer, concerts, and the like. These were the days before grading, but I remember a 56T Robinson so crisp and clean, it was one I shoulda kept. Cards come and go, but the fun memories last forever, and selling cards kept me afloat in college...all 6 1/2 years

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

The referenced Hofman?

That’s the one.

To answer the thread, in 2000 I sold my then-collection to pay for 2/3 of a master’s degree in tax law from Georgetown (I wish I still had the cards!!)

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

The referenced Hofman?

that is the one...i purchased it at a show at the silver spring armory in 92'ish in md. I was shaking when I turned it over...I didn't even try to negotiate off the $37 asking price.

[StraightRaceCards]

[QUOTE=Bcwcardz;2393567]A Private school education for my children. My biggest investment, my kids.

Love it…the best investment there is!

[daves_resale_shop]

I have been fortunate enough over the years to have been in the right place at the right time (several times) in 2021 my then 14 year old daughter suggested i part with a piece from my Ted Williams collection to fulfill my childhood dream of owning an old jeep... I did really well on the card so the TJ cost me virtually nothing, but i was still a bit apprehensive...

Turned out to be one of the best moves of my life... We have shared so much time together (beach runs, athletic events, and late night trips to DQ)...

If i had it to do over, I wouldnt.

[Jstottlemire1]

Originally Posted by daves_resale_shop

I have been fortunate enough over the years to have been in the right place at the right time (several times) in 2021 my then 14 year old daughter suggested i part with a piece from my Ted Williams collection to fulfill my childhood dream of owning an old jeep... I did really well on the card so the TJ cost me virtually nothing, but i was still a bit apprehensive...

Turned out to be one of the best moves of my life... We have shared so much time together (beach runs, athletic events, and late night trips to DQ)...

If i had it to do over, I wouldnt.

This is awesome thanks for sharing.

[Keith H. Thompson]

I have never sold any card for over ten dollars. I'm a child of the Great Depression, and the cost of acquiring has always seemed just beyond my financial reach. And baseball has had to compete with other serious hobbies and raising a family.

I was interested in the Jeep that a member depicted and sympathized with him. Has any Net54 member ever driven a vintage jeep ? I have and still have an Army license to drive the 2 1/2 ton truck. Possibly expired.

[BioCRN]

Baseball cards helped me acquire…other baseball cards.

Since the 90s I've shunned chasing hot rookies/prospects in favor of snapping up cards of future HOF candidates (especially graded). It's a very laid back and easy venture...bid/spend low, purchase, store, wait...

I use the realized loot from these eventual sales to help me with my hobby stuff. Getting 2-5x of the initial investment back is the norm, not the outlier. Cards are small and long term storage is easy.

Putting 1K into a bunch of graded 1960 Jim Kaat rookies over the years and turning it into 4K+ is a nice way to ease these elevated price markets.

Scott Rolen, Ted Simmons, Tony Oliva...also somewhat recent realized flips that earned great ROI.

I'm waiting around with a slew of Billy Wagner, Lou Whitaker, etc...and some more "maybe, maybe not" types like Jim Leyland. I haven't bought any Whitaker in years because the price has been driven up by other speculators...same for Dick Allen.

[StraightRaceCards]

Fun thread!

Baseball cards have given me a great hobby and enjoyment. After I stepped down from competitive running in 2018, I was looking for some ways to fill that void that running had played a part in the last 15 years.

During Covid I found my old childhood cards, fell in love with T206, and since then have met so many great people who collect. Baseball cards have helped me learn baseball history, and appreciate every card that goes into my collection. What a privilege it is to be a “curator” of baseball cards, and the stories that surround them.

Shout out to all the n54 folks who have been so kind in my collecting journey. This community has been such a blessing to me. It’s been an amazing two years in the hobby. Here’s to many more!

Matt Galvin

[Madi$on18joshua]

I sold much of my collection before the big run up in 2020 to buy a cabin in the woods that we airbnb! although it was a great decision, i think about the cards I sold daily!!!!

I've repurchased about half of them back. One of my biggest was a 51 Mantle PSA 3, not sure ill replace at that same grade level now :-(

here is the link to the cabin I remodeled from the studs and even added an outdoor tub!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4572233...a-982ba9235834

[Harliduck]

Baseball cards have been a part of my life since the late 70's when I was an 8 year old kid...

When I was 19 in 1989 I had worked hard and saved up enough money for a down payment on my first home. I literally used every penny I had to start my American dream. When closing came I was informed I was $750 short on closing costs...closing costs? Ha...it was a gut rip. I had a pretty extensive card collection that I hadn't paid attention too for a couple of years...went down to the local card shop (there were like 5 in every town back then! haha) and we had a discussion...long and short of it, I sold a 1984 Donruss set (rare then!), a 1955 Sandy Koufax RC (crisp), and a 1965 Joe Namath RC (Bent corner) for $1000. I ran that cash tot he credit union that day and finished my obligation to that house (Paid $69,500...sold it for $135,000 in 1991, did good!) I ended up selling a few others to pay for furniture and a washer and dryer. Cards literally got me my start in life...I'm extremely grateful...

[Mark17]

In 1991 when I was designing my dream home (in which I still live,) my budget didn't have enough for fireplaces. So, I sold my 70 T3 cards, T206 Matty (white cap) and Waddell (pitching) to get 2 wonderful fireplaces, with Cozy Heat inserts. I love having fires in the winter and have never regretted the decision.

[doug.goodman]

My baseball "card" collection helped me to afford a smaller house than I could have if I didn't have any baseball "cards".

[Leon]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

My baseball "card" collection helped me to afford a smaller house than I could have if I didn't have any baseball "cards".

LOL

I should mention the friendships made in the hobby are priceless.
We usually don't have a lot of other friends we have kept up with for the past 25+ yrs. Some but not a lot.
I just need to hit more of the show after-parties, like I used to.
.

[Republicaninmass]

Paid off the house and the car, bought my dream car, though not a 911, a macan turbo

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Paid off the house and the car, bought my dream car, though not a 911, a macan turbo

A keen eye notices that your nice car was parked in a fire lane. Hopefully it was moved before being ticketed or towed.


Brian