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My first posting; Dave Cryer aka VMFA_VET
VMFA115
Posts: 176
Hi,
I have been following this forum for some time and wanted to belatedly introduce myself and say hi. Some background.
I am one of five brothers from Philadelphia who were active card collectors starting with my older brothers in the 1930's. I got my start in the very late 40's. My real turn-on came in the early 950's when one of our neighbors, who gave away cards and told wonderful baseball stories, in particular about his grandfather, got me really into card collecting...he was Connie Mack III. We loved going to as many Phillies games as possible and I felt like I personally knew all of the 'Wiz-kids.' Upon completing high school in the early 60's I put my cards away. In the early 1970's my brothers and I were sorting out everything at my mother's, who was moving into an apartment (bless her, she never through away a thing). Well, to make a long story not as long, I got all the Topps in several footlockers. In the mid-70's my boys started collecting and I got back into it but never opened the footlockers. Then in 1997 I retired; with the children all gone, we moved to a rural town on the Chesapeake Bay in Virgina. A few years ago I finally open the footlockers and started sorting everything. I currently have over 40 raw sets of Topps cards in varying condition that my brother's and I collected as children. I started sending some to PSA but quickly found I was in way over my head and was paying for many PSA 2's, 3's and even a few, dare I say, 1's. So, that brings me to the last 18 months. I have decided to build sets using other peoples expertise while I try to develop my own. I am just now getting ready to start submitting raw cards again to PSA.
I want to thank everyone on the boards who have, vicariously, taught me much. While I have never sold a card I will, once my sets get established, start selling what should be numerous backup sets. Oh, a couple of people have asked me about the VMFA name; I was a Marine pilot in the 60's and VMFA was our squadron designation for the type of planes we flew.
Finally, I also wanted to thank soooo many people for sooo many nice things that have been said and help freely given but realized that would over double the size of this. All of you are the greatest and THANK YOU!, THANK YOU!, THANK YOU! for making my new hobby an obsessive joy.
Dave C.
I have been following this forum for some time and wanted to belatedly introduce myself and say hi. Some background.
I am one of five brothers from Philadelphia who were active card collectors starting with my older brothers in the 1930's. I got my start in the very late 40's. My real turn-on came in the early 950's when one of our neighbors, who gave away cards and told wonderful baseball stories, in particular about his grandfather, got me really into card collecting...he was Connie Mack III. We loved going to as many Phillies games as possible and I felt like I personally knew all of the 'Wiz-kids.' Upon completing high school in the early 60's I put my cards away. In the early 1970's my brothers and I were sorting out everything at my mother's, who was moving into an apartment (bless her, she never through away a thing). Well, to make a long story not as long, I got all the Topps in several footlockers. In the mid-70's my boys started collecting and I got back into it but never opened the footlockers. Then in 1997 I retired; with the children all gone, we moved to a rural town on the Chesapeake Bay in Virgina. A few years ago I finally open the footlockers and started sorting everything. I currently have over 40 raw sets of Topps cards in varying condition that my brother's and I collected as children. I started sending some to PSA but quickly found I was in way over my head and was paying for many PSA 2's, 3's and even a few, dare I say, 1's. So, that brings me to the last 18 months. I have decided to build sets using other peoples expertise while I try to develop my own. I am just now getting ready to start submitting raw cards again to PSA.
I want to thank everyone on the boards who have, vicariously, taught me much. While I have never sold a card I will, once my sets get established, start selling what should be numerous backup sets. Oh, a couple of people have asked me about the VMFA name; I was a Marine pilot in the 60's and VMFA was our squadron designation for the type of planes we flew.
Finally, I also wanted to thank soooo many people for sooo many nice things that have been said and help freely given but realized that would over double the size of this. All of you are the greatest and THANK YOU!, THANK YOU!, THANK YOU! for making my new hobby an obsessive joy.
Dave C.
0
Comments
My father lived next to a scount who worked for Connie Mack - so I hear some stories from him, too. You have a mighty fine collection.
MS
Are you attending the National this year? If so, hopefully we'll see you at the various set registry gatherings.
CU turns its lonely eyes to you
What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
Welcome to the boards and congratulations on the sets you have built, particularly your #1 1969 set. Dave Read says you're a good guy so that's good enough for me.
Michael
Used to working on HOF SS Baseballs--Now just '67 Sox Stickers and anything Boston related.
Thank you for coming on and sharing some terrific stories. Also, congratulations for your outstanding 1969 Topps Baseball Set (among others). Please feel free to participate more. The '69 registry members are probably the most active group on this board.
Dan Markel
Chris
I'm glad to see you finally post here.
JEB.
Thanks for the well written introduction! I feel like I know you!
Jim
Even though your story included no football cards... I will not hold that against you. Since you live on the Chesapeake Bay you must be a good guy. I grew up in the VA Beach area and I still enjoy telling people that I've shopped at a Piggly Wiggly
Welcome!
Mike
And welcome to baseball cards' version of Area 51 - as a former military pilot you are probably aware that this forum doesn't really exist.
BOTR
Scott
T-205 Gold PSA 4 & up
1967 Topps BB PSA 8 & up
1975 Topps BB PSA 9 & up
1959 Topps FB PSA 8 & up
1976 Topps FB PSA 9 & up
1981 Topps FB PSA 10
1976-77 Topps BK PSA 9 & up
1988-89 Fleer BK PSA 10
3,000 Hit Club RC PSA 5 & Up
My Sets
Welcome to the boards! You have one heck of a collection !!!
Great collection that you're building!
Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!
lynnfrank@earthlink.net
outerbankyank on eBay!
feel free to email if i can be of assistance.
pc32
A big welcome from the soon-to-be #2 in the 1969 Topps Registry. Maybe that's #3 when Bob Cacamese (gaspipe26) records his set.
You will definitly enjoy the frendliness of the 69T Group.
See you on Ebay---- Ron Hobbs, Tallahassee, Fla.
Dave S.
Now collecting:
Topps Heritage
1957 Topps BB Ex+-NM
All Yaz Items 7+
Various Red Sox
Did I leave anything out?
Looking forward to more of your "war" stories.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
welcome to the forum.
a super introductory story !
looking forward to seeing more threads from you.
take care, your friend, lee
Welcome, Dave! And thank YOU for that quick mythical journey you just gave me.
cheers,
minibeers
1963T Dodgers in 8s
Pre-war Brooklyn 5s or higher
1963 Fleer
Lou Brock Master Set
Welcome to the boards. It has added so much to my enjoyment of the hobby and it looks like it will do the same for you.
BTW - I will be going to Marine OCS after I graduate this fall on an NFO contract- small world.
-Jeff
Thanks for sharing your story. I am particularly glad to see what you did with your 66' set.
Welcome also to the 69' group. You may not find a better bunch of collectors than those assembled. I have learned some fascinating stuff from this group as well over the years about the set.
Best of luck as you accumulate your overall collection. What you have now is already very impressive. Hope to see you as a frequent contributor here.
Warm regards,
RayBShotz
Sincerely,
Ron
One of my most fascinating collectibles that I will cherish is a beautiful lithograph by Ted Wilbur of Chuck Yeager in a P-51 Mustang during WWII. I had the pleasure of meeting Gen. Yeager and he graciously signed my lithograph. He is famous for setting a lot of aviation records and doing Pennzoil commercials, but some do not realize he was a superb fighter pilot in WWII as well.
It's great to have someone like yourself on this board to share experiences with from time to time.
John
Silver Coins
e-bay ID: grilloj39
e-mail: grilloj39@gmail.com
From a former ARMY man, welcome.
Dave C.