What piece in your collection brings you the most satisfaction and joy?
mouschi
Posts: 689 ✭✭✭✭
I've been thinking about this a lot over the past couple of years. Many of our collections are filled with cards / memorabilia that we like, once liked, or just ran into. But then there are pieces that put a smile on our faces each time we see them.
What piece(s) in your collection brings you the most joy/satisfaction, and why?
Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
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Hiya Tanner
First, just want to say thanx for the 134 yr old hunt thread - very enjoyable to read - I know how much work/effort goes into something like that buddy.
Now.
Short backstory:
When I attended the '92 Sports Collectors Convention, I was so overwhelmed by the size and variety of stuff I had never seen before!
Since before the net, the only way to see stuff was thru publications like SCD.
There were people "just" selling WS press pins - just GU jerseys - and then there was someone with a WS trophy. Wow!
I thought I'd never have a copy at all in my life-time.
Then, finally, at a price I could live with - I bought a "front office" copy of the '89 WS Oakland A's Trophy - front office.
Even one from a common player goes for into the thousands - 4-5 grand e.g.
Mike, I remember when you got this. It's amazing! It's fun to see you share it again.
Good heavens!!! The 1989 World Series is the pinnacle of my childhood ... congratulations! Holy smokes, that's amazing.
I’m too lazy to post the story again, but TONS of sentimental value with this one.
Yaz Master Set
#1 Gino Cappelletti master set
#1 John Hannah master set
Also collecting Andre Tippett, Patriots Greats' RCs, Dwight Evans, 1964 Venezuelan Topps, 1974 Topps Red Sox
The 1995 Indians hold a special place for me - the first really good team for decades in Cleveland. This is the starting lineup from the World Series
1960 Topps Yastrzemski card also holds a ton of sentimental value with me because it was the first vintage card my dad bought me for my birthday when I was a kid. It was what started me in the hobby. 20 years later I still have the exact card.
My dad has passed away , but every time I look at the card I think of him.
I can't choose between these three items. They are not objectively the most attractive issues, but the difficulty in tracking them down and finally doing so gives each item more gravity from my perspective.
Looks like Garvey and Carew swapped heights and weights between the 1979 and 1980 season.
My fav is my collection is my signed negro league reunion signed 8x10 .
Ernest Big Dog Fann , Russell Crazy Legs Patterson , Lonnie Harris , Jaycee Casselbury , Frank Cutie King , Mack Knife Pride , Harold Buster Hair , Ernie Schoolboy Johnson , Ron Teasley , John Mitchell , Ferdinand Rutledge , Tommy Hayes , Ernest Oink Harris , Midget Billy Vaughn , Eloyd Robinson , Phillip Edwards , Gil Black , Clifford Quack Brown , Clifford Dubose , Gerald Caston , Art Simmons , Bob Mitchell , Floyd Humphrey , Eddie Hancock , Enrique Maroto , Pedro Sierra , Charles Coot Willis , Milton Tiddle , Carl Long , Wilmer Reid , MC Johnson , Jumpin Johnny Wilson , Larry Williams , Clark Hardwick , Waymon Armstead , Robert Holivay , Bill Stewart , W. James Cobbin , Charles Whip Davis , Carl Brooks , Oscar Walker , Birmingham Sam Brison , Louis Clarizio , Levi Washington , Eugene Goon Golden , Roland Tooson , Al Burrows , William Lefty Bell , Hank Presswood , Otha Lil Catch Bailey , Ron Smith , William Hayden , Gerald Sizon , David Pearson , Ezell King , Hal Jones , Roberto Herrera , Henry Hill , Moses Herring , Porter Reed , Joe Elliott , Paul Jones , Ray Haggins , Charles Wells , James Beady Bland , Willie Walker , Walter Owens , A.J. Jackson , Hank Pistol Mason , Al Barks , Eddie Banks , J.C. Hartman , Luther Atkinson , Grady Lowe.
Wow, I never even noticed that! Good eye!
Probably the best one now is my PSA 10 2018 Topps chrome Ronald acuna Jr blue wave refractor. #to 150. In my eyes, he will compete for the homerun king and be the first ever 50/50 guy. Awesome player!
50/50 is a mind blowing stat. It would be pretty amazing if he gets there.
Todd lol. I really believe he can do it! I'll say in next 3 yrs or less. M.Mantle was asked several yrs before he passed.... If I would have known this woulda been a thing.... Lol I would have done it all the time lol. He was fast lol
Easily this one. Not much to anyone else but means a lot to me. I’ve had this card since I was a kid (sorry I didn’t keep it in gem condition 😂). I went to the National in Chicago maybe 8 years ago with my son who was 8 years old at the time and we had Rickey sign it. It will be given to him and I hope he holds onto it forever. Not exactly sure when I got it as a kid but I’m guessing some time between 84-88 and I was between 8 and 12 years old. Rickey was very cool and took a picture with my son. A great Memory we will always have together at the National.
Jeff
Collecting:
post world war II HOF rookie
76 topps gem mint 10 commons 9 stars
Arenado purple refractors(Rockies) Red (Cardinals)
successful deals with Keevan, Grote15, 1954, mbogoman
Either my Longoria batting gloves that Evan wore when he hit his first home run, or the cut card artwork that Tim Carroll created for me. That one I consider the centerpiece of my collection.
Longoria Collector. Love the Longo!
600+ PSA Graded 4,700+ unique Longoria cards scanned on TCDB 800+ different Longo autograph cards Jeff
Man, so many to choose from. I'll post a raw, a graded, and an unopened piece because, for me, they all have their distinct places in my collection.
This one was bought with my own 13-year-old hands after saving every dollar I could earn from doing chores, mowing lawns, etc. It was a gateway card for me into vintage card collecting. It will always remain raw. I take it out every once in a while just to hold it.
This one was self-subbed (I know, SGC, I get it.) many many years ago and I've always thought of it as the most beautiful baseball card.
This 1983 OPC rack was acquired about a year ago, and I'll probably never see another one with Pelle Lindbergh RC on top. Being a Flyers and deeply apart of the Flyers culture, this one speaks to me on an almost personal level.
Andy
What piece in your collection brings you the most satisfaction and joy?
That’s an awesome question;
I bought this 2009 National Treasures Bert Jones & Fran Tarkenton jersey relic 17/99 which is very close to my game used jerseys that I still have from my youth.
Or even how and when my sickness-disease started with my 1976 Baseball…Yes those are some of my very 1st 76’s that survived. When I was at the age of 6 I carried those cards anywhere and everywhere like they were my life savings.
Or my first ever “Big Time” trade in 1985 with a store owner from southwest Chicago, I had a 1985 Leaf Dwight Gooden and traded that for a 73 Roberto Clemente which is still right here…
I still say my #1 favorite All Time: is my 1979 BBCE Grocery Wax Tray, my feelings and emotions could not even begin to type on how I feel about my 79 wax tray; although Mr. Phillips might understand on how I feel about my grocery wax tray!
I could ramble on for days on this topic about most satisfaction and joy with different items and other material; such as my Ron LeFlore bat from when Comiskey Park had bat day in 1982, my Minnie Minoso autograph when he signed my cast, my International house of pancakes NFC plastic mug, or even my unopened frozen pretzel’s with Mike Trout showing on the box and Yes those two boxes are still in the freezer, or even a unopened package of John Madden’s buffalo wings seasoning mix, and that package is still unopened and stays in the refrigerator.
I was told a few days ago by a great scholar, "Just a little piece of cardboard; It'll find you" -- Yes it has! -- Thank you!
This is the one item I wouldn’t sell regardless of the offer. 9 year old me caught this home run ball with my Dad at a Braves game.
This original, hand colored 1960 Topps Flexichrome for a "Home Run Leaders" card that was never produced, due to Colavito getting traded right before the season started. I got it 10 years ago from hobby legend Bob Lemke (RIP), who'd owned it for 25+ years. I've always been a Killebrew fan, and even exchanged emails with Harmon a couple of years before he passed. This thing is gorgeous in person, and the colors absolutely POP.
My first favorite player.
Got this in 1985 when I was 23 and just thought is was cool. Cost $125
Also, got this signed by the O'Brien twins at halftime of a Seattle U game years ago. They were very nice and I wasn't the only one getting something signed.
That is awesome! Hope @JoeBanzai gets to see it.
Yaz Master Set
#1 Gino Cappelletti master set
#1 John Hannah master set
Also collecting Andre Tippett, Patriots Greats' RCs, Dwight Evans, 1964 Venezuelan Topps, 1974 Topps Red Sox
I would definitely have to go with my Walter Payton 1980 Topps card that Sweetness signed for me when I was around 13 or 14. Walter and a few other Bears from the 1985 team were signing free autographs at a grand opening in the next town over from me. My grandpa woke me up that morning and informed me of the signing. I grabbed one of my cards and we got in line a good 2 hours early. I'm glad we did, because by the time the players arrived the lines were down the block. Little did I know, it would be the only chance I would ever get to meet my all-time favorite football player, and that he would be dead only 5 or 6 years later.
RIP Sweetness
These are my “for keeps”. My Dad mailed the players letters with a SASE, and they responded. Those were the days.
I came across these jerseys in two separate auctions a couple of years ago. I grew up about an hour and a half from Atlanta and was a catcher so Biff Pocoroba and Bruce "Eggs" Benedict were my favorite players. These gamers remind me every time I see them of sitting there with dozens and dozens of Braves fans in those woeful 80s years. There's a pretty reasonable chance that the Benedict jersey is the one he was wearing in the infamous Braves/Padres brawl in 84. Still trying to photo match it. The brawl was on August 12th and Tommie Aaron passed away on August 16th, 1984 and so the black armbands were added after that date. Since they didn't change out jerseys that much back then there's a reasonable chance the jersey he was wearing 4 days or so before this one was the one from the brawl.
www.questfortherookiecup.com
The Goat. Who else?
That's pretty dang 😎
Great thread, and some really special stuff. Well done all.
My jaw just hit the floor looking at those sigs!
This facsimile autograph ball is a sentimental favorite. I think it was a cereal box mail in offer. First time in my lifetime the Cubs were good and went to the playoffs. Couldn't get past the Padres, but still fond memories of that summer.
My pride and joy from years of collecting….it took me forever to complete the set and it is the only complete set ever assembled in PSA slabs:
Solo
Set
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
2004 ALDS. David Ortiz's first of 2 postseason walk-off HR's. This HR clinched the series as the Sox swept the Angels.
I took this picture from my seat in the left field grandstand. First high of the massive roller coaster ride for the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox.
This card definitely brings me the most joy.....for as long as I can remember the 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card #144 has always been a card that I have always admired. Going to shows dating back to my first national sometime in the mid 2000's, I always would say to myself, "someday, I will own that card". It was always outside of my main collecting focuses, and due to my budget, I couldn't afford this card in high grade....but when this PSA1 became available, it had the eye appeal of a 5 and what brings it down to a 1 is a staple mark, and it just had my name on it when I first saw it. I was so lucky to win the card.
Mine isnt sports related, but its part of my collection.
I have a photograph, taken by me, autographed in person by Andrew WK after a show. Waited until almost 1am to get it autographed.
He knew where the photo was taken and complimented it. It hangs above my desk in my home office. Every time I see it, it brings back the great memories of the show that night.
I agree with all points. All very hard to find, but not the most eye appealing items ever made. I like super odd stuff too.
I don't think I could come up with a single item that stands out above the rest. too wide of a variety of things. My collection as a whole, as I shaped it over the last 40+ years, brings me joy as I look at things at different times, most of it buried for a period of time and unearthed when I shuffle stuff around. This is exactly what I feared might happen though, making it very difficult to want to get rid of any of it. I better hope my kids change their minds in the future and decide that they want to inherit this thing, otherwise I am not sure what might happen.
great stuff gents. for me, it changes pretty much every day. with the market going as crazy as its been, i kinda shifted to non-sports and tried to zig while most were zagging. since i grew up in the 80s, these were hated by parents/teachers which made the kids love them even more & to try to add a lil variety to the thread ill go with this today. its the color mask of the 1st garbage pail kid ever, nasty nick. ive had this for quite sometime but have been working on his “master set” of various foreign and throwback cards released over the years.
In 1994, my aunt took me and my 2 brothers to the HOF induction for Steve Carlton. I was only 8, but growing up a Phillies fan knew who Carlton was and was excited to be there. On day one, I bought an official HOF baseball knowing in my head that I would meet Carlton that weekend and get it signed. Long story short, I did not meet him, but I did get it signed multiple times. Most of them were at a minor league game in felt tip pen that have long since faded. The one that survived was Steve Garvey, who was at the induction and was fantastic with the crowd:
The ball went into a cube and was stored away, untouched, for years.
Fast forward 23 years, and Steve Carlton is doing a signing at the local card shop 5 minutes from my house. I managed to find the ball stored away in my parents attic. After all those years, I finally got the signature my 8 year old self was disappointed to walk away from Cooperstown without:
Main collecting focus is Patrick Roy playing days 85/86-02/03, expect 1/1, National/All-Star stamped cards.PC Completion: 2,548/2,952; 86.31% My Patrick Roy PC Website:https://proy33collector.weebly.com
While it may be breaking the rules of the thread, I also love my in progress run at two ‘impossible’ sets; one for costs and one for scarcity. Mickey Mantle is my favorite player and I’m doing my best with his Master set though it’s certainly cost prohibitive:
While I may never complete it, the chase is pretty awesome with the 1946 Propagandas Montiel Los Reyes Del Deporte and the checklist includes a spectacular mix of active and retired talent including a rookie card of one Stan “The Man” Musial.
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
From my son's playing days...all the traveling to tournaments to watch him...this will always bring a smile to my face!
Live long, and prosper.
He PLAYED WITH the card and it is still an 8? Impressive.
It's hard to pick just one but this would have to be right up there for my favorite player growing up. A complete uncut rookie 1968 Kahn's. Too bad this is too large for any of the grading companies to slab. Phil
For me, it will always be this one— for lots of reasons. Reminds me to always go with your gut. At the time I went for it, going way outside the then-sacrosanct VCP grids for exceptional eye appeal was not a thing like it is now. People said I was stupid, but I had been shopping for years and had empirical evidence that centered copies were rare. I also was able to meet the gentleman who pulled it from the pack in the summer of '52, and who had it graded. Hearing his story and recording it for posterity added such a special dimension to the card. And knowing it went from the pack puller to me also provides a rock solid lineage, in an era where so many cards have been doctored.
daltex,
That WOULD be impressive - if it were true....
so, a brief explanation....
The thread asked for a favorite in my collection. Years after my son finished playing, I thought I would put together a set or two of the cards he played with that reminded me of those good old days. And the card that graded PSA 8 was one of those that I added to my collection that would always bring me joy. That was the card that I showed in my original post.
I mean, no one in their right mind would grade a Yu-Gi-Oh! card that was so badly used that it wasn't even worth the price of the holder...I mean why would anyone do such a thing? Unless it was just to preserve a cherished memory as a gift to his son for all that time they spent together.
And it probably would not grade more than a PSA 1....or at best a PSA 2.
And if that all that were true, then it would probably be a treasured card in HIS collection......not mine.
Live long, and prosper.
Love the pic...and the story!...thanks for sharing.
Live long, and prosper.
This. Card. Is. Bananas.
Well done, sir.
So I was born in 57 & from NJ, my brother was a yanks fan, and I eventually became a huge Mets fan.
But Mickey Mantle was always that iconic figure to me there was something just about him he had the "IT" factor.
I've always collected & back in 87 ish I had a card store & did some shows.
So I'm set up at a show in Tampa FL. 1992 & Mantle is signing.
Now I collected Gartland plates & signed figurines, but in 89 I purchased this Mantle sports impressions plate called "Greatest Switch Hitter" & thought it was great.
Now anybody collecting & doing auto's back then knew he did not sign many things & these plates were one of them. Listed on show flyer..
No bats, sports imp plates, etc etc..
But I had to try.
My buddy Andy is set up next to me, he says no way u are getting that signed.
I had a back up photo that I left at table just in case.
I get in line, nervous & keeping item in bag until I get up to Mickey. I put item down & Greer his agent says no, as does mick, I act like I didn't know, Mick says get another item & come back.
I put on my sad puppy face.. ( Thx drama class) & slowly turn away.. THEN..
Mickey says literally, Fuck it, come back. Heart is racing.... Then
The gold one is the Sports impression preprinted auto.. The blue one is the show autograph which came out absolutely beautiful !
Then recently got it lettered up.
So if people tell you no, don't give up.
Pete
Pete,
That’s an awesome story. Greer was a solid agent for Mickey. I guess even more than an agent but she obviously loved him and did a lot to help him, for sure.
I just wanted to share this piece as it has connections to both your birth state and birth year. 😉
Hope you enjoyed seeing it; I’ve not seen more than a handful over the years.
All the best,
Tim
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
Tim.. I've never seen that. Sweet.
Even if Newark area sucked Lol
I'm a Jersey shore kid. Bricktown.
Right by Point Pleasant boardwalk and Seaside boardwalk which I spent most of my summers at it was an awesome time and we had Bruce Springsteen it doesn't get any better than that !
Damn Sandy killed my childhood area.