Serious Questions About Members' Expertise

storm888

I thought it would be interesting to ask folks what
they thought their particular field(s) of expertise
are in the collecting universe.

I am a "supreme generalist." I know a tiny-bit about a lot.

I used to be a mini-expert in counterfeit gold coins, but
I think some of my skills have slipped. I can grade currency
within a few points, coins within more than a few points,
stamps very close to perfect usually, cards not so good
but still within about a grade if I spend 20-minutes per card.

I know which postcards are expensive and I can grade them
pretty close. I know pretty much about some types of high-end
glassware. I know some of the good flatware from the junk. I am
pretty weak on most furniture, but on vintage tropical I am fairly
strong. I know some movie memorabila. And, I know tropical
shirts at about fair-plus. Rock-Star denim - concert jackets -
I know pretty well.

I can often tell by looking at the front of a baseball or football card
what year its set was made. (Only between 1948 and 1969).
But, that is not that useful because all one has to do is look for
the date on the back of the card to get that information.

On Mantle and Snider autographs I am pretty fair, but most
others not so good.

I know a little about rare firearms, but nothing about knives.
Not too up on all militaria, but a little bit.

I know a lot of approximate retail and wholesale values on most
types of collectibles.

My only real "top-skill" is probably in having memorized weights
and measures regarding gold and silver, but that is only worthwhile
when I am in pawnbroker mode.

I guess that is about all I think I know about collectibles. But, if
I think of anything else, I will not be shy about adding to my list.

storm

2dueces

I'm a jack of all trades, master of none.

ROCKDJRW

I consider myself very knowledgable on Ozzie Guillen oddball cards and memorabilia. I also feel I know alot about 1980's wrestling sets. I stop short of calling myself an expert because someone always knows more.

Stone193

storm

I was never lucky enough to focus in any one direction to know much.

I do have one knack tho - if I see a sitcom episode - for what ever reason, I can give you all the punchlines when the show comes on again.

mike

AlanAllen

I know the minutia of Marcus Allen cards pretty well. Because of that I have a decent knowledge of modern oddball football, particularly the issues Allen is in. I have a working knowledge of unopened stuff, again particularly football, but my knowledge is far surpassed by others on this board. I don't have any other knowledge I would label as "expertise" in cards.

Joe

bri2327

I like to consider myself fairly well rounded. At times its great to have some knowledge about almost anything, but it also leads to not being a true expert in any one particular thing.

I have a pretty solid knowledge as far as music, whether it be modern, classic rock, blues, jass, classical. There isnt much i can hear playing without being able to tell who the artist is.

When it comes to the Yankees there isnt much that escapes me.

Cooking would be my strongest area of expertise though. I have been able to acquire the skill and know how to cook basically anything at this point, often creating my own dishes based on knowledge of food & spice flavors and combinations. I can handle anything Italian ( to the point where although i am Irish and my fiances family who is 100% Italian and owns 13 Italian restaurants, pizzarias, and pork stores ) they actually prefer and rave about my cooking of Italian cuisine. Also very rounded in Mexican,tex-mex, Caribbean, Spanish, southern/bbq, Chinese cuisines as well as baking/pastry work.

Stone193

<< <i>I like to consider myself fairly well rounded. At times its great to have some knowledge about almost anything, but it also leads to not being a true expert in any one particular thing.

I have a pretty solid knowledge as far as music, whether it be modern, classic rock, blues, jass, classical. There isnt much i can hear playing without being able to tell who the artist is.

When it comes to the Yankees there isnt much that escapes me.

Cooking would be my strongest area of expertise though. I have been able to acquire the skill and know how to cook basically anything at this point, often creating my own dishes based on knowledge of food & spice flavors and combinations. I can handle anything Italian ( to the point where although i am Irish and my fiances family who is 100% Italian and owns 13 Italian restaurants, pizzarias, and pork stores ) they actually prefer and rave about my cooking of Italian cuisine. Also very rounded in Mexican,tex-mex, Caribbean, Spanish, southern/bbq, Chinese cuisines as well as baking/pastry work. >>


Bri

My house friday nite! Just give me the food list. I like to cook but kind of stink at it.

But skip the Chinese.

bri2327

I think it would be a big time blast to get a bunch of fellas from here who live close enough and put out a nice crazy spread of eats. I dont even consider it work, its so much fun for me when its all done and i can put a smile on peoples faces after having enjoyed my food.

BigDaddyBowman

I would consider my expertise the 1948-55 bowman football issues..hence the name BigDaddyBowman. They have been my passion and focus for a long time.

MooseDog

Also a generalist but...

My specialty is autographs with special expertise in the area of Baseball HOF and 1960s/1970s signatures both MLB and NHL.

Also pretty good with all things 1970s. I never did drugs so I remember pretty much all of it, unfortunately...

zef204

I know 2 issues real well. 1970 glossies and 67 philly. The 67's is still a work in progress and the glossies I have started to move away from.

I know a little about a lot of football cards ranging from 55-85, with the exception of the 60's Fleer issues. I have never been into much oddball stuff beyond the Glossies and 77 Mexicans.

Beyond the realm of this boards focus, I am well rounded in technology and hence have chosen to work in the field.

I am a Sagitarius, I like long walks on the beach, lazy days on the couch, and a good porno mag.

XanaduNow

I consider myself a savant when it comes to alcohol % levels for assorted drinks (beer, malt liquor, hard booze, wine, etc.)

I have a working-class knowledge of fast food joints (their food, promotions and nutrition content).

I, with complete modesty, consider myself a master in 1988 Topps baseball (except for unopened material, sets and singles).

The only thing that I actively pursue and engross myself in is cinema, in every aspect of the medium. It's downright unhealthy, unless you consider the potential capital.

I can also look at the exterior of any barber shop and instinctively know whether or not the quality of cut is up to par. It's kind of a jedi power I have.

Okay, that last one was a lie.

fdnyladder7

I have limited knowledge in counterfeit memorabilia BUT...

I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise Lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in Winn Dixie. Critics worldwide swoon over my original line of corduroy evening wear. I woo women with my sensuous and godlike trombone playing.

Sorry Storm. I couldn't hold out on posting to this thread any longer!

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

My areas of expertise are..

1989 Fleer Bill Ripken. ask somebody

Star Wars "Troopers" as I have all of them from 1977-present

I have some print and knowledgable contacts about errors and variations.

tkd7

I have an expertise in classic mixed drinks and hard to find ingredients to make them. I think that leads too often to bidder's remorse.

Hobby wise, not much of an expert on things, but I can soak up lots of information. I have picked up some interest in stadium postcards, but nowhere near an expert.

JasP24

Anything you need to know on Football HOFer and their cards, I'm your guy...lol

I track ebay prices, I collect all present and future HOF RCs, and have studied NFL history for the last 20 years.

That's really my only hobby related expertise. I know nothing about ultra-modern (2001-present) football cards, and absolutely zero about baseball, basketball or hockey cards...My collecting habits have been keenly focused since I got back in the game 8 years ago...

Jason

TheVon

I couldn't help but think of a favorite quote of mine when I read this thread. Von Pauli wrote (loosely translated): We know one thing at the cost of not knowing something else.

That said, I consider myself to have an almost encyclopedic recollection of every bad thing that's happened to the Red Sox since the year I was born. Applying this knowledge to the hobby, I'd have to say that my expertise in this field helped me decipher the (not so) subtle sarcasm of the 1990 Upper Deck Bill Buckner card. If it weren't for the Sox' miraculous come back in 2004, I might still be burning his cards every December 14th (for his birthday, of course). But now I've moved on and I can focus on the Red Sox losing double-headers to the Yankees.

It's been a long, hard day! Hey, XanaduNow, what would dull the pain faster, a Vodka tonic or a Manhattan?

lawnmowerman

I consider myself a wealth of useless knowledge. For example I can tell you the proper cutting heights for various turf and when to trim your Oleanders and Azaleas

Matt

zef204

<< <i>I couldn't help but think of a favorite quote of mine when I read this thread. Von Pauli wrote (loosely translated): We know one thing at the cost of not knowing something else.

That said, I consider myself to have an almost encyclopedic recollection of every bad thing that's happened to the Red Sox since the year I was born. Applying this knowledge to the hobby, I'd have to say that my expertise in this field helped me decipher the (not so) subtle sarcasm of the 1990 Upper Deck Bill Buckner card. If it weren't for the Sox' miraculous come back in 2004, I might still be burning his cards every December 14th (for his birthday, of course). But now I've moved on and I can focus on the Red Sox losing double-headers to the Yankees.

>>


WOW! So you are one of the delusional few that think it was solely Bill Buckner that lost the game for the Red Sox. That is crazy.

But, I know fellow Cub fans that still blame Steve Bartman for their collapse in 2003, which is more rediculous. If Alou didn't act like such an ass on a ball he likely wouldn't have caught anyway, then they actually played baseball after the fact by locating pitches and making ground ball outs, they would still have beat the Marlins.

So maybe in 20 years, isn't that how long after the Red Sox lost that until they won?

XanaduNow

<< <i>It's been a long, hard day! Hey, XanaduNow, what would dull the pain faster, a Vodka tonic or a Manhattan? >>



Silly man. Don't you know that all of life's problems and solutions are found at the bottom of a Jack Daniels bottle?



<< <i>So maybe in 20 years, isn't that how long after the Red Sox lost that until they won? >>



Zef, I used to like you.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>So maybe in 20 years, isn't that how long after the Red Sox lost that until they won? >>





<< <i>Zef, I used to like you.

>>





dont forget the video

XanaduNow

Uncalled for. I fart in your general direction.

detroitfan2

If they had a W.S.O.S.U.O.L.N.F.M.L.B.P.F.T.S (World Series Of Scrabble Using Only Last Names of Major League Players From The Seventies), I think I would do quite well, strategically saving my Z and K or Q and K to hang a "Zisk" or "Quirk" off a triple word score.

I know that Ray Bare was the winning pitcher in the game that broke the Tigers 19 game losing streak in 1975. I can probably name the Topps cards from 1975-1980 that contain the AL or NL All-Star designation.

I have a wealth of knowledge / data on the pricing of PSA 4/5/6 1955 Topps baseball cards, which probably would benefit, oh, maybe 2 or 3 others in this world besides myself.

Finally, I've done some research and have identified the 100 greatest Detroit Tigers of all time (10 at each position, including 30 outfielders, plus 20 pitchers).

lawnmowerman

<< <i>

Uncalled for. I fart in your general direction. >>



Thats okay, that happens to me all the time

matt

jmbkb4

I am an expert in the 1993 Finest Refractor set and in radiographic anatomy/pathology.

jskirwin

I do 70s baseball but don't consider myself an expert at it.
Other than that, I'm a fair political and social writer.

Onlypsahockey

No, Buck didn't lose the game for the Sox but he certainly didn't win it for them either.

JMO, Bob C.

aro13

~"WOW! So you are one of the delusional few that think it was solely Bill Buckner that lost the game for the Red Sox. That is crazy."~

Forgetting the error, Buckner's offensive performance in the Series has to be one of the 5 worst in World Series history. Especially when you consider there was no need for him to be at first base in the games in New York (Don Baylor should have started even before you factor in the fact that Buckner was limping and barely able to run).

XanaduNow

On the bright side, at least we weren't up 3 games to zero and ended up losing the series. Now THAT really sucks ass.

slatsme

This guy lost it for the Sox and I am okay with that.

bobbybakeriv

I am definitely a highly specific collector. I know a lot about late 70s Topps Baseball All-Star cards. There really isn't a whole lot to know though. Worse, there are other guys on this very board who know far more about the area (e.g., DGF, WilliPlett, Jackstraw, Estang, RBDJR, Softparade, among many others!). I guess what I am trying to say is that I am the all too common small fish in a small pond.

DirtyHarry

1967 Topps baseball, but mostly memoriblia from 1960- to present.

ArtRossLives

I am the recognized top expert on Art Ross' team jumping back in the Upper Ottawa Valley league (pre NHA which was pre NHL). I have more knowledge than is healthy about Campbell County, VA and its own 'Big Apple' (Lynchburg).

I am pretty sure the Yankees have just kicked the Red Sox out of the playoffs in the last two days (assuming their batters aren't exhausted from drilling Sox pitching).