The night I burned 20,000+ '68 & '69 Topps bb cards

summerof68 · June 15, 2007 2:15AM

I'm a couple days new to the boards and I don't know if bb card stories are allowed or even appreciated but I will try it only once. As a 6th grader in 1968 I became obsessed with collecting 1968 topps bb cards when I saw my first rak pak hanging at Thrifty's Drug store in West Covina, Ca. I had a paper route and mowed lawns so I always had a supply of ready cash to spend on raks. My obsession carried over to '69 as well. In 1974, then a senior in high-school, I no longer had any interest in cards so I put all 20,000+ in 100 card bundles and took them to the Chino swap meet. At 50 cents a bundle there were no takers...then down to 25 cents...then 10 cents. I didn't sell a bundle all day. Two months later on halloween night I decided to throw the bundles in the trick-o-treaters bags but the kids immediately complained and wanted only candy. So for several hours as my mother handed out candy I threw a couple bundles at a time into the fire place to warm the house. Five years later in '79 I came across Beckett's first price guide. Even when viewing those low raw prices in that first guide I still recall shedding a tear or two