FYI for all you Poppage Watchers - and a re-entry into the hobby
BostonAmericans
Posts: 434 ✭✭
I received poppage on my 45 day submission on day 45 - and this did not include the holidays for National. So does that mean this was day 42?? Don't know if it is because I am a new customer or perhaps a sign that they may have gotten more hands on deck for processing. I have been watching the poppage threads and was pleasantly surprised to see the emails.
Results? Consider this and my free 15 as a good learning experience. I am getting back into the hobby after about 20 years. When I found my cards in the attic, I thought I had my own personal Black Swamp find. I was not naive enough to think every card was a 10, but man did that 1980 Rickey Henderson sure look perfect (it graded a 6). My original intent was to turn my childhood into some extra cash, and maybe start dabbling again. But then three things happened in the past couple of months that are changing the game.
First, my 13 year old nephew is getting into card collecting and being the good uncle I am helping him get started with advice on figuring out what to collect, and how to go about it. I took him to a show recently and to say he was overwhelmed at what was available for sale and collecting is an understatement. But we made it through that show, he bought some wax boxes from 1989 and 1990 (just so he could accumulate some numbers) and we have plans to attend another one Labor Day weekend. His has an absentee father, and I don't have any kids, so I try to do my best to teach him about life, but this 13 year old is teaching is mid-40's uncle what it's like to be a kid again.
Secondly, I have recently hooked up with my best friend from childhood after 31 years. We grew up in the 1970's and did everything together - including collecting cards. I moved away in 1981 and continued collecting through the 1980's, but when I met my wife and we bought our house, my collecting dwindled and eventually stopped, the cards (1974-1992) stuffed into boxes into the attic of our new home. Mike found me a couple years ago, and after several rounds of phone calls, finally hooked up. While my interest in cards and memoribilia waned, his never stopped. And in talking to him about his collection, and realizing that mine wasn't too shabby either, the 'get rid of all the cards save a few' started turning into, ok, what could I collect???
Thirdly, I had forgotten how much fun it is. At that show I bought a 1987 wax box (I know - the dark period according to the boards) but it was only $5 and I did end up with a Bonds rookie, a couple Ripkens, an Ozzie Smith and a few others that will ensure a return on that investment. I didn't do the rips all at once. My nephew would call me and we would go through a layer of the box each night. Man I had forgotten what it was like to rip open a pack. The anticipation of "who'd I get" - i felt like the 12 year old me ripping the fresh 1978 packs from the Court St. market. Hell, couple nights ago I was in Target and bought 8 packs of this years Topps. The thrill is still there - especially when you get a Strasbourg, Fielder, Darvish, Ortiz and Verlander. Its just fun dammit.
I once had a goal of having at least one card from every set since I have been born (1966-onward). I knew it would be a daunting task then, and now, not as interested or financially willing. My new goal now is to collect a Red Sox team set from every Topps run in the same time period, as well as a complete set from 1974 - the first year I started collecting. Condition? If I can get a 10, fine. But as long as it doesn't have a pizza stain or show signs of going through the wash, I will take it. Like my nephew, I had to decide what I wanted to collect.
As for the results, my 1970's and earlier cards fared poorly. In fact, the 1976 Tiant garnered a 3. I may break it to get it autographed by Looie himself during that Labor Day show. My 1982's did a little better, but I was older and took better care of them. Of the 103 I submitted, only 1 received a 10 - 1992 Topps Cal Ripken. The rest of the grades were spread between 7's and 8's. Not the Black Swamp find I wanted, but still fun nonetheless. I will sell off most of whatever doesnt fit my collecting goals (gotta pay for the grading somehow
) and I don't know how big into grading I will be in the future. Like I said, big learning curve. But fun.
Sorry for the ramble, and I was going to put most of this in the 'Back to basics' thread, but when I got my poppage I decided to combine the two. I am looking forward to getting back into the card hobby as well as the memoribilia. Y'all have a good night.
Results? Consider this and my free 15 as a good learning experience. I am getting back into the hobby after about 20 years. When I found my cards in the attic, I thought I had my own personal Black Swamp find. I was not naive enough to think every card was a 10, but man did that 1980 Rickey Henderson sure look perfect (it graded a 6). My original intent was to turn my childhood into some extra cash, and maybe start dabbling again. But then three things happened in the past couple of months that are changing the game.
First, my 13 year old nephew is getting into card collecting and being the good uncle I am helping him get started with advice on figuring out what to collect, and how to go about it. I took him to a show recently and to say he was overwhelmed at what was available for sale and collecting is an understatement. But we made it through that show, he bought some wax boxes from 1989 and 1990 (just so he could accumulate some numbers) and we have plans to attend another one Labor Day weekend. His has an absentee father, and I don't have any kids, so I try to do my best to teach him about life, but this 13 year old is teaching is mid-40's uncle what it's like to be a kid again.
Secondly, I have recently hooked up with my best friend from childhood after 31 years. We grew up in the 1970's and did everything together - including collecting cards. I moved away in 1981 and continued collecting through the 1980's, but when I met my wife and we bought our house, my collecting dwindled and eventually stopped, the cards (1974-1992) stuffed into boxes into the attic of our new home. Mike found me a couple years ago, and after several rounds of phone calls, finally hooked up. While my interest in cards and memoribilia waned, his never stopped. And in talking to him about his collection, and realizing that mine wasn't too shabby either, the 'get rid of all the cards save a few' started turning into, ok, what could I collect???
Thirdly, I had forgotten how much fun it is. At that show I bought a 1987 wax box (I know - the dark period according to the boards) but it was only $5 and I did end up with a Bonds rookie, a couple Ripkens, an Ozzie Smith and a few others that will ensure a return on that investment. I didn't do the rips all at once. My nephew would call me and we would go through a layer of the box each night. Man I had forgotten what it was like to rip open a pack. The anticipation of "who'd I get" - i felt like the 12 year old me ripping the fresh 1978 packs from the Court St. market. Hell, couple nights ago I was in Target and bought 8 packs of this years Topps. The thrill is still there - especially when you get a Strasbourg, Fielder, Darvish, Ortiz and Verlander. Its just fun dammit.
I once had a goal of having at least one card from every set since I have been born (1966-onward). I knew it would be a daunting task then, and now, not as interested or financially willing. My new goal now is to collect a Red Sox team set from every Topps run in the same time period, as well as a complete set from 1974 - the first year I started collecting. Condition? If I can get a 10, fine. But as long as it doesn't have a pizza stain or show signs of going through the wash, I will take it. Like my nephew, I had to decide what I wanted to collect.
As for the results, my 1970's and earlier cards fared poorly. In fact, the 1976 Tiant garnered a 3. I may break it to get it autographed by Looie himself during that Labor Day show. My 1982's did a little better, but I was older and took better care of them. Of the 103 I submitted, only 1 received a 10 - 1992 Topps Cal Ripken. The rest of the grades were spread between 7's and 8's. Not the Black Swamp find I wanted, but still fun nonetheless. I will sell off most of whatever doesnt fit my collecting goals (gotta pay for the grading somehow
) and I don't know how big into grading I will be in the future. Like I said, big learning curve. But fun.Sorry for the ramble, and I was going to put most of this in the 'Back to basics' thread, but when I got my poppage I decided to combine the two. I am looking forward to getting back into the card hobby as well as the memoribilia. Y'all have a good night.
Collecting Topps Baseball: 1966-present base sets
Topps/OPC Hockey 1966-Present base sets
Topps/OPC Hockey 1966-Present base sets
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Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Good luck with your collection and make it fun for yourself and your nephew, that's what's important.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
Marc