Remembering my Dad
dytch2220
Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭
My Father passed unexpectedly 4 years ago today. I'm not looking for any sympathy, just felt like putting it out there and maybe I can hear from some of you about the influence your Dad may have had on collecting.
For me, he encouraged my playing little league at a young age and although I didn't stick with the sport it must have meant quite a bit to him as I found among his things after he passed a ball inscribed in his handwriting "1985 Nathan T-Ball" which he had kept since my very young days playing. Later, when my interest took to collecting he not only encouraged but helped support the habit financially in both comic books and baseball cards all the way up through high school. I never asked him about whether or not he collected as a kid, something I would if I had the chance again, but I think maybe he enjoyed my collecting as much as I did. Also, as I took an interest in wrestling and football in Jr. High and High School he attended many of my meets and games despite working very long hours and with a constantly rotating shift. He is a role model for me in many ways and I miss him greatly.
I look forward to hearing from some of you.
Nate
For me, he encouraged my playing little league at a young age and although I didn't stick with the sport it must have meant quite a bit to him as I found among his things after he passed a ball inscribed in his handwriting "1985 Nathan T-Ball" which he had kept since my very young days playing. Later, when my interest took to collecting he not only encouraged but helped support the habit financially in both comic books and baseball cards all the way up through high school. I never asked him about whether or not he collected as a kid, something I would if I had the chance again, but I think maybe he enjoyed my collecting as much as I did. Also, as I took an interest in wrestling and football in Jr. High and High School he attended many of my meets and games despite working very long hours and with a constantly rotating shift. He is a role model for me in many ways and I miss him greatly.
I look forward to hearing from some of you.
Nate
The N8 Collection: PSA Registry Sets & Showcases
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I know my Dad was a huge influence as well. Always went to every Little League game, basketball game and any other activities I had. He was in Special Forces for 18 years before being injured in Viet Nam in 1970. More than anything I am grateful for the discipline and never quit attitude he instilled in me. These traits launched me into my Army career and helped make it a successful one too.
Dad is still here but he recently had to go into a nursing home as dementia is catching up on him quickly. I still see him 4 or so times a week and while sometimes he doesn't really know me I will cherish this last little time I have with him.
All you young guys don't take things for granted as they can be gone in a heartbeat.
Now on a more happy note. My dad owned a Pepsi Route. He used to trade cases of Pepsi for other goods from the stores on his route. He used to bring home all kinds of things for us. I remember in 1979 he brought home 2 wax boxes of 1979 Topps that I had to split with my brothers. He knew I loved baseball cards and used to always bust my balls. Whenever I was sorting cards or doing something with them, he would say "You know what? I think all my old cards are in the attic at Grandma's and Grandpa's." Of course I'd get all excited only for him to tell me he was joking. He'd do it again and again but always sounded convincing, god I was so gullible. Needless to say those cards were thrown away a loing time before I was born.
I am quite lucky, as I will be 57 next month and my dad 86 in May. Thank GOD he is still in decent shape and able to take his 1 mile walk most days. Although most people here would think THE MICK was my idol growing up, he was really #2 ... dad was and always will be #1.
And as Braves said "All you young guys don't take things for granted as they can be gone in a heartbeat."
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.
<< <i>I have a very similar picture of my dad- was he a Vietnam vet? >>
He served from 1970-1976 which does overlap the end of the Vietnam War, however, he was never deployed to Vietnam.
After he passed, I requested a copy of his complete military record from National Personnel Records Center. It was nice to look through all of that and compare against stories he had told me growing up about his times in the Air Force.
I know your loss is still present. My dad died in 1979 and I still miss him.
He served in WWII and I - Vietnam and Desert Storm - he got out and I stayed for a career.
My dad:
Collecting wasn't all the rave in the 70s - but we talked about sports and stuff all the time. I collected when I got out of school but not actively until "my" son "found" BB cards.
He left and I remained - it's a lifelong career for me - next to guitar, it's my favorite past-time.
My dad died in 2012 at 85. I was 42 at the time, also not enough time to spend with my dad. He was a WWII and Korea era vet, although he didn't see any combat action in either war. He and his two brothers all serviced in the military (one uncle was Air Force, the other Army. Of their combined 6 male offspring, I was the only one from our generation who served. My mom's two sisters also had husbands who served and none of their 4 boys served either. Lastly, my wife's dad and his brother were veterans as well, but their three boys didn't serve either. Nearly all would have all been post Vietnam era.
<< <i>It's interesting how many of our dads served in the military (for us older guys or dads who were older, like mine) and how those numbers seem to drop from year to year as you get closer to the present. >>
Agreed. My dad was in Korea just before the war started. Both of his brothers (younger) also served. All SIX of my mother's brothers served as well (one was a POW during WWII, but luckily was liberated). I don't believe that any of their children (including me) served.
WOW, just did a search on my uncle who was a German POW. I found the local Newspaper that reported his capture. The date of the Newspaper? March 9, 1945.
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.
My dad (served in Vietnam) is still living. He turned 68 earlier this year. He lives rather close and we do not see much of each other (long story, very similar to WhiteTornado). There are definitely no hard feelings, but he has other interests that occupies his time. However, I called him last week and we are planning to meet for lunch Wednesday. I'd like to make this a weekly thing.
Thanks,
David (LD_Ferg)
1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
<< <i>My dad (served in Vietnam) is still living. He lives rather close and we do not see much of each other. However, I called him last week and we are planning to meet for lunch Wednesday. I'd like to make this a weekly thing.
David ... I hope it works out and the two of you get to see one another weekly. Let us know how it works out for you. GOOD LUCK!
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.
<< <i>
<< <i>My dad (served in Vietnam) is still living. He lives rather close and we do not see much of each other. However, I called him last week and we are planning to meet for lunch Wednesday. I'd like to make this a weekly thing.
David ... I hope it works out and the two of you get to see one another weekly. Let us know how it works out for you. GOOD LUCK! >>
I think you'll be glad you're doing this in the end. I know your situation is different, but if I had a regret it would be not staying in better touch with Dad later in life. He didn't call a lot and I'd let pride get in the way of me calling sometimes.
I am fortunate to have my dad still with me. We live a few hours apart and try to keep in touch as much as possible.
With that said, I do not have great memories associated with cards and him. He just wasn't into them and saw them as a major waste of money. I remember him hovering around while I'd open a box and then say, 'well, you get anythin' good?' (meaning worth money) and when I'd say, 'no' he'd reply 'waste of money' and walk away ~ I remember wanting to pull 'good' cards just to please him. Sucked a lot of the fun out of it.
Love the guy very much, and we did share some interests, and he was supportive of some of my hobbies, but never really card collecting.
Looking back at all those early 90s Topps, Upper Deck, and ProSet boxes I busted, I think Dad was right
Nate - your baseball made me really smile. My son is 19 months old. If he starts playing t-ball (and I think he will) I see myself holding onto a ball just like your father did. Thanks for sharing your story.
Patrick
I am not known, if I'm really known at all anyway, for being a man of few words. However, I love this thread, man. That's all I can say, as it hurts too much to say more right now. I guess I can say this. My Dad served our country in WWII, serving in the motion picture unit attached to Hollywood director, Frank Capra. My father helped Mr. Capra film the "Why We Fight" series to help Americans understand why it was so very important for our country to get involved again in a world war. ---Indiana Jones (Brian Powell)
My dad was in Vietnam, served the 11th Armored- The Blackhorse.
He passed away 1-10-2008 from Hepatitis C; his days after combat he didn't treat his body with any respect.
My dad collected cards in the 1950s, as he recognizes many of the pictures I show him from time to time. But alas, off to a short stint in the military, and they never were saved. But he certainly enjoyed watching my collection grow, and still enjoys looking at the new items I pick up here and there.
Here's to dads everywhere.....
Not so much was my dad an influence thru my childhood and youth as my parents divorced when i was 9...Im 54 now... so i am going to give credit to my next door neighbor's son Scott Catone. Scott was 15 and very athletic in High school (lettered in all sports). I started little league when i was 9 and Scott took me out everyday during the summer and threw balls at me to get over my fear at the plate. For 5 years he took up the role as my dad before we moved out of the neighborhood teaching me all sorts of the things. One being collecting cards, picking a team and do or die with it.
So since i lived 20 minutes from Dodger stadium in 69-70' they became my team and the Kansas City Chiefs became my football team. I remember being torn between them and the Rams. When i started my paper route Scott and i always went to K-mart to buy our Topps Packs. One of the reasons today i still have several unopened boxes from the 70's in Baseball. My dad is still alive and we have since built a friendship. He served our country proudly as well as myself. He is 81 and went thru quad-heart surgery 2 years ago and is doing well.
Probably about six years ago, my dad and I started to get into collecting again. I really don't know what spawned the idea, but it just sort of happened. Its been great getting back into it again and we've been to a few nationals together, sun times shows, etc. I enjoy the conversation with my dad on the way to the shows almost more than the shows themselves. We both have similar collecting interests so we do some of our collecting together, and others apart, but its great to have another person to bounce ideas off if need be when buying stuff. I feel that we're both great resources to each other.
I realize how lucky I've been to have my dad such an integral part of my life when I've read this thread. And, I'm sorry to those that lost their fathers early in their lifetime.
Jeremy
My baseball card memory with him: I remember in 1971, he was given a box or two of topps baseball cards. He kept them on top of the refrigerator, which to a kid could have been as tall as a mountain. Every night when he came home, he'd reach up and pull down 3 packs and hand it to the 3 kids. I loved reading stats and of course, loved any Mets. I didn't keep them, but do have all my cards from 1972 on.
Cut to sometime in the 90s, I was going to Shea with my best friend and his Dad -- on Father's Day. I work in advertising, so I was able to print up a big poster that read: Happy Father's Day Dad, Thanks For Teaching Me Baseball. Two friends say they saw it on ESPN! Could the day have gotten any better? You bet. About the 7th inning, a pop-up was heading our way. I just stuck out my hand and PLOP! My Dad gave me a present from heaven.
Speaking of Dads, you all should check out a Billy Crystal special called 700 Sundays (that's the amount of Sunday's he had before his Dad died.)
<< <i>My dad (served in Vietnam) is still living. He turned 68 earlier this year. He lives rather close and we do not see much of each other (long story, very similar to WhiteTornado). There are definitely no hard feelings, but he has other interests that occupies his time. However, I called him last week and we are planning to meet for lunch Wednesday. I'd like to make this a weekly thing.
I'm happy to hear this. When my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, I made it a point to see him every weekend. Whether it was for 30 minutes or 5 hours, watching NCIS or CSI marathons. I didn't always live near him but tried to see him when I could.
but, it could be worlds.
he was a great influence to me as a youth finding affection with competitive sports. he didn't encourage me to collect, but to participate. so i did.
when my Little League team was floundering in the 9/10 division, he became so frustrated with our coach's decision to put his own son at first base and me at shortstop, that he challenged coach to a fistfight during an argument about why his kid couldn't hold a throw from across the diamond. this happened after a game we won.
however, when i reached high school and actually made the JV football team, he asked me to drop out because he didn't want to pay for my equipment. basketball and baseball went bye-bye in tryouts and that was it for sports.
then, all that other family stuff crept in. and so i crept out. during my youth, my collecting interests developed due to the overwhelming influence of my uncle (Mom's brother), a person whom Dad detested.
it's been up and down. always. but somehow sports held on for awhile longer. i think the last game we attended together was in 1993 at the Stanley Cup Finals.
reckon it's a good thing to keep in touch with the elders if you can. sometimes other junk, or people, can get in the way. my envy is for those who can maintain that relationship somehow. consider it a gift.