I can't already be 45...I just can't be! 40 was plenty bad enough!!

Estil · March 21, 2025 10:41PM

It just doesn't seem that long ago when I lamented on the two main forum communities of my two main hobbies about me becoming over the hill...
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1034793/so-its-now-official-im-over-the-hill-on-this-day-i-turn-gulp-forty
https://www.videogamesage.com/forums/topic/3070-so-its-now-officialim-now-over-the-hill-im-nowgulpforty/

But today, I'm now already the big 4-5. Okay maybe it's not a truly important milestone like 30 or 40 or 50 or 65 but it ends in 5 and I won't get another chance to make this kind of post for another five years so, here I go.

So as many of you here know, I sadly lost my wife in June 2021 and I've been a lonely widower ever since. But one thing I'm VERY pleased about is how just under a year ago I happened to, by pure accident (when I asked about an upcoming proposed 25th HS reunion) that I got back in touch on Facebook with so many of my former HS classmates! They have done so so much to support me and help with my morale (I'm very much a homebody and sadly I don't get to go out and do the kinds of everyday things like shopping (besides groceries) and road trips and going places that most others do without even a second thought) and I want to give again give a special shoutout to Joshua Stone for taking me out to the DC ballgame last May...the first time in a very very long time I got to go to any DC game. Like I said before, if it was up to me I'd go to all the baseball/football/basketball home games!

I also want to give another special shoutout to those who sent me presents (I don't have any close family left to get to celebrate holidays like me and my wife used to) to ensure I wasn't completely empty handed! There is Melissa Hatfield from FB who sent me a Paypal (estilrumage@hotmail.com) gift and Dav Geese from FB who sent me a box/carton of 2024 Topps Heritage packs (based on one of my favorite sets, the colorful and iconic 1975 Topps!) and Mega Tank from Nintendo Age who also sent me a Paypal gift! Of course I will be more than happy to also give a special shoutout here if anyone else would like to send me any b-day goodies.

So where do I go from here you might ask? Well, as many of you also know, among other collecting hobbies I have been an avid baseball card set collector (70s/80s/90s) since my early 2000 college days and my dream my whole adult life is to someday, somehow, someway (should my ship ever come in) be able to do those early 70s and 60s Topps baseball card sets! I would especially love to eventually finish my dream 70s set, 1971's "black beauties" (and to a slightly lesser extent 1972). Sadly, I only get SSDI/disability each month so I don't get hardly much to splurge with so I guess for now I'll just have to do it like that Johnny Cash song, one piece (well a few pieces) at a time! And you know what? I think me doing the 1971's is not much different than those who like to restore a shiny black classic car like Smokey and the Bandit's Firebird or Knight Rider's Trans Am! (I don't/can't drive so I never had or needed a vehicle of any sort)

grote15 · March 21, 2025 10:44PM

45..I wish I were 45 again, LOL.. wait till you hit 55. Happy birthday!

Estil · March 21, 2025 11:10PM

@grote15 said:
45..I wish I were 45 again, LOL.. wait till you hit 55. Happy birthday!

The truckers would call that double nickels!

mintonlypls · March 22, 2025 8:32AM

Try 70 on New Years Eve…this year!

jay0791 · March 22, 2025 10:43AM

Happy birthday.
45 is still quite young. I recently hit 65. I am still physically working in my sole proprietorship that's a service type business.

71's may be the toughest set to do. Are you doing a graded set with a minimum grade or raw? What condition or just get the card. There are people trying for PSA 9 sets. Insane !!!!!!!!

Estil · March 22, 2025 2:34PM

@jay0791 said:
Happy birthday.
45 is still quite young. I recently hit 65. I am still physically working in my sole proprietorship that's a service type business.

71's may be the toughest set to do. Are you doing a graded set with a minimum grade or raw? What condition or just get the card. There are people trying for PSA 9 sets. Insane !!!!!!!!

I'd like to do (like I've done all 70s sets) most of it raw (NRMT or better) in binder/pages and the HOFs and CLs in PSA 7 (those are expensive enough!). I explain my quest in more detail here. I'm curious, am I still among the youngest here? Doesn't seem like there's hardly any here that are <40? As for the ones who can do PSA 9 sets...I wish I was that rich Like Mr. Limpet would say, I wish...I wish...I wish that I was rich...

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1105770/after-many-years-of-dreaming-i-finally-truly-started-my-1971-and-1972-topps-set-quest#latest

olb31 · March 22, 2025 3:04PM

After you turn 35, life is a blur, especially if you have a good/demanding type job and kids. You look up and you have no hair and lots of wrinkles and a huge belly. Up until 35, I was out playing every weekend, thurs through saturday. Now I just hope I can lay on the couch for an hour.

hyperchipper09 · March 22, 2025 3:40PM

Just hit the double nickel here. In standard years. Maturity wise i'm somewhere between 11 - 35

threeofsix · March 22, 2025 4:00PM

Closer to 50 than 40… I feel your pain (and remember it well)! But enjoy it please… the next few 5s add additional “what the heck’s” all their own.

But most of my collecting actually came after that… and I’m still enjoying it!!! You can do the same!!!

PS I’m a non-sport guy, so my 1970s Star Wars would be of no use to you!

sjjs28 · March 22, 2025 5:56PM

Me - I just turned 66 (I know, no "5" ) but birthday buddies any way...March 18th...But I digress.

I did chase the 71 Black beauties for years (PSA 8 or Better) and realized I would never complete the set to my liking.
I would never find a "Raymond" "Reed" "Fitzmorris" "Shellenback" and some that I'm surely forgetting to my stringent centering and grade expectations. And I couldn't bring myself to pay the high 5 figures to put a Munson, Rose, Bench, Clemente, Blyleven, Simmons, Ryan etc. that I still needed to finish the set - so I sold it..... most of it anyway - I still have a PSA 8.5 Banks, PSA 9 Palmer, and a PSA 8 Brooks Robinson in my PC .... but I digress.

All during my chase I would buy lots thru EBAY and hours sifting thru whatever I could at the Philly show and grade the probable "8 or better" candidates. Whatever was left, I started building a sharp raw set - which I still have...but I digress.

So here is the crux - send me a list of your 71 set needs and I will "Pay it Forward" and send whatever cards that I have that are nicely centered and probably 7'ish/NM or better to help with your pursuit. Hopefully more that 1 or 2, but I'm not corned about the amount, you can list them here - or in a PM - or sent to my email address: sjjs28@comcast.net.

As I age, my concern is what I pass on to my son (thankfully he's moderately interested in the cards)
I'm in the process of personal collection consolidation and my desire is to pass on a collection that fits into a shoebox. As I stand now - that won't happen but I'm working on it... and that raw near set will get sold eventually, so I don't have any emotional ties to it - and if I can spread a modicum of sunshine. I'm all in...

I almost had to re-consider this offer when I saw that you're a Washington fan - I hate the Commanders and that idiot Luvo - but my team, the Eagles, prevailed! .... but I digress.

Hope this turns out to knock a few off your want list.

Steve.

Estil · March 23, 2025 2:07AM

@sjjs28 said:
Me - I just turned 66 (I know, no "5" ) but birthday buddies any way...March 18th...But I digress.

I did chase the 71 Black beauties for years (PSA 8 or Better) and realized I would never complete the set to my liking.
I would never find a "Raymond" "Reed" "Fitzmorris" "Shellenback" and some that I'm surely forgetting to my stringent centering and grade expectations. And I couldn't bring myself to pay the high 5 figures to put a Munson, Rose, Bench, Clemente, Blyleven, Simmons, Ryan etc. that I still needed to finish the set - so I sold it..... most of it anyway - I still have a PSA 8.5 Banks, PSA 9 Palmer, and a PSA 8 Brooks Robinson in my PC .... but I digress.

All during my chase I would buy lots thru EBAY and hours sifting thru whatever I could at the Philly show and grade the probable "8 or better" candidates. Whatever was left, I started building a sharp raw set - which I still have...but I digress.

So here is the crux - send me a list of your 71 set needs and I will "Pay it Forward" and send whatever cards that I have that are nicely centered and probably 7'ish/NM or better to help with your pursuit. Hopefully more that 1 or 2, but I'm not corned about the amount, you can list them here - or in a PM - or sent to my email address: sjjs28@comcast.net.

As I age, my concern is what I pass on to my son (thankfully he's moderately interested in the cards)
I'm in the process of personal collection consolidation and my desire is to pass on a collection that fits into a shoebox. As I stand now - that won't happen but I'm working on it... and that raw near set will get sold eventually, so I don't have any emotional ties to it - and if I can spread a modicum of sunshine. I'm all in...

I almost had to re-consider this offer when I saw that you're a Washington fan - I hate the Commanders and that idiot Luvo - but my team, the Eagles, prevailed! .... but I digress.

Hope this turns out to knock a few off your want list.

Steve.

You must have me mixed up with someone else; I never said I was a Washington fan at all...the only teams I have a true emotional connection to are my alma maters University of KY and my high school. You have no idea how idea how super amazing it'd be to get this kind of birthday present from a fellow 1971 fan! Sadly as it stands now I have no one to pass my collections too...let's just say my little boy and my best friend is of the four legged pointed ears and whiskers variety! And here's the topic/post I made last July regarding the start of my quest:

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1105770/after-many-years-of-dreaming-i-finally-truly-started-my-1971-and-1972-topps-set-quest#latest

threeofsix · March 23, 2025 9:45AM

@sjjs28 said:
Me - I just turned 66 (I know, no "5" ) but birthday buddies any way...March 18th...But I digress.

I did chase the 71 Black beauties for years (PSA 8 or Better) and realized I would never complete the set to my liking.
I would never find a "Raymond" "Reed" "Fitzmorris" "Shellenback" and some that I'm surely forgetting to my stringent centering and grade expectations. And I couldn't bring myself to pay the high 5 figures to put a Munson, Rose, Bench, Clemente, Blyleven, Simmons, Ryan etc. that I still needed to finish the set - so I sold it..... most of it anyway - I still have a PSA 8.5 Banks, PSA 9 Palmer, and a PSA 8 Brooks Robinson in my PC .... but I digress.

All during my chase I would buy lots thru EBAY and hours sifting thru whatever I could at the Philly show and grade the probable "8 or better" candidates. Whatever was left, I started building a sharp raw set - which I still have...but I digress.

So here is the crux - send me a list of your 71 set needs and I will "Pay it Forward" and send whatever cards that I have that are nicely centered and probably 7'ish/NM or better to help with your pursuit. Hopefully more that 1 or 2, but I'm not corned about the amount, you can list them here - or in a PM - or sent to my email address: sjjs28@comcast.net.

As I age, my concern is what I pass on to my son (thankfully he's moderately interested in the cards)
I'm in the process of personal collection consolidation and my desire is to pass on a collection that fits into a shoebox. As I stand now - that won't happen but I'm working on it... and that raw near set will get sold eventually, so I don't have any emotional ties to it - and if I can spread a modicum of sunshine. I'm all in...

I almost had to re-consider this offer when I saw that you're a Washington fan - I hate the Commanders and that idiot Luvo - but my team, the Eagles, prevailed! .... but I digress.

Hope this turns out to knock a few off your want list.

Steve.

Kudos to you Steve!

EchoCanyon · March 23, 2025 4:45PM

Birthday greetings.
I'll be 60 in about 10 days -- and literally can't believe it.
Like some fine gents here, sent me your 71/72 needs, and I'll see what I can do.
All raw .... nothing spectacular, but HAPPY to pay it forward.

Gregg

Estil · March 23, 2025 5:00PM

@EchoCanyon said:
Birthday greetings.
I'll be 60 in about 10 days -- and literally can't believe it.
Like some fine gents here, sent me your 71/72 needs, and I'll see what I can do.
All raw .... nothing spectacular, but HAPPY to pay it forward.

Gregg

You guys have NO idea what a tremendous help/boost this will be in my journey/quest! Above all else I'm just curious as to just how far back I can go as far as early 70s and 60s Topps sets go! Like I'm sure some of you have tried to reassure me, hopefully God willing I do still have time somewhat on my side! And I am really envious at how some of you got to experience getting 70s and 60s Topps back when they first came out!

And what I especially love about this hobby is how whenever I'm sorting cards or putting them in my albums or whatnot...man's REAL best friend (kitty) comes over to watch me!

craig44 · March 24, 2025 5:01AM

Happy belated birthday! I am 47 and feel the same way, where did all the time go? Pretty soon the decade I came of age in (90s) will be vintage!!

Estil · March 24, 2025 5:38AM

@craig44 said:
Happy belated birthday! I am 47 and feel the same way, where did all the time go? Pretty soon the decade I came of age in (90s) will be vintage!!

At least you are about my age (not very many young people here though right?) and I too was a big Ernest fan back in the day and I couldn't believe (mid-late 90s) how such a big celebrity like Ernest would be in commercials for a local car dealership (Audubon Chrysler in Henderson, KY)! KnowwhutImean?

craig44 · March 24, 2025 5:52AM

@Estil said:

@craig44 said:
Happy belated birthday! I am 47 and feel the same way, where did all the time go? Pretty soon the decade I came of age in (90s) will be vintage!!

At least you are about my age (not very many young people here though right?) and I too was a big Ernest fan back in the day and I couldn't believe (mid-late 90s) how such a big celebrity like Ernest would be in commercials for a local car dealership (Audubon Chrysler in Henderson, KY)! KnowwhutImean?

Lots of people dont even remember who Ernest P. Worrell was! He was a local Maine guy, and he was in a lot of small local ads back in the 80's before he "made it" I remember him doing ads for a small local dairy farm. He was a wacky guy. It is crazy to think he was just a few years older than we are know when he passed at 50!

and good luck on your 71 set!

Estil · March 24, 2025 6:49AM

@craig44 said:

@Estil said:

@craig44 said:
Happy belated birthday! I am 47 and feel the same way, where did all the time go? Pretty soon the decade I came of age in (90s) will be vintage!!

At least you are about my age (not very many young people here though right?) and I too was a big Ernest fan back in the day and I couldn't believe (mid-late 90s) how such a big celebrity like Ernest would be in commercials for a local car dealership (Audubon Chrysler in Henderson, KY)! KnowwhutImean?

Lots of people dont even remember who Ernest P. Worrell was! He was a local Maine guy, and he was in a lot of small local ads back in the 80's before he "made it" I remember him doing ads for a small local dairy farm. He was a wacky guy. It is crazy to think he was just a few years older than we are know when he passed at 50!

and good luck on your 71 set!

Thankies! It has been my dream set for a very long time and my late wife even managed to get me one of the PSA 7 checklists right before she died (I could've SWORN there was a PSA 7 Ernie Banks somewhere too...) but again, I'm not overlooking 1972! And with the help of the guys here and especially if that DOGE check thing eventually gets passed I might just before I know it be able to also start on 1970! BBCE's Ebay page has what would be a great starter set for 1970 but I gotta pay off what I already owe (I still haven't paid off that 1971 starter set from last July yet) first!

I can't already be 45...I just can't be! 40 was plenty bad enough!!

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