I cleaned out my garage today... (pics added)

frankhardy · November 23, 2007 1:11PM

...and got fed up. I got fed up with storing absolute junk. I may get criticized for this, but I just threw about about 50,000 junk cards. Yes, about 50, 000. I have a trash can full to the top, plus 4 huge boxes. I was sick of storing cards that I would never, ever need, and you know what - I feel better. It really was amazing to see a 50 gallon trash can full of cards. Boy, is it heavy. I'm talking about a few of thousand 1990 Donruss, a few thousand 1990's Upper Deck, a few thousand 1988 Donruss - you know, junk like that. I have been through it all already and gotten out all of the stars and Cardinals cards. As I was skimming through the cards as I was throwing them away, I did find a 1972 Topps Steve Garvey high number.

Has anybody ever done that? I am truly sorry if I have broken an unwritten rule of the hobby, but I feel relieved. I now have room to store cards that I actually want. I will take pictures tomorrow and post them if I think about it.

RipublicaninMass · November 23, 2007 1:16PM

No, I haven't but I have wanted to, and I think I will in the near future

frankhardy · November 23, 2007 1:22PM

Do you think I made a dent in the mass production problem?

Uh, now that I think about it - naaaa.

ldferg · November 23, 2007 1:25PM

i'm in the process of trying to inventory what i do have. there are some things i would like to throw away but i can't bring myself to do it.

frankhardy · November 23, 2007 1:29PM

<< i'm in the process of trying to inventory what i do have. there are some things i would like to throw away but i can't bring myself to do it. >>

Oh, go ahead. Do it. You will feel great. Just say to yourself, "I'm better than this. I can still collect and enjoy the hobby without this junk." Think of all the storage space you will free up (if your like me).

grote15 · November 23, 2007 1:32PM

I have the same hangup about throwing away all the late 80s crap I bought by ther boatload when I first got back into the hobby after a 20-year layoff. And I could sure use some storage space, not to mention all the white card boxes I'm wasting by storing all these cards. Hmmm....

frankhardy · November 23, 2007 1:34PM

Hey, maybe if we all just went ahead and threw all of that junk away, then maybe it would become very, very rare, and then it would be worth something. Naaaa!

chb · November 23, 2007 1:39PM

There are so many places to donate these, plenty of threads on this board alone with suggestions of places to give the cards. It takes very little effort, just drop a box off on your way home from work. Childrens hospitals, dialysis centers, schools, Toys for Tots, on & on. Please reconsider--a collector's junk might be some kid's Christmas.

rube26105 · November 23, 2007 1:46PM

i found a great place to put alot of mine a while back-1 st cut soccer,they all went in my 55 gallon drum stove in the cave-paper puts off alot of heat for a little bit ,saves me firewood

frankhardy · November 23, 2007 1:49PM

<< There are so many places to donate these, plenty of threads on this board alone with suggestions of places to give the cards. It takes very little effort, just drop a box off on your way home from work. Childrens hospitals, dialysis centers, schools, Toys for Tots, on & on. Please reconsider--a collector's junk might be some kid's Christmas. >>

I understand what you're saying. I've done that as well. However, if I'm going to give something, I would rather give them something like some complete junk sets rather than junk cards all mixed up that nobody wants.

torc · November 23, 2007 3:10PM

It doesn't matter if they were junk, maybe to you, but they are not junk to some 7 and 8 year olds.
Take them to an elementary school, Teachers love to use them as incentives for their young students.

lawnmowerman · November 23, 2007 3:21PM

50,000 junk cards + 55 gallon drum + a little gas + one match = fun

stevek · November 23, 2007 3:30PM

Wouldn't that be funny if "everybody" starts throwing these cards away, and then a few decades from now they're so rare that they are worth more than T-206's. LOL

stevek · November 23, 2007 3:33PM

<< It doesn't matter if they were junk, maybe to you, but they are not junk to some 7 and 8 year olds.
Take them to an elementary school, Teachers love to use them as incentives for their young students. >>

In theory that's a good idea but in practice the kids that age usually want cards of the current players they watch on TV, not players retired they never heard of...basically the kids don't want those cards either.

rube26105 · November 23, 2007 3:45PM

that my luck steve, 88-90 donruss with 100$ a card down the road lol,we'll at least they give off good heat in my stove-im frying soccer cards right now watching bear grylis eat bugs,

i got them seperated out of the junk,soccer is A1 junk and a stupid sport lol

stevek · November 23, 2007 4:10PM

<< that my luck steve, 88-90 donruss with 100$ a card down the road lol,we'll at least they give off good heat in my stove-im frying soccer cards right now watching bear grylis eat bugs,

i got them seperated out of the junk,soccer is A1 junk and a stupid sport lol >>

I collect coins but my collecting interest in that has been dormant for quite some time. But I was literally shocked when I saw that a pristine proof 1963 penny, if I'm remembering right, sold for $13,000 a few years ago, and a number of those common 1960's penny rolls, BU, were selling for a nice premium because in fact "nobody" kept them figuring they would never be worth anything. You never can really know with collecting what the "hot item" of the future is gonna be, but I would even be more shocked if I lived to be 500 years old, if those "junk cards" will ever be worth anything. LOL

However, I do remember going to flea markets in the Philly area around New Hope, even in the mid-1970's and flea market operators couldn't sell T206's for a buck apiece. They had boxes of them sitting around all summer and they basically never sold any. I know because I used to go through them on a regular basis hoping to find a Cobb but never did - sure wish I'd bought them all for a buck apiece. Oh well.

-

rube26105 · November 23, 2007 4:16PM

i can remember seeing 52 topps' for a buck a piece years ago and thought that was too much lol-
you are right - people will still have case of the over produced garbage from 88-up for years thats when i got out of it for a long time,and discovered the 1st colored football set 50 bowman and talked to al wistest,i got steve van burens #,just havnt called him yet,hes got the same b-day as al-both 87-if he dont sent my psa 8 i cracked for him to auto im gonna have to give him a call lol-

tnspro · November 23, 2007 4:31PM

I would have taken a bunch. There are always people out there that can use them.

Jim

rube26105 · November 23, 2007 4:33PM

thers a shop in cali somewhere that has 20 million cards,mosty commons, can you inagine how big that is

stevek · November 23, 2007 4:38PM

<< i can remember seeing 52 topps' for a buck a piece years ago and thought that was too much lol-
you are right - people will still have case of the over produced garbage from 88-up for years thats when i got out of it for a long time,and discovered the 1st colored football set 50 bowman and talked to al wistest,i got steve van burens #,just havnt called him yet,hes got the same b-day as al-both 87-if he dont sent my psa 8 i cracked for him to auto im gonna have to give him a call lol- >>

Anyone in their school years to the twenties, it is almost guaranteed that when they are 50 or 60 years old, that there was something back then in their youth that if they had bought it back then and kept it in pristine condition, they'd be millionaires. Problem is, you really don't know what that item will be. For example, perhaps 30 years from now, for whatever reason, a pristine condition 386 computer might be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, or it might be worth 5 bucks. So hard if not impossible to predict the future value of collectables no matter how hard you try because so many different factors come into play.

BTW - I haven't been to Philadelphia Park in about five years, but Steve used to go there almost every afternoon. I used to sit near him on Saturdays, and he never turned down an autograph request and gladly signed. Steve is a super nice guy - he especially loves talking about college football.

-

grote15 · November 23, 2007 4:43PM

BTW - I haven't been to Philadelphia Park in about five years, but Steve used to go there almost every afternoon. I used to sit near him on Saturdays, and he never turned down an autograph request and gladly signed. Steve is a super nice guy - he especially loves talking about college football.

Steve?? I heard that guy was nothing more than a loudmouth Philly fan!

Edit: Oh wait, that's SteveK, nevermind...

rube26105 · November 23, 2007 4:43PM

i know hes in a home now but still in good shape al said,steve was good friend with piggy barnes from my hometown,on the eagle on the 48-49 smackdown teams-greasy neale was from he and burined here,not sure where piggy is buried california i thnk ,he moved there when he was doing movies

stevek · November 23, 2007 4:47PM

<< i know hes in a home now but still in good shape al said,steve was good friend with piggy barnes from my hometown,on the eagle on the 48-49 smackdown teams-greasy neale was from he and burined here,not sure where piggy is buried california i thnk ,he moved there when he was doing movies >>

Dam, I'm sorry to hear that about Steve, but good to hear that he's still in good shape. If you saw him five years ago, it looked like he could still run for 100 yards, especially against a team like the Jets.

-

stevek · November 23, 2007 4:51PM

<< BTW - I haven't been to Philadelphia Park in about five years, but Steve used to go there almost every afternoon. I used to sit near him on Saturdays, and he never turned down an autograph request and gladly signed. Steve is a super nice guy - he especially loves talking about college football.

Steve?? I heard that guy was nothing more than a loudmouth Philly fan!

Edit: Oh wait, that's SteveK, nevermind...

>>

I also, have never turned down an autograph request. I often get asked to sign....seriously I do!

Course it's signing the Visa credit card slip when paying for lunch, but at least it's something?

-

rube26105 · November 23, 2007 4:57PM

ha-me too -bills-i wish they would send em to bill ,his names on em

zep33 · November 23, 2007 9:28PM

take a pic of the huge trash can filled with cards

nam812 · November 23, 2007 9:29PM

<< Course it's signing the Visa credit card slip when paying for lunch, but at least it's something? >>

Really? Cause the word on the street was that you never pick up the lunch check.

frankhardy · November 23, 2007 11:09PM

<< take a pic of the huge trash can filled with cards >>

I will later today.

stevek · November 23, 2007 11:42PM

<< 

<< Course it's signing the Visa credit card slip when paying for lunch, but at least it's something? >>

Really? Cause the word on the street was that you never pick up the lunch check.

>>

Yes but I offer to leave the tip, and always leave some of the spare change I have....the small coins...not the big coins such as quarters or half dollars.

-

JohnnyD · November 24, 2007 12:49AM

I have donated cards to a local school and have even dropped off boxes of cards to Goodwill hoping the ycan make a few dollars from them, but even 8 year olds don't want crappy late 80's and 90's cards from players they don't know a thing about. Yes I have filled a garbage can in my time with cards and did not miss them one bit. Did not want to burn them, don't know if the color ink may be toxic or not. I am trying to hink up an appropriate Carlin "stuff" joke but my mind is blanking...

DrJ · November 24, 2007 1:12AM

<< I have donated cards to a local school and have even dropped off boxes of cards to Goodwill hoping the ycan make a few dollars from them, but even 8 year olds don't want crappy late 80's and 90's cards from players they don't know a thing about. Yes I have filled a garbage can in my time with cards and did not miss them one bit. Did not want to burn them, don't know if the color ink may be toxic or not. I am trying to hink up an appropriate Carlin "stuff" joke but my mind is blanking... >>

The cards being given away are always void of stars for the most part so there is little to no value to the casual collector or even goodwill. If you wanted to go through and make up team sets, you may have a better chance of offloading old commons, but there is no guarantee there either.

I have boxes and boxes and boxes of 80's and early 90's crap. I am contemplating a purge as well just to make room in my basement.

J

tennesseebanker · November 24, 2007 1:14AM

I'm going to use most of my 80's cards as TTM autograph projects. It's a good way to make the cards collectible again.

DrJ · November 24, 2007 1:24AM

I would love to do the same, but I would end up spending more on postage then it is worth. I could use targeted TTM (like trying to nab all the Philadelphia teams from a particular year).

J

tennesseebanker · November 24, 2007 1:28AM

Then go for it ! Dig out all the cards you want autographed and send them out. If you dont think its worth a stamp and an envelope to get an autograph on an otherwise worthless card then it's probably not for you.

frankhardy · November 24, 2007 1:34AM

That's exactly why you will find no Cardinals in those that I threw away (unless I just missed some). About the only way that they will be collectibe is in team sets, complete sets, or TTM autos. I agree. I don't think that there are ANY kids that would want these cards. If I thought they would, I would donate them. They are just not collectible. I would also agree with DrJ that, unless you are collecting a certain team for TTM, they are even worth the postage for the auto.

To each, his own. If someone wants to take the time to donate them, that is all well and good. I personally just don't think its worth the effort.

Of course, I could have put them on Ebay and said that I found them in my great-grandfather's attic and took a picture of them with a couple of beat up Mantle's and sold them for thousands of dollars!

tennesseebanker · November 24, 2007 2:53AM

Im not saying take every single common 80's single you have and get it auto'ed.
Pick out the stars, Minor stars, Rookies, Guys you like, Teams you like, Whatever card you like and get them auo'ed. It will make the card itself worth more and worth more to you ,knowing someone you admired or respected touched the card and took the time to send it back to you.

frankhardy · November 24, 2007 3:02AM

<< Im not saying take every single common 80's single you have and get it auto'ed.
Pick out the stars, Minor stars, Rookies, Guys you like, Teams you like, Whatever card you like and get them auo'ed. It will make the card itself worth more and worth more to you ,knowing someone you admired or respected touched the card and took the time to send it back to you. >>

Oh, I agree with you. An auto'd card does make it worth more. However, I had already taken all of those cards out. I had taken out stars and Cardinals. All that was left was junk.

Blackborder · November 24, 2007 3:07AM

The local Goodwill would have taken them and made a few bucks at least. Not criticizing you for throwing them away, just offering a suggestion.

bigwilli · November 24, 2007 3:28AM

instead of throwing them out , i have always just checked into who signs thru the mail and sent them out . i am like alot of people , i cant get myself to just throw them out . i recently purchased a lot of around 75,000 cards just for that purpose . only payed 50 bucks for all of them so i was worth it . the only thing that was hard was going thru them all and picking the sets in order .

jdip9 · November 24, 2007 7:06AM

>>instead of throwing them out , i have always just checked into who signs thru the mail and sent them out

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but how does one go about checking who signs through the mail? Is there a "master list" of such people on a web site somewhere? I started collecting cards in the late 80's, so I have the same dliemma as many in this thread. My hope was to try to sell as team lots, stars included, but this TTM idea is a little intriguing.

frankhardy · November 24, 2007 8:31AM

Sportscollectors.net

By the way, pictures have been taken. I just need time to load them. Got to leave for a little while.

frankhardy · November 24, 2007 9:51AM

Here are the pics. The trash can and boxes have nothing but cards in them.

nam812 · November 24, 2007 9:57AM

I cant believe you can just throw away ones and ones of dollars like that.

Allen · November 24, 2007 10:00AM

You better hope your garbage man does not tip that can over. I bet that can is heavy as crap.

rpcoletrane · November 24, 2007 10:03AM

Hey, I see a Darryl Strawberry Donruss MVP card on the top in one of the boxes!! I bet a crack dealer would pay big bucks for that to go in his organizations Hall of Fame Scrapbook!!

gocatsgo538 · November 24, 2007 10:25AM

LOL. Should have had fun with them...

metalmike · November 24, 2007 10:36AM

I just donated about 10k of cards to goodwill today I hope some dealer buys them. Better him than me having to resort that junk. I also sold most of my sets at the local flea market and did ok there- the dealer guy there paid 50% of low beckett! Good riddance.

perkdog · November 24, 2007 10:41AM

Tell ya what, dumping a lot like that in a fire is harder than you think to burn, I had a nice backyard fire with a big box of crap and it took me longer than expected to burn.. The cards kept insulating themselves, more trouble than it was worth!

Estil · November 24, 2007 10:58AM

Now yes, I do also collect so called "junk sets", but I agree all those scattered cards in the way they were stored weren't worth the paper they were printed on, I'm sure. So don't feel too bad about your burning.

onlyanumber · November 24, 2007 11:14AM

I don't know which is more sad--the fact you have a garbage can full to the brim of cards, or the fact that I see a Kevin Bass, Mark Guthrie, Julio Machado...and can probably dig them out of a box somewhere in my crawlspace...

Ichiro51fan · November 24, 2007 11:33AM

Well, I hate to tell you this, but you have actually brought in a bit of money with those cards if you would have donated them to a qualified charity rather than trashing them. This is actually the perfect way to get rid of unwanted cards that you couldn't sell to anybody for any price, and this is why...

According the the IRS code for charitable deductions, you can write off your basis (actual cost) in these cards. So, assuming you paid retail .50 cents per pack with 15 cards in a pack (I beleive that it right for the mid-late 90's), you should be able to write off about .03 cents per card. 50,000 X .03 = a $1,500 write off. Of course, you can only take advantage of this if you itemize your deductions, but I'm assuming most people that collected back then are most likely into a house by now, so most are probably already itemizing. For most people, you'll realize about 25% of your write off in actual money gained (less taxes owed). So in this case, it would come to about $375. Granted, that's not going to break the bank, but it's nothing to sneeze at either.

Just a few months back, I donated approx 250,000 '86-'91 baseball cards to charity, so I'm looking at about a $7,500 write off for this tax year. Eventually, I will probably dump most of the rest of my commons in this way as well, but I need to go through all of them and weed out the possible PSA-10's first. But after that, there'll be about 150,000 more going to charity. One thing I will mention is that all charities might not take this stuff. I've donated a lot of comics and cards to Goodwill in Oregon and nobody has thought twice about accepting them. But when I was down in CA this summer, they actually said that they needed to check if they could accept them. I told them that I had donated similar items in the past and it had never been a problem so they didn't end up checking... but maybe they actually do have different policy in CA... not sure. Thank god they took them cuz it took me over an hour to load up my car with them!

I cleaned out my garage today... (pics added)

Comments