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Are you a Collector or just a Sports Collector?

I'm curious how many people here branch out to other things besides or in addition to Sports Cards and Memorabilia Collecting.

For example, I also collect rare or impressive fossils, minerals, and have a passion for antiquity. I guess I have a love for sports, science, and history and that can be seen in what I collect.

I always thought that many collectors have multiple interests and not just one collecting focus. What about you guys? Any of you branch out into other venues?
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Comments

  • I collect some coins, postcards, comics, old watches.
  • artistlostartistlost Posts: 2,242 ✭✭✭
    I'm a collector. Besides Baseball and Hockey I also collect hardcover comicbooks and blu-ray movies. If you ask my wife she would say Lego too but that is more a passion of my son (and me too just don't tell her).

    mathew
    baseball & hockey junkie

    drugs of choice
    NHL hall of fame rookies
  • Just sports and that's plenty (although it covers cards, autographs, McFarlanes, etc.)
  • antiquarian books -- actually at one time tried to make a run at a living buying and selling.
    federal and state duck stamps --- great hobby only one to buy a year and fixed cost. image
    antique ammunition -- thou that stems from my dad's collecting hobby
    newspapers and magazines -- from important events which occured in my lifetime

    I'm sure there's more --- i don't actively collect several things anymore but have antique toys (which most of which my son found) old star wars stuff, beer cans, hot wheels, etc.


  • vladguerrerovladguerrero Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭
    collector
  • Morning,

    I also collect or have collected:

    1. Rare Paperbacks from the 30'-60's
    2. Comic Books
    3. Science Fiction magazines from the 30's-60's
    4. Edgar Rice Burroughs Paperback Books 30 cent, 35 cent, and 40 cent versions, Ace Paperbacks
    5. 1st Edition and Rare Robert Heinlein books
    6. Sports and Non Sports Cards
    7. Notches on my Belt/Bedboard until Wife #4/5

    YeeHah image

    Neil image
    Actually Collect Non Sport, but am just so full of myself I post all over the place !!!!!!!
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭
    I was into collecting guitars for a few years when I was younger. At one point, I owned 9.

    But when you're younger, and you're moving from apartment to apartment every year or so, you start wanting to have fewer and fewer possessions.

    I hope this wasn't too OT.
  • I have pretty large collections of coins, stamps, meteorites, war letters and endless excuses to purchuse more stuff. (I will flip half of it for a profit....right?)
    Collecting PSA graded Steve Young, Marcus Allen, Bret Saberhagen and 1980s Topps Cards.
    Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
    rocks, fossils, shiny metals, teacups, blown glass, carvings, vintage Simpsons (not O.J.), framed art & dog tags.


  • << <i>antiquarian books >>



    That's one I forgot about myself as well =)

    My favorites from my collection include 'The History of the Civil War' leather bound printed about 5 years after the Civil War ended, Prescott's "Conquest of Peru". My book collection currently holds books from Pre-1900.


  • << <i>I was into collecting guitars for a few years when I was younger. At one point, I owned 9.

    But when you're younger, and you're moving from apartment to apartment every year or so, you start wanting to have fewer and fewer possessions.

    I hope this wasn't too OT. >>



    Not at all, my Brother has a '76 stratocaster (black & White).
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Not at all, my Brother has a '76 stratocaster (black & White). >>



    Nice! I've owned 2 or 3 different black/white Strats in my life. But none from '76. Or the USA image
  • 72skywalker72skywalker Posts: 1,554 ✭✭✭
    I have a large seashell collection which I keep scattered along all the beaches of the world.

    I also collect Star Wars items mostly vintage and have 1 room dedicated to just Star Wars. For star wars i have every card set that they ever produced for Star Wars (75 sets so far and counting), every SW novel that they have written (up to 145 novels now), I am missing only 13 of the original vintage action figures, and I have every master replicas weapon lightsaber and gun prop that was made plus numerous tubs and shelves of various SW related stuff.
    Collecting Yankees and vintage Star Wars
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Not at all, my Brother has a '76 stratocaster (black & White). >>



    Nice! I've owned 2 or 3 different black/white Strats in my life. But none from '76. Or the USA image >>



    got a gorgeous Clapton model Blackie about twenty years ago and then lent it to a friend who actually knows how to play. ain't seen it since. image
  • MorgothMorgoth Posts: 3,950 ✭✭✭
    I collect guitars well up to 4 (my current wife limit) but I trade and buy and upgrade all the time.

    Current Collection.

    2002 Martin D12 Acoustic
    1999 Guild Blues Bird with flame top and custome desert burst.
    1990 Gibson ES 135 with Bigsby
    2007 Hagstrom Swede
    Currently completing the following registry sets: Cardinal HOF's, 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, 1980 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, Bill Mazeroski Master & Basic Sets, Roberto Clemente Master & Basic Sets, Willie Stargell Master & Basic Sets and Terry Bradshaw Basic Set
  • Besides cards I guess I collect firearms, game calls, and I have one old Mills nickel slot machine that I occasionally play.
  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,951 ✭✭✭✭
    Have any of you antique book collectors ever found anything cool inside the books? Old pictures, ticket stubs, or even baseball cards? I've found an old picture, and a train ticket stub, but never lucky enough to find a baseball card.
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
    contraband? imageimage
  • BarfvaderBarfvader Posts: 2,859 ✭✭✭✭
    I collect everything as long as it's common crap that has little to no value. image


  • << <i>Have any of you antique book collectors ever found anything cool inside the books? Old pictures, ticket stubs, or even baseball cards? I've found an old picture, and a train ticket stub, but never lucky enough to find a baseball card. >>



    I have not, although admittantly my largest book (the civil war one, I am terrified to flip through given it's degrading condition). It is also likely the most likely one I have that could contain old memorabilia. The others I have were more museum quality with almost no wear.
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I collect guitars well up to 4 (my current wife limit) but I trade and buy and upgrade all the time.

    Current Collection.

    2002 Martin D12 Acoustic
    1999 Guild Blues Bird with flame top and custome desert burst.
    1990 Gibson ES 135 with Bigsby
    2007 Hagstrom Swede >>



    Hey, my wife allows me 4 as well!

    1992 Fender Strat
    2002 Jackson King V
    2005 Gibson Flying V
    2006 Gibson Les Paul Jr.
  • Most collectors are obsessive-compulsive. I'd bet we all collect multiple things.


  • << <i>Have any of you antique book collectors ever found anything cool inside the books? Old pictures, ticket stubs, or even baseball cards? I've found an old picture, and a train ticket stub, but never lucky enough to find a baseball card. >>



    Very OT but:
    I've found several items one of the more rare and interesting was a copy of Through the Dark Continent - by Sir Henry Morton Stanley. In it was an autographed index card of Sir Stanley and his wife from a dinner party. Sir Henry Morton Stanley for those wondering led an expedition into Africa to find Dr. David Livingstone and is responsible for the oft quoted phrase "Dr. Livingstone I presume."

    btw, PSA is not able to authenticate the autograph. image

    I've found silver certificates, diplomas, dryed flowers, etc but the Sir Stanley autograph was the neatest surprise.


  • << <i>
    I've found several items one of the more rare and interesting was a copy of Through the Dark Continent - by Sir Henry Morton Stanley. In it was an autographed index card of Sir Stanley and his wife from a dinner party. >>



    Wow, that is a really neat and unique find!
  • I collect lots of interesting things. Books, postcards, old letters.
  • My card collecting is very limited these days. I mostly collect autographs and game used items (complete stuff not fragments and pieces that are pulled from packs). I also collect gold/silver coins, guitars, & cars. The collector in me also makes me pick up oddball antique items at flea markets.
  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,951 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>
    I've found several items one of the more rare and interesting was a copy of Through the Dark Continent - by Sir Henry Morton Stanley. In it was an autographed index card of Sir Stanley and his wife from a dinner party. >>



    Wow, that is a really neat and unique find! >>



    That is exactly the kind of thing I love hearing about. Very cool find!

    Personally, I collect mostly sports cards, primarily Ripken cards and Orioles memorabilia. Anything that helps me feel closer to hanging out with my Dad in Baltimore, since I've spend my entire life 384 miles away from him. image
  • My main collecting focus is on gold and silver bullion. I buy cards as sort of a "toy hobby".
  • First I collect money!.....then I dump it into my 1979 Topps Hockey set. probably the worst return on investment of all time but it's fun.
    Working my way to #1 1979 Topps Hockey
    I know it's going to be tough!
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    I too have 2 guitars a Washburn 12 string and a Fender acoustic 6 string.

    As for collecting I collect just about anything that strikes my fancy.

    Right now I'm collecting time that I should be spending working downstairs

    on a kitchen remodel that I am doing.

    Steve


    Good for you.
  • I have a particular interest in comedians and bands and as such have a decent collection of posters for gigs. Also laserdiscs.
    -Stadium Giveaways
    -Ticket Stubs
    -Magazines
  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,943 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In addition to baseball cards and comic books, I am most passionate about my first love....


    image
  • I collect:

    Ralph Lauren Polo shirts - Wouldn't say I collect them, but I probably have just about every color.
    Political autographs - Haven't picked a new one up in years, going to start working on some president autographs.
    Ex Girlfriends - more than a handful of them
  • My collecting fever started off innocently enough back in the mid-late 80's when I bought a 500 HR Baseball off of HSN of all places for about $400. I then was on vacation in CA at Disney and bought a Animation Cell from the early 70's for a ridiculous price of about $50. It was an original and used in the cartoon "Sport Goofy". That turned me onto Animation Art and I now have about 40 pieces throughout the house. My favorite is an original hand signed by the artist Bud Carslson from Fantasia.

    About 8-10 years ago I started buying autograph sport memorbilia; I have many Mickey Mantle autographed photos, 1 cut auto and the others all signed on the photo. I started to pick these up when I was looking at my 500HR ball and thoughtit would be nice to get some additional Mantles as he was my wife and my hero from back in the day. Now I have autographed balls (a couple of WS balls with 20+ signatures on each; even a God forbid 2004 Red Sox WS ball who I had to give respect to as a die hard Yankee fan (kept in my office not allowed to bring home) , jerseys (Sims and Eli Manning), helmets (Giants SB 42; Phil Simms) as well as other sports related memorbilia. How I recently got into sport cards again is a story for another day.. but picked up collecting these again in the past 3-4 years...

    So in short I am a collector - Animation Art; Sports memorbilia; and sport cards... here's a few shots
    image
    image
    image
    image
    image
    image
    Positive and successful transactions with:
    LeagueLeader; IJustLoveCards; Recbball; msassin; leathtech; lsutigers1973; Bosox1976; Dboneesq; Aric; Bkritz
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Good timing on the question because I just moved into a new area - I'm gonna collect small shelf/table radios made in the 40s and 50s.

    The ones made in the 40s are mostly bakelite or wood.

    Here's the 2 I've picked up so far - I started with Philco - but there's quite a few companies to look for on ebay and in town:

    Philco model #53-561 - plastic cabinet

    image

    and Philco model #48-460 - bakelite cabinet - also called the "hippo case"

    image

    Both radios work - and I can't wait to try them out - they have a different sound from radios today - will transport ya back to 1940 - listening to your favorite ballgame on a Sunday afternoon - sitting on the back porch - a cold Bud and the sports page.

    mike
    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very nice stuff Ken - those are really nice Mantle pieces!

    Thanx for sharing
    mike
    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I collect guitars well up to 4 (my current wife limit) but I trade and buy and upgrade all the time.

    Current Collection.

    2002 Martin D12 Acoustic
    1999 Guild Blues Bird with flame top and custome desert burst.
    1990 Gibson ES 135 with Bigsby
    2007 Hagstrom Swede >>

    Very nice!

    I have to confess - I've never invested much in my guitar even tho I play every day and am usually in a band - Fender strat (custom shop) and an Ibinez - I think is from the 540 series from around 1990 - the strat is from 1993.

    The Martin has a sweet sound when used in recordings!
    mike
    Mike
  • lanemyer85lanemyer85 Posts: 1,362 ✭✭✭
    I also collect statues and bobbleheads(mainly those that are given away at stadiums and minor league affiliates) from the Cubs, Blackhawks, Bears, Jordan, and my alma maters Notre Dame and Ball State. I'm not one of those geek record collectors but I do have like 5,000 CDs and probably 300 LPs...but I'm just a total indie rock/classic punk/post-punk music junkie...I'm not out there looking for 1st pressings and examining ring wear and surface scratches. I'll take a new 180G audiophile grade pressing instead. I also sort of collect guitars...I have four but two were given to me by my grandfather a former session musician. (Fender Telecaster, Fender Jazzmaster, custom Gibson Les Paul, and a Martin acoustic) and some new and vintage equipment...Peavy amps and Korg samplers and rhythm boxes, efx pedals (especially Pitchshifter delay) and stuff that...but I don't think that makes me a collector. I also sort of 'collect' the Easton Press classics books.

  • Cool radios. I like art deco decor.
  • I also collect Starbucks tumblers from different cities around the world. Some of the cities have great designs.
  • bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
    I have collected:
    70s Mego Action Figures
    Stars Wars Figures/Toys both Vintage and Newer
    Comics
    Transformers (the Toys)

    Most of what I have left is worthless -- what was worth something I sold off at some point in my life. All that is left are my (mostly) worthless cards.

    Oh, I also attempt to collect Wine (mostly Napa Reds and Vintage Port) -- but it's hard expanding your collection when it is so darn tasty.
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I have collected:
    70s Mego Action Figures >>



    Do you have the Kiss figures?
  • MULLINS5MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Have any of you antique book collectors ever found anything cool inside the books? Old pictures, ticket stubs, or even baseball cards? I've found an old picture, and a train ticket stub, but never lucky enough to find a baseball card. >>




    I'm more of a book collector than a sports card and memorabilia one. Primary focus is on American Literature - first editions, working on a Pulitzer Prize run along with favorites (Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Fitzgerald's works, et cetera) Found lots of pictures in old books, but nothing of any monetary value.

    Patrick
  • MULLINS5MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
    Oh yeah, any comic guys here: I'm looking for 1st/1st MAUS I and II each signed with a mouse sketch
  • markj111markj111 Posts: 2,921 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Have any of you antique book collectors ever found anything cool inside the books? Old pictures, ticket stubs, or even baseball cards? I've found an old picture, and a train ticket stub, but never lucky enough to find a baseball card. >>



    I once found a pretty nice 73 Clemente being used as a bookmark. I sold it raw many years ago.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Fender Telecaster, Fender Jazzmaster, custom Gibson Les Paul, and a Martin acoustic) >>

    Now that's a nice array Lane.

    Got any pics?

    Before I played guitar, I played drums for years - in 1962 one of my band mates went into Manhattan to Sam Ash - at that time it was was one little store! He bought a Jazzmaster - we were covering the Ventures back then - and it was "the" guitar to have. It was more money than the Strat.
    Now? I'm takin the 62 Strat.

    Which Martin do you have?
    mike
    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Have any of you antique book collectors ever found anything cool inside the books? Old pictures, ticket stubs, or even baseball cards? I've found an old picture, and a train ticket stub, but never lucky enough to find a baseball card. >>




    I'm more of a book collector than a sports card and memorabilia one. Primary focus is on American Literature - first editions, working on a Pulitzer Prize run along with favorites (Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Fitzgerald's works, et cetera) Found lots of pictures in old books, but nothing of any monetary value.

    Patrick >>

    Pat - do you have Updike's Rabbit Run in first ed?

    I go back and read the series about every 5 yrs - I get something different out of it - since "I" get older but the book stays the same. POV and all that stuff.

    mike
    Mike
  • Sports cards, MLB/NFL jerseys (mostly throwbacks), and I have eight Star Wars bobbleheads on my desk at work (soon to be nine once Funko gets off their ass and finally makes Lando available to the public). Also, I get a coffee mug from every MLB stadium at which I have seen a game. I'm up to 13 as of now.
    That's about it.

    I have a lot of DVDs, but I don't really consider it a "collection". I guess it kind of is.
    'Sir, I realize it's been difficult for you to sleep at night without your EX/MT 1977 Topps Tom Seaver, but I swear to you that you'll get it safe and sound.'
    -CDs Nuts, 1/20/14

    *1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
    *Clemente basic set: 85.0% complete, 7.89 GPA
  • RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭
    I have accumulated much more stuff and slowly selling it off.

    in order of value

    Cards
    coins
    stamps (really unsure of value as I have not researched enough)

  • Stamps are generally worthless unless you have high denoms before 1920.
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