Frustrations of collecting.

[gingi79]

I just want to know if I am the only one.

I collect specific players. In Baseball, I want a Kelly Gruber and every Shawn Camp jersey. In hockey I look for Sami Salo and Pavel Bure. Football starts and ends with OJ McDuffie. Barring an amazing deal on Canucks/Dolphins/Braves/Jays jerseys that I can't pass on, these are all I am looking for.

However, these players jerseys come up more rarely than most. It took me 6+ years to find my Salo Grail and I am getting frustrated with the rest.

Collectors, how do you deal with the boredom on no new items? When this board and other fail to list your favorite items and eBay is vacant, how do you deal with the frustration?

I don't find joy in anything but my guys, how do I settle for waiting?

[mariner_gamers]

Try expanding the scope of what you collect. I had just the opposite problem I had to narrow down what I collected. That being said when Mariner bats I need do not show up for a while I have been known to buy multiples of several players to help pass the time. My wife still gets on me about my 4 Russ Davis bats.....

[jetersbatboy]

I think the "Frustrations" of collecting are the most fun!!! If everyday I could buy a game used Japanese players bat, I would be bored. Its more fun to hunt something down and, When your piece finally comes up. It just makes it all the more satisfying!! Just my thoughts!

[skyking26]

This is an excellent thread, and one I am currently dealing with same situations.

Longtime, 30 some year Kingman collector. Deal of my career in 08 landed me stuff I'd never dreamed of owning the ENTIRE year of deals. It's no wonder now I am bored. How do you compete with a year like 08?

Well, I collect other guys too, which helps. McGwire, Thome, Adam Dunn and bats from the championship Detroit Tigers pass my other time.

Same thing though, I have specific needs. Collecting Tigers champ. bats - there is significant competition so lower tier players go for high dollars. Examples are Barbaro Garbey, utility DH for 84 Tigers, also played for Twins. 2 bats turned up at Christmas at $366 and $242 respectively. No way.

McGwire. Mr. volatile. His prices are all over the place. Everybody has a different idea what it is worth depending on if you are buying or selling. I'm looking for a home jersey Cards or A's. Good luck there. I offered a guy $2500 last weekend for a 99 McGwire home that he first tried unsuccessfully to sell on ebay, then to another member for $3200, then to me for $2800. After my offer of $2500 and all the time he spent trying to sell it he says his phone is ringing off the hook in his business and he does not need to sell!!! I also need a signed, uncracked Mac Cards nicely used gamer. Prices range from $2500 down to $1500 "if" you can find one. Alot were given away by Mac circa 98 after he prepped them so no use.

Thome. Good luck. I need a black Phillies M356 hammered unc. gamer. Try an find any Thome Phillies stuff. For whatever reason, his tenure with Philly is more sought after than CLE or CHI. Under the radar guy with no hype, he could hit 600 HRS and still people will ask who he is. Rarely is his stuff seen.

Dunn. Reds stuff pops up. 5 40 HR seasons now. I've seen his jersey sell low in the $400 range, but I'm always a day late. Strangely enough I've been offered FOUR 2005 Reds Alternate jerseys at different times all from different guys. Go figure. What is the deal with that jersey? Or, is the same shirt floating around our small hobby?? I'll need Nats stuff when it is available. Diamondbacks stuff went on MLB.COM but that was a crapshoot.

Frustrations are encountered by a) trying to find the stuff, and b) the dealings with public on the items like the Mac Cards shirt above. I've been sidelined with an injury/illness since June and was shocked at the way that went down considering what I've been thru. It's definately somebody's right to sell at whatever they want...but is it or is it not actually for sale is the question? In that instance I could not tell.

I took a long way to answer this, but yes, you are not the only one to encounter frustrations. The hobby and several friends here have made the illness more bearable with phone and email conversation and I appreciate it, and their understanding of me thru this.

Peace and happy collecting...

RK

[Sluggo]

Same thing though, I have specific needs. Collecting Tigers champ. bats - there is significant competition so lower tier players go for high dollars. Examples are Barbaro Garbey... 2 bats turned up at Christmas at $366 and $242 respectively. No way.

Agreed - great thread. Two things generally keep me positive -
1) hearing the success of others in the hobby finding their grail items, and 2) me actively trying to help others when I hear of something they might not find on their own.

I'd give a limb to see one bat per year of some of my frustration guys, much less two in the same month. Since two showed up, and (I assume) sold at those prices, doesn't that kind of set a fair market price point for Garbey bats today?

[skyking26]

Agreed - great thread. Two things generally keep me positive -
1) hearing the success of others in the hobby finding their grail items, and 2) me actively trying to help others when I hear of something they might not find on their own.

I'd give a limb to see one bat per year of some of my frustration guys, much less two in the same month. Since two showed up, and (I assume) sold at those prices, doesn't that kind of set a fair market price point for Garbey bats today?

At $366 and $242, no. I think it was some guys that just lost sense of their facilties wanting to fill a void. Rare bat, but I would not put that price their. It's artificial and would not have approached that if I had not helped put it up!!!

[GarkoCollector]

With Garko I have to pick and choose. There isnt a lot that I am interested in and trading cards wise, I have 95% of whats out there. The rest is likely still in a box somewhere or is owned by someone that snagged it before I had money to buy.

When a great piece pops up, I have to sacrifice other opportunities to get it but I enjoy my collection and thats what its all about. I dont want to expand to other players because I think that takes away the timportance of what I really like.

[ironmanfan]

Gingi.....While Gruber never played for the Orioles (was with AAA Rochester that year), this is a jersey that you could probably add to your collection for an affordable price..

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?a...t&CurrentRow=1

[dcgreg25]

It certainly can be frustrating searching for specific players. I have a few that I look for specifically Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Eric Metcalf and Kenny Lofton.

There is just not much Rocket GU stuff out there, I have a Raiders jersey and some other signed SI's etc, but was fortunate enough to meet Rocket at the ND/Michigan game last year. I also started a new niche baseball collection of Kenny Lofton jerseys adding a Rangers and Phillies jersey last year. Give how well-traveled he is, I would love to add one from each of his teams. I had three Indians GU jerseys years ago but sold them off to make another purchase. Ouch!

Otherwise, I just keep my eyes open for good Indians jerseys particularly from the 90's. It can be frustrating but I find that having a few niches helps keep me busy and I don't get too frustrated waiting for that one item.

BTW, below is a pick of Rocket and I from the tailgate before the game.

[JCC1968]

Hi

I live in Sarasota, FL and know Kelly Gruber. He didn't really keep any of his stuff so, it's out there somewhere. He wouuld like to get some of it back

Jason