Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

[MLB~NUT]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

I have a shower room used hypodermic needle of brauns for sale!!!! LOL J/K

[loumud]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

you say you collect his stuff because you are a fan of his. Me personally I would not be jumping up and down for joy knowing that my guy got off on a technicality, especially when both sides are readily acknowledging that there is no way that his sample was tampered with. He cheated and got caught, plain and simple and walks because of a technicality that doesn't make him innocent for even one second.

as far as collecting things for possible future value, you cannot buy anything right now with hopes that it will be worth money when you pass on, its just not practical. Braun could blow out a knee this spring or drop dead and never play another game and he would go down as just another "what if" in the game and his stuff would never come close to being worth what you have shelled out on it currently. I have never purchased a piece of equipment, baseball card or even car (and I own a couple of what could be considered collector cars) with the expectation that they will be worth money for my kids and family some years down the road when I pass. I buy the items because I want them and I enjoy them and can afford them. If they are worth money sometime down the road great but the thought never crosses my mind in the purchase.

I don't think I completely agree with that either. You can make wise investments in memorabilia, especially if you can pick stuff up for below current market value, and reasonably expect that they might appreciate in value later on if the player has a stellar career. But, it's a risk, just as in any other form of investing.

Personally, I'm not going to overpay for items just because they give me 'joy.' Buying memorabilia is a business transaction, and I think the wise collector who approaches it with that mindset is better off than just buying out of emotion paying over market value. You can build a great collection you enjoy, and still not make dumb investment decisions in the process.

Collecting for the sake of collecting, or collecting for investment is up to the individual, and isn't right or wrong either way. Personally, I do both, but I do know I won't live forever, and my collection has value as part of my 'estate.' I don't have kids yet, and nobody in my family collects. So, I I want my family to get as much for my collection as they can if they decide to sell it after I go, which is why I get a lot of my higher-end items authenticated...

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

taken from Karl Ravech twitter feed 2 hours ago

"Experts on both sides acknowledge tampering with drug test virtually impossible and that testing ctr in Canada would know if messed with"

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

you say you collect his stuff because you are a fan of his. Me personally I would not be jumping up and down for joy knowing that my guy got off on a technicality, especially when both sides are readily acknowledging that there is no way that his sample was tampered with. He cheated and got caught, plain and simple and walks because of a technicality that doesn't make him innocent for even one second.

as far as collecting things for possible future value, you cannot buy anything right now with hopes that it will be worth money when you pass on, its just not practical. Braun could blow out a knee this spring or drop dead and never play another game and he would go down as just another "what if" in the game and his stuff would never come close to being worth what you have shelled out on it currently. I have never purchased a piece of equipment, baseball card or even car (and I own a couple of what could be considered collector cars) with the expectation that they will be worth money for my kids and family some years down the road when I pass. I buy the items because I want them and I enjoy them and can afford them. If they are worth money sometime down the road great but the thought never crosses my mind in the purchase.

[happyyoungster]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

You say two different things: Are you buying these items so when you're gone, the kids can have something valuable to memorabilia collectors? Or are you doing it to "enjoy whatever it is and the price is right"?

One doesn't sound like collecting, per se, but investing in something with hopes it will be worth money when handed down. One does sound like collecting.. to enjoy what you have, while finding a fair price, and doing whatever with it (display, look at, wear, whatever).

I buy what I want, for myself, while of course trying not to get things at decent prices. And I do think it would be good if some of my items have some monetary value when my time comes.. my daughter will have some cool items to remember me by, or to make some money off of, possibly. If they're worth something, that's just a bonus... original point being, if you're collecting to keep.. collecting for yourself, with no intention of selling.. then it really makes zero difference if a collection of Player X's jerseys and bats you have are worth $20,000 or $2000 down the road, other than maybe mentally feeling crappy that they're not worth what you paid. Nothing else changes.. you have your collection and you're enjoying the items.

Actually, I said both because both do apply to me.
I collect to keep and enjoy...and I do that, with an eye still focused on the future.

Anything short of that does not make complete financial sense to me.

[slab0meat]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

Darn no edit... trying TO GET things at decent prices... sheesh.

[slab0meat]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

I see where you're coming from, but, I can't say I completely agree.

My short-term goal (present day until life dictates otherwise) is to enjoy every piece of Braun memorabilia in my collection. Every seam impression, every jersey stitch, every scuff mark...
My long-term goal (when life changes, financial reasons, death, etc.) is to have made wise investment decisions for my wife and kids.

I don't want to spend a small family fortune on a bunch of stuff that I just have an "emotional attachment" to and then leave it behind for my kids to say "this stuff is worthless...gee, thanks Dad."

In my humble opinion-
No matter how "attached" you are to an item or a player, it's wise to weigh the monetary value as much as you would weigh the sentimental value.
You don't just spend your money to spend it...you spend it because you will enjoy whatever it is that you're buying AND the price is right.

Obviously, there are a few exceptions to this rule. And, I'm sure a bunch of members will bring this to my attention.
Thoughts?

You say two different things: Are you buying these items so when you're gone, the kids can have something valuable to memorabilia collectors? Or are you doing it to "enjoy whatever it is and the price is right"?

One doesn't sound like collecting, per se, but investing in something with hopes it will be worth money when handed down. One does sound like collecting.. to enjoy what you have, while finding a fair price, and doing whatever with it (display, look at, wear, whatever).

I buy what I want, for myself, while of course trying not to get things at decent prices. And I do think it would be good if some of my items have some monetary value when my time comes.. my daughter will have some cool items to remember me by, or to make some money off of, possibly. If they're worth something, that's just a bonus... original point being, if you're collecting to keep.. collecting for yourself, with no intention of selling.. then it really makes zero difference if a collection of Player X's jerseys and bats you have are worth $20,000 or $2000 down the road, other than maybe mentally feeling crappy that they're not worth what you paid. Nothing else changes.. you have your collection and you're enjoying the items.

[happyyoungster]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

It's pretty much been said before.. but if you're collecting him because you like the guy, or whatever reason, that's fine.. and your opinion may change, but your collection is what it is. The monetary value doesn't make one iota of difference if you're collecting and keeping. If your goal was to buy up some Braun items to sell them for profit.. well, I'm not sure I'd call that a Braun collector.

Enjoy what you have and hope this somehow gets cleared up.

I see where you're coming from, but, I can't say I completely agree.

My short-term goal (present day until life dictates otherwise) is to enjoy every piece of Braun memorabilia in my collection. Every seam impression, every jersey stitch, every scuff mark...
My long-term goal (when life changes, financial reasons, death, etc.) is to have made wise investment decisions for my wife and kids.

I don't want to spend a small family fortune on a bunch of stuff that I just have an "emotional attachment" to and then leave it behind for my kids to say "this stuff is worthless...gee, thanks Dad."

In my humble opinion-
No matter how "attached" you are to an item or a player, it's wise to weigh the monetary value as much as you would weigh the sentimental value.
You don't just spend your money to spend it...you spend it because you will enjoy whatever it is that you're buying AND the price is right.

Obviously, there are a few exceptions to this rule. And, I'm sure a bunch of members will bring this to my attention.
Thoughts?

[cliffjmp33]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

It's pretty much been said before.. but if you're collecting him because you like the guy, or whatever reason, that's fine.. and your opinion may change, but your collection is what it is. The monetary value doesn't make one iota of difference if you're collecting and keeping. If your goal was to buy up some Braun items to sell them for profit.. well, I'm not sure I'd call that a Braun collector.

Enjoy what you have and hope this somehow gets cleared up.

+1

[sylbry]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

So which is worse in the eyes of the fan?

Come clean and fess up by admitting you cheated (obviously using the "it was a mistake" excuse), take your 50 game suspension, and come back.

or

Get off on a technicality arguing chain of custody versus test result, no suspension served but the impression is left that you are a cheater who avoided responsibility and punishment.

[slab0meat]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

It's pretty much been said before.. but if you're collecting him because you like the guy, or whatever reason, that's fine.. and your opinion may change, but your collection is what it is. The monetary value doesn't make one iota of difference if you're collecting and keeping. If your goal was to buy up some Braun items to sell them for profit.. well, I'm not sure I'd call that a Braun collector.

Enjoy what you have and hope this somehow gets cleared up.

[OaklandAsFan]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

[QUOTE=happyyoungster;285474]

big deal, so he managed to fleece an independent 3rd party. I'm not buying it and neither is MLB.


I bet you'd care if it was your favorite player on your favorite team AND someone you've spent a boat load of cash collecting.
Oh, you'd care, then...for certain.

I really don't care who he "fleeced." The system is in place for this very reason.

I did have it happen, I was one of the biggest Raffy fans on the planet and my most prized possession was the bat her personally handed me way back in the day in Oakland and I was devastated by the positive test and disappointed by his blame of Miguel Tejada but oh well we live with these decisions. If you are afraid of potential loss of value on an item because it come to light that your guy was a cheater thats a simple solution, don't buy any items. He won on a technicality plain and simple IMO he cheated and MLB has made it pretty clear they think he did to but there is nothing they can do about it because the MLBPA it way to powerful.

[loumud]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

Don't worry guys, no matter how much you've invested in your Braun items I doubt any of you have taken as big of a hit financially as I have with my Roger Clemens game used Astros items (pinstripe jersey and bat) purchased prior to his steroids announcement! Every time I see them hanging in my closet I want to barf. On a side note, there's an upcoming private signing with Braun just announced on SCN, and his prices are actually higher than they were last year - even after this fiasco! GO MANAGEMENT!!

[gingi79]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

As a baseball fan, this entire situation sucks. Braun's test A going from zero to test B at the highest levels ever made no sense but I agree even with his overturned ban, he will forever reside in the "probable" category. Plus, it leaves him open for merciless heckling everywhere he plays which may affect his production. In other words, baseball fans lose out on a great talent.

For his fans, this is a Catch 22. The only way this resolves well is if Test B is found to have been tampered with. I for one, hope that becomes the case.

[happyyoungster]

Re: Any RYAN BRAUN collectors?

Unfortunately for Braun and his fans/collectors, there will always be question marks about him. Even more so that the reason the decision was overturned was because protocol was not followed. It's the court of public opinion that will dictate the value of his items going forward and i dont think they will ever reach the height that they once had. Think of all of the other stars that dont have this mark on their resume....and remember what happened to prices of players linked to peds.

I think that is a very fair assessment.