Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

[frikativ54]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

too much of one player? If you like the guy then there isnt any problem. I have 5 game used bats and 2 game used jerseys of a 21 year old who has only played in 9 games and has 4 at bats. When things are said and done with me collecting this guy i dont want to know how much of his crap i will have. But as long as you like the one guy you collect then there shouldnt be a problem.

I have found its really hard to hang on to stuff of players you are only collecting to invest in. Its easy to keep a collection full of your favorite player.

Who's your guy?

[coxfan]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

Hobbies are good for mental and emotional health, as long as they promote positive social interaction, preferably also with intellectual stimulation and exercise. Game-used collecting tends to be intellectually stimulating and should promote positive social interactions, as long as done within good budgetary priorities.

There are many bad hobby choices, such as watching talk shows that promote social ridicule; or hobbies that tend to support destructive addictions such as alcohol dependence. But game-used collecting doesn't fit those bad categories.

I think Jim Leyland once said that the real value of baseball is that it brings people of all walks of life together in something they can enjoy together, without the usual social barriers. I think our hobby does that pretty well.

[gingi79]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

My guy in hockey is Sami Salo. I would argue I have the most complete set of his jerseys to date. When I started collecting him, his shirts were $295 from MeiGray. Now they are $495 and Barry was kind enough to explain why. MeiGray has had 40 of his shirts since 2001, one is in the HOF, one is still for sale and the rest sold. I rarely see them for sale on eBay or the hockey gw boards and when I do, I get them much cheaper than what I pay for at MeiGray, sometimes 50% + off.

That doesn't stop me from adding to the collection as it is a goal to have one of each style. By the next MeiGray expo, with any luck, I will only have 4 missing styles from 3 different teams.

I do feel guilty when I look at my bills but my fiance is addicted too and that makes it more fun having a "partner" to collect with. Bills will always be there but I really enjoy looking at my favorite players career on my wall. Plus it's a goal and while I find it frustrating at times waiting for styles I don't have, I nearly dropped my laptop screaming "I found it! Holy !@#$ it finally found it!" when Salo's Detroit Vipers shirt popped up on eBay.

My advice? Any item that doesn't make you smile and feel honored to own should be let go of. If you can imagine not owning them and you feel ok about that, then you need to re-evaluate what you collect. My rule is simple, Love it or trade it for something you do. That could mean different jerseys, a different hobby, a bigger savings account or a wild weekend in Vegas that you hope your mom never sees pictures of.

[gatorcollector]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

I too have felt this way at times. When I think about how much money is tied up in those jerseys, I can't help but think what good that money could do elsewhere.

On the other hand, I agree with jetersbatboy. My family is well taken care of, so why not enjoy the fruits of my labor? I've worked hard and made good choices, so I'm going to do what makes me happy.

[commando]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

I don't drink alcohol or smoke. I guess you can say that this money goes to Houston Gamblers memorabilia instead. Keep in mind, I will NOT pay more than I think is fair, even if the item is scarce. A couple of months ago, one of those foam fingers popped up on eBay, and I had never seen one for sale before. I'm not sure who won it, but they paid more than I was willing!

I do pick up items for ten dollars or less all the time. It feels awesome when I fill another hole in my collection for just a few dollars. It sounds like your guilt may be based on the AMOUNT of money you're spending, and not really the fact that you're collecting someone.

I think the desire to collect is a trait of certain personality types. Don't fight the feeling, young lass.

[godwulf]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

I've always been an acquisitive type of person - something of a packrat, at times, I guess. That's just the way I am, and now that I'm 55, I know that I'm too old to change, even if I wanted to. It could be a lot worse - if I weren't collecting game-used bats and jerseys, it might be old newspapers and tinfoil. I'm very passionate about Baseball, and collecting this stuff is a way to be closer to The Game and the players that makes me very happy.

I know people who take very expensive vacations, and probably spend/blow as much on two weeks out of town as I spend on game-used in two years. I'm not a traveller. I don't smoke or gamble, and probably have fewer than twenty drinks a year, holidays included. If a family emergency arose and I had to sell everything to help with the expense, I could do it without a second thought - but barring that, I'm going to continue amassing my unofficial Diamondbacks museum and archive, and keep working on getting it organized and well displayed, probably until I drop dead.

[mvandor]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

It could be a lot worse - if I weren't collecting game-used bats and jerseys, it might be old newspapers and tinfoil.

Five day old Vaio laptop and I just spit coffee up all over the shiny new keyboard.

Damn you!

[skyking26]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

I've always been an acquisitive type of person - something of a packrat, at times, I guess. That's just the way I am, and now that I'm 55, I know that I'm too old to change, even if I wanted to. It could be a lot worse - if I weren't collecting game-used bats and jerseys, it might be old newspapers and tinfoil. I'm very passionate about Baseball, and collecting this stuff is a way to be closer to The Game and the players that makes me very happy.

I know people who take very expensive vacations, and probably spend/blow as much on two weeks out of town as I spend on game-used in two years. I'm not a traveller. I don't smoke or gamble, and probably have fewer than twenty drinks a year, holidays included. If a family emergency arose and I had to sell everything to help with the expense, I could do it without a second thought - but barring that, I'm going to continue amassing my unofficial Diamondbacks museum and archive, and keep working on getting it organized and well displayed, probably until I drop dead.

I'm here with most of the guys. I don't smoke, drink, or gamble, carouse. I'm just a married guy with 2 kids enjoying a hobby that leaves me with material items rather than smoke or hangovers.

Only regrets or guilt I've ever had regard 2008 when Kingman let go of alot and I pulled out all the stops, incuding some funny accounting which the wife caught me on a few times. Once in a lifetime though, so what can you do?

Any Diamondbacks Dunn stuff in Godwulf's collection?

RK

[joelsabi]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

Maybe, it's because I collect Bagwell. I am sure he's going to sooner or later show up on one of the steroids lists, and that I'm going to lose my money. I look at pictures of him, and I would be deluding myself if I thought he wasn't on the juice. You can get big by lifting, which he did, but not that big.

if you have a investor mentality in your collection it is easier to have guilt i guess.

[godwulf]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

Any Diamondbacks Dunn stuff in Godwulf's collection?

No, I wish. I actually talked with Adam right as the season was ending, and he mentioned having "a lot of bats I have to give away" back in the locker room; there were a whole lot of people within earshot at the time, or I'd have probably asked, "Can I have one?!" I was absolutely dumb-founded when he said that, to which state I attribute my failure to act.

I've been told, by people in a position to know, that he only used the bats he brought from Cincinnati, while he was here; he reportedly got some DBacks bats made, but didn't use them...so if a game-used Dunn DBacks bat surfaces, it was probably used by someone else. Used or unused, I still want one, of course.

[skyking26]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

I doubt we'll see one. There have been at least 1 GU AZ Dunn jersey on MLB and 2 hats. I was in a bidding war and jumped ship on a jersey that was approaching $600 and the guy was not about to give up. At the time I thought I had some other things going on so I was not headstrong on the jersey on MLB. Everything else crashed, so in the end maybe it was a poor decision. Oh well.

[godwulf]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

I doubt we'll see one. There have been at least 1 GU AZ Dunn jersey on MLB and 2 hats. I was in a bidding war and jumped ship on a jersey that was approaching $600 and the guy was not about to give up. At the time I thought I had some other things going on so I was not headstrong on the jersey on MLB. Everything else crashed, so in the end maybe it was a poor decision. Oh well.

Had I known about that auction for the jersey, I'd have probably been right in there, too.

As for the bats, I have hopes that one or more will surface, perhaps soon. I have a team source (actually a friend of a friend with a team source ...yes, the famous FOAFWATS) who may be some help, and I'll share the wealth if it happens.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

It could be a lot worse - if I weren't collecting game-used bats and jerseys, it might be old newspapers and tinfoil.

If you think Sanford and Son has a nice inventory of antiques, then...you might be a Collyer Brother.

If you save all the wrappers from your packs of '86 Topps, then... you might be a Collyer Brother.

If you save a dryed-up Sharpie cause it was used by Paul Molitor, then... you might be a Collyer Brother.

If you saved bubblicious that was chewed by Gonzo, then...you might be a Collyer Brother.

If you've kept that bulk buy of Keith Moreland rookies 'cause he might have a break-out season, then...you might be a Collyer Brother.

If you've kept that Intellivision system with all the games in the original boxes, 'cause you never know when you're going to re-live your childhood, then...you might be a Collyer Brother.

If you keep bundles of SCD, stacked to the ceiling as a "booby-trap" for any intruders, then...you might be a Collyer Brother.

[hrvatwill]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

Guilt? No. Buyer's remorse? Absolutely!

[godwulf]

Re: Anybody Have Guilts About Game-Used Collecting

If you save all the wrappers from your packs of '86 Topps, then... you might be a Collyer Brother.

How about if you've got 50-60,000 duplicate cards taking up space in your closet, and you can't bring yourself to part with them?

If you save a dryed-up Sharpie cause it was used by Paul Molitor, then... you might be a Collyer Brother.

Or, in my case, Matt Williams...but I think I've since tossed it...maybe.

If you saved bubblicious that was chewed by Gonzo, then...you might be a Collyer Brother.

I didn't do that, but I got an email from the guy who auctioned Gonzo's gum. After that incident, Topps did a big original art piece of a Bazooka comic featuring Gonzo and Bazooka Joe, had Gonzo sign it and auctioned it for charity, and I won the auction. He emailed me to find out who the heck I was. The piece was featured in an S.I. article on "oddest sports collectibles". I was so proud.