Back in January, I decided to avoid creating hobby resolutions for myself in 2014. This year I just wanted to have fun and avoid the pressure of completing goals that in all likelihood wouldn't be met.
On the other hand, I have been trying to collect within a specific set of rules this year. One of the rules I established was to limit my spending on relic cards to five dollars or less. Although I'm a huge fan of owning a piece of game used memorabilia, the fact is you never can truly know if it's legit.
I usually keep my relic card purchases in the $1.00 to $2.50 range. Every now and then, I'll spend a little more for a Rickey or Ichiro, but rarely do I break the five dollar limit. But in the past two weeks, I've suddenly become a hobby hooligan who's starting to break his own rules on a regular basis.
It started with this 2001 SP Game Used jersey card of Ken Griffey Jr., which I picked up off of eBay for $10 ($7.51 + $2.49 shipping):
This card completes my Griffey sports card trifecta. I actually own a couple of memorabilia cards of The Kid, but both feature him in his Cincinnati Reds uniform. I really wanted to have all three cards of his trifecta picture him as a Mariner.
At first I didn't feel comfortable breaking my own rule. However... at least I had a specific reason for buying the card.
Then things escalated. My second purchase took things to the next monetary level and I officially became a rebel without a cause. I stumbled across this card last week at one of my favorite online shops...
On the other hand, I have been trying to collect within a specific set of rules this year. One of the rules I established was to limit my spending on relic cards to five dollars or less. Although I'm a huge fan of owning a piece of game used memorabilia, the fact is you never can truly know if it's legit.
I usually keep my relic card purchases in the $1.00 to $2.50 range. Every now and then, I'll spend a little more for a Rickey or Ichiro, but rarely do I break the five dollar limit. But in the past two weeks, I've suddenly become a hobby hooligan who's starting to break his own rules on a regular basis.
It started with this 2001 SP Game Used jersey card of Ken Griffey Jr., which I picked up off of eBay for $10 ($7.51 + $2.49 shipping):
This card completes my Griffey sports card trifecta. I actually own a couple of memorabilia cards of The Kid, but both feature him in his Cincinnati Reds uniform. I really wanted to have all three cards of his trifecta picture him as a Mariner.
At first I didn't feel comfortable breaking my own rule. However... at least I had a specific reason for buying the card.
Then things escalated. My second purchase took things to the next monetary level and I officially became a rebel without a cause. I stumbled across this card last week at one of my favorite online shops...
#1. It's Tris Speaker... one of the greatest hitters of all-time.
#2. It cost me only $21.95 (free shipping).
There have been three recent completed sales on eBay and all of them have gone for $49 or more. That was enough to make me look the other way, ignore my five dollar rule, and lure me to the Dark Side. Who knows what my anarchistic future looks like.
My new theme song should be....
Or how about this...
Wait. I'm not cool enough to have a theme song. Maybe after a few more high priced relic card purchases, I'll qualify for one.
Until then... let's hear your thoughts:
Are there any hobby rules that you've created for yourself? How often do you break them?
Happy Hump Day and sayonara!
23 comments:
Rules.
Rules?!
What rules?!
This is a great post, Fuji, and congrats on two stellar additions to your relic collection. That's a proud Tris Speaker card and I cracked up reading, "Heck... for all I know the pieces of wood embedded in the card are from some kid's t-ball bat." Hilarious and sadly speaks to about how much we can trust card companies to have legit "game-used memorabilia" with disclaimer's on the back of the card stating to the effect (flips over the Triple Threads card next to me), "the relics contained on this card are not from any specific game, event, or season."
Greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.
As far as developing a hobby rule, though things are pretty anarchic in the hobby department here at Underdog HQ, I would like to refine and hone in on simplifying the PC's I collect from the few teams that really matter to me.
I can say I'm fast going from a set-builder to a player / team collector. I'd rather have that truly special card, say for instance your Tris Speaker Triple Threads bat relic, instead of a complete, built-up set that I rarely go back and revisit the individual cards but a few.
And Fuji definitely needs a theme song! I'm thinking something late 80's - early 90's like you posted above that you can have going through the headphones cruising the flea market grounds, on the prowl for cardboard and comics. Just saying.
$20 per card show. i've only spent more than that a couple of times. Mostly I fall just shy of it.
I have that same Griffey with the same color relic. I bet they were cut from the same jersey.
We're relic cousins!
For years I didn't have $ limits because all the Pirate active players were cheap. With the recent success of the Buccos I've had to become a better shopper. Like you, I monitor the completed listings of cards to see if I'm getting a good deal. Also, I tend to stay away from new releases until the market settles. That is why all our box breaks are at least a year behind.
For the most part I do pretty well sticking too my guns when it comes to cards. I usually only bend the rules for short print cards that may never show up again, or McCutchen's that continue to go up in price the longer you wait.
My hobby rule is not to have children or buy a house, that way I still have money to collect. lol
I'm not sure this falls under 'rules' per se but lately I've put all my eBay purchases in my cart and waited a day to go back and pull the trigger. Frequently that 'cooling off' period gives me a different perspective on an item.
On those game used items...I'm pretty much in line with you, I pick up cheap ones and buy them on 'faith'.
I don't think I have any rules other than to be frugal. Keep it to under $5 a card or so. It's funny, the other day I bought a card that came out to $5.50 with shipping, and felt guilty...but then I bought a $5 footlong (came to $5.44) and thought nothing of it. Kind of weird, right? I'll buy a new shirt for work that costs $35, but if I spent that much on a card I'd feel like an ass.
Wow! Awesome pick-ups! I'm a huge Griffey fan, so that one is awesome! Love that the swatch matches the jersey he's wearing in the photo. And the Tris Speaker is a steal. I need to get one for my 3000 Hit Club Bat card collection and so I watch them all the time and you got a great deal!
My rules lately have been, "don't buy anything on eBay." LOL.
In fairness, I have been the recipient of some pretty crazy generosity lately, so I've been trying to dig out. My real rule has been to get my act together and get my cards sorted out.
Then, this fall, all my money goes to going to Georgia Bulldog games!
The Speaker is a nice looking card. My rule is the same as Tony L's. I've acutally done pretty well this year. I am bidding on something right now, but it's a low bid and I probably won't win.
I just have to take care of how much I spend with the hobby specially since I have to buy all cards, packs and boxes from eBay (I have to choose carefully to not pay extra fees when ordering from USA to EU...). Then, after that I don't follow any specific rule since I'm still into collecting 'a-bit-of-it-all' ;)
Oops, I won. A 90 card set for under $7 shipped.
Yeah... when it comes to memorabilia cards, George Michael sang it best. You gotta have faith, faith, faith. It's actually the same with autographs too. You don't know for sure unless you see the athlete sign the card. Deep down, I tend to believe that they wouldn't put their company's reputation on the line just to make a quick buck, but who knows.
Lol... when I walk around the flea market this morning, I'll see if any songs are worthy of a theme song ;-)
Nice. I'm starting to work my way down to that number, especially since I mostly enjoy digging through dime boxes anyways.
Awesome. What up cuz!
When I bust boxes (which isn't very often), I'll do the same things as you. Sometimes I'll wait a whole decade. And McCutchen stuff is expensive. I've been trying to build a trifecta of him, but his memorabilia cards go for more than I want to spend (usually $5 and up). For that price I can grab one or two Gwynn relics.
Yeah. Both would definitely cut into your cardboard expenses.
I personally think it's a self defense mechanism that makes me believe they're legit. Not sure I could handle the fallout of discovering all of my autographs and memorabilia cards were fake.
Wow. You've got some self discipline. I wish I knew how you do it. If I set a $5 rule, I wouldn't last a month.
I completely agree with the food and clothing examples. I barely blink at going out to dinner or buying a new pair of flip flops, but buying a box of cards is a completely different story. I'll usually talk myself out of it.
I think card companies should match the jersey swatch color to the jersey in the player's photo as much as possible. It definitely makes the card cooler in my book.
Best of luck on the 3000 hit bat card collection! It sounds awesome!
I spent a decent amount of my summer sorting cards, so (never thought I'd say this) I'm a little burnt out. Have fun at those Bulldog games.
Congratulations! What set did you win?
Yeah international shipping can sometimes be crazy. That's cool that you're not constrained to rules... I wish I could do that, but I'd probably get myself into a lot trouble (again).
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