A few things at once, but mostly an intro

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Posted By: Jason Schwartz

I was an obsessive collector in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. For me, the sign that it was time to get out was going to card show after card show dominated by promos and inserts, rookie cards of players with 0 AB or IP going for more money than Schmidt, Mays, Aaron, etc., and new packs retailing for $4. There also seemed to be something fishy about 99.9% of dealers selling their cards for the Beckett high value and 0% of dealers selling at the Beckett low. As far as I could tell, the increase in card prices was fueled less by real demand than it was by the format of the dominant price guide.

15 years later, I still have my old collection, which I can separate into two categories.

1. A couple boxes full of the all-time greats, ranging from 1933-1976. My triumvirate of 33 Hack Wilson, 34 Greenberg, 34 Foxx is a highlight, as is my 1957 Brooklyn Dodgers team set. I got close to Hank Aaron's career but never finished.

2. About 200,000 other cards accumulated along the way--mainly 1981 and up (my mom threw out my collection twice, so my late 70's sets are all at the bottom of a trash-heap somewhere).

I stumbled across this board by accident, but I'm thrilled to find such a lively community of people who, like me, are disgusted by the current state of the hobby--torn-up Clemente jerseys and all.

I'm realizing there are two ways you might be able to help me out.

1. Like a recent poster, I wouldn't mind getting rid of a couple hundred thousand cards or so. A good cause would be my first choice. Anyone know anywhere in the Santa Cruz, CA area that would appreciate such a donation?

2. I'm writing a book, essentially a memoir told through baseball cards. If anyone has time on his/her hands, I'd enjoy having a few folks who share the love of baseball cards give some of my stories a read and pass along some comments.

Jason