Random regrettable memory from 2015? National
 

Something just popped into my brain and I thought I would share it with you esteemed fellow collectors.

Pretty sure it was the 2015 national (in Chicago).

I stumbled upon a 53 topps mantle in Psa 8.5. The asking price was low 20,000’s. Card was SICK! I seriously considered buying it - but then ended up changing my mind.

DAMMIT MAN!!!

Thank you for listening. Carry on.

2015 National
 

Wow, I think I went to that National with 200 in my pocket ..maybe ! LOL

I feel your pain
 

Still recall the PSA 8. 5 Clemente rookie I didn't pull the v trigger on (and I was thinking hard about it) at 10K.
I share with others all the time, is not the cards I "paid too much for" (at the time), but the cards I didn't buy that are the hardest memories!

Sorry, man...
 

Thanks for the opportunity to rub salt in the wound. I attended one of the Strongsville, Ohio shows back in 1984, and on my way out, after finding very little to add to my sparse collection, I passed a dealer who had a large binder of '53 Topps and since I was just starting the set, spent a couple of minutes browsing his items. He directed my attention to his display box where he had a very clean '53 Mantle, ungraded of course, that was about EX-MT condition or better. I demurred, telling him I was just looking for commons, as his Mantle card had a price sticker of hundred bucks on it. As I started to walk away, the guy pulled Mantle out of the box, looking at the backside of it and said, ok, it's yours for 82. He was local, so accepted my check.:)

It was probably just 6 years ago when Dean's (known for being full-blown-retail or more...) was selling PSA 3 and 3.5 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards on COMC for $12-15K.
Still kick myself for not maxing out a credit card at the time or liquidating some items to buy one when they were "reasonable" to me.

The one that I think of was Baltimore. First day I came across a perfect Eddie Collins mini decal bat. I passed and when I went back a few hours later it was gone. I’ve regretted not getting it ever since.

Question ...

Are you guys upset that you will no longer be able to own these cards in the specific grades that you mentioned ... or ... are you upset that you missed out on an opportunity to make lots of money ?? Is it the cards or the money ??

I would have kept the Mantle for my PC. The dollar value increase would have just been gravy.

Cool ... cool ...

Investment can mean both
 

Well, I still have the '53 Topps Mantle in my collection. In 1985, I couldn't have bought up dozens of vintage cards as an investment anyway, as I was barely clinging to my job and my marriage was falling apart. I guess I was using the hobby as a way to take my mind off the other stuff. Went to the Strongsville show again the next year and, if memory serves, looked for the same dealer, but couldn't find him. I was working on the '53 Bowman set then and thought I might make another deal for a VG/EX Mantle for his card number - $59 - but no such luck.:rolleyes:

Well, I'm not, nor have I ever been remotely close to wealthy, so when I think about topics like this it's mostly money related.

So when I remember longingly of the piles of unopened 1986 Fleer Basketball boxes that I walked by at 50 bucks a box at shows back in the 80's, it's not for the sake of nostalgia or the "Love of the Game". It's for that sweet moolah I missed out on.

Of course, knowing my mentality back then, I likely would have just sold them the second they hit $100 a box so I could spend the money of the next shiny (or old) thing that caught my eye, just like I sold the stack of 86F Jordans I had for $20 bucks apiece...and was quite pleased with myself at the time I made that sale. Thought I was definitely selling at the top of the market. :D

About 2012 or 2013 I put together a 53 set for about 1600 dollars. Bought a beat to hell Mantle for $300 off Ebay. I bought a SGC 2 Paige at the Nationals that year for $75. About a year later had to sell all my cards for various reasons. Had 53,59,63,65,71,75 Topps complete sets. Plus several other nice 50s and 60s cards. I look at what it would cost now to build it again and I'm not even going to try. My son collects and I help him and buy him stuff and a few bigger cards on Birthday and Christmas. I just live vicariously thru him.

What has really helped me avoid regrets is my innate laziness. PSA has opened a submission center a mile from my office, I literally pass it every day twice a day, and I still have a stack of items sitting on my desk because I am too lazy to take them in. I rarely sold stuff over the last 40 years, I just tucked it away because it was easier, so I have few regrets about items I sold, but lots of regrets over items I did not buy.

You don't miss nothing you never had
But you miss so much you wish you could get, HAH
I guess you can put that together
--James Brown