1984 Mark McGwire Topps

[steve B]

I've got a bunch of those kind of stories, but was too cheap to spend big on anything.

Instead I'd buy big boxes of random cards and pull out all the "better but not big star" cards plus a few guys I thought had a shot at 3000 hits. Of course now I've got a nice box full of cheap cards of great players, as well as quite a few has-beens. Like Johnny Ray. Averaged 150+ hits for a few years, and I figured with a 20 year+ career he might make 3000.
Of course his 11th year he was released after a not so good season and just vanished. 1502 hits, almost exactly halfway and a .290 average, not bad. But not good enough.

On the plus side I also collected Signature rookies and got the same guy a few times for the signed card. I was a bit annoyed at the time since I figured none of the prospects were actually going anywhere. And 4 of the same guy wasn't as interesting as getting the set. Plus he was a Yankee.
Yeah, that guy Jeter didn't really stick Fortunately I was very slow about getting rid of the duplicates and did pretty well with them.

Steve B

[Maddog]

Thanks Leon, you had to bring up McGwire and make me find my card
I don't feel so bad now, I only wasted $18 around 15 years ago. Wow, a loss of only $8 over 15 years, if only some of my other investments were that good

[mikeakac2]

That McGwire usa card is one of the first cards I bought when I got back into the hobby along with the rookies of all the other stars i watched as a kid and couldn't afford back then. Even as my interest in cards expands and grows I don't see myself ever selling those cards because they were the cards I always wanted growing up.

[rsdill2]

Originally Posted by mikeakac2

That McGwire usa card is one of the first cards I bought when I got back into the hobby along with the rookies of all the other stars i watched as a kid and couldn't afford back then. Even as my interest in cards expands and grows I don't see myself ever selling those cards because they were the cards I always wanted growing up.

Me too. I reentered the hobby in 2007 and was so excited to get RCs of Boggs, Sandberg, Henderson, Gwynn, McGwire, Ripken, Smith, etc.

I could care less that they're not worth much I just remember the late 80s/early 90s looking at them and wanting them so bad but not having near enough $ for even a single one of them.

[mcgwirecom]

As you can tell from my ID I collect McGwire. I started back in about 1990 (late start) but when he was injured in 1993-94 I actually bought about 100 of his RC for $5 each at the Ft. Washington (nee Willow Grove) Show. I held them until 1998 and pulled out only the cream of the crop to be slabbed. I got all 8's and 9's. I wholesaled them to a dealer for $100 an 8 and $200 a 9. I did real good.

I still collect his stuff, mostly autographs and game used. Have maybe a few hundred cards. But not real active on those. His Tiffany RC still carries weight as does the 1993 Finest Refractors. I actually only came on here looking for info about the 1990 Donruss Aqueous cards. I was scanning Ebay for Mcgwire stuff that was ending and saw a 1990 Aqueous card. I did some research and saw they were rare and threw in a bid. I was blown out of the water as it sold for $825 which seemed like a lot for a guy who is personna non gratta! I did not see any forums talking about the plethora of the Aqueous cards that got listed on Ebay. Any comments?

[MrPosadas]

This forum talked about the listings last week.

http://forums.collectors.com/message...rd1=Aqueous%20

[Iwantmorecards77]

Ah yes - I saw the recent group on ebay...finally picked up a 1990 Donruss Aqueous Kevin McReynolds for my Big Mac collection. I never thouught I'd have to pay nearly $40 for a 1990 Donruss McReynolds! LOL

[curtis-cards]

Originally Posted by steve B

I've got a bunch of those kind of stories, but was too cheap to spend big on anything.

Instead I'd buy big boxes of random cards and pull out all the "better but not big star" cards plus a few guys I thought had a shot at 3000 hits. Of course now I've got a nice box full of cheap cards of great players, as well as quite a few has-beens. Like Johnny Ray. Averaged 150+ hits for a few years, and I figured with a 20 year+ career he might make 3000.
Of course his 11th year he was released after a not so good season and just vanished. 1502 hits, almost exactly halfway and a .290 average, not bad. But not good enough.

On the plus side I also collected Signature rookies and got the same guy a few times for the signed card. I was a bit annoyed at the time since I figured none of the prospects were actually going anywhere. And 4 of the same guy wasn't as interesting as getting the set. Plus he was a Yankee.
Yeah, that guy Jeter didn't really stick Fortunately I was very slow about getting rid of the duplicates and did pretty well with them.

Steve B

Johnny Ray...Wasn't he a Pirate? I'm trying to picture him in my mind.

[7nohitter]

Attachment 66843

Ahhhh.....Mr. Ray.....brings us into the era of the "ERROR" card...

[David W]

I traded 55 Topps All American football Hutson, 4 Horseman, Rockne, and others for a bunch of Todd Worrell, Cory Snyder, Eric Davis rookies circa 1988 or so....

How did I do?