Notes from the National

wonkaticket · #1 08-05-2013, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conor912

I consider this more of a portfolio than a collection. I agree that there's nothing terribly impressive here. The rarity with his hoard lies in the condition and not the cards themselves. This guy is an investor who happens to have a fetish for baseball cards....not a collector.

What does it matter in the end if Mr. Kendrick is a passionate collector or a total D-bag? I have always found this whole discussion hard to wrap my head around. He�s buying things in a free market that are publicly offered for sale.

I often wonder if many of the folks who stand on this soapbox about �is he a real collector?� would have such an opinion one way or the other if it was their Gem Mint 52 Topps Mantle on the auction block for sale? Would they stop the sale, or only let �qualified� collectors bid on the card?

I get it, it�s a bonus if the guy digs the stuff you have common ground with somebody. But the real common ground is somebody is putting money into the hobby of which we all have a vested interest in to some degree shouldn�t that be enough?

travrosty · #2 08-05-2013, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

What does it matter in the end if Mr. Kendrick is a passionate collector or a total D-bag? I have always found this whole discussion hard to wrap my head around. He’s buying things in a free market that are publicly offered for sale.

I often wonder if many of the folks who stand on this soapbox about ”is he a real collector?” would have such an opinion one way or the other if it was their Gem Mint 52 Topps Mantle on the auction block for sale? Would they stop the sale, or only let “qualified” collectors bid on the card?

I get it, it’s a bonus if the guy digs the stuff you have common ground with somebody. But the real common ground is somebody is putting money into the hobby of which we all have a vested interest in to some degree shouldn’t that be enough?

You are overanalyzing it. nobody said he was a jerk but he didnt do anything particularly difficult.

wonkaticket · #3 08-05-2013, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travrosty

You are overanalyzing it. nobody said he was a jerk but he didnt do anything particularly difficult.

I think it�s you who is perhaps over complicating it. Travis why does anything he has done need to be deemed �special� or have to have some level of perceived difficulty ?

Mr. Kendrick isn�t claiming to have cured cancer. He�s just showing off his collection which everyone on this forum does to a degree. Have any of us really done anything amazing? I mean how do you buy your baseball cards? Do you do it by hanging from a wire over a pit of cobras, while saving children from a burning bus and reading to the homeless?

We all collect on some sort of budget, and buy from pretty much the same places it�s all relative.

drcy · #4 08-05-2013, 03:00 AM

I'm not sure I understand. Would the homeless guys be in the pit with the cobras?

Matthew H · #5 08-05-2013, 03:15 AM

All of my baseball cards are organic and come from a fair economy. Plus, for every card I buy, a starving child gets one card for his collection.

wonkaticket · #6 08-05-2013, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew H

All of my baseball cards are organic and come from a fair economy. Plus, for every card I buy, a starving child gets one card for his collection.

Show off.

CharleyBrown · #7 08-05-2013, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

Do you do it by hanging from a wire over a pit of cobras, while saving children from a burning bus and reading to the homeless?

wonkaticket · #8 08-05-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharleyBrown

Classic! Love it.

CW · #9 08-05-2013, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharleyBrown

HA! Nice!

(and kudos to Wonka for the inspiration

)

barrysloate · #10 08-05-2013, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travrosty

You are overanalyzing it. nobody said he was a jerk but he didnt do anything particularly difficult.

How difficult is it for somebody to sit in front of a computer at two o'clock in the morning, press a few buttons, and then write a big check in the morning? Doesn't seem like what Mr. Kendrick does is any more or less impressive than what any other collector does. If you have a lot of money the hobby is very easy to navigate.

Big Ben · #11 08-05-2013, 08:20 AM

Just a couple of observations. A friend of mine and I attended The National two years ago in Chicago. That was the first National that both of us attended. Like 2011, Sunday was the only day that we could attend the show so this is the basis for our observations.

I thought that the attendance was higher this year and that there were more dealers.

As a rule, we thought that the dealers whom had price tags on the front of their cards were easier to negotiate. Not all, but some dealers who did not have price tags on their cards seemed like we were bothering them when we inquired about the price of a card.

Compered to 2011, I thought that there were a lot more newer cards on display. Maybe that was because I started out only looking for vintage cards.

There were a couple of dealer tables in the Olympic Pavilion that were very cool! One dealer displayed an Olympic medal from the 1960 Rome games that was amazing.

As usual, the show is/was amazing and we will be back the next time The National is in Chicago!

CharleyBrown · #12 08-05-2013, 09:00 AM

It seems like more so than in previous years, people made note of the number of kids in the crowd. Did you all find that there were more kids/teenagers this year?

I'm wondering if it is because many of those that got into the hobby in the 80s are starting to have kids, and getting them involved in the hobby?

4815162342 · #13 08-05-2013, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

How difficult is it for somebody to sit in front of a computer at two o'clock in the morning, press a few buttons, and then write a big check in the morning? Doesn't seem like what Mr. Kendrick does is any more or less impressive than what any other collector does. If you have a lot of money the hobby is very easy to navigate.

The difficulty is earning the ability to write a big check.

olrac44 · #14 08-05-2013, 09:40 AM

I saw a lot of great items throughout the show although I think the most impressive piece was Joe T's Shadow Box with single signed baseball of the original 5 members of the baseball hall of fame.

Probably something I will never see again.

Runscott · #15 08-05-2013, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4815162342

The difficulty is earning the ability to write a big check.

That's part of what Travis is missing. Some people assume that such people all of a sudden get stupid once they have money, and just start spending whatever it takes to get whatever they want. Only professional football players do that.

#16 08-05-2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4815162342

The difficulty is earning the ability to write a big check.

Not a whole lot different than any one of us writing a big check for a card, relative to our incomes. I agree with the others who are only impressed by quality of the cards themselves not the value or the ability of the owner to purchase them.

Having said that, if the guy is a true collector the only difference between him and myself for example is the means to purchase extremely high graded copies and the rarest of the rare cards that are out of reach to the average collector.

Hell, if I had the funds, I'd own them too so I don't disrespect him for doing it if he truly loves the hobby.

wonkaticket · #17 08-05-2013, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

How difficult is it for somebody to sit in front of a computer at two o'clock in the morning, press a few buttons, and then write a big check in the morning? Doesn't seem like what Mr. Kendrick does is any more or less impressive than what any other collector does. If you have a lot of money the hobby is very easy to navigate.

Correct Barry and in a society that tends to vilify the success and wealth of some. We tend to forget how many of these wealthy collectors have left behind great collections for the public to enjoy via a variety of public venues.

Leon · #18 08-05-2013, 11:10 AM

Kendrick is a passionate collector, no doubt. The fact he has the resources to acquire great cards is not of concern to me. More power to him.

Also, most of us that have been collecting for 10+ years have collections that can't just be bought. It takes time, energy AND money. I doubt anyone, with any size pocketbook, could go out and buy Wonkas (hi John) collection by just writing a check, unless he is willing to sell it. And I am quite sure they couldn't buy a collection like mine either, if I wasn't selling it.

The National was great overall and I will probably give some more thoughts on it over the next few days.

travrosty · #19 08-05-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Kendrick is a passionate collector, no doubt. The fact he has the resources to acquire great cards is not of concern to me. More power to him.

Also, most of us that have been collecting for 10+ years have collections that can't just be bought. It takes time, energy AND money. I doubt anyone, with any size pocketbook, could go out and buy Wonkas (hi John) collection by just writing a check, unless he is willing to sell it. And I am quite sure they couldn't buy a collection like mine either, if I wasn't selling it.

The National was great overall and I will probably give some more thoughts on it over the next few days.

but thats the point, you probably COULD get a collection like kendricks, minus the wagner, if it's even legit, - because these high grade REGULAR cards come up for auction occasionally to regularly , (dmitri young collection), that was the only point I was making. i know you think i am not right, well, we disagree,

the high grade Goduey lajoie comes up at auction and kendrick could buy it, big deal. What's to search? They come to you.

frankbmd · #20 08-05-2013, 11:35 AM

$200,000 opening bid for my whole enchilada.

Book Value - Priceless
Local pickup only.
Trailers available in town. Your dime.
Auction ends September 31st.

LMK

nolemmings · #21 08-05-2013, 11:41 AM

I don’t believe the Kendrick issue is necessarily one of wealth. While some claim that the have-nots should fully appreciate how the haves got where they are, that doesn’t mean all that much here, at least to me. I like Ken Kendrick–he is the owner of my local team who gives a lot to the fans and the community. His only grievous mistake this year is not using his supreme power to fire Matt Williams as third-base coach.

Still, I can agree with those who state that they are not wholly impressed with Kendrick’s collection, at least that part of it that was on display. It is impressive as a portfolio, no doubt, and as long as he’s happy with it, more power to him. However, I still see the argument that it does not contain anything particularly scarce, other than for being consistently high grade, which itself is largely a non-factor to many collectors. I am more impressed by the E107 set that was put together, for example. Although I do not collect T206, I can even appreciate a player back run or a nice grouping of scarce backs–something that almost certainly took a great deal of time and effort to accumulate regardless of cost. These things resonate more with me as a collector than the mere acquisition of pieces that appear for sale with some regularity.

Again, I don’t doubt Kendrick’s passion for the game and I think it’s extremely cool that he is a fellow collector, but I would much rather hear him talk of how hard it was to find that ‘14 CJ Pratt in nice shape, or how he’s still hunting for six more Carolina Brights commons to complete that back sub-set/set. Maybe a story about how he always liked that ‘54 Topps O’Brien brothers card or shunned buying Connie Mack All-Stars because they weren’t as nice as those Red backs in 1951. While a sterile display case can only convey so much of a person’s hobby involvement, I can’t help but believe that those kinds of intangibles would turn just as many heads.

CW · #22 08-05-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

Also, most of us that have been collecting for 10+ years have collections that can't just be bought. It takes time, energy AND money. I doubt anyone, with any size pocketbook, could go out and buy Wonkas (hi John) collection by just writing a check, unless he is willing to sell it. And I am quite sure they couldn't buy a collection like mine either, if I wasn't selling it.

You make a great point, Leon, about having a long-term collection and the time and effort that goes into it. How can you put a price on that? In terms of enjoyment, it's priceless. We all have many "kills" in our collection, and the trophies to go with them, but the "hunts" make it all worthwhile. Maybe that's where the true value of our collections lie, regardless of the amount of money we spend. (the friends we meet are a pretty nice bonus, too)

OK, getting a little too deep here.

Can we somehow achieve collecting nirvana?

<-- that's what you look like when you achieve nirvana.

conor912 · #23 08-05-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

Correct Barry and in a society that tends to vilify the success and wealth of some. We tend to forget how many of these wealthy collectors have left behind great collections for the public to enjoy via a variety of public venues.

John,
I am not now, nor am I ever looking to start or enter an argument on this board, nor am I trying to "vilify" success. That is ridiculous. All I meant was that I am way more impressed by collections I have seen on this board (most certainly including yours) than I am by a bunch of PSA 10 RCs.

I obviuosly touched a nerve, but forgive me if my idea of a collector is different than yours.

barrysloate · #24 08-05-2013, 12:08 PM

Maybe Mr. Kendrick is collecting exactly what he wants to collect. Maybe an E107 or a T206 with Drum back are of no interest to him, but he absolutely loves his PSA 10 1952 Mantle. Maybe he finds Drum backs boring. Who knows.

slidekellyslide · #25 08-05-2013, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Maybe Mr. Kendrick is collecting exactly what he wants to collect. Maybe an E107 or a T206 with Drum back are of no interest to him, but he absolutely loves his PSA 10 1952 Mantle. Maybe he finds Drum backs boring. Who knows.

It's all relative...People collect what they like and can afford. That said his collection IMO is boring as I much prefer to see collections that have real rarity over condition rarity. And there is an argument to be made that it was no real feat for him to put the displayed collection together. All it took was money, and every single one of us here could put that collection together with very little effort if we had his money. It's an impressive array of cards to be sure, but my guess is that it took less effort than pretty much every Net54er puts into his own collection.

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