Did this ever happen to you?

[egri]

I happened to one of my neighbors. He collected throughout the 1960s and '70s. He is a Yankees fan, so plenty of Mantles, Marises, Fords, etc. When he went to college, his mom tossed everything.

I should add though, that his dad was a LCDR in the Navy during World War II. He got to meet Dizzy Dean and a few other members of the Gashouse Gang when they came through as part of a USO tour. He got a postcard signed by them that is still in the family. He's still going strong at 96 years old (will be 97 in July). Next time I see him, I'll ask if he has any memories of Ol' Diz.

[Stampsfan]

My mom, who passed away too young at 63, never threw any of my cards out (from late 60's-early 70's). As long as I kept them out of site and in a drawer, they could be around.

Given that, because they were always out of the way, I ended up with very nice, NM or better cards from my youth, when I got back into the hobby.

She was a good woman...

[judsonhamlin]

I was the beneficiary of my friend's mom tossing out his cards- in 1977 or 78 I wound up with near complete sets of 1972-74 baseball, with multiple Aaron's, Mays, Gibsons, etc. and a random assortment of hockey and football from the same time. I did strike out when one of the other moms had already thrown away her sons 1968-69 cards.

[pokerplyr80]

I still have boxes and albums full of cards from 1989-1996 lying around my Mom's house. It probably wouldn't have been a big loss if they had gotten tossed. I really should go through them the next time I'm home.