Regerts on cards for the PC

[kailes2872]

In 2014, I was looking for, and found a 1957 Topps set on the board. The person that I bought it from also had a 1953 Topps set with a PSA 5 Mantle for $3,000 - the set, not the Mantle.

I had a plan of three sets per year moving backwards and I wasn't ready to buy '53 yet. I thought about it all the way home - but I didn't want to break my plan. I have regretted not pulling the trigger ever since, because now, the Mantle would cost that - so it was a buy, Mantle, get the other 273 cards for free deal that I missed.

However, my biggest regret was last year's REA. The '33 Delong Lionel Carter set - his very first set - was available and went for a very reasonable price - around $4500 before BP. I thought and thought about it it - even tried to figure out what I would unload to make my wife happy - as she wouldn't want me digging into cash reserves. Again, I was regimented in my process and did not want to break my annual plan of what I wanted to get so I did not make a run at it. Who knows if $4500 becomes $6000 or higher as the person who bought it might have wanted it as badly as I did - but I really regret that one. There will be other '33 Delongs, but there is only 1 Lionel Carter set and it has such a special place in collecting lore...

[bobsbbcards]

1) Card show in the late '80s where a dealer had two 1970 Topps Cloth stickers. He wanted $100 apiece. I offered $150 for the two of them. We couldn't come to an agreement. Ugh.

2) Card show in early '90s. Seller had complete 1968 Topps 3-D set in mint condition with wrapper, 1967 Brooks Robinson test, and Bart Starr 3-D card for $25K. I didn't have that much money. Ugh.

3) 1975 card show. I didn't buy everything in the room with my allowance money.

[Rookiemonster]

I also have a few early 90s card show experiences, one was A guy tried his very best to sell me a Koufax rookie and I was like nah I rather buy a new box of cards ..... . Did you ever want to go back in time and kick your own ass?

Many other occasions not PC related but just collecting related .There was a guy at the Garfield NJ show back in the day. He only sold minor league cards,I always ingored his cards. I remember the guy was very nice and tried to give me good info on the cards.But I was to cool for unlicensed cards. DAMIT ! if your reading this minor league card guy !IM SORRY you were right! Hey I was like 11 .


Also when Barry sanders ran for 2000 yards I sold all his rookies two score . I got over 100 bucks I remember so I did well and they go for cheap now . Well ungraded ones do. I just never replaced them I don't know why .

[Harford20]

I have had two experiences that have stuck with me (and will until I pass), not as a regret, but more as “I wish I had the money”.

In 1992, I met my wife’s second cousin. He was a lawyer for NFL and MLB players. He had a vast collection of cards, to include a low-grade T206 Honus Wagner. I got to hold it, stare at it, drool over it, and when he said he would sell it to me for $30k, I was ready to give up everything I owned to see if I might make the sale. My wife quickly squashed that as we had only been married 18 months at the time. Still, got to hold one and offered a sale………

In 2005, I was at a Texas card show with my father. One dealer had a PSA 9 (old label of course) 1952 Topps Mantle and was asking $90k for it. I had about $30k in savings at the time, and I thought his price was a bit high. I spoke with my father about borrowing some money and then offered something in the $50k range. The dealer said the price was firm. Missed the second iconic card…….

Now, will never have either card for my PC.

Dave

[stlcardsfan]

About 10 years ago at STL card show a dealer had a raw 52 Topps Mantle and was asking $10K. He was a really nice guy and we had a good rapport. I thought about it but just couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on a card. Someone bought it and submitted to PSA and the card graded a 4. Worth a lot more than $10K now....

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by bobsbbcards

2) Card show in early '90s. Seller had complete 1968 Topps 3-D set in mint condition with wrapper, 1967 Brooks Robinson test, and Bart Starr 3-D card for $25K. I didn't have that much money. Ugh.

That is an insane group to have sitting at a card show table.

[steve B]

Plenty of crazy stuff I could have bought back when I started, from late 77 till 82-83.

But the ones I'd like to have back was a group of 76 Hostess that were probably proofs of some sort. Different colors, numbers over 150 on some, weird colors, reversed negatives, lots of odd ones. Traded for the batch, and gave up a 74 McCovey Washington card. Went to the local shop a couple days later and swapped about half the batch for another McCovey Washington.

I wish I knew where those are now. Not the big dollar suff, but I've never seen any others. Here's a couple I kept



Steve B

[skil55voy]

I collect Post Cereal and Jello from the 60's. (And all the newer issues) In 1980 there was an ad in Sports Collectors Digest for a 1963 Post Cereal Frank Thomas EX/MT for 25.00. I thought about it and tried to scrape up the money and never got it. I still need the card for my set.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

[irv]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

How about this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjkLKKgOMRY

I still LOL.

[Rickyy]

Pre War - passed on T206 Magie Error Vg cond for around $800.00 at a card show in the late 80's....

Post War - bought one but passed on rare 77 Topps Unissued Proof Card of D Meyer was cheap too.

Passed also on a 1970 Topps Cloth Sticker card also at a reasonable price considering its rarity....ugh!

Ricky Y