The $107,868 Lesson, My Book, and Starting Over

[mouschi]

One card shown below, the 1998 Crusade Green is actually an Executive Prototype, which I consider to be the best Canseco Crusade ever made, due to the colors and rarity (it is estimated that only one or two were made).* That is one card I never had to begin with but traded for because it meant so much to me from a collector named Jonathan.* I'd be remiss if I didn't mention anything about the Gold Victory 1/1 - perhaps the most beautiful card ever produced, or the Certified Mirror Red Prototype that has quite possibly the wildest backstory ever for any card in my collection!



Note also that I switched from keeping cards in One-Touch holders to mini snaps from Pro Mold.* I LOVE how they look and feel - it gives you a more intimate feeling of the card if that makes sense.* (That sounded creepy, didn't it?)* The Black Chrome Refractor was graciously traded back to me by Chad.* Speaking of black refractors, I was able to get back my Expos Black Refractor as well.* Thank you, Chad and Rob!* I was able to get back my Brilliants 24 kt from Curtis - by the way, he has a TON of insane Canseco stuff for sale on eBay now.* Check him out at mayco23!

As with the binders, storage for my high-end treasures was something I wanted to be special, so I spent $40 shipped and got this from Amazon.* (I was going to tell you what kind, but apparently it is sold out.* You can get something very similar at Harbor Freight called the "Aluminum Case".)



Closed, it is beautiful and makes you feel like it should be handcuffed to your wrist at all times.* It looks like it could contain priceless artifacts that movies are made of.* For me, while the outside is great, the inside is greater.* It includes something called "pluck and pull" foam.* You can pull perforated chunks out of the foam to fit your cards so they display nice and snug.



I couldn't get it out of my head as to what some beautiful high-end cards would look like laying flush in the surface of the foam. Perfect!



As you can see, the nice cards I have decided to keep fit beautifully inside this case.* It took some time to pluck & pull the foam out where I wanted so everything is nice and uniform.* There was even a spot for my game-used team autographed 1989 World Series baseball that I kept!



Having this case took care of two issues for me.* I don't like multiple cards being "displayed" on a desk or anywhere because it makes the cards feel like fine china to me.* Putting them in a cardboard box makes me feel like they lose their specialness.* For me, this case is the best of both worlds.* It also gives off a nice 3d display effect.



One of the things I love about this foam, is you can make secret compartments behind cards.* Check out what is behind the middle patch card!* That's right - I have the 1/1, 5/5 and 10/10



You may recall that Blowout Buzz did an article on me stating what my favorite card was.* Though I had many favorites, I chose the 2017 Museum wood 1/1 to be featured.* It was the first card I sold off to Supercollector AJ - I miss the card, but it simply wouldn't have been financially smart for me to have kept it.* While I LOVE the wood card and would take it any day over the /5 version, I have a LOT of love for the /5 - the black frame, holographic foil and silver signature.* The Museum framed cards were some of my favorites, and in hand, this one pops best out of all of them.

When I sold it, fellow Canseco collecting compadre Jared sent it out to PSA and got it back as a 10!* I'm glad we were able to do a deal to get it back into my collection.* I paid very well for it, but am super happy it is back home.



The 2015 Dynasty release marked the first time I spent big money on singles.* A few of my favorites are gone and locked up in their forever homes, but I was able to pick back up this beauty.* It is a jumbo 25th anniversary patch - only 2 or 3 others likely exist.* I really wanted a slick Dynasty representation, so Ty was kind enough to sell it back to me.



The 2000 UD Game Jersey patch card is the first patch card of Canseco's, ever.* I had one already, but fell in love with the patch coloring and bought it overseas.* I sold it after I went public with my retirement announcement and later asked the owner if it was available.* The 1st time this card came in was fun, but the 2nd time was greater.

Just beneath the patch card, is my lone Topps Archives Signature Series card.* If you recall, I used to have over 100 different Archives cards, with over 20 1/1s.* This is the one I decided to keep.* It is the only 1/1 Refractor Archives card I've ever seen of Jose and only one of a couple I've seen of anyone for 2015-16.* For me, it is by far the most beautiful Archives card I have ever seen, as well!



The following card is probably one that I'm most excited about getting back.* The 1997 Pinnacle Totally Certified Platinum Gold.* I caught wind of it coming up for sale and stayed chained to my computer to wait for it to pop up.* I sold it a while back and regretted doing so.

It took a month or two after selling it to realize that I wished I would have kept it.* After a month of negotiations with Canseco's close friend John, I was once again, the proud owner of this beauty.

I targeted this specific card because of the lack of serial number due to the fact that it is likely the only one of its kind.* It originally came from a prominent figure in the hobby who had a number of executive prototypes/samples for sale as well.* (See the blue Diamond Axis die-cut card in the background?* It came from the same lot and is an Executive Sample.)



Aside from cards, I also kept my game-used home run bat and the fielding glove Canseco traded me, as well as what seems to be a lifetime worth of game-used/player-worn pieces so I can keep making my own cards.* (Don't worry - the glove and bat will NOT be cut up!)



I guess there is life for me in this hobby after Supercollecting.* I will continue to pick up other special Canseco cards here and there, and so far I've stayed well within the profits I made off of selling my collection.* If this sounds familiar to you, it might be due to the fact that I made it my goal to stay within the profits of selling off my first collection in an article I wrote almost exactly five years ago on my blog called "Jose Canseco PC 2.0".* That plan didn't work out so well, did it?* * I guess you can call the latest rendition Jose Canseco PC 3.0 (or Free.0!)* but whatever you do, don't call it a comeback.

Thanks as always for reading!* I do hope you can check out my new book:
Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1731198469...qid=1545227495
Send it to your wives to get you for Christmas - what wife wouldn't want to get their husband a book about a guy selling his collection?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMPZIlYlnt8

https://tanmanbaseballfan.com/2018/1...7868-book.html