The One That Got Away

Seven · #1 10-24-2020, 04:30 PM

Nothing too egregious from what I remember. Granted I did go to card shows as a kid, and most likely walked right past the tobacco cards, because 10 year old me was certainly not interested in blowing his birthday and christmas money on some old dead guys like Cobb.

Recently, A few months back Dan Hicks on here, had a very nice 3.5 51 Mantle for sale. At the time I couldn't swing it. Didn't have the cash. If only I had then, what I had now, I would've been able to afford it. Live and learn I suppose. Another one, just as nice, will hopefully come up.

CobbSpikedMe · #2 10-24-2020, 04:44 PM

When I was a kid, I knew about tobacco cards and t206 specifically, but thought they had to cost a fortune. So at shows, I wouldn't even think to look for them, even to just see them in person. I convinced myself they must be so rare that nobody at the show would have one and even if they did it would be in a think-ass screw down holder with a huge price tag on it. Years later, of course, I learned that not only were these famous t206 cards at those shows, but they were fairly cheap and, even with my modest sum of cash, I could have bought some of them. I have regretted missing all those opportunities to buy them back then ever since. If I knew I could buy them, and HOFers no less, I would've saved all my money for each show and bought as many as I could. Instead, I ended up with a bunch for 80's era junk wax crap that I still have.

darkhorse9 · #3 10-24-2020, 04:55 PM

Okay, not baseball related but....my Dad worked for Hilton and we actually lived in Hilton Hotels growing up.
During my youth I met tons of celebrities who were staying at the hotel, except one. I remember my Dad asking if I wanted to meet Elvis Presley, but I was too busy playing with my baseball cards and said No

Still cringe at passing on that one.

Exhibitman · #4 10-24-2020, 05:22 PM

Another regret: I remember being at a show here in LA where someone had a stack of Cobb-signed checks for $50 each. I figured there was plenty of time to get one since he had a stack. Wrong!

irv · #5 10-24-2020, 07:03 PM

I passed on a PSA 4 1956 Mantle for about a 1/4 of what they go for today but my biggest regret to this day is not acting sooner with my Uncle's 52 Topps cards, that included an Eddie Mathews.

At the time, I told him if he was ever going to sell them, to let me know, but not knowing back then what I know now, I should have hounded him for sure as he ended up selling them to a pawn shop sometime between then and 5 yrs ago.

I'm not sure why he did that, other than him thinking he likely could get more at a pawn shop than he would from me, but to this day, whenever I see a 52 Topps Mathews, I immediately think back to what could have been.

Fred · #6 10-24-2020, 07:09 PM

I wouldn't even know where to start...

How about over (300) T206 with HOFers (Matty, Johnson, others) for about $1200. Mind you this was 4 decades ago...

There's more... makes me laugh at myself now... If, If, If, If... All good, no complaints - I've enjoyed this hobby so how can I look back and wonder "what if"... crap, time to find a fifth of something...

Fred · #7 10-24-2020, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Another regret: I remember being at a show here in LA where someone had a stack of Cobb-signed checks for $50 each. I figured there was plenty of time to get one since he had a stack. Wrong!

That's funny - must have been the same guy I had the same opportunity to buy those checks from, but it was $35 a check. Yes, a pile of them.

I think it was about mid/late 80s. It was a baseball card shop near Beverly Hills.

Here's a neat story - Sports Card Plus (Dave Kohler) used to have a shop in Westminister (just to the east of Huntington Beach) back in the 80s, before he hit the big time in sport memorabilia. I remember Dave as a really nice guy. I'd cherry pick the NrMt cards he had. I picked up a MINT, yes MINT (ok, worst case NRMT-MT) Fleer William set (with Ted signs) for $200. Back then that was double book, but it was SO CLEAN - I haven't seen a cleaner set before or after that.

So many fun hobby stories to tell...

steve B · #8 10-24-2020, 10:53 PM

Moved to a new town and started hanging out at the local card shop in 1977. Till maybe 83/84 ish.

So many things got away simply because stuff was cheap then.
33 Goudey Ruths for 100.
One year they bought a 52 Mantle for a then record price, I think 900?
T206 Hof ers for $10 each in VG.

Orr Rookie- the US test version - 100? For a hockey card?!?
Boxful- probably 400+ of the tiny feltback football cards.
54 Aaron at the first show I went to for 60...

So much other stuff.

Leon · #9 10-26-2020, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Another regret: I remember being at a show here in LA where someone had a stack of Cobb-signed checks for $50 each. I figured there was plenty of time to get one since he had a stack. Wrong!

The ole Buy It When You See It adage....

I remember about 20 yrs ago walking around a National. Maybe my first one or second one. I had seen an E92 Dockman Young for 200 dollars. A hobby friend told me to go buy it. I looked and looked....and finally found it. So, I let it go at first and was lucky enough to be able to go back and find it. Sorry, wrong twist on this thread but it's baseball cards and sort of close, kind of.....and I don't remember a good one that got away except the Colgans part of the Trucker Boy Find....