Best decisions/biggest regrets as autograph collectors?

[Steve D]

Back in the early 1980s, I worked at a card store in San Diego, CA. A relative of a former major leaguer, if I remember correctly, George Cutshaw, brought in some baseballs that George had received during his playing days.

The balls included a single-signed Ty Cobb, a Honus Wagner, a Jim Thorpe and a Babe Ruth. Also included was one signed by both Cobb and Wagner, and one I think signed by Ruth and Thorpe. I was around 20-21 years old at the time, and couldn't afford them.

The store owner put an ad in SCD, and sold the single-signed balls for I think, $300 each, and the dual-signed ones for $600 each.

It still kills me to this day!

Steve

[Steve D]

One other regret is a 1941 LIFE Magazine that I had signed by Ted Williams.

Back in 1981 or 1982, Ted was a guest speaker at a sports banquet in San Diego. I caught up with him as he was walking through the parking lot of the hotel/convention center, and he signed the magazine, with a beautiful, BIG signature; I couldn't have been happier!

Fast-forward to the early 1990s. I had never been happy that I wasn't able to properly display the magazine, as back then, there was nothing that would hold a large magazine the size of LIFE. So, I reluctantly consigned it to, get ready for it..........Coaches Corner! Back then, they had huge 20-page auctions in SCD. Well, I sent it to them, along with some of the 1980s NIKE posters that I had gotten signed, on consignment.

I basically got next to nothing for any of the items.

Oh, another item I consigned at the same time to CC was an old Chesterfield Cigarettes LIFE Magazine ad that I had gotten signed by both Ted Williams and Stan Musial.

Steve

[Polarboy]

Originally Posted by Steve D

Back in the early 1980s, I worked at a card store in San Diego, CA. A relative of a former major leaguer, if I remember correctly, George Cutshaw, brought in some baseballs that George had received during his playing days.

The balls included a single-signed Ty Cobb, a Honus Wagner, a Jim Thorpe and a Babe Ruth. Also included was one signed by both Cobb and Wagner, and one I think signed by Ruth and Thorpe. I was around 20-21 years old at the time, and couldn't afford them.

The store owner put an ad in SCD, and sold the single-signed balls for I think, $300 each, and the dual-signed ones for $600 each.

It still kills me to this day!

Steve

$300 Ruth?! Man I wish I could go back to those days!

[Topps206]

I’ve thought of another good decision - 2020, as the world was being shut down, I sent in a Leon Spinks SI a private signing, and I’m guessing quarantine delayed the signing, but got it back signed a few months later. He was gone in February 2021.