The cards that got away

[Archive]

Posted By: Matt

Remember the big fish that got away story? I think everyone on this site has a story of the cards they had, and decided for whatever reason to sell them -- then realized about a year later or an hour later that it was a horrible mistake. I can tell the story to friends, but only the people here, on this site, could relate to my sadness. They were three T206's that I bought in the early 1990's. Back before PSA and any of the other third party graders came along. It was a desperate time, I needed money and had to have it instantly... so I sold them to a dealer in Midtown Manhatan. These were the cards, and often I look on ebay to see if anyone had them graded and put them up for sale. I could never afford them now, but often dream, that I never sold them and had them tucked away in desk drawer. I was working for a publisher at the time, and had access to a beautiful color copier. I carefully removed them from their screw down holders and made a color copy of both sides of the card. Here are the cards: Young, glove shows, Cycle back; Bender, portrait 150 subjects, Pfiester 350 subjects.
I went back a few years later to the same dealer, and he had sold his entire inventory of T206's. So I knew there was no hope of ever getting them again. I bought other t206 over the years, but none have rivaled these three. Please share your stories... I know you ALL have them.

Matt

[Archive]

Posted By: Jimmy

I mentioned in another trend that I had half the T206 set at one time a few years back - always need extra money - so I sell a lot of items on the side - but still collect a bit. I wish I had all the high graded Goudeys as well

Take Care

Jimmy

[Archive]

Posted By: peter ullman

My fishes that got away...and keep in mind I've always been a pretty low key...budget minded collector:

-opportunity to buy 2 complete e94 sets from an old gentleman in New Jersey in 1993 or so.

-broadleaf 460 back for $150 at a pennsylvania show

-baltimore news card $100

pete ullman

[Archive]

Posted By: Tom Hufford

In the early 1970s, when I was in college, I bought T206s from Wirt Gammon in Chattanooga. Remember the old metal boxes that Band-Aids came in? Wirt would send me one of those boxes full of T206s, I'd take what I needed, pay him 35 cents each, send the rest back, and await the next shipment.

After I had almost finished the set (except for about 10), Wirt asked me if I would like to buy the Honus Wagner card that he had. His asking price was $500. There was no way I could come up with that, and Wirt sold it to my friend Bill Haber, who had a job - working at Topps. Over the years, I saw the card several times after that, when I visited Bill - but he wasn't interested in selling it, even though I offered him double what he paid for it!

After Bill died in 1995, the card was sold, along with the rest of his collection. I have no idea who has it now - and I still need one to complete my T206s.

[Archive]

Posted By: peter ullman

great story tom..you should have mortgaged the dog!

pete ullman

[Archive]

Posted By: Bill K@sel

I too am a pretty low key collector.

My biggest regret is not being more aggressive with a 1911 Zeenut Halla in EX condition in 2004. I think it went for about $450 and I dropped out at $425. I love that card....

Bill