The 1980's...

[Beatles Guy]

I got the Billy Ripken "FF" card in a pack at a card show in 1989. The dealer who had the table offered me $75 for it and I declined. I ended up trading it to a friend for about $600 worth of cards, including several Boggs, Gwynn, and Mattingly rookies.

[Irwin Fletcher]

I remember pulling the Billy Ripken F-Face card out of a pack in 1989 as well. I don't collect many modern cards anymore, but that card will always be a part of my collection. It's a classic. By the way, there's a good discussion of the Ripken card in the recent book "Mint Condition" (excellent book all around, by the way).

[RiverOnFire]

I pulled the Ripken card in 2006 at a Wal-Mart outside Cooperstown thanks to a flat tire. Eating at a McDonald's, in a Wal-Mart opening baseball cards is probably the most American thing I've ever done.

And sadly, my favorite part of Cooperstown.

[dstraate]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

I got the Billy Ripken "FF" card in a pack at a card show in 1989. The dealer who had the table offered me $75 for it and I declined. I ended up trading it to a friend for about $600 worth of cards, including several Boggs, Gwynn, and Mattingly rookies.

Is this guy still a friend? If so, I have to meet him.

[Beatles Guy]

I still see the guy from time to time and he reminds me of it That was the very definition of selling high. When I pulled the card, it had just been discovered. So I sat on it for several weeks before pulling the trigger. It's the one moment in collecting that I can compare to the whole Strasburg hype.

[FUBAR]

Strasburg hype has died.. The next one guys will be laying down the bucks for will be Bryce Harper!!!