Judging by a few of the comments on part I of this two part post, I must have left the impression that I was GONE, done for, depressed or something. That was not my intention. I tried to end it with fact that I am still in the game. Now, don't get me wrong, my back top to bottom is a really big issue right now. And yes, I am still concerned on the disposition of my collection in the future. I will have to make sure I work on that issue in the coming years.
On to part two, more of do I go this way or that way. A couple of weeks ago I decided that no, I'm not ready to call it quits. Yet, it still left me with a brand new dilemma. Something on t.v. made me google the largest Braves baseball card collection. Specifically (that specific), I could find nothing. That could be because the data isn't out there or that I got distracted too much while researching. It Happens! You know it does. The rabbit hole. I went down one of those holes about Paul Jones, "Foul Ball Paul". I have heard/seen him before rather stories on him. I didn't really pay too much attention to his story then. His story is my "new" dilemma.
Paul holds the Guinness World record for the most non-commercial (personal collection) baseball cards. He is currently over 2.8 million cards. I didn't realize that was a thing. Had I known in the past (it was a thing), that record would have been completely shattered back when I had 8 million cards in my house, with half of them baseball cards. I am glad that I didn't know about it. By reading about his story, you will understand why. It is clear his collection is full of "junk wax", minor league cards, and dupes. But that doesn't matter. Paul does have some vintage, but not a whole lot. He has them sorted by player. I did that a couple of times including my current PC binders. Now it is apparent that Paul probably won't outlive me, but you never know.....we really don't. You see, since he was born his parents were told he was going to die. That has been decades ago now.
I would never consider taking that away from him. Paul loves baseball, it (his story) makes one feel good. His organization of the cards is envious for boxed cards which works great for his collection. He does have a SUPER impressive autograph (in person) collection too. My dilemma is I NOW have an additional focus when it comes to the cards that I own. This means that within the collection I need to make a few adjustments and I will work on those little by little. You see, I am going to shatter that record, just not officially. Like I just said, I wouldn't take that away from him. I've given away millions with an S over the last decade alone. I am going to get back to that monstrosity of cards, but the dupes will have to be organized by set and year (something that has always made me say ehhhh. This will allow me to better serve how I send cards to trading buds. I am still going to be doing what I have always done... trading and give aways. That makes me feel good. I know that storage will be an issue, but one that can be resolved, especially after Hunter (my youngest daughter) moves into her new home. I won't have bulk buys like that until probably March 2021 anyways or June.
The dilemma is half answered here. Should I pass before Paul, I want my collection at that time be counted for the record. Yes, take it away at my passing officially. Then I will have the non-vintage dupes which will ultimately be in the millions given and delivered to Paul, so that he can re-take the record officially. I am quite sure a lot of the vintage dupes will wind up there too, but I do a lot of trading out of those cards and I will be setting aside some for Paul. Anyways, you see where I am going with this. Once, I know that I have unofficially passed Paul's 3M + cards, I may reach out to his father Barry to give him a heads up, no need to do that before hand. I have a long way to go. I am at least 1 1/2 to 2 million behind right now. CRAZY, right?
Now, on the other hand should that MOST enthusiastic baseball card collector ever in the entire WORLD give way to his health issues. I will get my collection recorded. Now that would also create a new dilemma too, what in the hell am I going to do with those dupes then?
KISS, Keep is simple stupid. Man I wish that I could follow those MOST awesome rules.
Now that is a This & That post for sure.
Now that's an ambitious goal!
ReplyDeleteHere's a guy in Sarasota who had 3M cards until auctioning them all off a couple of years ago: https://www.fox13news.com/news/collector-giving-up-3-million-baseball-card-collection
ReplyDeleteThere's probably a lot more people than we realize with collections this large. Including dupes I've probably got about 300,000 - I would have to think there are plenty of people with collections 10X my size.
I'm probably between 3/4-1M unique, with apx. a 2-3 hundred K in dupes.
DeleteWell, that isn't exactly right, because my unique Braves are apx 350K and most are also in the set builds. The same can be said of the 1000 PC guys, those are all dupes in those binders. Set build come before the PC. But Braves first.
DeleteI just did a rough "scan". My "unique" Braves are more like 15,000. Which means I need that many Braves to match them for my set builds, and many will need another copy for the PC as they do make up the largest "team" when it comes to the PCs, then also the mini collections if they fit. So that means that I have apx 335K in dupes which includes the Braves dupes. Bummer, way less than I thought. But the overall number of cards is pretty close at 1.2 M.
DeleteTHIS is why I can never find cards for you.
ReplyDeleteMy want lists have tons of holes. Especially from junk era, and parallel galore eras
DeleteWith the updated comments to Bo, I believe I need another 150,000 Braves cards. give or take. You can find some.
DeleteI was going to comment on part 1, but wanted to see where you were going first. You sure changed directions there, starting with not wanting your kids to have to deal with your collection, to now wanting even more cards that the kids will have to deal with. Weird? I often wonder if the people who I see online who seemingly acquire everything in sight, ever wonder about who's gonna have to deal with all of that when they're gone? And I don't think most of them do. I know you only live once and all, but that doesn't mean that someone else should have to spend the rest of theirs dispersing your (the collective you) collection. From a personal standpoint, I've spent the last year+ weeding through my stuff, and only keeping the things that actually mean something to me, and not just everything. It hasn't exactly been fun, but does feel like I'm actually doing something that in the long run will benefit more than just me.
ReplyDeleteI did dump a few mini collections this year. Seeings that the bulk of whatever I wind up with will be "junk" dupes, that will go to Paul should he outlive me, then the rest I'll be figuring something out to make it an easy transaction for the girls. I do have a grandson, lol.
DeleteIf I'm fortunate to make 70, I plan to begin selling off at that time. However, if my young friend (12 yrs) Trevor is still into cards, it's possible he will inherit them. He's my best friend's grandson. I've known him since he was three. I've also taken time this year to catalog my collection which will help should I go unexpectedly. It's good to have a plan! Glad you're thinking of this, esp with such a phenomenally large collection!!
ReplyDelete