Ok, I scanned it. So you do know how good it looks.
But I'm at a crossroads here. Starting off, I'm looking for Nic Batum rare RC's. That's pretty standard for me.
I'm building 2012 Topps Heritage. Again, I love the design and '63 was my favorite release.
So, I'm dabbling in maybe picking up more 1963 Topps. Not crazy collecting all at once, but slowly getting what I can when I can.
But these Clemente cards are the most marked-up cards simply based on who he was. Collecting them takes some real resolve while in an auction. So they're valuable. Everything with Clemente on it holds value.
So that's what I'm having to balance. I understand that my collection needs to reflect my likes and tastes. I also understand that collecting has ZERO guarantee to be profitable. And that's not really my intention.
But that doesn't mean because it's hard to make collecting profitable I can't make my collecting VALUABLE.
I look at some of these video box breaks online - and I'm dumbfounded by the absolute lack of value in so many releases. I'm looking at you Grilled Sandwiches.
But, lunch meat aside, let's say someday I had to sell my 63 Clemente - I'm not going to take a loss on that. There are enough collectors who want good condition vintage that isn't slabbed that I wouldn't have a problem flipping that card. The fact that I could sell a card with little to no effort and stay even is valuable to me.
I feel safe in collecting Clemente cards because I know that the value will hold up - and likely will even continue to rise. It's the initial investment that can be tough. So, I'm batting some ideas around.
I will say this, I'm more proud at how I'm approaching collecting now at this stage in my life than at any point previous. Ignorance in this hobby will literally cost you. There is a way to make collecting fun and make it valuable.
Simply having fun busting random boxes isn't valuable. But if having fun is all a person is after, then by all means, bust away. I like to play Keno when I go out to dinner with the wife. It's fun as hell, but rarely valuable.
And just chasing value isn't going to be fun. Pure prospect collecting and flipping would give me heartburn.
But there is a medium in there I think. There is a mix of value and fun that can be had. Again, assuming a person doesn't confuse profit and value, this hobby can remain viable for me. I like the place I'm at mentally with collecting this time around. I'm actually smiling as I write this last sentence.
2 comments:
Clemente is a fantastic guy to build a PC around. Great player and humanitarian...although it's tragic, i loved that he finished his career with exactly 3000 hits. Every time a great player reaches that milestone, baseball fans are reminded of him. Good luck with the '63 set if you continue to go after it.
As for the busting random boxes, this is something that i always struggle with in the hobby. I LOVE opening packs and you get a lot of them in boxes...so why not buy boxes. I often justify it by saying why buy a $100 card when i can have 20 or 30 cards in a $100 box? Plus i may pull a decent hit i can flip for more cards, packs or boxes...it's a dilemma for me.
I totally understand the appeal of busting boxes. I do it still. Granted, I have a goal in mind, but it's still there - that sense of pulling the monster hit and having a $10000 card to sell on ebay.
It's a dilemma for sure. Like I said, there isn't a RIGHT way to do it. There is only the way that makes you happy. I found I was no longer happy busting with no purpose. Some people though, busting random wax is the purpose. And more power to them if that satisfies their craving.
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