Question for all. My local shop owner doesn't even collect--I'm not even sure he likes cards! It's just a job and cards are just money.
1) What's your PC, if any?
2) Assuming you collect, is there any worry about turning your passion into your income? For many, their hobbies are an ESCAPE from the everyday, work, etc. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the questions Kevin!
1) I have been trying to let the walls around my personal collection fall, and to adapt the view that my inventory is effectively my collection; and that buying and selling regularly supports me growing it. This view has been great since I've had the ability to own cards I never thought I would, while remaining unattached and liquid enough to manage the business.
That said, a part of my personal collection that is not yet listed is my massive Sammy Sosa hoard. I own the top ranking PSA registry master set of him, plus an absurd number (over 1,300 unique) raw cards of him. I love this collection since it represents the excitement of baseball during my childhood, and the transition from junk wax to refractors and pack pulled autos.
2) Like for most collectors, part of my passion for collecting was always financially driven; we all want our collections to grow in value eventually. The big difference for me now is that not having another full time job allows me to focus more on the projects I'm passionate about, and to stress less about things like client deadlines and the politics of an ad agency.
There's a lot of work to do as a hobby shop owner, though it varies widely from buying and processing inventory, staffing, planning and executing events, web development and even ad management. I still find escape in the rabbit holes of learning more than necessary about a set new to me, researching individual players and games and seeing what others are doing in the space. If anything, being more deeply invested in the hobby has increased my passion for it!
I still run my card business as a side hussle, and for years I took the same approach to my inventory as you. Over the past few years, I've run into some cards that I just can't let go of (e.g., 1946 Propagandas Musial, '47 Bond Bread (rounded corners) Jackie, Tip Top Spahn). Do you have any cards that you just can't bring yourself to part with?
Regards,
Burl (Justin Burleson)
@burlssports I sure hope his answer is yes! Ha. I know I have a few I will take to the grave.
@t206cards that's a fantastic perspective. If I ever aspired to make a living selling, there are a few I still think I would need to stash away in the safe, far away from anything called Inventory!
@chvadmin I guess I should have been more specific. I want him to name names! Lol
I do have a few! A couple that come to mind immediately are my SGC 4 1949 Team Issue Larry Doby, and my full panel 1950 R423 that also contains him. I also still have a couple of the binders of my childhood collection for sentimental reasons.
I collect Hanks and Monte Irvin. Starting a bit on Doby and Luke Easter. Always looking for the cards I never had as a kid - ex. 84 Donruss Mattingly. Have a run going where I’m trying to get a card (or a reasonable card-like item - ie Blankets, team photos, pins) for every year going back to 1900. That’s been a learning experience. I’m pathologically incapable of selling pretty much anything. I love my stuff and the stories that go with the pieces or the players.
@burlssports most of the way back to 1920. Had to get a little creative in the 40s. Now into the teens and aughts. It’s been fun. I’ve learned a lot and come across some interesting sets and interesting players! Hope to get into 19th century at some point! Working on this collection and a certain Matt Felumlee character helped get me into Cuban cards too.!
Question for all. My local shop owner doesn't even collect--I'm not even sure he likes cards! It's just a job and cards are just money.
1) What's your PC, if any?
I have been an avid Hank Greenberg collector since 2006, focusing on his contemporary cards. I collected everything he had until 2018 where I sold a third of my collection to reinvest it back into his vintage cards. It was the best collecting decision I've ever made.
2) Assuming you collect, is there any worry about turning your passion into your income? For many, their hobbies are an ESCAPE from the everyday, work, etc. Thanks in advance!
I have turned some cards in my PC into real-life things, most recently an engagement ring. I actually don't miss those cards, as my collection advanced past my needing those specific cards in my collection. Would rather have the ring and my fiance.
