I would like to start collecting baseball cards again...

I post it every time one of these baseball card threads pop up, but it's always good for a laugh -- the worthless card collection:

http://www.joesportsfan.com/cards.php

 

Oh, the money I wasted on this set:

 

fuck that guy. sanguillen was a helluva player.

 

Yeah.

 

I hope one day that the 188 Canseco (Jose, not Ozzie) cards I have will pay for one of the tires on my kid's first car.
Take that, Feed the Pig.

 

Fixed.

 

I collected autographs via the mail for about three years...between 8th and 11th grades, I'd say. I'd always write a personal letter. "Dear Shane Rawley: I remember when you pitched for the Yankees and Phillies in 1983. Congratulations on setting a career high in wins last year. I would greatly appreciate adding your autograph to my collection. Enclosed please find a card and SASE. Thank you very much and best of luck in 1988."

I could not wait for the mail, every single day. I'll never forget how happy I was when I got my first card back...Rick Reuschel, 1986 Topps. I got that card back in eight days in the summer of '87. I rode my bike to my best friend's house to show him and his stepdad. (What I could have written to Rick Reuschel, I have no idea..."Dear Rick: You're old and awesome and bald and fat. I remember when you pitched for the Yankees and then blew your arm out and missed three years. Man the Pirates suck huh?")

That happiness was nothing at all compared to the abject joy I felt when I got a 1987 Topps card back from................Mark McGwire, who was in the midst of his 49-homer rookie season. I about shat myself. It was Viagra for a 13-year-old. I think I wrote something about how I knew he was going to be a star before anyone else and how I stocked up on his rookie cards (all of which was true). My other front-running buddies (hi Stormy!!!) sent McGwire stuff, too, but never got anything back. So when I got the card back, they all thought I was full of shit and that I had signed the card myself.

Then I brought the envelope in the next day. They had a lot less to say after that, muahahhaha.

Those were great times, and yeah, getting a card in the mail made my day. I still have them all in an album somewhere in our apartment...always good to take a look at the cards a handful of times a year. Great conversation pieces.

 

I once thought my Pete Rose autographed baseball and 200-plus cards would make me rich. Oh well.

 

I have a Stan Musial autographed baseball ... no clue how much it's worth.

 

I thought the same thing about "Transformers" Issue 1. (And maybe X-Factor No. 1.)

 

I've probably lost it, but I once had a book with every autograph of the ’79 Cubs. That has to be worth at least $4-$5.

 

This thread made me find something awesome. For I hold, in my hands, a small photo album of a young Granny being held by the following Chicago Cubs at something called "Camera Day" on the grass at Wrigley:

Manager Preston Gomez

Cliff Johnson (who is whistling at nothing in particular proving he's the token "1970s-80s black guy on cocaine" for the team.)

Larry Bittner (wonderful last name)

Ken Henderson (wearing a jersey that looks painted on him)

Your random Met, Jerry Morales, who looks like he gives one hell of a mustache ride.

Jerry Martin, who, well, just looks strange.

Jesus Figuroa who looks very happy to be holding me and enjoying getting his picture taken.

Coach: Gene Clines with a beer gut that resembles a mountain ridge.

And Billy Williams, who has this awesome smile like, you know, this is still fun.

Some white douche named Mike Tyson.

Thanks for making me find this. Thanks for memory lane.