Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Childhood Scribbles Cost Sports Collectors Later

The baseball bears autographs from the 1957 or 1958 Milwaukee Braves. Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn and Eddie Mathews are there. Other Braves greats signed as well -- Del Crandall, Bob Buhl, Juan Pizarro and Wes Covington.

But baseball archivists studying the ball hundreds of years from now would be puzzled to find this autograph: Mark Preman.

Mr. Preman was never listed on the Braves' lineup card, nor was he affiliated with the franchise. Indeed, he was an 11-year-old kid who, upon receiving the ball as a gift from his father, signed his own name to the big-league baseball.

For the rest of the story click here.

The Wall Street Journal
OCTOBER 20, 2008

Just think of all the cards destroyed by bicycle spokes...

Just think of all the cards destroyed by bicycle spokes...

My dad has several cards in his collection with the faces on the cards removed from bike spokes. He said he never did it, but he would run out to the bike rack after school everyday and remove the cards from other kids spokes and keep them for himself. Kinda funny.

I still have a Scott Rolen card somewhere that I blew up with a firecracker. That'll show ya for leaving the Phillies!!

great article thanks

I have several of those, not the Mick though, where I wrote "traded to XXX" and what about flippin against the wall, no wonder the corners are fuzzy.

The only thing I will disagree with is the $1.25 reference to the written on Mantle card. I do not know the bv of it, but I am sure any collector would not mind owning it even in that condition just to have one of him from that era. Just think in another 100 years how many of those are going to be around?

The only thing I will disagree with is the $1.25 reference to the written on Mantle card.  I do not know the bv of it, but I am sure any collector would not mind owning it even in that condition just to have one of him from that era.  Just think in another 100 years how many of those are going to be around?

Where would they all go?

Where would they all go?

My thoughts are that some of this stuff ends up getting found in attics and tossed by old ladies with no knowledge of its value, just like mom did when you were younger.

In addition, I am sure some will get ruined in natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados, floods etc.

As time marches on the supply of vintage cards will decrease as will the number offered on the market. That is why we will continue to see the price of high grade vintage material climb and climb with each big auction. Unfortunately most folks believe that anything sports related is worth a fortune. Every weekend someone comes into my shop and wants to sell me their childhood collection of "old" 1991 Donruss.

i used to run to my friends house to trade cards and put them in the back of my hat while a lot of times i would get distracted, get into a neighborhood football game or something and literally sweat the cards to death...

As time marches on the supply of vintage cards will decrease as will the number offered on the market. That is why we will continue to see the price of high grade vintage material climb and climb with each big auction. Unfortunately most folks believe that anything sports related is worth a fortune. Every weekend someone comes into my shop and wants to sell me their childhood collection of "old" 1991 Donruss.

I think that guy has gone to every shop in America!

I hear that from the card shop guys all the time! ROFL!!!!

I think that guy has gone to every shop in America!

I hear that from the card shop guys all the time! ROFL!!!!

I hate that too because then you have to be the bad guy and tell them that there stuff isn't worth anything. I've had to do that numerous times and it never gets easier.

I hate that too because then you have to be the bad guy and tell them that there stuff isn't worth anything. I've had to do that numerous times and it never gets easier.

Yeah that part is never fun. Another of my favorite moments is when someone comes in and looks at all my singles in the display cases and then says, "Cards just aren't worth anything anymore." I usually reply by saying, "The good ones are worth more than ever but the mass produced 80s and 90s junk is pretty much worthless as it should be."

OUCH...gotta hurt

I have a Nolan Ryan 1991 in mint quality, limited to 10,000,000 copies.
that I can let go for a even 50

Yeah that part is never fun. Another of my favorite moments is when someone comes in and looks at all my singles in the display cases and then says, "Cards just aren't worth anything anymore." I usually reply by saying, "The good ones are worth more than ever but the mass produced 80s and 90s junk is pretty much worthless as it should be."

.... dollars

  I have a Nolan Ryan 1991 in mint quality, limited to 10,000,000 copies.
that I can  let go for a even 50 

As time marches on the supply of vintage cards will decrease as will the number offered on the market.

At least until we all get those matter converters in the house, in which case we'll be able to make our own.

Then those copies with the spoke marks will be the true collectibles.