I finally did it! I’m out of the hobby!

[Chavezforprez]

For those that were curious, these are the five cards I kept and why:

1) 1989 UpperDeck #1 Ken Griffey Jr RC PSA 8.5
The first card of the premier set that created high end cards. Plus as a kid of the 80s and 90s, Griffey was it. Everyone thinks Ohtani is the first MLB icon that inspired a generation, but it was Griffey. This was kept because it reminds me of a time that I was imaginative and believed anything was possible.

2) 1996 ex-2000 Kobe Bryant RC
Again, an icon of the era. He was the only one who could compete with Jordan in popularity was team Kobe all the way, and as a kid, this set was unobtainable for me. Beautiful card, and a great RC of my favorite BB player.

3) 1968 Topps Johnny Bench RC SGC 3.5
As a kid my best friend played catcher, and was a big Benito Santiago fan. This made me research and learn of all the great catchers. I could never afford to play baseball, but instead learned what I could. Bench, IMO, is the best backstop to ever play so keeping a RC of his keeps me tied to my childhood and that friend I lost track of.

4) 2005 Topps Justin Verlander RC SGC 10
The last great pitcher to be able to pitch high amounts of innings and get Ks routinely. He was the last of the generation of pitchers to consider pitching late into innings was good. He was not a guy to only pitch 2 high quality innings and then go to the bullpen.

5) 2018 Heritage Shohei Ohtani RC PSA 10
The first successful two way player since Ruth. Only time will tell if he is better or not. I just would rather keep one RC to remember what he was. Being graded just helps set it apart from all the raw copies out there. He reminds me of the great pitchers of the 90s that I watched, specifically the Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux trio.

All great cards and great reasons to hold onto them.

Billy

 

[Jaybo374]

I understand. My collecting has ebbed and flowed over the decades. At times it ebbed because of finances like when my wife and I bought our home and my daughter was born or when my daughter went to college. Other times it ebbed because the enormity of collection got me thinking about what will happen to my collection after I'm gone. My daughter has no interest in them. Over the past four years I've slowly sold doubles, triples and cards that just don't appeal to me on eBay. While I do try to knock out some vintage sets (71 Topps is killing me) and start some other vintage sets, I'm done mindlessly buying packs and random lots of cards. My greatest collection thrills are TTMs of players from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I find that I get more enjoyment from an autographed 1987 Topps Jerry Browne or an autographed 1972 Topps Jim York than I am from the Aaron Judge RCs I had lying around.

 

[doniceage]

I understand. My collecting has ebbed and flowed over the decades. At times it ebbed because of finances like when my wife and I bought our home and my daughter was born or when my daughter went to college. Other times it ebbed because the enormity of collection got me thinking about what will happen to my collection after I'm gone. My daughter has no interest in them. Over the past four years I've slowly sold doubles, triples and cards that just don't appeal to me on eBay. While I do try to knock out some vintage sets (71 Topps is killing me) and start some other vintage sets, I'm done mindlessly buying packs and random lots of cards. My greatest collection thrills are TTMs of players from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I find that I get more enjoyment from an autographed 1987 Topps Jerry Browne or an autographed 1972 Topps Jim York than I am from the Aaron Judge RCs I had lying around.

That is true but a judge will always sell. Cannot knock a guy of that caliber. Just do what makes the hobby enjoyable for you.

Don