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Breakin' The Law
Rules are important to maintain order within a civilization. In terms of collecting, sometimes I'll create a rule for myself to keep me from making poor decisions I'll end up regretting in the future.
Here are a few rules I've established for myself:
1. Avoid spending more than a few dollars on any given memorabilia card.
2. Avoid the temptation to dive into baseball "prospecting".
3. Avoid having someone else "bust my box" for me.
4. Avoid purchasing autographs signed on "stickers".
5. Avoid busting full priced blaster boxes.
6. Avoid the "investment" philosophy.
7. Avoid "group" breaks, unless their for charity.
And finally the one that pertains to today's post: Avoid purchasing cut-signatures of active signers.
Now before I offend anyone... I totally understand their place in the hobby. If someone wants to cut up a photo or a check and insert them into a trading card, that's their business. Heck... my buddy often grabs signatures on index cards when he finds himself without a photo of the athlete and he creates these amazing displays with them.
Personally... it's just not my thing. If I'm going to spend my hard earned money on a athlete's signature, then I'll usually save up and purchase a pack pulled, hard signed autograph that I enjoy looking at while holding in my hand.
However... every now and then... I'll get rebellious and break my own rules. And that's exactly what took place last week.
I stumbled across a complete set of 2014 HA Originals in one of my saved eBay searches. The set contains twenty-four cut-signatures ranging from Lou Brock to Frank Thomas:
Here are a few rules I've established for myself:
1. Avoid spending more than a few dollars on any given memorabilia card.
2. Avoid the temptation to dive into baseball "prospecting".
3. Avoid having someone else "bust my box" for me.
4. Avoid purchasing autographs signed on "stickers".
5. Avoid busting full priced blaster boxes.
6. Avoid the "investment" philosophy.
7. Avoid "group" breaks, unless their for charity.
And finally the one that pertains to today's post: Avoid purchasing cut-signatures of active signers.
Now before I offend anyone... I totally understand their place in the hobby. If someone wants to cut up a photo or a check and insert them into a trading card, that's their business. Heck... my buddy often grabs signatures on index cards when he finds himself without a photo of the athlete and he creates these amazing displays with them.
Personally... it's just not my thing. If I'm going to spend my hard earned money on a athlete's signature, then I'll usually save up and purchase a pack pulled, hard signed autograph that I enjoy looking at while holding in my hand.
However... every now and then... I'll get rebellious and break my own rules. And that's exactly what took place last week.
I stumbled across a complete set of 2014 HA Originals in one of my saved eBay searches. The set contains twenty-four cut-signatures ranging from Lou Brock to Frank Thomas:
Lou Brock, Rod Carew, Steve Carlton, and Chris Chambliss
Carlton Fisk, Bob Gibson, Dwight Gooden, and Goose Gossage
Ray Knight, Reggie Jackson, Tony Kubek, and Tony La Russa
Juan Marichal, Graig Nettles, Gaylord Perry, and Lou Piniella
Tim Raines, Pete Rose, Gary Sheffield, and Ozzie Smith
Darryl Strawberry, Bruce Sutter, Don Sutton, and Frank Thomas
Now like I said... normally this kind of set wouldn't interest me. Nonetheless, I really like the design of the embedded miniature card and the checklist is pretty solid. Most importantly... the price was right.
The damage? $104 (+ $13 shipping). That's less than $5 per autographdelivered, which is why I broke my own rule and made the purchase.
And believe it or not... the set actually looks nicer in person. My only complaint is the Pete Rosesignature which has been partially cut off. But I'm thinking that my conscience will let me live with this purchase.
What about you?
Do you have any hobby rules that you've established for yourself? If so, what are they?
Happy Monday and sayonara!
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