Indulge me, please, while I cover two subjects in one post, and ask a "What would you do?" question at the end.
First up, my cardboard lawyer, Tony from Off Hiatus, sent a fistful of 2018 Topps Dodgers to me. He's been sending team cards to a lot of us, and I'm lucky enough to have been included in his generosity.
We'll check out my favorite cards individually, while I tell you about the collecting conundrum I found myself in at the card show yesterday.
So I was perusing a box of cards at my favorite dealer's table yesterday, while a guy flipped through a binder beside me. He slelected his cards and asked about a Cal Ripken Jr. RC that was also in the binder. My ears perked up. A Ripken rookie card was one of the holy grails when I first got into the game, and I still don't have one.
Joc Pederson hit a grand slam on Opening Day 2017, setting the pace for one of the greatest Dodgers seasons I've ever experienced. So glad they made that moment Joc's card. From the look on Joc's face, he was as surprised as any of us!
So the dealer wanted $8 for the Ripken. I didn't get a close look at condition, but it looked pretty good from my spot. They both looked at it, and commented it was in pretty good shape. Another dealer who was there took a look and said it had a small crease, but it wasn't easy to see.
I also dig this shot of my favorite Dodgers southpaw, Rich Hill. This shot really captured Hill's unique "leg sweep" finish.
The guy was hem-hawing about the price, so the dealer dropped it to $6. Now I was definitely interested. The guy kept going back and forth, agonizing over buying the card. I told myself I wanted it if he walked away, but he wasn't exactly walking away.
It took all my discipline to not butt into the conversation. I also didn't want to let on that I was interested, lest that drive the guy to buy it.
The guy put the card back into the binder. I thought about jumping in, but some kinda cardboard etiquette kept me from bulling in.
The guy took out his wallet. He counted his money and sloooowly put the money and wallet away. Again I wondered if I should jump in. I didn't.
The guy finally walked away. I thought, "Here I go." No more than three steps away, the guy turned back to the table and the binder. Should I have jumped in and said something?
Here are some horizontals...
The guy looked at the card and his money again. Finally he committed and took the card.
The dealer later told me I should have jumped in when he first put it down, and maybe I should have - but I just didn't feel right crashing in while the guy obviously wanted the card and he was there first.
For all I know, I would have inspected the card and scoffed at the price myself, which was another reason I didn't just jump and say "I'll take it!"
That said, it seemed like a good price for a card that I see from time to time and is almost always overpriced for the condition. So I kinda feel like this was the Ripken RC that got away.
What would you all have done? (Thanks for the great team cards, Tony. I needed you at my side to advise me on that situation)
Aloha!
