WJR16

Message | Friend Request



Member Since:   5/27/2020
Last Login:   4/19/2024
Points:   5
Location:   Chattanooga, TN, United States
     
Collection:   72,496 cards
Collects:  

I started collecting baseball cards as a kid in the mid to late-80s and collected them through the early 90s. I started out collecting them with my old man, and I look back on those days wistfully. We'd sit up at night and put together sets and lists of our missing cards and that was a great thing to share with him. At some point, though, I outgrew wanting to share that experience with him, choosing instead to share the hobby with my friends. Then I started to notice girls and found other things to spend money on. I boxed up all the cards and traded the innocence of collecting baseball cards for other, less wholesome pursuits.

At some point over the course of the next 2 and a half decades, I somehow outgrew the nomadic life, became an adult, got married, found a permanent place to live, and jumped on the wildest ride of my life: fatherhood. In a fit of cleaning out my old room to make space for her new grandkids (my sister's kids at the time), my mother transported all of the cards from my childhood bedroom and brought them to live with me. To the attic they went, and in the attic they stayed for the better part of the last decade, hidden away and silent.

While working from home during quarantine, I repurposed the attic into a makeshift office to hide from my two kids, who were also at home, and who, despite my and my wife's best efforts, have no conception of privacy or quiet, and care very little for anyone else's productivity--especially when it comes at the expense of their most immediate desire. Stuck in the attic, armed with a laptop, and facing long days of working in solitude, there sat my baseball cards staring back at me, summoning me from a place and time long since gone. In a moment of sports deprived weakness, I answered their call and opened up a couple of boxes to look at my old collection. Glorious!

Within days of our local economy's soft reopening, I found a local card shop, escaped my attic, drove to it, donned a mask, and walked in to buy some new cards. I quickly learned that the days of the $0.50 pack had passed me by--quite a while ago it seems. Undeterred by the effects of what seemed to be hyper-inflation in an economy I had ignored for some 27 years, I left with not one, but two BOXES of baseball cards. Upon opening up the many packs of new cards, I discovered the advent of the insert card's prevalence, and that, unlike unicorns, autographed cards actually DO exist in packs (helllooo Pete Alonso!). Fascinated, and in need of boxes in which to store the cards and toploaders in which to protect them, it was back to the card shop for me. A couple of carboard boxes, a few bags of penny sleeves and some toploaders just couldn't be the extent of my second excursion. So, much like an addict in search of a fix, it was another box of cards for me. 

But, this new lifestyle of big spending on cards I knew nothing about would prove to be unsustainable as my wife and I are also tasked with feeding, clothing, and sheltering (in place) these two children we created. Alas, it was back to the attic for me, and back to shuffling through all of my old cards, sorting out the commons from the hall of famers, sorting out the steroid users from the clean players. Thus, a new collection was born. Hall of Famers. Those are the cards I want to collect.

But, I needed a mechanism for organizing what I had, and what I wanted to get. When I bought my last pack of cards as something other than a novelty back in 1993, the internet was not yet a thing, at least not one to which I had access. I thought: Surely there is some mechanism online to help me organize these cards, and give me reason to continue sorting through this mess. And, after minimal searching on the worldwide web, I discovered TCDB. What a brave new world this is.

I look forward to getting back into the hobby. But, for now, I am going to stick to trying to collect Hall of Famers, mostly vintage (which, I have learned, is now a word in this industry that describes me). I'm less concerned with a card's grading, centering, corners, or condition than I am with the name and face on it. I'm not in this as an investment; I'm in it for an escape. Hopefully when this little 2 year-old ages a few more years, he'll begin to enjoy collecting baseball cards as much as his old man did once upon a time. If so, I hope to bequeath to him a worthwhile collection and to share the experience with him for as long as he'll have me.

     


Feedback

100.00% Positive (398 Comments)

Apr 22, 2024 - 4:08PM
bobrogers42
Rating: Positive

Thank you for the great trade..

Apr 15, 2024 - 3:11PM
Roofshot
Rating: Positive

Easy transaction. Cards as described and super fast delivery.

Apr 9, 2024 - 8:08AM
heattreat
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade.

Apr 5, 2024 - 4:35PM
cardboardjones
Rating: Positive

I appreciate the trade! Nice cards and good communication. Thanks again.

Mar 30, 2024 - 9:28AM
bobrogers42
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the great trade

Mar 27, 2024 - 1:59AM
Scottchristner
Rating: Positive

Great transaction, easy to work with. Would recommend to anyone for a good person to make a deal with! Thanks.

Mar 22, 2024 - 12:56PM
Bldrprof
Rating: Positive

Excellent trade with an outstanding trade partner, thanks.

Apr 19, 2023 - 2:27PM
ejholmes76
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the deal!

Bill is the best to work with on building sets!

Apr 3, 2023 - 3:56PM
Bldrprof
Rating: Positive

Excellent trade with an outstanding trade partner, perfectly packed PWE, thanks.

Apr 3, 2023 - 3:47PM
NYYJMM
Rating: Positive

Thank you for getting me closer to finishing of series 1

Mar 31, 2023 - 8:32PM
wvcabo
Rating: Positive

thank you for the trade

Mar 31, 2023 - 2:34PM
bbcards56
Rating: Positive

9 great cards received in excellent condition!

Mar 31, 2023 - 2:32PM
bbcards56
Rating: Positive

9 great cards received in excellent condition!

Mar 15, 2023 - 1:44AM
George1369
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade.

Mar 13, 2023 - 4:00PM
toppsguy85
Rating: Positive

Bill is simply the best.

Mar 11, 2023 - 10:46AM
Abebauman
Rating: Positive

Great job. Thank you.

Mar 10, 2023 - 10:45AM
lvhoehne
Rating: Positive

Very nice vintage trade. Thanks Bill.

Mar 7, 2023 - 5:28AM
Oldschoolcards
Rating: Positive

Another excellent transaction with one of the finest people I've had the pleasure to interact with in the hobby.

Feb 28, 2023 - 7:39PM
nannema
Rating: Positive

Thanks for another solid trade! Great to trade with!

Feb 22, 2023 - 12:36PM
toppsguy85
Rating: Positive

One of my favorite dudes in the whole hobby. Love transacting with him. Hand written notes. He makes me want to be better lol

Feb 19, 2023 - 2:05PM
Johnsogr
Rating: Positive

Thank you for another smooth trade with nice cards!

Feb 17, 2023 - 1:02PM
Passion4Baseball
Rating: Positive

Thanks for a smooth transaction! Hope to do it again in the future!

Feb 10, 2023 - 5:01AM
Oldschoolcards
Rating: Positive

Another great trade. Bill is one of the really great guys in hobby. He's passionate about collecting and loves helping set builders complete their sets. Until the next one...thanks again.

Feb 3, 2023 - 12:12PM
freddybacon
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade!

Jan 26, 2023 - 7:26PM
B Goguen
Rating: Positive

Thank you so much for the pay it forward
Bill, very generous of you I hope we get a
Chance to make another trade in the future

Jan 26, 2023 - 7:04PM
Brandon Miller
Rating: Positive

Thanks for your help on my '65 set!!

Jan 26, 2023 - 7:04PM
Brandon Miller
Rating: Positive

Thanks for your help on my '65 set!!

Jan 23, 2023 - 2:55PM
jsteved
Rating: Positive

Great vintage trade. Always a pleasure. Hope to do more soon.

Jan 13, 2023 - 7:49AM
woodmangb
Rating: Positive

Great trade, thanks Bill!

Jan 11, 2023 - 10:10PM
Burefreak
Rating: Positive

Thanks for another great trade!

Dec 27, 2022 - 1:16PM
Noy
Rating: Positive

Great trade, thank you!

Dec 20, 2022 - 11:55PM
La Loosh
Rating: Positive

Not sure what's better, the cards or Bill's comments. What a nice, genuine person. Thank you the cards and the note. Have a wonderful Holiday Season! See you next time.

Dec 18, 2022 - 10:33AM
toppsguy85
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the great trade. Awesome cards. Hope to do more!

Dec 13, 2022 - 5:50PM
Nroberts0222
Rating: Positive

Thank you so much. So glad to add this card to my collection

Dec 11, 2022 - 12:03PM
nwcardsupplies
Rating: Positive

excellent helpful trade, looking forward to trading again soon

Dec 6, 2022 - 5:09PM
robglessner
Rating: Positive

Great trade. I hope we can do it again.

Dec 6, 2022 - 12:37PM
peach_was_here
Rating: Positive

Awesome Thank you

Dec 5, 2022 - 6:49PM
Musclebeech
Rating: Positive

Another quick trade. Great cards. Thanks!
Hope to trade again sometime.

Dec 5, 2022 - 4:01PM
doublee919
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade!

Nov 30, 2022 - 9:50AM
Burefreak
Rating: Positive

Thanks for another great trade!

Nov 28, 2022 - 7:32PM
SeventhSon
Rating: Positive

Good trade for a nice vintage card, thanks.

Nov 8, 2022 - 4:20PM
bcmeeker
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the '65 O's!

Oct 29, 2022 - 9:46AM
bravefan1
Rating: Positive

Yet another great trade, thanks!

Oct 5, 2022 - 2:17PM
stdolan1
Rating: Positive

Great trade with a great trader. Highly recommend!

Sep 30, 2022 - 9:28AM
MHLayton
Rating: Positive

Great trade partner

Sep 29, 2022 - 8:10PM
NachosGrande
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade and for the great additions to my Barry Larkin collection! Hope to trade with again soon!

Sep 29, 2022 - 4:35PM
tleonard6
Rating: Positive

Excellent in every regard. The card I received was exactly what I needed. Look forward to the next one.

Sep 24, 2022 - 2:01PM
nozzlemaster
Rating: Positive

Smooth trade.

Sep 23, 2022 - 11:54AM
ejholmes76
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the RAK cards. Appreciate our trades!

Sep 17, 2022 - 11:33AM
George1369
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade.

Sep 9, 2022 - 1:50PM
ejholmes76
Rating: Positive

Thanks for another great trade and some extras to finish the insert set!

Sep 4, 2022 - 10:15PM
SaveDaKid
Rating: Positive

Got nothing different to add that what's already been said. Me happy.

Sep 3, 2022 - 8:09AM
ejholmes76
Rating: Positive

Thanks for another great trade!

Sep 1, 2022 - 1:45PM
wackydog
Rating: Positive

Very nice little PWE swap. Thanks for the added Charlie Morton! A+ trading partner!

Aug 27, 2022 - 1:57PM
sfurukawa
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade. Hope your daughter enjoys the cards.

Aug 27, 2022 - 10:24AM
codylee1627
Rating: Positive

Great little trade. Thanks for the help

Aug 25, 2022 - 11:07PM
belijr
Rating: Positive

Quick and easy trade, looking forward to matching up again

Aug 25, 2022 - 12:46PM
coachspike
Rating: Positive

Great communication. Great cards. Great trade. Thanks!!

Aug 24, 2022 - 6:30AM
Cheapcardc
Rating: Positive

Great trade partner!

Aug 23, 2022 - 10:19AM
Bsiga
Rating: Positive

Another great trade with a great trading partner.

Aug 23, 2022 - 5:06AM
Benjac33
Rating: Positive

Bill - thanks for great communication throughout, and a nice small trade!

Aug 18, 2022 - 4:16PM
GeoGeo
Rating: Positive

Thank you for the fine trade

Aug 11, 2022 - 5:46AM
YanksFan876
Rating: Positive

Great small trade, thank you!

Aug 6, 2022 - 4:52PM
DyeHardFan
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade!

Aug 5, 2022 - 7:01PM
theende5
Rating: Positive

Once again, another incredible trade with Bill. Put this one together in a matter of minutes. And every time I think we’ve run out of trades for each other, something else pops up. Looking forward to the next one!

Aug 2, 2022 - 5:22AM
Bsiga
Rating: Positive

Great trade. Great communication. Good luck with the set completion. Best regards!

Aug 2, 2022 - 5:22AM
Bsiga
Rating: Positive

Another great trade.

Jul 24, 2022 - 9:23PM
bdj610
Rating: Positive

Cards came in excellent condition. Thank you very much for the trade opportunity.

Jul 23, 2022 - 5:03PM
Ballantine
Rating: Positive

Great trading partner, had a mess up with the cards and he was very understanding and cool about it.

Jul 21, 2022 - 9:57AM
jsteved
Rating: Positive

Another great vintage trade. Hope to do more soon.

Jul 20, 2022 - 2:55PM
BentTornBrknAllGood!
Rating: Positive

Bill is a great trading partner…making things work when they appear to be broken. Let’s do it again! Cheers! Charles

Jul 16, 2022 - 11:08AM
dmarek
Rating: Positive

Another great trade. Thanks for the help with 71!!

Jul 12, 2022 - 9:08PM
azooked
Rating: Positive

Good trade. Great trading partner!

Jul 11, 2022 - 8:28PM
TeddyBallGame68
Rating: Positive

Huge trade with great cards. Great trade partner

Jul 11, 2022 - 8:25PM
howe9909
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade!

Jul 11, 2022 - 8:25PM
howe9909
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade!

Jul 11, 2022 - 1:08PM
ejholmes76
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade!

Jul 6, 2022 - 5:10PM
bravefan1
Rating: Positive

Always a pleasure trading with!

Jul 5, 2022 - 7:49PM
rob hammond
Rating: Positive

another good trade

Jul 3, 2022 - 10:14PM
ToppsrBest
Rating: Positive

Great First Trade. I also enjoyed your Profile Story. Very similar to mine. I have no children though.

Jun 25, 2022 - 6:35PM
wbudde
Rating: Positive

great trade - thanks!

Jun 21, 2022 - 7:05PM
obxyankeefan
Rating: Positive

Nice trade thank you

Jun 18, 2022 - 7:59PM
edsekula
Rating: Positive

Another great trade, thanks again!!!

Jun 17, 2022 - 2:25PM
FSCGrad777
Rating: Positive

Definitely one of the good ones! Always a pleasure trading - and talking - with you, Bill. Look forward to the next time.

Jun 12, 2022 - 12:36PM
Brandon Miller
Rating: Neutral

A great trading partner made the process very easy as one of my first trading partners on the website.

Thank you!

Jun 12, 2022 - 8:09AM
bravefan1
Rating: Positive

Always a pleasure trading with!

Jun 10, 2022 - 7:49AM
La Loosh
Rating: Positive

Another solid trade with Mr. Bill! Thank you for the '68 help. See you next time.

Jun 8, 2022 - 6:12PM
gooeraser
Rating: Positive

Cards came in excellent shape. Thanks, Jeff

Jun 1, 2022 - 7:56PM
mdoney
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade. Hope we can trade again soon.

May 26, 2022 - 8:04AM
BristolBob
Rating: Positive

Quick, Easy Trade as Always! Always a pleasure to trade with, nice cards. Hope to trade again Soon

May 25, 2022 - 4:12AM
theende5
Rating: Positive

Thanks for another great trade, Bill. I hope we have plenty more ahead of us.

May 20, 2022 - 4:49PM
rob hammond
Rating: Positive

May 18, 2022 - 9:35AM
bwoods43
Rating: Positive

Another great trade - thanks, Bill!

May 13, 2022 - 10:31PM
dmarek
Rating: Positive

Always nice trading with you Bill! Thank you!

May 8, 2022 - 11:35AM
La Loosh
Rating: Positive

We've never met in person but I get the feeling that Bill is one of the nicest people I could ever meet. Thank you for the positive energy that comes from our trades!

May 7, 2022 - 7:49AM
nannema
Rating: Positive

Great trade. Thanks again!

May 5, 2022 - 3:33PM
cdorso
Rating: Positive

Always a good trading partner - thank you!

May 3, 2022 - 9:08AM
BucCollector
Rating: Positive

Quick and easy trade, looking forward to matchng up again

May 3, 2022 - 7:38AM
CH34
Rating: Positive

Thanks for the trade

May 1, 2022 - 12:47AM
sparkchaser 41
Rating: Positive

Great trade, getting closer to the sp completion.

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