David Garry accidentally bought over 10K Greg Briley baseball cards. “The cards were all perfect. The overall impression was as if someone in 1989 had a hazy vision that someone on the 1989 Mariners was going to be an all-time great.”
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Oh man. 1987-1990 baseball cards were my jam. I know that card well. Somebody must have done a custom print run.
Oh man indeed. I had been carrying around 100 lbs of baseball cards from that era—from home to home, across states—for years. I needed some cash last year and my 12 year-old self was giddy at the prospect of how much money I was going to make.
I did my internet research and determined I’d make at least $1000. Took a binder of my best cards (including a signed Will Clark!!) to a local card shop. Shop owner flipped through the pages and said, with a thunderous meh, “these aren’t worth anything. Junk card era. Every kid your age has a binder like this.” I left defeated. I had been carrying around that god forsaken box my whole life like it was a treasure chest.
I gave that box of cards to my 12 year-old nephew who is crazy for baseball now. Maybe he’ll keep the tradition alive and in another 40 years they’ll be worth something.
But I did hold on to my binder of “special” cards for now. I may frame that Will Clark in honor of my savvy younger self who was plotting a huge market return.
Yeah huge production glut, because the word was out nationally about cards from the 50s, so me and you everyone we knew started buying late-80s cards. I still don't know what to do with mine. They're still at my mom's house. My dad's collection is something to see, though.
What a great story. Ha.
I have so many of the red Donruss cards (1990?) - and the complete 1989 UD box set (opened, of course). Now I want to find that Greg Briley card. 😀
I’ve long thought about just dumping the whole collection for a flat fee but maybe, just maybe, it could be a retirement project. None of my kids have any interest in cards, but maybe a grandkid will eventually. 🤷♂️
The flat fee won't be north of $20 for late 80s card sets, so I hope you grabbed some cards before the glut of '87-92.
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