What is a dream card of yours that you had a chance to acquire but waited too long?

[pootshwan]

This Griffey is mine

You could have had one these for significantly less money just a few years ago.

I took for granted how good prices were and now it's outside of my range.

 

[Dilferules]

Not a card I missed out on buying but a decision I made that was bad in hindsight...

About 25 years ago I had the opportunity to get Orel Hershiser's autograph. This was before I started collecting a signed 1988 Topps set so I went with this card:



A memorable moment from my childhood so it seemed like a good choice. But little did I know that in 2022 Orel Hershiser would be one of the final 26 cards I needed for my signed 1988 Topps set. And I could have had it already!

Similarly with Roger Clemens, I got his autograph on a 1991 Topps card and today I still need his signed 1988 Topps All Star card. But there's no chance I would have had the foresight to get the stupid All Star card signed, and his 1991 Topps card rules, so no regrets there.

 

[gt2590]

One of my dream cards, a dual William Shatner/Patrick Stewart auto card, came up for sale on eBay for $300 three days before a move to a new apt in Aug 2019.

I was rebuilding everything from a messy separation and I didn’t want to risk anything, like being short or opening new credit, etc. by buying it so close to the move. Of course it sold pretty quickly and I haven’t seen one up for sale at less than $600 since…

 

[zyceoa]

Probably the 1998 Flair Perfect 10 insert of Frank Thomas. I only saw one on EBAY the past decade, and sold around 2015 for $500ish. I could only imagine how much it would go for now. Even if I could afford it, it never shows up. Ever.

 

[EtherealSOC]

Fifteen years ago I held a Hank Aaron 1954 Topps rookie card in my hand at a card show. It was a PSA 6. It was $800 but the seller openly told me he'd take $600 since the show was coming to an end. I didn't have anywhere near $600 at my disposal, so I thanked him and put it back in the case. Today that's a $10,000 card.

 

[smapdi]

1951 Bowman Mantle. The hobby got out of whack, IMHO, when things like Bowman Chrome autos of guys who hadn't actually done anything started selling for 4-5 figures. I used to be heavily into prospecting so I get it that prices relative to established players and HOFers can seem off. But at a certain point it just seemed silly to me that a brand new card would sell for more than a Willie Mays rookie when that guy in his wildest, soul-selling dreams would have a career anywhere near comparable to Mays. So I started looking at 1951 Mantles and Mayses. Just 3-4 years ago, you could get a PSA 4 1951 Bowman Mantle for $7500, give or take depending on the exact shape of it. In December, 2019, or maybe 2018, I was this><close to bidding $9000 on a really nice 4 on ebay but lost my nerve and it sold for $8200. At the 2019 National I went looking for a Mantle and while I could find nice 7s for $27K or a 2-3 for $3-4K, I only found one 4 that I was willing to buy but the dealer would not budge off $10K and I really didn't want to go above $8K. Now, Mantle 4s are solidly $20K. And I still think they're undervalued. But I did get a PSA 5 Mays at that National for $4500, and I'm super happy I did.

 

[finestkind]

I bought a Topps Tom Seaver rookie right at the same time as he was elected to the hall of fame. I needed the card for my 1967 set. It took me about 10 years to complete the set going to card shows around Boston.

 

[Austin]

But little did I know that in 2022 Orel Hershiser would be one of the final 26 cards I needed for my signed 1988 Topps set.

Hershiser has long been a great signer through the mail, at least up until a few years ago when I last got him. Not sure if he still signs for free, but it's worth a try.

 

[Dilferules]

Hershiser has long been a great signer through the mail, at least up until a few years ago when I last got him. Not sure if he still signs for free, but it's worth a try.

Looks like you were lucky, according to the stats on sportscollectors.net he hasn't signed much TTM since 2005. Once in a while he'll sign something but 90% of the time it's a fail.

 

[mrmopar]

I wouldn't call them dream cards, but MANY cards that were just a little bit too expensive when i tried to obtain them. Most have escalated to much higher levels now. I don't have deep regrets, because I was not comfortable paying what the asking price was at the time, so they are nowhere near what I'd pay now.

A couple that sting a little extra are the 1994 Archives Gold Aaron Au and a PSA8 71T Garvey. Both I seemed to be so close to getting on numerous occasions, both skyrocketing in value since. I don't even need another 71T Garvey and I don't actually collect graded cards, but thought it would be neat to have his basic Topps run in psa8 or better, since I had them all multiple times over. I was missing them in the $50-60 range for a long time, each one selling just a bit higher, often with me as the runner up bid. Now they seem to be selling for $400-600 and more! Ridic!

 

[Super Mario]

Literally any licensed Yadier Molina on-card autograph. They’re too expensive for my blood these days.


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[gt2590]

One of my dream cards, a dual William Shatner/Patrick Stewart auto card, came up for sale on eBay for $300 three days before a move to a new apt in Aug 2019.

I was rebuilding everything from a messy separation and I didn’t want to risk anything, like being short or opening new credit, etc. by buying it so close to the move. Of course it sold pretty quickly and I haven’t seen one up for sale at less than $600 since…

And someone just listed one of these on eBay.

For $2000...