I bandied about the idea of selling the card, something I haven't done in a couple of years (at least). I decided to look at eBay and see if/what other N43 autos of Gwynn were selling for. I found 2 auctions for other copies of the card, shown here and here. I will also tell you that the 2nd seller had his card originally listed as a buy it now for $199.99 for 30 days.
I also told you all a while back that I would do a contest to celebrate my 25000th hit on the blog.
Please answer this question for an entry in the contest:
If this were your card, what would you do and why?
You have to assume that this card was in your possession. I don't own it, you do.
I'll even give you a few days to think about it. Place a comment on this post before the contest closes on Monday the 3rd at 11:59 pm EDT.
Be honest. You're not being judged here. I'd just love to know what people would do with the card.
I'll give away another auto that I pulled from the A&G box I busted....plus some packs as well.
Thanks for reading (and entering), Robert
That's a great question. I would surely keep it as I am a big Tony Gwynn collector, so much so that my pal who runs my LCS sets aside any Gwynn cards he gets in to give me first crack. That card would have to get framed with all the other versions from this years Ginter. I already have the non auto boxtopper that I was luckey enough to pull myself along with the base and one of the mini version. It would be a fun project to get the rest to go with such an awesome auto under glass since I don't have any Gwynn autos yet. Another way may be to frame it as a trifecta, auto, game used, and his rookie cards.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a tough, but good dilemma to have! I would wait to see what those first two auctions end at and base my decision on that. If they go for good money, I'd probably sell it. I'm lucky enough to have two Tony Gwynn autos (baseball and his hitting book signed wishing me a happy birthday) so that would make me lean more towards selling.
ReplyDeleteI'd sell it and buy a different Tony Gwynn auto. Let me explain. The auto that you have isn't one of the best Tony Gwynn signatures I've ever seen (it seems a little shaky), but it is from a new product and is low numbered so I think you'd get a good price for it. Then I turn around and but a more appealing Gwynn auto for about half of what you got for it and then use the rest of the money to buy a few other cards that actually fit my collection. This way I'd still have a Tony Gwynn auto (one of the greatest players from the 80's and 90's) and I'd still rember pulling the one from Allen & Ginter, but I'd also get a few other cards as well.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has different collecting goals. If you don't collect Tony or autos, there is someone out there who values it more than you do. Since I don't collect those either, I would try to turn this card into something that I wanted.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few ways you could do that:
1) Find the self-proclaimed Gwynn/Ginter/Auto collectors from their blogs or forums. Ask them what their best trade offer is for stuff you want (Blue Jays, sets, SN#, etc.) If any of them have something you really want and the "value" lines up, you can make a deal. Then you'd each have something good.
2) If you can't find anyone to do that, I would sell it. Looking at those auctions...maybe you could get $80 for it now? Put it on an auction and see what you get. That money can be treated one of two ways...Either it helped pay for the box, or you can turn it into other cards on Ebay that you want.
My thinking is that I would make it known that this card is up for trade. This way I have control over what actually happens.If it was to go on ebay , theres really no telling what you are going to get unless you set a price to which you would be happy with and from what I see , nobody bids on those.
ReplyDeletehttp://oldfoulcardboard.blogspot.com/
I'd definitely sell. It's a great card of a great guy, but I'd rather use it to fund purchases of my favorite guy.
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't absolutely need the cash, I'd probably "donate" it to a Padres/Gwynn collector. Giving something to someone who would really cherish it is one of the greatest feelings in the world, and that would be especially true in this case.
ReplyDeleteWhat's to think about? Need cash. Don't need Gwynn. Don't collect autos.
ReplyDeleteSELL! SELL! SELL!
I love the thrill of collecting over money! I don't like the Yankees, but I do appreciate the players and the cards. I loved Tony Gwynn, and I actually got to meet him once at a card show while I was in the army. Though he was at a booth that cost $50 for an autograph. I couldn't attain his auto, but I do have a few cool relics of his, and an autograph would be an icing on the cake!!!
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't collect Tony Gwynn myself, then I would say hold on to it for a while. Make it into an investment.
ReplyDeleteFor any card of substantial value, such as the Autographed Tony Gwynn boxtopper, you have to ask yourself one question, "Do you love the card?" If you love the card, the question of what to do with the card is easily answered. You keep it.
ReplyDeleteI know when I bought my first expensive card, a T206 Black Cap Christy Mathewson, I was torn by the card. While I wanted it quite badly, getting the card shipped was an incredible ordeal, nearly souring me on purchasing cards on eBay. But seeing the card in person, I knew I needed to keep in my collection.
But if you don't love the card, and you don't seem to love the Tony Gwynn, I think the answer is to move it. Either in trade for a card you want or to sell, to of course, fund the purchase of something you truly love. To me, that is the essence of card collection.
http://classiccardcollector.blogspot.com/
I too would sell and picked up cards of my team or players..... Someone out there is going to love that card more than you would ever have. So make it that both of you come out happy!!
ReplyDeleteSell....
As a huge Padres fan, I would definitely keep it. I have a Tony Gwynn autographed ball somewhere in my parents house, but I think it's more of a "family" autograph, since I think one of my siblings obtained it while my family was watching me play a Little League game (Tony Jr. was playing on the field next to us, and Tony Sr. was watching from behind the outfield fence). Since I don't have any Gwynn-signed cardboard, this would be a wonderful start for me. Great pull!
ReplyDeleteI'd probably offer it up for trade on the blogosphere in exchange for a Will Clark auto. If nobody had one to trade, I'd probably just put it on ebay for a smidge less than what the others are asking. I personally don't have any connection to Tony Gwynn so I'd more than likely try hard to get rid of it.
ReplyDeleteThis is my card. I own it. I don't collect Tony Gwynn. I do collect mostly hockey (Leafs) and some baseball(Blue Jays). I would find a Gwynn collector, make a deal (cash and/or cards) and buy for my needs. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteAt first thought, I would agree with most of the posters here. Sell the card and buy items for your collection.
ReplyDeleteHowever, a far fetched alternative would be find the charity of your choice and donate it to raise money. (A little publicity can go a long way)
Enjoy whatever you choose.
That's one of those rare, maybe once in a lifetime pulls. However, it doesn't fit my collecting goals so I sell it and use the money to get something I've really been wanting, but wouldn't cough up the cash to get.
ReplyDeleteI'd sell it or look to trade it for super high-end cards of my guys via SCF.
ReplyDeleteI mean, yes, this is a damn cool card but not one I would hold on to since I am not a Gwynn devotee. If I knew a Gwynn collector, I would try to work out a trade since this is a pretty damn sweet card. Otherwise, I would throw it up on ebay and let it ride.
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't get a really good trade offer, I'd probably sell. I'd love to keep it for my collection, but my financial situation reminds me on occasion to not keep valuable cards of guys I don't collect.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Gwynn collector, so my initial thought is I would keep it. However, dkwilson's strategy makes a lot of sense, and I might go that route.
ReplyDeleteI would sell it adding the money to my card budget.
ReplyDeleteI'd contact Rod from Padrographs and tell him to meet me at the next card show here in town. Then I'd surprise him with it. It'd be awesome to see his face!
ReplyDeleteRod's a great guy and has been very generous to many in the blogging community, so he deserves it.
I'd let the blog community/forums know that it's up for trade. As someone else said, you can control offers that way and maybe hit on something that someone had that isn't readily available for purchase elsewhere. If that doesn't work, then sell. Honestly, I'd take my time with this and not feel rushed into immediately trading or selling it.
ReplyDeleteI guess since I'm not a huge Tony Gwynn fan, I'd probably sell it and use the profits to buy something that fits into my collection better. I already got Gwynn's signature on an 8x10 in person at a show about 5 or 6 years ago. He wasn't the nicest guy but maybe he was having a bad day.
ReplyDelete1st option, trade it to a collector that will want it
ReplyDelete2nd option, become a Tony Gwynn collector
3rd option sell it on ebay.
For me it's pretty easy. If I dont collect it, it's always a trader
I would sell it on ebay. I would leave the money in my Paypal account and slowly spend it on low dollar stuff that I want. This works for me because I don't collect any autos or high end stuff. If I did I would probably look to trade it for something in my own wheelhouse.
ReplyDeleteI would sell it and look to buy a card (vintage, maybe) near the same price that I did want.
ReplyDeleteI would keep it since I am a collector of all things Ginter boxtopper and I've never pulled an auto before. It displays nice and is an on-card auto of a HOFer, what more can a collector want as a centerpiece?
ReplyDeleteKeep it for your grandson or great-grandson. You guys can talk about baseball when it was a game!
ReplyDelete