For Love of the Game or Money

I've recently been re-reminded of why it's much more fun to be a child than it is to be an adult.

The summer after I graduated from high school, I got a job working the poolside snack bar at the Lodge. Brian had been life guarding the pool during his summers home from UT. Since most kids went to the Pro Shop, I was essentially paid to work on my tan and look like a tool with my do-rag.

Anyway, Brian and I got into collecting basketball cards. A box of cards cost about $25, if memory serves. But this wasn't just blindly spending money; it was investing in our idols. Surely there would be a couple of rookie cards in there that would not only pay for the price of the box, but would one day mature to $100 or more.

I faithfully kept all my cards in plastic sleeves and arranged them with OCD detail. My favorite players first, then by team, then by All-Stars, then all the rookie cards together. I placed them in a red plastic folder I used to hold notes in high school.

When Jackson came up this weekend with his parents, he brought along with him his trading cards. Most are feature players from the NFL with a few NBA players tossed in. I told him I had some trading cards and retrieved them from the study.

He makes TD look like a piker. Flipping through the book, he quickly asked, "Can I have the Michael Jordans?"

At the end of the weekend, I took all the cards that are worth anything (maybe $10 or over) and gave the rest to him, including one Michael Jordan.

It got me to wondering about how much they had increased in value over the past 15 years. I also remembered that I absentmindedly tossed 3 cards in my desk about a year ago: a 1981 Ervin Johnson Topps, a 1986 James Worthy Fleer, and a 1970-71 NBA Scoring Average Leaders with Lew Alcindor, John Havelicek, and Elvin Hayes. They are in the same condition as when I bought them - near mint.

Looking at these cards and wondering of their worth, I am also reminded of three David Robinson rookies I let my then-girlfriend hold onto for safekeeping. Man, was that stupid.

Today, I did some quick research to see how much I could sell my cards for, were that to be my decision. To make me feel better, a card I bought for $32 dollars is now worth almost $80. A card I bought for $18 is now worth almost $45.

To make me feel worse, those David Robinson rookies are worth about $15 apiece.

I'm glad I don't collect those cards anymore. First, it's too time consuming. And while it can get to be expensive, I readily admit my other hobbies and other toys are quite expensive themselves. But most of all, I know that at my cynical age, I would purchase solely as an investment and not for the boyish love of the players.

Still, I'm left with the question: Do I sell these cards now, or do I let them sit for another 15 years and pass down if we have a son?