A Livestream Wrap Up Show!! "Off Topic: With

[@SacramentoKingsCards]

Love listening to you guys talk cards. And no, not just because you’re wearing a great sweater!

[@MidLifeCards]

I agree, we had a blast!

[@ken-pr2df]

Always enjoy your Off Topic episodes Graig!! Great topics and interesting dialogue!! You and Darren make an awesome team to make the card hobby special!!

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks so much.

[@SouthernCollector14]

Great job boys! I enjoyed your conversation. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@MidLifeCards]

I appreciate that. It was a fun show.

[@HighPopProfessor]

Thanks for the shoutout! Some of us DO watch all the way to the end! 😂

[@MidLifeCards]

You're the best!

[@mrmjmiller]

I did watch all the way! Enjoyed it.

[@MidLifeCards]

Yay.

[@DaveBauer165]

Enjoyed the conversation as usual, guys! It's always great to hear some positive discussion about Musial. Count me as one who always listens to the very end!

[@MidLifeCards]

Thanks Dave. I hope you submit your latest pickup in the next Community Showcase video.

[@JayAvgVintageCollector]

Great discussion guys! I think relevance can center around the big names, but it’s also regional as well. For example, Warren Spahn was from South Buffalo, so even though we never had a pro team here, his name stays relevant because there is a park named after him. I’m sure this is true across the country as well. So yes, there’s players like Mantle, Robinson, Griffey, Ryan that stay relevant because they were the “guys” in their day. But, then there will always be those others like Spahn, Doval, and Umbricht that stay relevant regionally, but also get pulled into mainstream by those same historians, fans, and collectors. Thanks for the video!

[@MidLifeCards]

Good points.

[@mookiechillson]

Another incredibly useful examination of why we do what we do. Thanks fellas.

[@richpaull7820]

Great episode again, this is a big thing that many of us struggle with. One small thing I want push back on is the steadiness of vintage. While there are people that lost a bunch of money on guys like Kevin Durant, if those same people went all in on ‘52 Mantles at the same time (one of the top two most hobby relevant cards) they also would have lost a good amount of money. Like everything, timing matters, vintage cards are not immune to being overvalued or overpriced. Last month I had a seller back out of a ‘56 Jackie, and now the card is almost double the price. I still love the card and it is super popular, but it is probably not a good purchase at this point until it comes down again

[@Cb489]

Darren is fun to listen to. He reminds me of an accountant ( which I was ). Very wise logic

[@CollectingNolan]

Great video Jim!

[@MidLifeCards]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@elitehunters732]

The 1946 Propagandas Montiel Stan Musial is a very hard card to find. That would be a sweet card for Darren to chase.

[@briankane759]

Listened to the end and I'm not related! lol I feel like this discussion could go in so many directions and the answers are always changing. Always appreciate both of your opinions.

[@ACD1994]

I listened to the end too! Gold stars all around.

[@MidLifeCards]

It's always a crap shoot as to what direction we go.

[@JunkWaxHero]

Just gonna leave a thread of my comments as I listen. Nolan Ryan can be both overrated and a massive hobby superstar. The legend of Nolan Ryan will live on for a long time, and he played for so long that he was beloved by several generations of people.

[@MidLifeCards]

Can't argue with that.

[@jamesmcferran4938]

Great video Graig! You are a great friend and much needed asset to the collecting community. I just wish you could open up a bit more about your medical issues…we all want to be there for you…

[@Lyrici17]

Graig, I absolutely understand that Roger Clemens vs. Nolan Ryan chip on your shoulder sentiment... I had the same thing as a Mariners fan, when it came to Randy Johnson vs. Pedro Martinez. During Pedro's prime, I definitely didn't appreciate him the way that I should have. I'm glad that I eventually came around and realized that they were actually pretty similar style pitchers, and in fact, Pedro Martinez was awesome.... enjoyable video, thanks!

[@shoeboxlegends]

Graig is so right about Nolan Ryan and Ken Griffey, Jr! 😃

[@RL3sports]

I enjoyed the conversation. Not sure if i found any conclusions. It sounds like just collect what you like. Stan Musial just isnt high enough on his like list.

[@MidLifeCards]

There aren't ever conclusions....just opinions.

[@DansVintageBaseballPC]

I'm here for the Old Hoss Radbourne references.

[@returntocollecting]

Ha! I'm here to throw those Old Hoss references out!! Glad you liked it!

[@billyballgamesportscards]

I'm glad you guys had a good time because I had a great time!😂😂 Hypothetical! What would Musial be today if he played on the Yankees and Mantle if he played on the Cardinals? What would Nolan Ryan be if he played on the Yankees for as long as he was on the Indians?

[@MidLifeCards]

Good point.

[@billyballgamesportscards]

@MidLifeCards Oops meant Angels, not Indians!

[@mclanetime7269]

Good discussion, I especially like both your thoughts on who and what years to collect and why! Imagine if all the great players and sets were affordable to the average collector? Ruth and Ty Cobb cards, all T-206 and Golden age of baseball cards selling for hundreds of dollars and not multiple thousands. I wonder if we would still be as interested in those cards. I know you would probably say “ Great that would be fantastic, they are even cheaper!” Only because we know how overpriced and expensive they are now. My thought is, I realize we all say collect who you like and buy the card not the grade. If they were all roughly the same affordability, would we still have the same idea of what’s desirable? Just a thought, Thanks guys

[@MidLifeCards]

Appreciate these thoughts.

[@apebitmusic]

I mean, obviously, of course, if Stan Musial had played for the Yankees he’d probably be at the top of many lists

[@apebitmusic]

Yeah, I think it’s a special combination of factors that creates a certain magic that captures fan’s imaginations. The “cool” factor, talent, even handsomeness I think can play into it. Probably why Yogi Berra isn’t more popular. Haha

[@juhosevic]

I also feel Nolan Ryan’s lore will increase over time. I feel like he set the trend for “chicks dig the long ball” type of pitching. His longevity won’t be seen again with all the Tommy John surgeries in modern baseball. I almost feel Paul skenes is relevant bc Nolan Ryan set the trend of throwing absolute “heat”. Can’t speak on investing in Nolan Ryan, but I don’t see him diminishing with respect to hobby relevance

[@DoubleDvintagebaseballcards]

Mickey Mantle was not very good he was incredible 2 of the greatest seasons of all time !! Come on Graig 😂😂😂. I do agree Nolan Ryans legend continues to grow

[@DoubleDvintagebaseballcards]

Darren you gotta defend your guy Nolan 👊👊👊

[@DoubleDvintagebaseballcards]

Those cool highschool kids peaked 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 best thing I have heard all week

[@MidLifeCards]

I didn't say Mantle wasn't good. I just said, he's not as high on the all time player list as he is on the card lists.

[@ACD1994]

''The high school douche bags peaked.'' Well, at least some of the card collectors that graduated from high school 30 years ago, will have something to talk about at their reunion. PSA set registry obviously. 😏

[@MidLifeCards]

LOL.

[@chrisolivo6591]

I think you guys hit upon something about hobby relevant players that aren’t the GOAT. There are alot of collectors that purely follow what the trends are and gravitate to the hobby relevant players. I see this all of the time with our generation and they have more Mantle cards than any other vintage player? Why is that as none of us saw him play like the baby boomers? It’s because they are following what the hobby trends are and Mantle is the king of vintage. Nolan Ryan is the same way among our generation as i remember in the late 80’s/early 90’s his cards were more expensive than Steve Carlton’s cards. Carlton was clearly a better pitcher from that era with 4 Cy Young Awards, 329 wins and 4,000 strikeouts. But Ryan’s popularity i still think holds up today. Steve Carlton’s rookie cards are very cheap compared to Seaver and Ryan rookie cards.

[@MidLifeCards]

Great points.

[@wayneburbrink1215]

They say over rated cause they’re cheap , ryan was a beast and took no crap !

[@ryanmcclanahan8739]

Does hobby relevance come down to hobby education? I was taught about Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Teddy Ballgame, Bob Feller, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, Satchel Paige in High School History class and how they shaped American society. I'm bothered by the fact our education system is so bad now that people don't even know the basics, let alone those man in the street interviews - and those don't give me any hope for our country going forward. I hate to be a downer about this stuff.

[@MidLifeCards]

That's a great question and an interesting point.

[@timelesscardboard]

Ken Griffey Jr. is to Mickey Mantle like Roger Clemens is to Nolan Ryan unfortunately Roger has to deal with steroids.

[@ACD1994]

It's possibly Ryan took steroids as well. But maybe he didn't. We might not ever know. Canseco didn't mention him in his book.

[@MidLifeCards]

Interesting comparisons.