- Not only did I catch Nolan Ryan barehanded, but I threw out Ricky Henderson. In my backyard.
Many moons ago I used to collect baseball cards. It was a hobby. It was fun. The first World Series that I remember was the historic 1986 series between the Mets and the Red Sox. The Bill Buckner series. I actually remember it as the Mookie Wilson series.
Anyways, I remember that series because that was the first year that I “seriously” collect baseball cards. My parents would take me to Toys R’ Us and I would spend their money on the wax packs and the triple packs of cards.
I remember being excited about seeing not only my native Cleveland Indians players, but the images of players that I watched on television in the MLB playoffs. It was fun. It was a hobby.
I really enjoyed the stale piece of gum that came in the wax packs. I always chewed it. The flavor lasted about as long as the unopened wax pack did in my possession. The gum was brittle – often broken. It was a pale pink dusted with sugar. A teasing treat. Sometimes, if I got multiple packs of cards, I would stuff all the sticks of gum in my mouth and pretend it was chew. Even with five pieces the gum faded after about 10 chews (and a hearty spit).
Years passed. I went to card shows and heard stories of people paying for houses, cars, education with the money they made from their cards. The hobby became an investment. The sticks of gum became a nuisance.
No longer did I read the back of cards to see where players were born, or what minor league team they played for before making it to the big leagues. Instead, I searched for rookies, error cards, future hall of famers.
And guess how much money I made? To date? $0.
Sure I made trades (still kicking myself over trading the Bo Jackson rookie card), but I never made any money. In fact, I would say I lost money. I lost a hobby.
This is symbolic of a lot of choices we make in life. We need to remember to eat the stale gum and enjoy it for what it is. That’s not to say that we should swing for the fences, but when we do we shouldn’t take the little things for granted.
I don’t know about you, but now I have a taste for some chewing gum – but I might spring for a piece where the flavor last longer.
For now – Captain…out.
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