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Destined for display


It's been almost two years since I updated the wall hanging in my card room. It's the one that displays 16 cards of my choosing.

The first two editions of the wall hanging have been pretty random, basically cards of the past that have some sort of meaning to me. And since cards touch a wide range of moments in my life, that is covering a lot of territory.

To be honest, I haven't been happy with that arrangement.

I thought I was. But with each time I entered the card room, I grew more and more tired with the cards on display. I just didn't feel a connection. It was much too random, I don't collect in a random nature. I need at least a little bit of order.

So, today, I did something about it.

It occurred to me that there is a group of cards that I possess that would be perfect to display on a wall. And, no, they're not shiny, they aren't expensive, they weren't scribbled on by players, but they mean more to me than any of that.

Of course, I'm talking about the cards I saved from my first year of collecting in 1975.

This is what the wall hanging looks like now:


That is much more like it.

Each card comes from the same time period and each one is dripping with meaning, moreso than virtually any other card in my collection. I will never forget what it was like to be a 9-year-old boy, thanks to these cards.

Previously, these cards were in their own binder. I'm not one of those people who thinks binders obscure people's collections, but in this case it did seem like an injustice that they weren't out in the open. So now they're out for everybody to see (because the lines to my card room are enormous).

The only problem is those aren't the only cards that I saved from that year. For example, it's really bothering me already that the Dick Ruthven card up at the top -- one of my favorites in 1975 -- is not in the display.

So I'll probably do some quick updating before it goes back on the wall.

Or, better yet, I will find 3 more of these things and hang them all up, as an ode to the cards that got me started on this journey all those years ago.

It will also come in handy if anyone says to me in that accusatory way -- "why do you still collect baseball cards?"

I will proceed to march them to my house, march them to this room and point vigorously at this display.

"THIS" ... I will say ... "is why I collect baseball cards."

And then they better brace for a 30-minute soliloquy.

Comments

I have this exact display case and have no idea what to put in. So right now it just sits in a pile of framed pictures that I haven't hung up yet. I feel guilty about that. I need to fix that.
Also, you forgot a Yankee in yours.
Tony Burbs said…
I may have to borrow this idea - although, my display wouldn't look quite as nice with '89 Topps.
mr haverkamp said…
Giants 3, Dodgers 1. The 9 year old Night Owl definitely knew what was going on!
night owl said…
I was pulling more Giants than Dodgers even back then.
I like that you have Giants cards in the display NOT because of my affiliation with Bay Area sport teams but because you are a fan of baseball and the hobby.
I will not root for an L.A. team but I will not give up my 1973 Osteen or Lopes or my 1974 Garvey. Those are keepers because they all helped shape me into the fan that I am today. I too would display Dodger players with pride along with my early 1970's A's and Giants cards.

I say "Good for you!" Night Owl, but I understand the love - hate relationsbip.
Stubby said…
Only a 30 minute soliloquy? You're slipping, NO.
Brett Alan said…
I was about the same age, and I'm sure I've got about half those cards in my closet....
Stealing Home said…
As the proud and happy recipient of your previous wall hanging, I'm glad to see the tradition rebooted. Those past displays may have meant less to you(as time passed), but they moved on and garnered new meaning for others.
THIS...is why I collect.
CaptKirk42 said…
Cool display. I have loved the '75 Topps since I first saw them and got a few in '75.
Anonymous said…
some of my favorites on there...Cash, Maddox, Fuentes, Zisk, Radar Foli, Gamble, Yeager, Leflore. The Spillner is cool because of the Yellow Padres uniform. I remember seeing John D'Aquisto on a game show (Password or something like that in 1977) so I always think of that when I see his card. I like Knowles too, but I wish Topps had made a card with him on the A's still instead of that airbrushed Cubs monstrosity. You can keep Sizemore because once a Dodger always a Dodger (or some such)... so I would replace Morton, Bumbry or Nelson because you gotta get that Ruthven in there. Might I aslo suggest Will McEnaney and Mike Hargrove (I love the rookie cups) if you have them.
All I can say is it was about time you did this...
Fuji said…
This is pretty awesome! Makes me wish I still had the original 77 Star Wars cards I had when I was a kid. Hope Ruthven gets his chance to shine sooner than later. A vintage sports card featuring an action shot of an athlete with all of his limbs is a piece of art and definitely deserves to be hung up on a collector's wall.