How Does One Thin Their Collection?

What to do. What does a collector do when the proverbial cup has runneth over? Having been retired from collecting since 2002, I now find myself overrun with baseball cards. To some this does not sound like a problem, but rather a blessing. To me, it has become a problem.

Last Friday evening, my wife and I were discussing downsizing our lives. Shedding material possessions and their inherent responsibilities, and focusing on what truly matters. Having two young children, I have come to the realization that I cannot take my possessions with me when I die, and I do not want to laden my children with all of my hobbies, etc.

That being said, I have already started selling old toys, movies and my library collection, but what to do with the baseball cards? During our conversation, my wife said (reiterated again) that I should focus on what I want and not collect for numbers. She said if you want to collect each Topps set from 1952 until now, do it, but don’t keep 5 copies of one card, or brands you don’t even like (She didn’t specifically say this, but used an analogy based on colors and numbers).

Of course, I became defensive and agitated because I’m a man and these are my cards, blah, blah, blah. Yet, she’s right. When I was younger, and up until recently, it was about how many cards I had and not what I had. So, I guess this leads me to a crossroads. I have personally decided that I cannot keep 200,000+ cards, for I do not want to move them, organize them or will them.

Now this bears the problem of what to do with all of these? Do I pull the HOFers and trash the rest? Do I get out the kerosene? Do I sell them (not likely a buyer)? Or do I try and trade them as lots for say a handful of cards in return?

I must admit that the last option does intrigue me. Somewhere, someone out there must want what I have and would be willing to pony up a few cards for what I offer. Trouble is, I have complete Topps sets from 1971 to 2004, and I was hoping to complete 2005 until whenever with my kids when (if) they decide to collect.

So, I need pre 1971 Topps and I do like Tony Gwynn, so maybe that’s a starting place. Yet, it just doesn’t seem plausible that someone would trade me a couple of pre 71 Topps in whatever condition or a few Gwynn cards for 200 Studio cards.

Maybe I should just try it and see.

What do you think?