(Hunting rights) Investors, True Fans and Sports Memorabilia
No commentsBy Michael Greene
People collect sports memorabilia for two reasons: they are collectors and view their collections as an investment or they are true fans. Baseball, often called America’s game, is a case in point though the same applies to football, basketball and hockey. It applies to all sports equally but let’s talk baseball here.
Back in the 1950’s, Mickey Mantle was baseball. When Number 7 walked to the plate swinging warm-up bats, everyone watching knew that “The Mick” could save the day for the Yankees once again. On any given day, he was good for a home run. The shy, likeable kid from Oklahoma was carrying on the Yankee legend that started with Babe Ruth and included guys like the “Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig and “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio.
There were other legends playing at the same time as Mantle as well. The “Say Hey Kid” Willie Mays and Boston’s Ted Williams come to mind. But Mickey, wearing his Number 7 uniform, embodied what the game meant to the fans of that era.
To be a part of that legend, to resurrect that feeling of warm summer days and the crack of bats echoing through ballparks, is why true fans love to collect baseball memorabilia. If you’re lucky enough to own an autographed Mickey Mantle baseball, it’s not just an artifact that sits on your desk.
You may look at it a hundred times a week and 99 times it’s just an autographed baseball. But the 100th time, that’s when the magic happens. That’s when the small red-laced ball evokes what it means to love the game; a love that drives true fans to surround themselves with things that define the game. It’s an awesome feeling to stand in the presence of things actually touched or even worn by the greatest players of all times: a Willie Mays’ autographed ball, a signed Ted Williams “Splendid Splinter” bat or perhaps an authentic Mickey Mantle autographed Number 7 jersey.
Maybe it’s remembering those days through the prism of years gone by that makes it seem like those were simpler times and the game was purer. There was no sense that the stars of yesteryear were playing for any other reason than their love of what they were doing and their desire to be the best. Unlike many of today’s players who seem to follow the dollar, most fans never worried that their heroes were going to leave for greener pastures and higher salaries. Mickey was a Yankee, period. Ted was a Red Sox and Willie a Giant. Their loyalty was to the game, their team and their fans. And the fans reciprocated.
There’s nothing wrong with collecting memorabilia just for the sake of collecting, of course. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a collection to grow in value and produce a return on investment. Investors go down to the local sports store and stand shoulder to shoulder with the true fans. They wander from affordable sports memorabilia to the rare sports collectibles, weighing each item in terms of its value and potential worth.
Truth be told, it’s hard to distinguish a collector from a true fan. Both can recite chapter and verse about each player behind a particular piece of memorabilia. They know that Mantle hit 536 home runs during his career, Willie sent 660 balls out of the
park and that Ted Williams hit 531 homers. In fact, because the collectors are weighing investment value, they probably have a greater knowledge of what each piece means in terms of a player’s career. There’s nothing second rate about collecting baseball memorabilia as an investment. It’s a pretty safe bet that the investment will pay off in the hands of a savvy investor.
But it’s hard not to wonder if any of the memorabilia they collect ever send them back to the days when Mantle, Mays or Williams strode out to the plate ready to face down the opposing pitcher. When time stood still and the only thing that mattered was whether or not Mickey would do it again. When the fans asked or wanted nothing more than the knowledge that their heroes were giving it their all. When every day was a bright summer day and everything was the way it should be. When fans understood they were in the presence of greatness.
For the collector, an autographed baseball is an investment. For the true fan, an autographed baseball is a window that reveals and preserves what will always be a part of their life and will never be defined by a price tag.
Michael Greene is a huge fan of “The Mick” and keeps his Mickey Mantel memorabilia in a glass case under lock and key.
Guide to Rainbow Trout Fishing In Alaska
By Martin Brinkmann
In the breathtaking waters of Alaska, fishing for rainbow trout has always been an angler’s delight.
There are two main ways to try and hook a rainbow trout when you are fishing. One popular method is with a traditional fishing reel and rod in a lake. Anglers can fish from either the shore or from a boat and can often stake out the areas most likely to be sheltering some of the fish. There is a large variety of lures and bait that can be used when fishing in one of Alaska’s magnificent lakes.
However, for the true Alaskan fishing experience, many people prefer to catch rainbow trout the old fashioned way in streams and rivers by fly fishing. Many people new to the sport can hire a guide to walk them through the process. However, is recommended that a conduct some research on rainbow trout fishing in Alaska to get prepared before getting their feet wet for the first time. It is a rewarding experience and highlights some of the best scenery mother-nature has to offer.
The most important thing when fly fishing for rainbow trout in Alaska is to be prepared. The two most important things you will need are your rod and proper clothing. It is absolutely vital to have the correct clothing when wading in a river or stream in Alaska. The waters in these rivers are made from melting snow, and it is very cold. Waders are the single most important piece of clothing a fly fisherman should wear. The keep the angler’s other clothing and, most importantly, their shoes and feet dry.
For the first-timer, the best time of year to go fly fishing is during the late months of summer. The weather is still mild, and the fishing is at its peak. The most popular place for the new fly fisherman to venture to try their hand at the sport is to the Rainbow rivers.
These two rivers are known for their wealth of rainbow trout and the newcomer will likely have success given patience and a little general knowledge. There is also a copious amount on fly fishing charters and guides in the area to help get you started. The experts at these establishments can offer the novice fisherman a variety of packages to suite their wants and needs. Guided trips can range anywhere from a day long crash course on how to fly fish to a week long experience where the participant will really grasp how wonderful a sport fly fishing is.
Whichever method the greenhorn decides to try their hands at to start, it is sure to be a rewarding and extraordinary experience that will not be forgotten.
Martin helps people learn about rainbow trout fishing. You can read more of his work like Alaska Rainbow Trout Fishing by
visiting the Rainbow Trout Fishing Alaska website.
Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 7:40 pm and is filed under sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
