Tracy Hackler
Danielle Edlund
Doug Kale
Keith Hower
The Hammer
dinkfod
Brian Fleischer
danhitt
Andy Broome
dsliepka
escaladefan
Tim TroutFiled under: Beckett.com
We pride ourselves on high-tech solutions to pricing software and collecting tools. So when Gean Paul Figari starts crunching the files for the upcoming Beckett Almanac book, he uses some Puruvian ingenuity.
To oversimplify, the files have to process continuously to flow the text onto the pages. We are talking about more than 100MB of files. In a world of iTunes and digital photos, this doesn’t seem like much. But we are talking about 100MB of TEXT only (card listings and pricing), NO PHOTOS. Huge, huge text files for the 1,000+ page book.
When left alone, computers go into sleep mode. Gean Paul figured that if he put the mouse on a speaker, played music just loud enough and used a stapler to keep the mouse from sliding off, the vibration from the music keeps the computer “awake.”
Whatever . . . it works. – ph
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to do some garage and closet clean out. With two growing boys in the house, space is becoming more of a premium.
Having been a collector since the ‘70’s, I tend to keep everything. I am optimistic that everything that is not valuable may be so at some point. Or, it is a card I might need given the opportunity to get an autograph in the future. So in my mind, EVERYTHING has a reason to be kept. Oh sure, on those two rare occasions when I moved, I did chuck a few boxes of 1988 Topps baseball commons, and some 1990’s Pro Set. But I sure didn’t do it without culling through the boxes and pulling out all the star cards. Hey, even a 1991 Score Cal Ripken is worth keeping right?
To get to the point, I did something this weekend I’ve never done. I threw out a factory set. I chucked a complete set! Along with some 1991-92 hockey commons and some 1990 Football cards, in the trash went a 1988 Donruss Factory set. Sure, I could try to get $4 for it on eBay, or even get the Glavine RC graded. But why bother? The trip to the post office will cost me that in gas! 
So, if you are looking for some 1991 Fleer and OPC Premier baseball, 1993-94 Classic Draft Picks Hockey, some 1992 Score Football, 100 card lots of 1990-91 Score HK Karl Dykhuis, Jimmy Waite, Peter Ing and 1990 Topps BB Jeff Jackson Rookies, a 1989 Fleer set (minus the Griffey, sorry), and the 1988 Donruss Factory set, they can be found deep within the Dallas dump.
I feel like a new man. I’ve kicked the crack habit! I have thrown cards away that may have value?
Now looking back on this I realize every one of you agree, I’m an idiot. Some of you think so because I shouldn’t have done it. But I’d bet most of you feel I should have done it years ago! I look forward to hearing your opinions. Is it OK to trash cards?
