I always want to find a steal...the best steal I can remember ever getting was about 20 years ago trading baseball cards:
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Manny Mota (1966 Topps) for Ricky Henderson (1980 Topps Rookie Card):
My pitch line for the blockbuster trade of the century: "This is a card that was made in the 1960's and Manny Mota is the all-time pinch hit leader"...which at the time I think he really was. My friend and neighbor, Matt M., two years my junior, ran inside right after the trade and asked his Dad what he thought. He never came back outside he just yelled from his townhouse door, "My dad said I can't trade cards no more!" and slammed the door. I slowly turned around, lifted the card over my head and proclaimed that I now was the "Greatest of All-time".
That trade then: Mota card was worth around $2, the Henderson card was being sold down at the local baseball card store for close to $100...today the Mota card is around the same price, while the Henderson card is being valued at $50...whatever it was worth I do not own it anymore...I blame beer and a lack of desire to work during college...shameful.
Anyway...I think the karma of that trade has lingered with me for a good portion of my life. I never get a good deal now, let alone a steal. The guilt lingers, I still over-tip on a bad haircut. Ok, I didn't exactly find a deal, I ripped off a little kid while...I too was a little kid. Ok, I ripped Matt off with the Mota for Henderson trade. I was 11 and he was 9. I had 4th and 5th grade on him, two substantial chunks of time and I was in middle school, which to a 9 year-old terms is pretty much Studio 54. I had insider information, Beckett Monthly, he had just learned to read. But he had his Dad but 25 steps away in the kitchen. He could of consulted him...my Dad, was miles away, loving some other family and some other son...ok, thats entirely not true, and I'll probably pay for that somewhere down the line too. But, no matter what I did was completely rip the kid off. I really did. In fact I think I giggled myself to sleep later on. In fact I know I did. It was the first thing out of my lips to anybody for like 3 months after that. Though I do remember too, that there were a couple of parents, who had nothing to do with either Me or Matt, take Matt side and one gave me a bit of a "pleasant" talking to, nothing harsh but a good'ole nudge to give Matt the card back. And I said I would, then I ran the other direction as fast and as far as I could which is an 11 year-old's way of shredding documents and wiping their hands clean of the situation.
Anyway, what inspired this memory was, yesterday I called about a 2 bedroom apartment on Mass Ave listed for $800 a month. I should of known better. I really didn't believe it but really deep down, I wanted it to be "Mota for Henderson" all over again. Until I got this email and "Googled" the Reverend's name:
Thanks for your email and it is my gladness to hearing from you.I amRev Simon Spalinger,the owner of the house you are making enquiryof.Actually I resided in the house with my family,such as my wife andmy only daugther before and resently we had packed due to my transferfrom my working place and now situated in New Jersey USA,andpresently my house is still available for rent for $800 per monthincluding the utilities like hydro,washer and security,it isurnised.Moreso Now, i went for a Crusade in the West Africa and i willlike you to get in touch with my wife for more discussionas She is with the keys and the document to the house.Pls i want youto note that,i am a kind and honest man and also i spent alot on myproperty that i want to give you for rent,so i will solicit for yourabsolute mentenance of this house and want you to treat it as yourown,is that taken,it is not the money the main problem but want you tokeep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when icame for a check up.i do that once in a while.I also want you to letme have trust in you as i always stand on my word.Where are youlocated and where do you see our advert.. Email my wife Sarah on (saraspalinger5467@gmail.com) she willattends to you better.God bless you Rev Simon Spalinger
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