Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler collects “quality over quantity” with his baseball cards
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
If you’re a collector and you don’t see Brad Ziegler throwing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, there’s a good chance you’ve seen him on the highlight reels elsewhere.
You may have seen him in videos doing online breaks because he’s also a collector.
The sixth-year MLB sidearmer says he chases his own cards while also chasing “quality over quantity” as his collection is filled with autographs, bat barrels and bat knobs of some of the biggest names in the game.
“My three big personal collection guys are Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial and Roberto Clemente,” he said. “But I try to get as many different Hall of Famers as I can. My dream collection would be a bat Relic, a jersey Relic and an autograph of every Hall of Famer. I know it’s not realistic, but I’m trying to get as close as I can.”
Beckett Media caught up with Ziegler (click here for his checklist) to talk even more collecting in an exclusive interview for the upcoming SuperCollector Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly. We won’t give all of that away here — just some highlights.
One is Ziegler’s discussing the state of the hobby — and the secondary market — in his eyes.
“I don’t have major issues with the card companies,” he said. “I know people always want improvements in products and customer service, and there are always room for great improvements there. My biggest complaint with the hobby, however, is in the secondary market — primarily on eBay.
“It always annoys me when eBay sellers list their good cards for obscenely high prices and then don’t have a realistic view of the market. I have a limited budget for cards, so I’m always looking for a good (or at least fair) deal. I’ll make offers sometimes that are based on previous similar card sales, and I’ll get declined without a counter offer. I realize sellers aren’t obligated to sell the card, but it feels like their only purpose in listing it, if they don’t get an outrageous offer, is to just show it off.”
So, like fellow collector and big-leaguer Pat Neshek, yep, he’s got a budget for his collection — even if he’s searching for high-end cards.
—
SIX SAMPLES OF SUCCESS
Here are six of Ziegler’s favorite cards in his collection:
2010 Topps Sterling Babe Ruth bat barrel 1/1
2012 Topps Tier One Babe Ruth bat knob 1/1
2010 Topps Triple Threads Lou Gehrig bat knob/cut auto 1/1
2012 Topps Five Star Lou Gehrig bat barrel 1/1
2006 Topps Sterling Roberto Clemente cut auto/triple Relic 1/1
2012 Panini National Treasures Stan Musial bat knob 1/1 (pulled)
—
Look for more in the upcoming SuperCollector Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly, arriving in hobby shops next month.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
I agree with his comment about eBay and sellers who just decline a legit (on par with recent completed sales) offer without a counter or a comment. I can see why you would easily decline a lowball offer, but why are you wasting my time by accepting offers then blowing off legitimate ones?
I get what he says about a budget, but I’m guessing his budget is much better than most of ours. :)
That’s exactly what I collect. (Glad I’m not alone).
I sold him an Bowman Chrome orange refractor rookie card his rookie year. I think Beckett did a short article at that time about him buying up his own cards. Wonder how many of his low numbered cards are in his collection.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the interview! I greatly appreciate Ziegler calling out those who overprice cards on eBay. I hope the rest of the interview has great insights like that.
I have 157 different players autographs from the Baseball Hall of Fame……earliest are Clark Griffith ( the old Griffith Stadium owner , Casey Stengel , & Stan Coveleski. Brad Ziegler …CALL ME !! this will get you started !! ?