CNN iReport

When I was growing up. My brother and I fought like a bunch of vultures vying for the same piece of meat. Always tooth and nail, all the time. The one thing we could always agree on was baseball.

We made it our childhood goal to collect all the major rookie cards. We saves all of our allowance and watched every game and we were just hooked. Even now as im an adult, my card collection astonishes me and its in mint condition well worth over 100K.

One of my great memories was the affinity my brother and I had for Cal Ripkin Jr. Donruss, the card company released 5,000 Gold Series Autographed cards by Cal and I remember saving $30 of allowance to buy the box. However, there were only 5K ever made and there were tons of players and different box sets. I stood there with David for a good 45 minutes grabbing different boxes and wondering which one had Cal in it.

I finally found a box that I believed with all of me had Cal in it. I grabbed the box, paid the lady my $30 which was ALOT of money back then when your a kid. We ran outside and feverishly opened the box.

Got down to the last 5 cards and I started balling my eyes out. I knew it wasnt to be. Cal was elusive and it would take forever to save up another $30 on a whim that I may find him.

THE VERY LAST CARD....

Was Cal. Im not pulling your chain, not making an elaborate story. This was a true genuine childhood moment of pure luck and joy. We started screaming our heads off bloody murder. We got CAL!!!!! WE GOT CAL!!!

We got a bullet proof case as they called them, for the card and would share it each night for whos room it got to be in.

This was one good story of many and altho Im too young to have seen them live I always had love for Honus Wagner, The Babe, Willy Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and all the greats even leading up to the greats of my time.

You'll never find my baseball cards in the spokes of a bicycle.