Man's Baseball Collection Analysis

Collecting baseballs opens up a way to connect not only with history, but also with families and other collectors. The collection I chose to analyze was started in 1987 because of a recommendation of a therapist to find a hobby. The man who started the collection was a military man, a member of the Marine Corps. The therapist suggested finding a hobby so he wouldn’t “bring the Marine Corps home.” That was 28 years ago and the man’s collection has expanded along with that man’s emotional growth. The man couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t love baseball, so when his therapist suggested that he find a hobby, he immediately clung to something familiar, baseball. He wanted to share his love of the game with his family, but didn’t always have …show more content…
The man is a good collector because he has memorized facts and statistics about baseball and at a moment’s notice can call upon his memory to share those, some would call useless, facts to people. The man shares his collection socially with his family and with his friends on social media sites. The man does has a discrete display space for his collection and even has handmade display shelves for his baseballs. Though parts of his collection may be meaningful without the whole group, like the Jackie Robinson autographed baseball, the size and scale of his collection still makes a better impression together rather than separated. The man is still looking for specific items to add to his collection, which suggests that he has an end goal in site. The man still gets a thrill when new items are added to his collection. The man, however, does not have concretely defined parameters of collecting, he collects baseball memorabilia and autographs but he also has autographs and balls from other sports, though not nearly in the amounts he has of baseball. He believes his collection embodies a uniquely American pastime and is a symbol of his patriotism. Additionally, the man uses his collecting as a buffer or “armor” to the outside world by basing most of his social interactions on something related to his …show more content…
This man is not the only person in American to be a collector of baseball material culture. Many others find enjoyment and fulfillment through these same avenues. What makes this man different from them is the way he employs his collection as a bonding agent between members of his family and himself. Because of this double use of his collection, he may be more hesitant to part with his collection. The man has recently had to sell off some of his less favored items because of money issues and his family has seen a difference in his attitude, he has gotten