Playing Favorites: Rob Rich's No. 1 baseball item ...

Do you have a single card or item in your collection that stands out from the rest?

It's often not easy to pick one when looking at a collection that you spent plenty of time (and likely money) building. Is picking just one favorite a challenge that you could take on? Tweet @blowoutbuzz on Twitter (or send an email at the address below) for more info on how you can have your favorite card or item highlighted here on The Buzz. We want to see what makes you tick.

Here is our latest collector to take this challenge. Check it out ...

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Name: Rob Rich
Find him at: @robrich333 or natsfan1 on Blowout Forums
Location: Kentucky
Collects: I collect Rookie Cards of modern stars as well as autographs of Hall of Fame players.

The favorite: PSA/DNA authenticated Babe Ruth Perez-Steele custom cut autograph

Why this matters to me: Neither of my parents are sports fans, but they encouraged reading and first bought me a baseball history book when I first expressed interest in the sport. It was the perfect gift to learn about the game that would become my greatest passion in life. Babe Ruth was clearly a larger-than-life figure, and, even as a kid that was born 100 years after his birth, I felt this sense of awe when learning of his accomplishments. When I moved into collecting, I truly felt a genuine connection when owning an autograph of a player. It's like I have a personal slither of history and greatness. Unless you are an avid autograph collector, it is difficult to articulate just how connected you can feel to an individual that you have never met through something as simple as an autograph. The simplicity behind an autograph is what truly makes it beautiful. A brief moment in time occurred where an athlete writes his name on an item, but a historical event takes place in my eyes. For a fleeting moment, an individual who has reached the pinnacle of athletic achievement has held the item that is now yours, and permanently left a reminder of their greatness for years to come.

The hunt: I'm a fairly particular individual, and I like for autographs to be in nearly perfect condition. A streaky or faded autograph is the No. 1 deal-breaker for me as a collector. I identified that I wanted a Ruth autograph in pencil, so that I would not have to worry about the signature ever fading or yellowing with time. It's honesty quite beautiful that a pencil signature from over 75 years ago still looks the exact same as the day in which it was signed. I began saving searches through eBay and scanning the internet for strictly Babe Ruth pencil autographs. Additionally, i wanted to ensure authenticity and had to have a PSA/DNA verified specimen. Being that my price range was roughly $3,000, I had to wait for nearly a year before I saw an auction listed for my ultimate purchase. Toward the end of the auction, a bidding war ensued, but I did not feel much remorse slightly paying over my budget at $3,100. When the dust settled, and the Ruth autograph was finally in my hand, it was a truly magical experience. Words cannot express the sense of connection and awe for the wonder of baseball that I felt when I finally was able to grasp a real Babe Ruth autograph.

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