By Ashley McCleery

The North Jefferson News



When Bob Boffa surveys his baseball collection, he doesn’t see the Babe Ruth jersey, the one of a kind oil painting from Topps vault or even the baseball cards valued at $1,000. No, Bob sees his 12-year-old grandson’s eyes as he fingers his favorite card, Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox.

For Bob and his grandson Blaine, collecting cards has become more than just a hobby. It’s a passion. More than anything, it’s become a passion to spend time together.

“I can relate to him, and he can relate to me. There’s not an age barrier with baseball,” Bob said, “It’s a great time to talk while collecting.”

And Blaine felt the same way. “I like baseball cards and collecting them. But, I like doing it with my papa,” Blaine said.

Their perspective on baseball card collecting is precisely why they won the “Best Collection” contest for the month of August from Tuff Stuff, a national sports collector’s magazine.

With Bob’s room full of baseball cards and his grandson’s closet full, Bob knew he had a great collection. In fact, a collector just recently told him that they have one of the largest private collections he’d ever seen.

“It starts at 1909, and it goes all the way up to today’s major players,” Bob said. “We’ve got a little bit of everything. Some are even [worth] well over a $1,000 a piece.”

However, Bob and Blaine’s extensive collection did not impress Tuff Stuff. Instead, their purpose for collecting baseball cards grabbed the magazine’s attention.

“I wrote the essay of why I collect about my grandson. Most wrote about how valuable the cards are. But, I value my cards because of the time I can spend with my grandson,” Bob said.

The editor told Bob that he received over 500 entries, of which they were in the top five. But a couple of days ago, the editor e-mailed Bob, telling him the magazine staff had chosen his collection for first place.

Not only will Bob and Blaine be featured in the November issue of Tuff Stuff, but they will also receive a signed 8 by 10 picture of a major league baseball player.

Although excited about this honor, Bob said he really enjoys the way in which his hobby can make children smile. Every so often, he donates thousands of baseball cards to the children’s hospital, hoping to give away some of the joy the cards have brought him.

“I really appreciate kids. I always have and always will,” he said. His love for kids explains why he and his wife, Bobbi, have five children, four of whom are adopted.

His adoration for children and baseball overflows into his shop, Gardendale Jewelers, as he gives baseball cards to each kid who visits his shop. A man recently came into Bob’s shop looking for an engagement ring because he remembered Bob’s kindness when he was a kid.

“The man told me he remembered coming in here when he was 12, and me giving him is first baseball card. He said he really appreciated and that was the reason he came back.”

No matter his impressive baseball collection, Bob collects to help foster relationships, especially with two important kids: his grandsons Blake and Blaine. Although 5-year-old Blake hasn’t started collecting yet, Bob said he draws baseball cards instead.

But Blaine is a kid after his grandfather’s own heart. “I love spending time with him and going out and buying cards with him and even going out to games with him,” Blaine said. “I really love him a lot.”

One card at a time, Bob continues to build his relationship with his grandson and bridge the past between his childhood and his grandson’s childhood. “The old baseball players become real to him. I’m reliving my past through his eyes.”