Back in the day of early childhood, when the great matters of life were discussed and settled on the playground between innings — or during rounds of “pickle” if we did not have enough players for a game — there was rarely consensus on any issue. Even if everyone present agreed that the Tigers were the only team that mattered in the American League (that is how it was growing … [Read more...]
About Larry Pauley
2014 Topps Five Star Arrives with Checklist, New Images
2014 Topps Five Star Baseball is set for release Wednesday and the company has released more images of some of the cards it has created for the high end product. Among them: a baseball card featuring one-time Kansas City Royals draftee Dan Marino and ex-Yankee farmhand John Elway along with bat relics of Ty Cobb and Jackie Robinson. The checklist for the hobby exclusive … [Read more...]
Most Popular Baseball Card Sets to Collect, 1950-1999
Not only do the words “popular” and “passion” both start with “p,” but they are also related in the hearts of many collectors. At least that is how it appears from some of the great reactions and statements that the piece on 1900-1949 generated. And that is how it should be. There is little joy in collecting something if there is no passion attached to it. And, if passion is … [Read more...]
Collectors’ Choice: Most Popular Baseball Card Sets, 1900-1949
Every collector wants to believe that he or she is getting in on the best baseball card sets of all time when they collect. Or at least, the very best sets they can obtain on their given budget. And, when a collector accumulates what he or she truly desires, they are right on target regardless of what the set is worth or whether anyone else recognizes the achievement. Their … [Read more...]
15 Most Valuable Baseball Cards of the 50s
It is not unusual to hear the 1950s spoken of as the “golden age” for baseball card collecting. Three successful teams in New York, a bubble-gum war between two companies vying for the allowance money of kids, players who would define baseball immortality, and other factors all combine to provide this era with the well-earned title. Of course, to speak of something as … [Read more...]
2014 Topps Supreme Baseball Arrives Wednesday
After a Japan-only release of the MLB product last year, 2014 Topps Supreme Baseball, set to arrive Wednesday. The Supreme brand has been a pillar of the football card market since its introduction for the 2010 season. Last year, Supreme made its baseball debut but only as an Asian-exclusive. Now the holders of the MLB exclusive trading card license plan on bringing this … [Read more...]
Time to Wake Up to Royals’ Rookie Cards?
Now we know what kind of World Series it will be. It will feature the Panda and the Moose. Other notables will include Captain Underpants, Country Breakfast, Big Game James and the Freak. It should be quite a show as the San Francisco Giants fight their third World Series battle in five years while the Royals enter the ring for the first time in almost three decades. And … [Read more...]
The Royals are Hot, but How About Their Memorabilia?
Less than 24 hours after the Kansas City Royals won their first postseason game in 29 years my “In” box had an offer for a unique piece of memorabilia to commemorate the event. Granted, my baseball card and memorabilia business is in the state of Missouri, and that extra-inning victory against the Oakland ball club was the first of a historic three extra-inning victory run. But … [Read more...]
Getting Your Collection Outside the Fan Cave
It is not that I am a total wimp, but I do truly hate going to the doctor unless I am really hurting or sick. It is not the shots or the white coats or the smells or any of that. Mostly it is the bills. But, whatever the reason, I just have a great distaste for visiting the practitioners of the Hippocratic oath. But one doctor made the event a bit more enjoyable. Along … [Read more...]
2014 Topps Finest Football Preview
Topps Finest Football has been offered to collectors every year without interruption since 1994. It first appeared as a small set in 1992, and skipped the '93 season even though the brand name was used on card sets for the other major team sports. Regardless of the missed year, the venerable brand is easily one of the longest running football card sets produced outside of the … [Read more...]