He was still only 18 when the photos for what became his first licensed baseball cards were taken and after a less than stellar start to his pro career, he was only the 44th best prospect in baseball in the spring of 1993. Derek Jeter rookie cards arrived that year and there were eight in all--more if you're willing to count the variations that don't officially get … [Read more...]
New Exhibit Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Miracle on Ice
It may be hard to believe it’s been 40 years but it’s one of those events where you remember where you were when you found out about it. The 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team’s upset of the Soviet Union was that kind of moment, even if there was no live TV broadcast in the U.S. I was getting ready to play a high school basketball game (or sit on the bench at least) when … [Read more...]
Mysteries Still Surround the Rare T217 Mono Cigarettes Set
The T217 Mono Cigarettes set is one of the rarest 20th century tobacco baseball card issues. Despite a relatively small checklist, completing this rare tobacco set is extremely difficult . And in the case of assembling a fully complete set, that may be impossible. About the T217 Mono Cigarettes Set If obscure baseball players is your thing, the T217 Mono Cigarettes set has … [Read more...]
Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards Soaring
Whether it’s a record-setting collection of touchdown passes, a late rally in a hostile environment or an improvisational toss with his opposite hand, there’s not much mystery behind the strong interest in Patrick Mahomes rookie cards. In his first three games as the Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback in 2018, Mahomes tossed 13 touchdown passes while completing 67% of … [Read more...]
Mickey Mantle’s Signed Rookie Card Contract Coming to Auction
Yesterday, we posted a photograph showing Joan Crosby, surrounded by Bowman Gum's baseball cards as she carried out her duties with the company back in 1953. One of Crosby's duties was to track down as many players as she could and get them to sign contracts so the company could put them on its baseball cards. One of those players was a young Mickey Mantle and in … [Read more...]
10 Underrated Hockey Rookie Cards of the 1960s
The game of hockey was aiming to grow in the 1960s and as the NHL was ready to move from the Original Six era to a 12-team league. Before expansion, it was tough to crack a roster and it was tough for a special talent to make it up - even for a few games. Sometimes, these players might have found themselves a hockey card, too. However, even the stars can become forgotten … [Read more...]
Raymond Berry Personal Collection, 1941 Heisman Trophy Highlight Super Bowl Auction
The 1941 Heisman Trophy awarded to University of Minnesota halfback Bruce Smith and the collections of three Pro Football Hall of Fame members are among the highlights in the 12th annual Super Bowl Auction. The newly-launched event has already kicked off with online bidding and concludes with a live element on February 1, the day before Super Bowl LIV in Miami. It’s … [Read more...]
Steve Christoff’s 1980 Olympic Gold Medal Consigned to Auction
The gold medal presented to a member of the 1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team that stunned the Soviet Union in Lake Placid is going back on the auction block. Goldin Auctions will offer the medal earned by center Steve Christoff in its Winter Auction, scheduled to begin Monday. The medal was last on the block in 2017 at the now defunct Steiner Auctions but didn't … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: More Altered Cards Outed But No Legal Action Yet
No legal action been filed yet in connection with the ongoing revelations of altered trading cards uncovered by members of the Blowout Cards forum since last spring, but the work to identify them continues. More cards alleged to have been purchased, altered and re-graded for profit are being revealed on almost a daily basis. Members have recently highlighted … [Read more...]
White Whale Surfaces: W600 Ty Cobb Card Uncovered,Heads to REA
File this under you never know what's on the other end of the phone. A call to Robert Edward Auctions' New Jersey office last month yielded an early contender for new discovery of the year. A long-time dealer/collector reached out to the auction house, known for high-end and rare items, to inquire about some items that he'd had in his possession for nearly thirty … [Read more...]