Gordie Howe's final days as an NHL player saw the 52-year-old legend in a Hartford Whalers uniform and his last goal came 40 years ago this week. This monumental moment was not properly covered in the next season's hockey card sets, but there are still options out there for collectors to relive the end day of an incredible career.Gordie was already by far the NHL's all-time … [Read more...]
Vintage Pack Facts: 1979-80 Topps Basketball
It wasn't a great time to be a basketball card collector. After a mammoth 330-card set in 1977-76 and a unique postcard-sized set the next year, Topps all but waved the white flag on hoops for the next three years. The checklists shrunk to 132 cards. By 1979-80, the design of the cards and pack were decidedly uninspiring. Dealers were taking just about … [Read more...]
Bargains Galore are Found in the 1938 Our National Game Pin Set
With prices on the rise for pre-war sports cards and memorabilia, collectors are always on the lookout for bargains. One of the better buys from that era is found in a unique 1930s set of baseball pins. Here's a closer look at the 1938 Our National Game pins. About the 1938 Our National Game Pins Issued in or around 1938, this interesting set is one of the better bargains … [Read more...]
6 Al Kaline Cards to Remember ‘Mr. Tiger’
He was known as “Mr. Tiger” during his 22-year major-league career, and he certainly fit the description. Al Kaline cards first popped out of wax packs a year after the Korean War and were still there as the curtain was closing in Viet Nam. Kaline's longevity was no secret. He could hit, run and throw. Underrated and underappreciated outside Detroit, … [Read more...]
Huge Roster of Vintage Unopened Boxes, Packs Heading to Auction
Over 100 lots of unopened packs and boxes, some dating back more than 50 years, are hitting the block through the upcoming Heritage Spring Sports Collectibles Auction. The jaw-dropping list includes numerous complete, unopened boxes and seldom seen Topps baseball packs from the 1950s and 60s. Among the premier items scheduled to hit the … [Read more...]
Mickey Mantle Headlines Rare 1959 Oklahoma Today Set
In 1959, a rare baseball card set was issued by a regional magazine called Oklahoma Today. Here's a closer look at these unique cards from an unlikely source. About the 1959 Oklahoma Today Set The focus of the magazine, of course, is on the state of Oklahoma. It has been known to cover anything and everything in the state with regards to tourism, restaurants, famous people, … [Read more...]
1940 Michigan Sportservice Detroit Tigers Photos Ushered in Championship Season
The 1939 Detroit Tigers were a mostly forgettable team. After winning the 1935 World Series and recording back-to-back second place American League finishes, the Tigers quickly began to slip into mediocrity. The 1938 team stumbled to a fourth-place finish, replacing Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane, who was the team's manager. In 1939, things were even worse. Even though the team … [Read more...]
Sample Cards Spread the Word About the Inaugural 1939 Play Ball Set
While Goudey dominated the baseball card landscape in the 1930s, a new competitor emerged at the end of the decade. Gum, Inc. produced its popular pre-war gum cards from 1939 through 1941. While their run was brief, the cards were extremely important as they were one of the few baseball card sets being produced during World War II. The 1939 set was also significant because, … [Read more...]
After Nearly 30-Year Hiatus, O-Pee-Chee Baseball Cards Returned in 1965
In 1937, O-Pee-Chee introduced a set of baseball cards. With a unique 'pop-out' design, they were intended to offer a three-dimensional look. The cards were black and white and included many popular players of the day, including Bob Feller, Joe DiMaggio, and Hank Greenberg. The cards of all three players are from relatively early in their careers and the card of Feller, … [Read more...]
Rare 19th Century Kimball Champions Album Offered on eBay
Of the four major multi-sport 19th century champions tobacco card sets featuring baseball players (N28 Allen & Ginter, N29 Allen & Ginter, N162 Goodwin, and N184 Kimball), the N184 Kimball set is perhaps the least understood. With the trading cards distributed in cigarette packs came a special album you could order, depicting all of the athletes in the set. … [Read more...]