It all started when he was 9 years old. Detours ensued including a ‘real job’ or two, but Rick Probstein returned to buying and selling sports cards in his 30s and now, you can’t escape his company’s eBay auctions.
If you’re a collector, you’ve probably seen his auctions, bought something from him or sold something to him. However, there are a few things you may not know.
Among them: Probstein employs 25 people to sell $15 million worth of baseball cards, sports memorabilia and other collectibles a year. He does only one card show per year (The National).
Read more at Delaware Online.
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A 1934 Babe Ruth Tour of Japan cap sold via Grey Flannel Auctions Thursday morning for $303,277. A circa-1937 Joe DiMaggio Yankees cap brought $151,652 in the auction.
A 1932 Yankees team signed baseball with Ruth and Lou Gehrig signatures included sold for $115,242.
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Earlier this week, the ball from his last hit and the base from his last single were sold in an MLB auction. Now comes something for those who relished moments when Derek Jeter wasn’t successful.
Up for bid is the ball Joe Kelly of the Red Sox used to strike Jeter out in the September 27 game at Fenway Park. It wound up being the last of Jeter’s 1,840 career whiffs. For the record, he swung at a pitch in the dirt and the ball does show some wear. The ball comes with MLB authenticity and a hologram number.
The current bid as of late Thursday night was $1,010.
MLB Auctions is also selling the first pitch balls from this year’s first and last games of the World Series. The Game 7 ball had a high bid over $27,000.
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“
That’s a beautiful set.”
Yes, that phrase can mean a lot of things, but to a collector, it’s a somewhat geeky appreciation for the design of a baseball card issue.
Not all are worthy and beauty, as always, is in the eye of the beholder.
However, many of those who have beheld card sets throughout the generations have certain favorites that seem to be universally respected, if not always loved.
Here, then, is one take on some of the ‘best looking baseball card sets of all-time’ courtesy of Sports Collectors Store.
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10 Tips for Set Collecting
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High Grade Babe Ruth Baseball Tops Bidding in $1.6 Million Memory Lane Auction
Ruth Contract, Mike Schmidt Collection Paces Auction
1940s Joe DiMaggio Jersey Paces Auction
Editor’s Blog: Best Old Baseball Card Sets to Own
High-Grade Vintage Set Breaks in Memory Lane Auction
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