Dizzy Dean was one of baseball's greatest pitchers in the 1930s. But injuries shortened his career and, as a result, he isn't found on a large number of cards. His less popular brother Daffy Dean (real name Paul) also didn't have the longest of careers, either, and that has also limited his card issues. Daffy Dean pitched in nine seasons in the majors but that number is … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: 5 Pre-War Issues to Watch in 2019
As collectors, we're always looking for the next big thing. That's true at any time but the start of a new year always brings along all sorts of re-evaluations from collectors. Some will maintain their current course and change little, if nothing. Others will switch gears. And others will start looking for some bargains that may be had. Others still will just watch from afar … [Read more...]
Bargain Hall of Fame Cards of the 1930s (Part IV of IV)
Many collectors don't realize how affordable some vintage baseball cards truly are. Collectors don't even have to settle for cards of lesser known players, either. While many issues depicting Hall of Famers are pricey, plenty of bargains exist, too. Over a four-part series, I wanted to take a look at some of the more affordable pre-war Hall of Fame cards available to … [Read more...]
A Look at Joe DiMaggio’s Earliest Major League Cards
Joe DiMaggio entered the major leagues in 1936. Breaking in with what would be his only team, DiMaggio starred immediately with the New York Yankees. That season, the Yankee Clipper slugged 29 home runs, batted .323, and led the league with 15 triples. While DiMaggio does have a few earlier cards and collectibles from his minor league days, here's a look at some of his 1936 … [Read more...]
5 Fast Facts About the 1939 Play Ball Set
The 1939 Play Ball set is one of the more popular pre-war issues. It came after the craze of tobacco cards and was a contrast to the mostly colorful Goudeys issues of the 1930s. Here are five quick facts about this unique gum card release. 1. It Includes Ted Williams' Rookie Card The Ted Williams rookie card is one of the most iconic pre-war issues. At a minimum, it's one … [Read more...]
1903 World Series Program Brings Big Price in Huggins & Scott Auction
Huggins & Scott's most recent auction ended this weekend with some big prices tallied on some rare sports collectibles. Leading the way was an official program from Game 7 of the 1903 World Series at Pittsburgh. The program is only the third known copy and sold for a staggering $222,270. With so few known copies of the Pittsburgh version having survived, the program's … [Read more...]
5 Big Stars We’d Have Loved to See in the 1936 Goudey Set
The 1936 Goudey set is often a popular target for collectors breaking into pre-war card collecting. It's cost-effective and, at only 25 cards, is an incredibly short set that can be easily assembled. All told, it's one of the easier pre-war sets that can be built. One of the reasons it's such an easy venture is because of the affordability aspect. And, to be honest, it's … [Read more...]
1933 Rittenhouse Candy Had Collectors Searching for Letters
The 1933 Rittenhouse Candy set is an intriguing one. This somewhat obscure set of candy cards from the 1930s offered cards and a special promotion to collectors. Here's more on this interesting set. 1933 Rittenhouse Candy Cards Overview The 1933 Rittenhouse Candy cards featured some of the top baseball stars of the day. To say the cards were printed inexpensively is probably … [Read more...]
Five 1930s Diamond Matchbooks Bargains
The 1930s Diamond Matchbooks are an excellent way to find pre-war collectibles at a low price. If you're unfamiliar with them, these unique items feature players printed onto matchbook covers. Matchbooks complete with the original matches still inside will be more expensive. However, the majority are found without the matches and those are the real bargains. Classified as U1-U4 … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Fresh Finds Fuel Thoughts on 1933 Goudey Set
The Wayback Collector is a weekly look at important news in the hobby as it relates to pre-war and vintage collectibles. This week’s topic takes a brief look at the 1933 Goudey set's popularity in the wake of two significant finds. At some point, the baseball collecting world decided that the Big 3 in terms of collectible sets were T206, 1952 Topps, and 1933 Goudey. As far … [Read more...]