Even in 1985, it was considered the hobby’s greatest post-War trading card. Owning a nice copy was something the average collector contemplated but often couldn’t afford. One lucky kid’s father recognized the iconic stature of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, though, and bought one for him as a confirmation gift. The $2,000 cost (about $4,300 in today’s … [Read more...]
Top Banner 486X60
Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia of 2015
From Mikan to Mantle and Ruth to Ali, some of the biggest names in sports history changed hands this year. With new bidders entering the hobby, some of whom are buying for investment and others for pure enjoyment, prices for sports icons and famous baseball cards continue to rise. A list of the most expensive sports memorabilia of 2015 includes at least ten items that sold … [Read more...]
Notes: Star-Trib on Berkus; Mantle Musings; Love to UD; Awful Autograph Story
When dealers at the 1994 National Sports Collectors complained angrily about an unexpected overflow crowd being kept out of the show, director Mike Berkus was ready to turn the tables. "You think you had a bad day. Let me tell you about my day,” he told them of his day-long duel with the fire marshal. Berkus, who died of brain cancer last month at age 69, had a way of … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Iconic Cards Share Key Elements
In light of the skyrocketing prices attained for 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards lately, I’ve seen a few collectors start referring to it again as “the post-War Honus Wagner”. They’re right, for the most part. Mantles aren’t tumbling out of long-lost collections on a regular basis but they’re far more readily available than T206 Wagners. Hop on eBay any day and you might find … [Read more...]
Rare T206 Doyle Brings $312,000 in REA Fall Auction
Robert Edward Auctions' third annual Fall Auction ended early Sunday morning with total sales exceeding $3.6 million. A total of 1360 lots were won by 522 different bidders. Forty-nine items realized more than $10,000, led by one the finest examples of the legendary T206 Joe Doyle "NY Nat'l" variation ($312,000) and a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded BVG NM-MT 8 … [Read more...]
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle: Undervalued?
You’ll sometimes hear the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle referred to as his rookie card. I guess if you’re strictly a Topps collector it is. Topps didn’t yet have a full MLB license until then so the famous #311 card from the scarce series is the first time Mantle appeared on a Topps card. However, true fans of vintage baseball cards know that the 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle is … [Read more...]
Old Mill Jackson, T206 Cobb With Cobb Back in REA Preview
The launch is still about six weeks away, but Robert Edward Auctions is offering a sneak peek of some of the rare cards it plans to offer in its annual Spring Catalog. The list includes one of the hobby’s rarest T206 variations, a 1910 Joe Jackson Old Mill Tobacco card and a 1933 Goudey uncut sheet with three Babe Ruth cards and a Lou Gehrig. The huge catalog, which usually … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Readers Recall Brushes With 1969 Topps White Letters, Other Scarcities
Following the story on 1969 Topps ‘white letter variations’, we were very pleased to hear from good friend and long-time reader Bill Hedin with some personal memories of how he received some while opening packs as a kid in Massachusetts. And, reading his letter, that distribution makes sense as many vendors who set up at the Albany shows I referenced were from the southern New … [Read more...]
Leaf Packing Graded Vintage, Art Cards in New Product
Leaf has released its latest re-pack product—this one focused on graded vintage baseball cards and 1/1 art cards of Hall of Famers. 2014 Legends of the Diamond Baseball is sort of a grab bag of graded cards with a modern, artistic twist tossed into the mix. Inside each pack is one graded card dating from prior to 1970 earlier along with hand-drawn, painted art cards … [Read more...]
Five Tips for Novice 1950s Collectors
The baseball cards issued during the 1950s are some of the most popular and iconic ever produced. In fact, it was these issued that spearheaded the increase in prices in the 1980s as baby boomers attempted to purchase back their childhood memories, and in the process turned card collecting into big business. While manufacturers like Topps and Bowman are well known, and names … [Read more...]
