Long-time broadcaster John Clemens takes the Editor's Blog for a spin, recalling memories of a special set and the hunt to rebuild it. The year was 1957 and death was not coming easy for Grandpa Baynes who had come to live with us so he could be closer to his doctors. As a boy about to turn 13 I had to be very respectful and not make a lot of noise when my friends came … [Read more...]
High-Grade 1957 Topps Johnny Unitas Rookie Cards Tough To Find
His rookie card is one of the most coveted among football collectors, and his career was even more magnificent. You never had to say his full name, either. Just “Johnny U,” and football fans knew who you meant. Johnny Unitas. He threw for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns in an era when the National Football League was ground-oriented. That included 47 straight games … [Read more...]
Vintage Set Break of the Week: 1957 Topps
The 1957 Topps baseball set was a landmark issue. It was the first set made from player photographs and also the largest gum card set to date at over 400 cards. Although the '50s photography left many images appearing excessively dark, the white borders and classic stadium backdrops have made it a favorite of collectors for decades. The set is anchored by Mickey Mantle, … [Read more...]
Duke Snider Cards Spanned Parts of 3 Decades
While Yankee fans loved Mickey and Giants fans thought Willie was the best, Duke Snider baseball cards are what Dodger fans wanted in the golden era of 1950s New York baseball. In Brooklyn, he was known simply as the Duke, or the Duke of Flatbush. Edwin Donald “Duke” Snider was a mainstay for the Dodgers, a power-hitting center fielder who helped the franchise win five … [Read more...]
Retiree Collects Topps’ Prize…59 Years Later
Anyone who has ever sorted through a lifetime’s worth of belongings knows it can be a monumental task. Darwin Day had to go through his brother’s things following his death and then decided to get his own house in order. In that process, he uncovered his childhood baseball card collection: hundreds of cards from the 1957 and 1958 Topps sets. Among the ordinary pictures of … [Read more...]
5 Great Mickey Mantle Cards on a Budget
You see the headlines. Probably read some of them right here. High grade Mickey Mantle cards selling for five and sometimes six figure prices. It can be enough to scare anyone off. Maybe you're interested in a nice Mantle or two...but what to buy? None of them are "cheap" anymore, but there are some value plays. Here are some ideas for building a career collection of … [Read more...]
Mantle Items, Top End 1957 Topps Set Pace SCP Sale
Mickey Mantle’s first Hillerich & Bradsby professional model bat from an order placed in September 1950, possibly his first bat ever used as a Yankee, sold for $242,209 to top the bidding in SCP Auctions’ 2015 Spring Premier which concluded early Sunday. A game-worn and autographed Mantle 1952 New York Yankees home jersey was next in line, selling for $227,856. In total, … [Read more...]
Frank Robinson Baseball Cards Chronicle Memorable Career
On April 8, 1975, Major League Baseball history was made when the first African-American manager made his debut. One of baseball's last player-managers, he was also in the lineup that day for the Cleveland Indians and provided his team with a memorable home run. First appearing in the classic 1957 Topps set, Frank Robinson baseball cards tell the tale of one of the most … [Read more...]
1957 Topps Baseball Set Was A Whole New Ballgame
Baseball and baseball cards would never be the same. In a sense, the 1957 Topps Baseball set marks the end of an era--a seismic shift if you will--to baseball's expansion era. New York City, the epicenter of baseball in the 1950s, went from three teams to one following the 1957 campaign. The Dodgers and Giants headed west taking nearly 150 years of combined Big Apple … [Read more...]
Say Hey: The Best Willie Mays Cards to Own
Any debate about the greatest baseball players of all time will eventually lead to a kid who grew up in the segregated south, dreaming of a big league career but knowing as a youngster it might never happen. Eventually he got his chance. Willie Mays could do it all and look great doing it. He played in three decades, was an All Star 20 times, Gold Glove winner 12 times and … [Read more...]