More than 50 years after his baseball playing career ended, Yankees Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle remains a beloved figure. Even beyond baseball fans, collectors not only pursue his cards and collectibles, but his items are among the most popular in the entire hobby. Most Mantle items have risen steadily in value over the years and are getting more expensive to the everyday … [Read more...]
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1969 Citgo Set Captures Youthful Enthusiasm Of Miracle Mets
It has been 50 years since the New York Mets stunned the baseball world by winning the 1969 World Series. This week marks a big anniversary for the franchise: On Sept. 10, 1969, the Mets took over first place in the National League East for good. It was part of an amazing month for the Amazin’s. During a 25-game stretch from Sept. 6 through Sept. 28, their pitching staff … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Pop Report Comparisons of Pre-War and Post-War Vintage
Whenever I write about anything involving the population reports from third party grading companies (i.e. PSA, SGC, and Beckett), I like to throw out the standard reminder that they aren't perfect. But what those "pop reports" can do is help give us an idea of the rarity between certain sets. Typically, I've used them in comparing the perceived rarity of sets from the same … [Read more...]
1961 Wrigley Field Exhibits Set is Full of Stars
The 1961 Wrigley Field Exhibits set is one of the most star-studded issues of all time. This rare Exhibit baseball card release is a popular vintage issue that earns rave reviews to this day for its grand checklist. Here's a closer look at this early 1960s baseball set. 1961 Wrigley Field Exhibits Overview Based on its Wrigley Field name, many collectors may be inclined … [Read more...]
Sinking Ship: Collecting the 1969 Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots are truly one of the greatest one-year wonders in the history of professional sports as the club lasted just a single season in Sick's Stadium before being relocated to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers. The team's cardboard legacy is a relatively small one, but it all began with the 1969 Topps set which included players from all four of baseball's expansion … [Read more...]
Original Drawings Reveal What Topps Did to Jim Lemon’s Weird 1969 Card
Jim Lemon had enjoyed a nice, long career as a big league player and was getting his chance to manage the Washington Senators. Little did he know in January of 1969 that he’d not only be fired a few weeks before the start of spring training but his misfortune would be subject to a rather cruel taunt from Topps. Collectors who pulled his card from packs in the third … [Read more...]
1959-1961 Morrell Meats Dodgers Were Big League
Dodger fans who opened their morning newspaper in southern California on April 30, 1959 probably read about Johnny Podres of the Phillies beating his old team. The Dodgers were in the midst of a grueling 17-game early season road trip across the country as their second season in Los Angeles unfolded. In another part of the paper, fans learned of a new promotion that … [Read more...]
Notes: NSCC Signers; GQ Checklist; Topps NOW Kicks off with Ichiro
The first wave of autograph signers who've signed contracts to appear at this year's National Sports Collectors Convention is out. The group includes several new Baseball Hall of Famers including Jeff Bagwell, Chipper Jones, Harold Baines, Lee Smith and Edgar Martinez, who is making his first ever appearance at the show. Relief ace Trevor Hoffman is also on … [Read more...]
Remembering ‘Newk’: 5 Cards of Don Newcombe
Don Newcombe, who died Tuesday at the age of 92, was an imposing, hard-throwing pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He won 20 or more games three times during his 10-year major-league career and 19 games in 1950. He might have topped the 20-win plateau a few more times, but he lost the 1952 and 1953 seasons to military service. “Newk” stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 220 pounds. … [Read more...]
Topps’ “Other” 1969 Baseball Sets Were Small, Tall
Fifty years ago, collectors were beginning to pull the first of what would be Topps' biggest set to date at 664 cards. Baseball was expanding and so, too, were the number cards you needed to make a set. Still issued by series, the collecting would continue for the next several months but in addition to its standard bubble gum card set with the famous (or infamous) … [Read more...]
