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...]
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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...]
New 1960 Post Cereal Variation Uncovered
Nearly 59 years after they showed up on the backs of Post Cereal boxes and launched a four-year run of pro sports-related promotions, a variation has been discovered in the 1960 Post Cereal set. Avid collectors who specialize in the company’s sets tell us you’ll need one more card to complete a master set of the oversized, “wood grain” border sets that took up the back panel … [Read more...]
1962 Salada-Junket Coins a Massive Vintage Issue
Despite not being traditional baseball cards, the 1962 Salada-Junket coins are heavily desired by vintage collectors. Here's a closer look at this unique set from the 1960s. 1962 Salada-Junket Coins Basics The 1962 Salada-Junket Coins were available in packages of Salada Tea and Junket Dessert products. These co-branded plastic coins featured baseball players from the major … [Read more...]
Vintage Pack Facts: 1960 Fleer Baseball Greats
Welcome to the third installment of Vintage Pack Facts. While there aren’t many collectors who wouldn’t love to rip open a 30, 40, 50 or 60+year-old pack, there isn’t really a readily available knowledge base for all of them. This series hopes to shed some light on one individual release each week in terms of the variety of packaging methods used, prices at the … [Read more...]
Lifelong Mays Collector’s Amazing Journey Ends with Sale
On the baseball field, Willie Mays could do it all. In the baseball collectibles field, a California resident had them all. A collector in his late 60s just struck a deal to sell what is likely the ultimate collection of Willie Mays cards and memorabilia. This collector – a financial planner who prefers to be known only by the name, "Mac" – passionately and aggressively … [Read more...]
5 Cards to Capture Baseball As It Was 50 Years Ago
It was the last year in which finishing at the top of the standings in your league meant an automatic berth in the World Series. It was the year in which Nolan Ryan and Johnny Bench made their baseball card debuts and a year in which the American League batting champ barely hit .300. In 1968, baseball card packs were still a nickel, and while you won't find even … [Read more...]
Ryan Rookie Card: A Hobby Icon Turns 50
2018 will mark several anniversaries in the world of sports card collecting. For me, it starts with the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card. 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card As a young collector growing up, Ryan was the first true player that I actually collected. While a Mets fan, I still gravitated towards Ryan and his gaudy strikeout numbers. That was probably aided by the … [Read more...]
