A few years before Michael Jordan eschewed the NBA to become a real live professional baseball player, he was featured on a special insert card in Upper Deck's 1991 baseball card product. The card quickly became one of the ones to remember during that year. The card was cool for several reasons. It held appeal because it featured Jordan, who was just then starting to win NBA … [Read more...]
Notes: Fast Offer on Wilt Rookie; Goldin vs Covid; Orel’s Sod Farm; Lanny’s Collection to Auction; Cardinals Museum Open
On Sunday, fractional shares platform Collectable offered stakes in a PSA 9 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card for $10 each. The total cost was $200,000. On Tuesday, they received a buyout offer of $350,000 ($16.65/share). Those who bought in have 48 hours to vote on whether to accept the deal, which would represent a 66.5% return on investment in five … [Read more...]
Card Back Q&A: Rob Ducey Talks Playing Softball, High School Wrestling and Beauty Pageant Wife
Toronto, Ontario born Rob Ducey played for six clubs during a 13-year career in the major leagues and even had a stint in Japan. The former outfielder holds the distinction of being the first Canadian born player to play for both MLB teams in Canada (Expos and Blue Jays) and also represent Canada in the Olympic Games. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame … [Read more...]
New Find of 1990 Topps “Blackless” Errors Revives Interest in Printing Anomaly
It might be time for collectors to dust off their 1990 Topps sets. Mark Dupray was at home on July 12, organizing his sports card collection during the coronavirus pandemic. Dupray, 46, was trying to make room for some new cards since he was edging back into the hobby after a dozen years. He was sifting through a shoebox of baseball cards stashed in a closet when he made an … [Read more...]
Popular Michael Jordan Baseball Cards Remain Mostly Cheap
Michael Jordan basketball cards are among the hottest collectibles in the market right now. But Jordan also has several baseball cards thanks mostly to a brief professional stint in the minor leagues with the Chicago White Sox. Jordan played in 127 games for the 1994 Birmingham Barons, stealing 30 bases in 48 attempts and driving in 51 runs but with slugging and on-base … [Read more...]
1993 Flair Set Introduced Another Premium Brand to a Crowded Market
In 1991, Fleer had already jumped into the premium market of baseball cards with their first set of Fleer Ultra. But two years later, the company went even further in efforts to keep up with more expensive brands, such as Topps Finest and SP, with its inaugural 1993 Flair set. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the set and I thought it fitting to take a look back. 1993 … [Read more...]
Cards Not Worth Much? 10 Things You Can Do With Them
For many kids who grew up in the late 1980s or early 90s, it came as a shock. Those baseball and football cards they faithfully accumulated like a fine stock portfolio were supposed to rise in value as the players’ careers ascended. By the time you were in your 30s, you should have enough to pay your first house, right? Actually…no. As most collectors who kept … [Read more...]
Bagwell Rookie Cards Among the Most Affordable Hall of Famers
They called Charlie Gehringer The Mechanical Man. “You wind him up in the spring, turn him loose, he hits .330 or .340, and you shut him off at the end of the season,” Lefty Gomez famously said of the Hall of Fame hitter. Jeff Bagwell was cut from the same productive cloth. Over the course of 15 big league seasons, Bagwell was the model of … [Read more...]
Hall Calls 3: The Market for Raines, Bagwell, Rodriguez
If you collect Hall of Fame rookie cards, adding the members of the 2017 class isn’t going to break the bank. If you collect autographed baseballs, the price for Tim Raines, Jeff Bagwell and Ivan Rodriguez is about to go up. Such is life for collectors in the wake of Wednesday’s news that the 2017 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will feature three players—and just … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Love for the Oddball Sets
It’s always nice when a story in our archives is discovered by someone who appreciates the subject matter. It’s even more fun when a little tidbit is brought back to the surface because of their discovery. In the latest post on the SABR baseball card blog, long-time baseball writer Rob Neyer wrote about the long-forgotten 1985 Circle K All-Time Home Run Kings … [Read more...]