Strip cards, by nature, are often quirky and were often designed without much detail. One issue, however, sort of takes the cake when it comes to confusion - the W516 issue. W516 Strip Card Basics The W516 strip cards are believed to have been produced in 1920-21. As with many strip issues, details are lacking when it comes to determining exactly who distributed them. The … [Read more...]
5 Bargains in the T205 Set
The T205 gold bordered set is considered one of the most popular pre-war issues. With its biographies on the back and colorful, detailed lithography on the fronts, this issue is a favorite of vintage collectors. The artwork was so great, in fact, that the pictures were re-used in the T202 Triple Folders set a year later. The set has its fair share of expensive cards from Addie … [Read more...]
15 Cool, Cheap 1960s Baseball Cards
They're all a bit long in the tooth now, these old pieces of cardboard. Enough time has gone by to make Topps baseball cards from the 1960s truly vintage. Not enough time has gone by, though, to render them prohibitively expensive for those who still want nice cards for their buck. The cards issued in the 60s have a lasting appeal. Printing technology improved and … [Read more...]
5 Inexpensive Cy Young Cards
Cy Young is one of the most celebrated pitchers in major league history. So dominant, in fact, he would have the league's most prestigious pitching award named after him. With his contemporary cards more than 100 years old, most of his issues are pricey ones. There are a few, however, that may not cost as much as you think and date from his time as an active player. Cy … [Read more...]
10 Fun Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund: Sports Collector’s Edition
We're not all lucky enough to get one. Some of us might need to sell some cards to keep Uncle Sam happy on April 15. However, if you are among the millions of Americans who will see a nice deposit in your checking account this time of year, what to do with it is sometimes a dilemma. Pay bills? Fix your truck? Stick it in the bank? All may be responsible … [Read more...]
Seven Affordable Pre-War Cards of Hall of Famers
Collecting pre-war cards isn't always cheap. And when you add Hall of Famers to the mix and want them in halfway decent condition, things get progressively more expensive. However, if collecting Hall of Famers is your thing, there are still plenty of early pre-war cards to be had at affordable prices. Here are seven of them in no particular order. 1. Hank Greenberg 1939 Play … [Read more...]
1914 Polo Grounds Set Good Value For The Money
When it comes to finding pre-war cards on a budget, few top the 1914 Polo Grounds game set. Here's a closer look at this unique collectible that provides an exceptional value. 1914 Polo Grounds Set Basics The 1914 Polo Grounds cards were part of a baseball game by the Card Baseball Game Company of Norfolk, VA. The cards have rounded corners (more on that later) like … [Read more...]
1910-1912 Sweet Caporal Pins Won’t Break Your Piggy Bank
If you've never collected the 1910-1912 Sweet Caporal Pins set because they were, well, pins rather than cards, it's time to get over it. You're missing out on the opportunity to collect a century-old set that's among of the coolest, most affordable, most attainable issues in the hobby. Sweet Caporal Pins: The Basics Sweet Caporal, of course, was a brand of cigarettes and … [Read more...]
Five Cool Pre-WW2 Baseball Cards You Can Afford
One of the best things about the sports card hobby is that you can participate on any level. You can buy common cards for a dime. A current pack for a buck or two. A 1960s Hall of Fame rookie card for a couple hundred. Or, if your budget permits, you can chase the investment quality stuff for a lot more. For many collectors who would like to chase more vintage cards, … [Read more...]
10 Affordable Vintage Ty Cobb Cards
More than 90 years after he took off his spikes for the last time as a player, he's still making headlines. Even if you can't fork over six figures to own one of those rare ones that generated all the recent media attention, you can still find some cheap original Ty Cobb cards to call your own. In fact, there are plenty of great cards from Cobb's career that … [Read more...]