When the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum made arrangements to include some highly valuable trading cards in its new “Shoebox Treasures” exhibit, they knew they’d have to be well protected—not just from theft but from the impact of being on display for thousands of visitors each month. Part of a permanent display, the group of ‘holy grail’ cards includes a T206 … [Read more...]
Number One Rated 1948 Leaf Baseball Set Up for Grabs
If you've snuck a peek at the PSA Set Registry anytime in the last ten years, you've seen it atop all registered sets of 1948 Leaf baseball. A cardboard unicorn of virtually impossible high-grade cards from a production run that was notorious for overprints and off-center cards galore. Now, the old gang is breaking up. All of the cards in the long-running number … [Read more...]
Jackie Robinson Cap with Beanball Protection Soars to $590,994
A cap worn early in Jackie Robinson’s career sold for $590,994 early Saturday morning in a Lelands.com auction. The blue Brooklyn Dodgers wool cap included three protective plates sewn into the lining to aid the first African-American big leaguer as he faced pitches thrown near his head. The price, which included a 20% buyer’s premium tacked onto the winning bid, was … [Read more...]
7 Must-Have Baseball Cards from the 1940s
The 1930s brought Goudeys and Diamond Stars. The '50s saw the dawn of Topps. The 40s? "Limited" would be the word that comes to mind for collectors. After the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, there were no major mainstream sets issued until 1948--a full three years after the hostilities ceased. Surprisingly, though, there is plenty of history … [Read more...]
5 Great Cards of Baseball Pioneer Larry Doby
He was the first player to go directly from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball. His struggles as the first black player in the American League are sometimes overlooked by the focus on Jackie Robinson but they were every bit as real. The vast majority of his Cleveland teammates were chilly at best in those early days. On the field, he struggled too, in the … [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...]
Jackie Robinson 70th Anniversary Auction to Feature Historic Artifacts
Goldin Auctions says it will offer for auction the widest selection of Robinson-related material ever featured in a single auction during a special event opening next month. The Jackie Robinson 70th Anniversary Auction will run from late March through April 22 - one week after MLB's annual Jackie Robinson Day celebration. In addition to Robinson … [Read more...]
Goldin Auctions to Partner with Jackie Robinson Foundation
As part of the 70th anniversary celebration of Jackie Robinson's Major League debut, Goldin Auctions will be the official auction house of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Goldin Auctions, which has also been the Official Auction House of the Babe Ruth Museum since 2015, will raise funds and visibility for the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Jackie Robinson … [Read more...]
1948 Sport Thrills Set Scarce, But Packed With Stars
If you’re a Cleveland Indians fan, then 1948 was a swell year. It was the last time the Indians won the World Series. In fact, 1948 could be called a Swell year, because a 20-card set called Sport Thrills was issued by the Philadelphia Gum Co. It’s better known by the brand of gum that Philly produced — Swell — and contains the subhead “Highlights in the World of Sport.” The … [Read more...]
Baseball Card Exhibit at The Met Opens Next Week
Since the mid-19th century, when the New York Knickerbockers played the first organized baseball games using modern-day rules, New York has been home to some of the sport’s most successful and beloved teams. Opening June 10 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition The Old Ball Game: New York Baseball, 1887–1977 will include nearly 400 baseball cards featuring … [Read more...]