Before Bryce. Before Junior and Doc. Before Robin. Before Tony C. Before Mantle. Before Rapid Robert… There was Melvin. No, the teen big leaguer is not a new concept and Mel Ott was among the first youthful phenoms of the post-World War I era. An early photo of the Hall of Fame slugger in a New York Giants uniform is on the … [Read more...]
1941 Goudey Set Marked End of an Era
Goudey Gum Company sailed across the pre-World War II landscape with a busy run that included standard issue baseball cards, premiums and some non-sport sets. The 1941 Goudey Baseball set would mark the end of a relatively brief but impactful run. The Boston-based firm got off to a huge start with its ultra-popular 1933 set that featured four Babe Ruth cards. The ’34 … [Read more...]
Ott Bat, Jackson Ball, Williams Glove, Groat Uniform Pace Slugger Sale
Items from the estate of Mel Ott and the collection of Dick Groat were among the big sellers at the 15th annual Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory Auction. The auction, which closed with a live session inside the museum on Saturday, included over 500 lots of primarily historic baseball memorabilia. The top price went to what's believed to be the only … [Read more...]
Five 1930s Diamond Matchbooks Bargains
The 1930s Diamond Matchbooks are an excellent way to find pre-war collectibles at a low price. If you're unfamiliar with them, these unique items feature players printed onto matchbook covers. Matchbooks complete with the original matches still inside will be more expensive. However, the majority are found without the matches and those are the real bargains. Classified as U1-U4 … [Read more...]
VIDEO: All-Star Auction in DC Includes Ruth, Presidents
The 2018 All-Star FanFest Auction takes place in Washington, D.C., a city with a baseball history that dates back more than a century. That's why Hunt Auctions is excited to see what might walk in the door during the annual appraisal fair that takes place over several days leading up to the sale (July 16-17). Items that are worthy of being offered in the … [Read more...]
2018 All-Star FanFest Auction to Include Mel Ott Collection
Items from the estate of Hall of Famer Mel Ott will be among a huge array of baseball memorabilia offered in the annual MLB All-Star FanFest Auction set for next month. Spread over two days, the 2018 auction will take place at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. leading up to the All-Star Game at Nationals Park on July 17. Mel's Memorabilia The Ott … [Read more...]
Pre-War Hall of Famers Under $25? It’s Possible
Cards for Hall of Famers are often the most expensive in pre-war baseball card sets. Finding mid-grade copies of them, particularly in rare sets, can cost more than $1,000. However, while many cards of Hall of Fame players in the pre-war era are on the pricey side, there are lots of inexpensive ones, too. Here are some of the cheapest around. 1913 Nap Lajoie Game Card The … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: Mel Ott, Teen Big Leaguer
Mel Ott was just 18 but already had 35 big league games under his belt when he stepped in front of a camera for this photo in the early spring of 1927. Small but powerful, Ott was a tremendous prospect. Little did anyone know at the time, however, that he would become one of the most feared hitters in baseball history. The photo captures the 5’9” slugger before … [Read more...]
Historic Game-Used Items; Rare T206 Cobb Top $9.3 Million Heritage Auction
High-end game-used memorabilia and some iconic sports cards helped push Heritage Auctions’ latest catalog tally to $9.3 million. The auction, which closed with two sections on Saturday and Sunday nights, set several records across game-used jerseys, bats, and rare sports cards. Kept in a closet for decades by the Wisconsin man who’d received it as a young boy … [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...]