He's arguably one of the best to ever play third base in the majors, dazzling fans with his great glove work but also providing historically significant run production at the plate. Mike Schmidt also has another distinction: the last of the important vintage high number rookie cards. Schmidt's 1973 Topps rookie card (#615) is one he humbly shares with … [Read more...]
Card Back Q&A: Kevin Mench Talks Hat Size, Mike Schmidt, Grandfather’s Influence
As we showed you last week in our conversation with former big league slugger Kevin Mench, he has quite the memorabilia room. The power-hitting Mench spent 2002-2010 in the major leagues and also played in Japan for a year. He once belted a home run in seven consecutive games. In the latest edition of Card Back Q&A, we chatted about the baseball cards he was … [Read more...]
Two-Part Auction Wraps with Modern Card Records, Robinson Bat
After selling a Honus Wagner bat for a record $442,800 and a pair of Michael Jordan jerseys for over $218,556 during the live portion of the event earlier this month, Goldin Auctions closed out its Summer Premium Auction over the weekend with a total of $6 million in sales. Several industry records were set during the catalog auction including several for modern era rookie … [Read more...]
1973 Topps Baseball Set Bid Farewell to Clemente, Hello to Schmidt
In the waning hours of 1972, a cargo plane bound for Nicaragua crashed into the ocean off the coast of Puerto Rico, taking with it a true baseball hero and casting a dark pall over the 1973 season before the New Year could even introduce itself to the world. Roberto Clemente had collected his 3000th hit just months before, on the last day of the regular season, and … [Read more...]
Final Philly Show of 2017 a Sellout
Tables are sold out for the final Philly Show of 2017. The Valley Forge Casino Resort is again hosting the quarterly gathering Friday, December 1 through Sunday, December 3. Dozens of dealers from the eastern half of the country and beyond will bring vintage and modern era cards and memorabilia to the event with autograph guests throughout the weekend. Show … [Read more...]
1979 Burger King Sets Featured Champion Yanks, Updated Rose
Over a four-year span more than 35 years ago, one of Burger King's summertime promotions involved baseball cards. Distributed only in certain areas and produced by the Topps Company, they were similar to same year's major Topps card sets but these were either focused on specific teams (1977-1979) or one large All-Star type set that served as sort of a farewell. So far, we've … [Read more...]
Remembering Schmidt’s Titanic Single In 1974
It might have been the highest — and certainly the hardest — hit single in major-league history. In the first inning of a June 10, 1974, game at the Houston Astrodome, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt stepped into a Claude Osteen fastball and sent it rocketing toward the center field seats. To the 9,487 fans in attendance, the Houston broadcasting team and … [Read more...]
Notes: Sports Legends Museum Closing, Doyle at $220K
The Sports Legends Museum in Baltimore closed its doors Monday after the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation declined to renew its lease with the Maryland Stadium Authority. Located next to the Ruth Birthplace and Museum, Sports Legends has been a primary tenant in Camden Station since 2005, when the State of Maryland, the Ruth Birthplace Foundation, and private contributors … [Read more...]
1952 Topps Mantle Hits $400,000 in Goldin Auctions Sale
A well-centered 1952 Topps PSA 8 Mickey Mantle card sold for $400,950 Friday night at Goldin Auctions’ Summer Live Premium Auction, setting yet another new record for the card and grade. The price of the card bested the $382,400 attained by Heritage Auctions for another PSA 8 rated Mantle card at an auction held the night before. Prices do include buyer’s premiums tacked … [Read more...]
Mike Schmidt Collection, Part 2, Set for Auction
More items from the personal collection of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, including his 1979 N.L. Gold Glove Award, 1974 Sultan of Swat Crown, several milestone home run baseballs and bats, and even his Little League Baseball cap will be part of the 2015 Goldin Auctions Summer Auction. Three of the marquee items will be sold at the Premium Live Auction on July 31, during the … [Read more...]