It was a genius plan. It all began a week or two before when I was chatting with Dave Sliepka, a veteran in the hobby who was, at the time, working at Beckett. I was working at Pacific in Seattle at that time, and we were talking about doing something at the 2002 National in Chicago. “We should go to a baseball game when we are there,” Dave said. I was completely on board … [Read more...] about Memories From the National: Dave and Jeff Go To White Castle
Montreal Expos
Notes: Rare Cy Young Card Auction; “Expos” Uniforms, Too; National Notes
Grey Flannel Auctions is selling one of only two known 1891 John H. Ryder Cy Young Cabinet cards, a newly uncovered example that represents possibly the first image ever produced of the Hall of Fame pitcher in a big league uniform. From the description: “This hobby fresh discovery was unearthed recently from an original album that was found in a factory almost 65 years ago. … [Read more...] about Notes: Rare Cy Young Card Auction; “Expos” Uniforms, Too; National Notes
Sinking Ship: Collecting the 1969 Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots are truly one of the greatest one-year wonders in the history of professional sports as the club lasted just a single season in Sick's Stadium before being relocated to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers. The team's cardboard legacy is a relatively small one, but it all began with the 1969 Topps set which included players from all four of baseball's expansion … [Read more...] about Sinking Ship: Collecting the 1969 Seattle Pilots
Cartes de Baseball: Collecting the Original Montreal Expos
Major League Baseball stepped outside of America's borders as part of its expansion plans in the late 1960s and the Montreal Expos came into existence along with the San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and the ill-fated Seattle Pilots. Topps was on top of getting fans in most of these markets cards featuring players from the new teams into their flagship 1969 set, but … [Read more...] about Cartes de Baseball: Collecting the Original Montreal Expos
Notes: Ponzi Architecht Sentenced; Lindor Signing at NSCC; Mile High Signed Baseballs; Huge Expos Collection
A Clovis, CA man who forfeited a $31,000 baseball card collection and more than $700,000 cash to federal investigators during a real estate fraud investigation has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fresno says Seth Adam Depiano, 37, formerly of Clovis, operated a Ponzi scheme that lured real estate investors to give money to … [Read more...] about Notes: Ponzi Architecht Sentenced; Lindor Signing at NSCC; Mile High Signed Baseballs; Huge Expos Collection
Gone Yet Never Forgotten: Meet Expos Super Collector Perry Giannias
It started with an Ellis Valentine autographed baseball acquired on a dare by a grade school friend. Now, Perry Giannias is one of the most dedicated Montreal Expos collectors around; and he's turning his passion into a fundraising machine, too. Giannias, who lives in suburban Montreal, grew up with the first Major League Baseball team to call another country … [Read more...] about Gone Yet Never Forgotten: Meet Expos Super Collector Perry Giannias
7 Fun, Early Tim Raines Baseball Cards
He owns 2,605 career hits, more career stolen bases than all but three players (all of whom are in the Hall of Fame) and batted .300 or better five times. 2017 will go down as the year Tim Raines was finally recognized as one of the game's true greats. In honor of his seven consecutive All-Star selections from 1981-87, here are seven worthwhile Tim Raines baseball … [Read more...] about 7 Fun, Early Tim Raines Baseball Cards
Notes: Fed vs. Card Market; $100K MJ Update; ’27 Yankee Ball; Montreal Collection
Prices for high-grade vintage sports cards, especially rookie cards, have been rising like a helium balloon over the past couple of years. Is it because they were undervalued for so long? Is it new collectors with money entering the hobby? Are prices being manipulated? Or are continuing low interest rates to blame? One financial columnist with an eye on one card is … [Read more...] about Notes: Fed vs. Card Market; $100K MJ Update; ’27 Yankee Ball; Montreal Collection
A Wall of Wallachs
You may call yourself a "player collector". You may chase one of every card ever made for your favorite player or players. You may be a "team collector", chasing sets or individual cards and other items associated with your favorite team or teams. Corey Stackhouse is pretty sure he has every Tim Wallach card ever made, but that doesn't mean his collection is complete. … [Read more...] about A Wall of Wallachs