Across the country, as families stay at home during the current pandemic, some are attending to projects that have otherwise been put off due to time constraints associated with the demands of "normal" life. For one Midwestern family, it meant cataloging their late father's extensive sports card collection, which had been quietly assembled over several decades. The magnitude … [Read more...]
1941 St. Louis Cardinals Team Issue Set Boasts Plenty of Key Cards (Part II)
This is the second of a two-part series on the 1941 St. Louis baseball team-issue card sets. Offered for sale at Sportsman's Park, the home stadium for both the cardinals and Browns, they represent two of the relatively few war-time sets. Part I focused on the St. Louis Browns set while Part II below looks at the Cardinals set. 1941 St. Louis Cardinals … [Read more...]
1941 St. Louis Browns Team Issue Set Part of a Sportsman’s Park Dual Release
Just months before Pearl Harbor, the St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals released team-issued sets distributed at Sportsman's Park. The intrigue surrounding them is strengthened by the fact that they are among the relatively few war-time sets. Part I of this dive into the two sets will feature the Browns set while Part II will review the cards for the … [Read more...]
Kings Among Kings: The Top 10 Cards From the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Set
When it comes to pre-war multi-sport sets, the 1933 Goudey Sport Kings set is often heralded as the best. The set boasts all kinds of legendary figures but is also known for producing what are often viewed as the first true professional basketball cards. Here's my look at what I consider to be the top ten cards in the set. 10. Howie Morenz A handful of hockey cards are … [Read more...]
RMY Offers Rare Uncatalogued 1924 National Photos
One of the more unique items up for bid in RMY Auctions' June collectors sale is a collection of rare, black and white uncatalogued baseball photographs dating back to the mid 1920s. Specifically, the photographs are part of a set that is believed to have been issued in 1924. These picture were created by the National Photo Company. RMY states that the set was to commemorate … [Read more...]
Carefully Curated Long-Time Collection Coming to Hunt Auctions
Forty years in the making, a Texas man’s extensive collection of vintage baseball cards and memorabilia has been consigned to Hunt Auctions and will be sold over a series of auctions beginning this summer. Dating from the 1880s to the 1970s, the collection was meticulously curated over a 40-year period and includes a wide array of complete sets, type cards, high grade … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Is It Bowman or Play Ball?
Recently, I was flipping through some of my card binders. While I buy plenty of singles and lots, my primary collecting focus is really on building sets. I like the satisfaction of completion and set building can present some interesting challenges. Because my focus is on sets, often I find myself buying particular lots of cards even if I only need a few. That, of course, … [Read more...]
Regional A.W.H. Caramels Set is a True Rarity
It's one set you might not even find in the most comprehensive price guides. Many advanced collectors have never seen one in person. The 1910 A.W.H. Caramels set is one of the tougher early candy / caramel card issues dating to the pre-war era. Here's a closer look at this incredibly rare 12-card release that was distributed only in a small portion of the … [Read more...]
Regional Cullivan’s Fireside Set Celebrated 1910 World Series Champion Athletics
In 1910, the Philadelphia Athletics won 102 regular season games, easily winning the American League pennant. They became World Series champions after defeating the Chicago Cubs, four games to one. Even the Cubs' lone win in that series was a struggle as the team needed ten innings to pull out a narrow 4-3 victory. The Athletics won all of the other games by at least three runs … [Read more...]
Walter Johnson Highlights 1925 Holland Creameries Set
While tobacco and candy cards were popular earlier, the 1920s saw the introduction of several unique baseball card sets. Among the more interesting types of cards were those distributed by ice cream producers. One of the more obscure ice cream sets not discussed too much is the 1925 Holland Creameries set. Here's a closer look at this rare 1920s issue. About the 1925 … [Read more...]