The Trader Speaks pricing from 1974

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Posted By: Dave Williams

I picked up a copy of "The Trader Speaks" from 1974 for $2.00 which was the pre price guide, pre E Bay way to add to your collection.

It's full of people taking classified adds out with a list of what they wanted to auction off. You mailed them a bid, and at the end of the auction, they'd notify you if you won.

A lot of them had no minimum bid, but they could reject any bids that were too low, some have minimum bids listed.

I'm sure some of you on here used to subscribe, or advertised in the Trader Speaks.

Also informative is the "Collecting News" which lists happenings in the hobby in 1974. Previously unknown sets were popping up everywhere, unknown cards and variations are listed as being reported as well.

Jim Beckett was hoping for a good turnout at his Dallas Baseball Card Collection Convention (a 1 day event on a Saturday, with free admission!)

Anyway..... Here are some of the minimum bids for cards in 1974 of Hall of Famers in this publication.

1933 Goudey Hornsby #188 Mint $3.25
Grove #220 EX $3.00
D.Dean #223 VG $3.00
1939 Play Ball Dickey #30 Mint $2.00
T206 Commons VG-EX - 50 cents
T205 Gold Border Commons 75 cents to $1.25

How about a 1972 Topps complete set for $13.00, or a 1971 set for $16.00?

Another auction started a Cobb T206 in good cond for $2.00, T205 Chance EX for $2.00, Tinker EX $2.00. How about a Tim Keefe N167 Old Judge in EX for min bid $5.50? Allen and Ginter Mike Kelly good cond min bid $5.50, or a T202 Bresnahan/Just before the battle/McGraw in GEM MINT, min bid $3.00. E90 Keeler EX, min bid $2.00.

You could have gotten 15 assorted T206 commons in good condition for $14.95.

Now we know where all the cards are, everybody with a little cash in the early 70's was buying them up.

If I could only go back in time....