1962 Clemente Bobblehead

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Posted By: Ejm1

Is this the real deal, and if so, what type of money should this go for at a small local auction?? I don't own it but may go to the auction. Thanks.

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Posted By: Mike H

Definately the real deal. If it isn't cracked (look around the head and neck closely) it's easily a $1,000-$1,800 piece. More in a great economy.

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Posted By: joe

They are both real.

Joe

Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: Brock G.

Thats a beauty! One just sold in NM condition with the original box in the Hunt auction for $2,200.

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Posted By: Mark

Looks pristine... to Mike's point, look closely for hairlines or chips (especially where the head rim might make contact with the neck or shoulders. If its clean and unrestored, it should be worth over $2,000... but even a single hairline could drop the value by up to $500. This one is the king of Bobbing Heads, and the original box adds value as well.

Many of these Clementes have been "cleaned" or restored, but this one looks like it has never seen the light of day. The original box and neck protector are probably a great indicator, that this one has not undergone any restoration. Good Luck, and let us know how you do!

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Posted By: Clint

Make sure you keep a close eye on it right up to when it's auctioned. I went to a sale that had a nodder and before it could be auctioned it was cracked by some kids. Hopefully they'll do a better job protecting it. You might ask if they'll start with it. Sometimes the auctioneer will oblige.

Clint

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Posted By: Anonymous

Wouldn't happen to have a handheld blacklight? It shows any crack or repair... Be careful at auction--lots of handling, etc.. Looks good-good luck.. That would sell for next to nothing at my local auction house-wish it was here!!!!Great Find

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

With all respect to Clint's suggestion, I would consider the other side of the coin and NOT ask the auctioneer to start off with any item, no matter how fragile. This only draws attention to the item, both from other auction goers and from the auction house itself. Your chances of getting a great item for a song rapidly diminish when you call attention to it (especially in a country auction/non-memorabilia auction setting). Not a good idea. Play it safe and discreet. Just keep your eye on the piece, and shoo any troublemakers away!

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Posted By: brock

Well you may beable to get it cheap now because i emailed the auction and they said i could leave no bids, i have to be there.

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Posted By: martindl

Brock, You're just being funny, right or are you being serious?

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Posted By: Josh Siegel

There never seem to be any major steals at this auction house. They routinely have sports memorabilia with subject material from time to time. The last time I was there I was after some 1960's topps baseball sets and they went for around book value and they were EX sets. They start mixing in the sports items around 5:30. If you are hoping to get it for a couple of hundred dollars don't waste your time. There are a couple of regular sports guys with deep pockets that go to all of there auctions.

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Posted By: brock

Why would i be joking. I noticed the auction listing 3-4 days ago. But now what Josh said it sounds like the auction will do good with it.

And now knowing their prices go good is good for me because now i can save my money for another item thats up for auction that i have been looking for 3 years.

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Posted By: MikePugeda

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any idea as to approx. how many of the Clemente nodders exist? I remember reading in some older literature that I had that as few as 40 exist, although I believe the number is definitely higher than that.

Would anyone care to approximate the number of Clemente nodders that are out there? Any opinions would be appreciated.

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Posted By: Mark

I'll take a stab at the number of Clementes out there... I have heard the "40" thing as well, but that number is waaaaaaay low. I think it is more like 350 - 400 that exist today. Of those, probably about half are all-original with no restoration.

The other number that is always understated is that of the Dallas Hartlands. Supposedly there were less than 30 Fellers, 35 Cobbs, and less than 200 hundred Deans, Gehrigs and Fords ever produced (due to a factory flood or fire, or other catastrophe). The Feller statue is indeed very scarce (and rarely surfaces), but there is almost always a Cobb or two on ebay and always multiples of the others.

If these were truly scarce, advanced collectors would have squirreled them away, and the price would have climbed sharply at some point. But they never dry up, and the prices have remained flat (or even declined) over the past few years. That's my somewhat informed take, anyway...

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Posted By: MikePugeda

Mark,

I agree that the number is well over 40, but I was thinking maybe more in the ballpark of 200-300 Clementes are out there. For a few years I kept track of all Clementes that were auctioned on e-bay and auction houses. I kept digital pics and a lot of them had unique faults (chipping, decal wear, etc.) so it was somewhat easy to tell one from the other. When the condition was better, it was much more difficult to keep track and I'm not sure if some in the major auctions were auctioned previously (which I'm sure some were).

Anyway, I did ask a "prominent" nodder collector once, how many he would guess-timate existed. Unfortunately, he seemed a bit of a jack-a$$ and wouldn't give me his opinion.

Oh well...here's mine I purchased about 5 years ago...the name decal is complete, unfortunately the last part was folded over when applied. This was a "holy-grail" piece for me when I was younger.

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Posted By: Mark

Mike:

You could well be right... I was originally going to say about 200 - 300, but upped it a bit because of the ones still presumably hiding in the woodwork (and that have not made it into the hobby).

There was about a 10 year period when every Mastro, Lelands, SCP and REA type auction had the obligatory Clemente Nodder included in the Catalogue. I suppose nobody knows the actual number for sure (although Tim Hunter or John Brey might claim they do). Mine is just a semi-educated guess with no real basis in fact.

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Posted By: Ejm1

It sold for $2,050.00. Anyone on here the buyer?