Mine was always the 52 Mantle. But I'm a big fan of the Gehrig rookie as well.

Just have to mention: Great thread! Thanks to Tony for starting.

Great cards everybody and thanks Mike!

canseco and the hawk were my youngster grails.

tossing these out there for my adult grails as i just don't think i could narrow it down to 1:

http://caimages.collectors.com/psaim....landscape.jpg

http://caimages.collectors.com/psaim...mantleSGCa.jpg

just love this rose card:

http://caimages.collectors.com/psaim...71roseAfav.jpg

Some really great looking cards and memorabilia. I can only image what the rest of everyone's collections look like.

Here is my prized pre-war.
N173 Old Judge Buckenberger :D:D

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=18816

And..........I'm going to show off my prized post-war
National Treasure Flawless (diamond) 5/5 Ryan Murray Signed In Person

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=19905

It's a beater, but one that I've had since I was about 10 years old. Had it encapsulated a year or so ago when I got back into cards. And no, I didn't circle the Winged Wheel!

Hmm, is a 2(mk) the same as 'Authentic'? I couldn't care less about the grade, I just wanted it protected.

Great thread! Best, Dave

Dave, it may not be in the greatest shape, but your story...you can't put a price on that. Thanks for sharing!

My other grail:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4ccd86h7.jpg

Haven't found it yet,
 

but it must be out there somewhere ....

<a href="http://s150.photobucket.com/user/T206ster/media/rubber_stamp_zps4cwsovyl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/T206ster/rubber_stamp_zps4cwsovyl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo rubber_stamp_zps4cwsovyl.jpg"/></a>

Haha. Great one Ed.

For the last 30 years it had been this:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...Image%2045.jpg




Now it is this:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...mage%20496.jpg

These are tied with about 5 other others but here you go--the cabinet is in an SGC 2.5 holder, the Allegheny is the only one in existence.
http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1455549538



http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1455549617

Favorite Cards
 

4-way tie:

c1943 RPPC - Campanella
http://photos.imageevent.com/derekgr...Campanella.jpg

1890's Perkins Studio Cabinet - Jennings
http://photos.imageevent.com/derekgr...20Jennings.jpg

1873 Warren Studio CDV - O'Rourke
http://photos.imageevent.com/derekgr...0OquRourke.jpg

1937 San Diego Padres Team PC - w/ Ted Williams
http://photos.imageevent.com/derekgr...liams_1311.jpg

It's not pre war, but this is definitely my holy grail:

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...1881460fd5.jpg

In 1967 my father, 16 at the time, peeled a bunch of Topps test issue Red Sox stickers and stuck them to the door between his parents' garage and dining room. I spent a lot of time at my grandparents' house in the 80's and the stickers were still there. I remember Reggie smith, petrocelli, Lonborg, a few others, but the one that stood out was Yaz.

Years later, I became a serious Yaz collector. Given the nostalgia factor and the scarcity, an intact copy of that sticker became my holy grail. I had a meager budget at the time and knew there was no way I could afford one.

Then in 2014 I was contacted on CU by a rabid Carlton Fisk collector. He had seen a rare Fisk proof I had posted and offered to buy it. I had been watching the sticker above on eBay, wishing I could afford it. I told the Fisk guy that if he could get the Yaz sticker, we could trade. He accepted and a (long) week later the sticker was in my hands.

It's a scarce issue of my favorite player, in a much nicer grade than I dreamed about, but more than that it's a reclaimed part of my father's childhood and a reminder of happy times with my grandparents. I would never part with this card.

My Joe Jackson strip card in my grail!

Good stuff! :cool:

great campy

Holy cow, that's a nice Mantle! Great Plank also. Two really iconic cards.

A lot of great cards in this thread.

WOW, great thread

Definitely the favorite card in my collection. Love the colors.

as many have said...i'm not sure i really have a "holy grail" in my collection...I have thinned my collection over the last 5 yrs or so to include only cards I "like"...so here are a bunch of cards I like!

Billy Hoeft
 

Long story short: Over in OBC, Billy Hoeft was the inspiration for our Hall of Mediocrity. (Not a slam, these guys all made it to the bigs.) He fascinated me because of his multiple variation cards...I looked into his story, (quite a guy!) and started the Billy Hoeft Fan Club. For a long time there was just one member, me. His Son, Bill Jr., found the site while surfing his Dad's history, and emailed to find out what the Fan Club was all about. Some time long after, Bill Jr. emailed to ask if I would like to hook up with his Dad on the phone, they were having a family reunion. Well, almost three hours on the phone with Billy Hoeft. Got to ask him all kinds of stuff, and I think he enjoyed it every bit as much as I did. This card was sent to me by an OBC'er, one of the most generous people I have ever met in my life. It is a treasure to me.

Nice foursome Derek!
That Jennings portrait was used for his alpha engraving card

I have two Baby Parkers now. Got them about a week apart.

Great additions all. Grant, your post is highly regarded in my book! Thanks for sharing to everyone.

Derek, when you post that Campy I get happy. I miss the card but I'm happy it's in your collection and especially that you like it so much. -peter

I think about you every time I post it...eww!

I couldn't pick one, so here are 4 of my favorites:

I really do like this card!!!!

Not the rarest card, but my favorite since my late mother bought it for me years ago when I was 15. I wouldn't sell or trade it for the world! We bought it raw, of course, but I had it graded around 2004.

http://s16.postimg.org/6v05hu3ep/img679_2.jpg

Plus, of course, my hero: Shemp
http://s18.postimg.org/rk8s7jw2d/img530_3.jpg

As a guy who collects one card of every Hall of Famer, my grail has to be this one. It's Hall of Famer Frank Selee's only card, and it's the only known example.

A very humbling thread. Love it! Keep them coming!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I never grow tired of this piece. I get chills every time I roll out across my living room floor. It reeks of a simpler time in my life pre cancer, pre mortgage, pre-parenthood, pre career. Back then only thing that mattered was my infatuation with the 1971 Pirates. They have always been my favorite team and Roberto Clemente my favorite player. I was eight that year and fell hard for baseball because of him and that group of players. I loved them all, Stargell’s bat twirl, Blass’ enthusiasm, Sanguillen’s gap tooth grin, Dave Cash’s fro, and the bad ass attitude of Doc Ellis. I still do. My favorite item in my collection is the 1971 National League Championship banner that hung in right field at Three Rivers Stadium during Game 3 of the 1971 World Series (see the screen captures below). For this Pirate fan to have the opportunity to own the actual 1971 National League Championship banner won by my all-time favorite team, that hung above my childhood hero, during my favorite world series...priceless.

I think I'm in big trouble. I have been collecting for over 40 years. Started out with sports cards, then collecting odd ball sports stuff, then collecting autographs. 10 years ago, I came across GameUsedUniverse and got hooked on collecting Game Used Memorabilia (my prize possessions are Alex Rodriguez 1st Career Grand Slam Bat GU PSA 9.5; a 2009 Alex Rodriguez Game Used Bat GU PSA 10 (photo matched to 17 games; 44 at bats; hit HR's #575 and #576)) given to me by Arod; and a 1997 Alex Rodriguez Game Used Fielding Glove). Now since starting this thread and seeing all the AWESOME older cards, photos, etc., has now got me thinking that I want to start collecting older cards. I'm in big trouble! :eek:

What a piece of history, Mike. Knowing stuff like this is in the hands of true fans is awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pirates Banner
 

Mike,

May have mentioned it before when you picked up the banner, but the '71 NL Championship banner is just an awesome piece of memorabilia. It makes it even better that it's in the hands of someone that truly enjoys the banner as well has that special attachment to it being your favorite team and Series. Doesn't get much better than that.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and footage, w/it pictured, of your grail item.

Not necessarily my holy grail (it's my avatar) but this is possibly my favorite image on a baseball card...... I have seen 5s-7s I don't care for as much as this lowly 2.5...

I had been looking for this postcard for over two years. Then not only was I able to get a copy, but it is signed by the entire team as well. I was speechless.

Then later that same month I was able to get the original contract and the team signed foldout with Jimmie Foxx...nearly fell off my chair. All three of these in one month. They all beat anything I have gotten in my years of collecting AAGPBL items.

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psymuchowc.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psgjtoc7fg.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...psyo9kjlm4.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...pswhd5smal.jpg

Tom C

This is awesome!

This is by far my most prized possession and has been for 25 years and I can't imagine that it will ever change. This is the only known Wade Boggs/Roger Clemens wrong back error pair. They are my all time favorite players and I collect error cards so having that combo on a wrong back pair is the ultimate for me.

At least you didn't post the E90-1 Young again!! :D

1903 Horner AL Composite
 

Some really kewl stuff, guys. I love the pieces that have the stories and so forth. I forgot but this could be my fave piece (not card) in my collection. It is the only fairly substantial item kept from Collection I. I didn't want to take it off my wall!! Every time I walk into my office I see it. It would have been more of an empty feeling than was already happening (which wasn't too bad actually) So it isn't a bad consolation...

My Holy Grail and after 4 years, I finished the 1935 Chicle Set.



Attachment 221501

Definitely my favorite item now - scroll signed by 180+ members of the American League in 1935. Allegedly hung in the locker room in Cleveland for all players to sign as they came through town, then was given to Indians manager Steve O'Neill for display....

Lol

Leon and Scott; awesome pieces!

My two holy grails (already shown - post #7) are very impressive, but I am jealous and in awe of all the great stories and details surrounding everyone else's choices. In my opinion, those kind of stories and details are what makes this hobby so special.

Thanks for sharing!
.
.

Not the most expensive card in the world, but one I looked for forever and was sure I would never find again after losing out on a PSA 5 in REA.

A couple of my favorite unopened packs, from my collection
 

Not my "holy grail" packs, but I doubt that I'll ever find some of the older, scarce tobacco packs, unopened:

We've already had one Plank posted in this thread. Here's another:


Attachment 221524

This was my Holy Grail, now at REA for the Spring 2016 auction.
1904 thru 1911 Detroit Baseball Club Financial Ledger. A few pages pictured.

Joe

My Cubs Fav's

Not a 'holy grail', but one of my favorites. Have done more selling off than buying, unfortunately. And the way PSA grades Kashins, this could just as easily be a PSA 7 .... and I don't know why, but I love the Berk Ross Mays, yet still not really by any means a holy grail...

Attachment 221542

Attachment 221543

Leon, what is that exactly? Haven't seen something like it before.

Wow! Pretty awesome! That's not my cup o' tea, but it is certainly a unique item! Good luck with the sale!

If I'm reading this correctly, Cobb was getting less than George Mullin and Stanage?

Here's mine. A 1959 Venezuelan:
http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/...ps734c15c2.jpg

Not a holy grail n the same sence of the word but defiantly an original one of a kind and I love just looking at it and thinking about how it all came together. A few years ago I started doing through the mail autograph requests from former players. By far the nicest and one of the most gracious players was former Brooklyn Dogers pitcher Carl Erskine. He ne I actually ended up writing back and forth a number of times.i decided to put together a custom piece featuring one of his greatest accomplishments. In the 1953 World Series he set a record by striking out 14 Yankees in one game (since been broken).
I sent him a photo of him pitching which he signed with the record breaking inscription. Then he listed the names of each strikeout victim in order across the top. I ended up matting the photo with a ticket stub to the game as well as a 1961 Nu Scoops card describing the accomplishment and a index card which he deceived the toughest strikeout that day.
It doesn't have a ton of monetary value like so many items posted here but I know it is 100% unique and it's hanging in my room making it 100% mine.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy.
Drew

Very nice piece. Thanks for sharing the story.

Duane Clark

Yes 4 players were being paid more than Cobb.. This was at the beginning of his career that started in Summer of 1905.

Joe

So much great stuff! Amazing that such a die hard fan of the 71 pirates and Clemente would own the banner that hung above roberto's head during that postseason! Also love the Erskine piece, because of the pen pal friendship it resulted from. Really outstanding, guys!

Awesome card, and looks great for the grade. That is also one of my favorite images in the hobby, right up there with the N162 Anson and 53 Bowman Reese.

Holy crap Joe, that ledger is the kind of stuff that makes collecting fun.

Four
 

I could not pick just one so here are my four Holy Grail items and that was difficult

the only 1 in the world...

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...psfmvd3thv.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...psa28ce8af.jpg

That BL Cobb

:eek:

T206 Matty
 

This card was part of the group of my first 5 vintage cards, and will be with me to the end. After 35 years, it still informs me on what I love about collecting what I do, and instilled in me the willingness to see flaws as something that can add to the appeal of a card.

Brian

Former Holy Grail ...
 

Former Holy Grail...I sure do miss him...

The Detroit financial ledger.... WOW!

I love that ledger too. Good luck with your sale.

I have to consider this my holy grail. My dad bought me this Sliding Billy Hamilton at a big auction in roughly 1993. He knew I loved the card and he actually surprised me with it. It didn't grade high but who cares. Luv it. Thanks for looking.

An old picture, but...
 

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps2apjlss3.jpg

My progress as of last July on the 1953 Topps project. I really need to update the picture, but it's a bit of a challenge getting them all to fit in one shot. I was able to get a little over 40 of them by writing to the players, which is pretty good for a set that was 61 years old when I started.

Nice work Scott, keep on plugging away!


Amazing stuff so far!

simply stunning!

Circa 1956 Mantle Game Used Bat.

Amazing displays!

Museum worthy!

I have two I'd never sell. Neither have a ton of monetary value, but to me...priceless!
My grandfather was a photographer for the Detroit News. This hung in his basement until I inherited it. This is an original News photo of the '35 Tigers taken by William Keunzel.

http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/z...psi3q5s7ss.jpg

My dad was a photographer for the Free Press and got to go to the annual Tiger party around 1977. He walked around with a notepad and got a whole bunch of autographs personalized to me. You can imagine being 12 years old and waking up to see this on the kitchen table! Unfortunately, Ralph was very wrong!

http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/z...psia93tllr.jpg

Amazing pieces everyone, neat to see the diversity in what people consider their #1s.

Jamie that BL is insane, its definitely in the right collection.

This is the original plaque that belonged to the "Cannon Trophy" (college football rivalry trophy between Purdue University and University of Illinois). This plaque has been on the rivalry trophy since the first year they started the tradition in 1943. As you can see, the plaque is filled and both universities agree to start a new plaque.I was very fortunate to find the opportunity to owning this piece of history. As a second generation Purdue Alum. it's priceless to me.


The plaque:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pseace4bac.jpg

The Cannon Trophy in Purdue's possession (after winning the rivalry game 2014) before removing the plaque.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ps6c97d070.jpg