Lost and Found
 

In 2013 I misplaced this card. Years go by, in the back of my mind I know it has to be somewhere. I repainted my " " card room " about 7 years ago and thought it would definitely show up.. but No. Then I decided to take down almost everything on my walls and come up with a new look. That required me to completly empty the closet in my card room. When I didn't find it then I had officially given up hope. Tonight I pull out a bag with some baseball gloves looking for an infielders glove for my grandson. I see an old bag of Rubber bands at the bottom I pick it up and

What falls into my Hand....This

In 2013 card was worth a few Hundred Dollars. So at the time I was miffed but as time went on and the card grew in value. Well I tried not to think of it.

While "early onset" has many disadvantages, in this particular case I would say "solid win".

Why can't I ever find something like that? Nice "found" card!

That happened to me once. But it was a 1987 Topps Rob Wilfong.

Last spring I had to be out of my house for about 6 weeks and forwarded my mail to my son's house. During that time I bought an autograph of Charles "Butch" Schmidt. I have been chasing a subset of players with 1 game as a NYY and he was a toughie, having played 1 game in 1909 but also later a member of the "Miracle Braves". After I got back in the house, I thought I lost the autograph and when I sold my house in the fall of last year I thought it was gone forever. I couple weeks ago my daughter in law handed me a baggie with a couple pieces of mail she forgot to give me last spring and lo and behold, Schmidt showed up. A major senior moment with a happy ending.

Some background on this card. Based on where I found it my guess was I took it out to take a picture for a thread here on Net54 in 2013 discussing Babe Ruth's first card as a Yankee. I must have been wrapping the gloves ( placing a ball in the mitt and wrapping rubber bands to hold it) and picked up the card with the bag of rubber bands.
I have owned this card for over 50 years. One Sunday morning went out with my Dad to Lambertville, New hope and Neshanic station flea markets and came home with a large box with close to 1,000 strip cards lots of W514' s and W515's W510's numbered and unnumbered W519's etc. They had very little value at the time most likely paid $20 for the box. The W514 Jackson was the only card worth anything.. but I learned alot about Strip cards put them in sheets and binders and stored them away. The Extras were sold over time. I do know I sold a few hundred boxing strip cards here on BST.
The reason the boxing cards lasted so long was they were in a box of cards considered worth little but couldn't just throw them in the trash. Very glad I held on to them because those I sold them to were very happy to have them.
So that is the story of how I found ..Lost and found again Babe Ruth's first card as Yankee unnumbered W519. I might submit for grading if I do I will update.
J

That Lambertville flea market used to be awesome. And the one in New Hope. I remember walking around there (both flea markets) on Sunday's with my mom, dad and brother.

Then we used to go to the ice cream place in New Hope. My favorite exotic flavor there was Polish Plum Brandy. Unfortunately that shoppe is long gone.

Is that flea market still going on?

The Lambertville / Golden Nuggett?? Is still going strong but they developed Peddlers village and the flea market across the street turned into shops and some outlets. There was a guy with a vintage toy shop across from peddlers village. ( Gary I think) nice guy and would turn up cards once and awhile. I remember some 59 Bazooka s. And on way home we would hit Neshanic station where I met Postcard / card collector Vin Minner. A great guy mostly into postcards. I remember going to his house to trade cards. Flipping through his cards and coming across a T206 Eddie Plank. Until that night he had no idea what it was. Value at the time was $400. I can still see the big smile he had holding it after finding out.

I guess I will need to check out the Lambertville / Golden Nugget flea markets again. Yes the Lahaska flea market is an outlet center unfortunately. I think over half the stores are empty. Ah the good old days.