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Originally Posted by AustinMike
Dave, Tony, and Brian,
Thanks for the kind words. The problem with the Stahl-Meyers and the Briggs Meat is that there aren't too many decent ones that come up for sale. There was a real nice Briggs Meat that was auctioned two or three or four months ago. There was way too much interest in that and I don't think I was even the under bidder on it. I wish everyone would stop collecting Mantle cards until I get what I need. 
Brian, you really want to use Chris as a reference for your book?  Seriously though, if Chris likes it, that's a good reference. Chris and I have been exchanging notes on Mantles for over a year now and he is a good source on all things Mantle. I have actually thought about getting your book in the past. There are also some books on the Post cereal cards from the early '60s I want to get at some point (although I think at least one of the years is out of print). But right now, I need all my cash for Mantle cards and Post panels. |
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Austin Mike,
Yes, Chris De Bono is a good friend and a terrific guy. I am very happy and relieved he seems to enjoy my book. Furthermore, he willingly shares what he knows when he is able; I admire that. However, I also respect, to a point, the chap that must keep his knowledge "locked" due to the fact he is still striving to hunt down some of the scarce and / or rare regionals. I was the same way.
My book is a tell-all in the respect that since the cards are now exceedingly "over my head" price-wise, I might as well share everything I have gleaned on my subject from the years I collected, off and on since 1961. Furthermore, I was blessed with numerous key hobby people sharing with me some of their knowledge and riveting sea stories that were integral to a given chapter. Off the top of my head, I am speaking of the likes of Larry Fritsch, Bill Zimpleman, Lionel Carter, Dick Reuss, Doak Ewing, Mr. Mint Alan Rosen, Jim Cumpton, George Husby, Bob Solon (second hand, but most reliable source), Clay Hill (recently retired from Sports Cards Plus in CA), Bill Mastro, Rob Lifson, and Jack Urban.
You wrote correctly about the oh-so-true fact that there is an absolute paucity of decent Stahl-Meyer Franks and Briggs Franks specimens that come up for auction or sale. After your Mile High Auction dogfight that you so beautifully won, I did a quick check of the PSA POP REPORT on what they've graded of the 1953 Stahl-Meyer Franks Mantle. Of the 45 submitted to them, a hair over two-thirds of them---31 mind you, came out as PSA 1 POOR. For such an elegant, beautiful, and regal Mickey Mantle king-sized ruby, that is one depressing but telling stat. As poor as many wound up being, having been imprisoned for a time between two rows of four fatty, wet, red juicy stain-inducing hot dogs; well, what would you expect? On top of that, as you gents discussed, cards as this one, serving as a "free prize" and performing double duty as a package stiffener, were given the bluish-purple stamp lot inventory number on the front of the card. At least the stamp was not applied to a player's face; that would have been intolerable!
With such a damaging original environment for most of the cards, as I wrote, low high-grade on THIS ISSUE commences with PSA 2 GOOD. If you're particularly sharp, in my last sentence you might have noticed I used the word, 'most'. If you're curious, and studious, you had better buy my book! Really, Mike, you did very well. The hot dog stain streaks are very mild, while the stamped numbers do not jump out at my eyes.
As for saving your bucks to buy Mantle cards and Post panels; obviously, you have good taste. Still, me bucko, an educated collector is a knowing collector. The measly thirty dollars I charge, relatively speaking of course, will reward you with a wealth of knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration of the Stahl-Meyer Franks, and several other tough Mickey Mantles as well, since we're on the subject of The Commerce Comet, than you ever thought existed. Puts a lot of the tougher pieces in their proper perspective. I have to stop---my wife just told me it's time to eat!
Take care, Mike. I wish you the best, my fellow collecting warrior!
---Brian Powell
PS--Supper is over. Besides my own CD E-book, please do avail yourself of the opportunity to purchase Dan Mabey's Post Cereal books. I hope they are still available. I believe they were traditional paper books. Worth every penny, I am certain of that. There's two of them I want to buy THIS SECOND. Even if I cannot afford more of the Post / JELL-O cards, I heartily enjoy reading about the Post Cereal; after all, I have memories of all four years! Certainly I enjoy my childhood collection, as well as the few prime specimens I was blessed with hunting down during my active years as an adult collector. They are superb cards--each of them! Currently, Dan's gunning for the fascinating 1962 JELL-O baseball card promotion. Being a 54-year old regional that was only available in the Chicago and Milwaukee area, that will be a daunting task, to say the least. All I can contribute is a good story involving a refused opportunity to get a box of JELL-O with a Mickey Mantle "free prize" card on the backside during the late summer of 1962; I hope Dan asks me for it, because it's an excellent story that paints a picture of the limitations and vulnerability of an 8-year-old kid collector. A couple years ago, Dan got on Net54 and announced his planned '62 JELL-O book, and asked for contributions. I hope he got "a full case" of them!