Your "White Whale" .... and will you land it ??

[fkm_bky]

Mine is a T206 Herzog Boston w/ Uzit back. Took a run at one a few years ago but it went for over $6k and I just couldn’t stomach it. I’m in no rush.

May you all find what you’re looking for!

Bill

[ejharrington]

1973-74 Linnett Portraits #NNO Dave Kingman

I have never even seen an image of this card and honestly am not sure it exists. But I have to assume it does as it's listed by both Becker and TCB.

[Arazi4442]

I have a relatively small “Players from Oklahoma” collection and would really love to get something from Bullet Joe Rogans playing days. But I think my options are pretty limited. Still holding out hope for something besides the 1974 Laughlin set.

[HercDriver]

I’ve been trying for years to complete the tough eleven Sovereign 150 cards that were pulled before the 350 run. The only one I have left is the Reulbach (glove shows). It’s not on the level of most of the whales listed here, but it is an extremely tough card, that just doesn’t show up very often. One of these days…

Cheers,
Geno

[JamesGallo]

Been working on this Boston Store set for decades. Would love an affordable ish Ruth to show up. Have seen far more Collins McCarthy but need the BS back to match the rest of the set.

At one point i was the Cobb short for a 1915 Cracker Jack set, it drove me nuts for years. I sold that set in 2019 (massive regret) couple years back i checked off that card and went out and got myself a CJ Cobb, but that certainly was a whale for a long time.

The ruth those has both the problem of availability and price, which makes its doubly painful.

James G

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Arazi4442

I have a relatively small “Players from Oklahoma” collection and would really love to get something from Bullet Joe Rogans playing days. But I think my options are pretty limited. Still holding out hope for something besides the 1974 Laughlin set.

Concerning Bullet Rogan, would a Type 1 photo fit your want? Just a thought in attempts to expand the horizons a little bit.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

So, how many of you who listed your white whales have just received PMs from somebody who has an old uncle with the cards of your dreams? Clearly the only failsafe way to buy such pieces.

[BigfootIsReal]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

So, how many of you who listed your white whales have just received PMs from somebody who has an old uncle with the cards of your dreams? Clearly the only failsafe way to buy such pieces.

Should I have not sent this guy $13,200 for my Whale of 1993 Donruss Chuck Knoblauch?

[Yoda]

At the encouragement of Teddy Z., who I miss for his kindness and knowledge, I started a back run of the T206 McGraw glove. I have completed all but the Cycle and Uzit, which is most likely one of one, Ted holding the sole copy. I was the underbidder in a PWCC auction on a Cycle, so I know they are around. Just keep pounding the pavement until I find one and then I feel I will have done it.

[steve B]

So many, and they've changed over time.

If I had any idea where prices were going, I'd have bought a lot more when I had the chance.

[Prince Hal]

Cracker Jack Frank Chance. Missed out on a few over the years and it feels like I haven't seen one in forever.

[chalupacollects]

Would really like to pick up a Ware's Department Store card. Any HOFer preferred

[Arazi4442]

James, you’re right. I’m as positive as I can be there is no “card” of Rogan so have been hoping for some sort of postcard or type 1 photo, like you said. I remember a couple of Type 1s in a Hunt Auction but they were photos in street clothes.

Originally Posted by Seven

Concerning Bullet Rogan, would a Type 1 photo fit your want? Just a thought in attempts to expand the horizons a little bit.

[aljurgela]

when you actually track down most of the white whales that you had on your list... it took me 12 years and a lot of $ to get these, but here is my "elite Pele" cards.... as of now I think that there are 2 copies of each of these 1957 Peles and the PSA 8.5 '58 Alifia has 6 higher (and holds record for the highest paid price paid for a soccer card... a PSA 9 sold for $1.3 million during the boom).

[aljurgela]

here is the one with the other 1957

[Hankphenom]

What a fun thread!

[Schwertfeger1007]

N173 Old Judge Cabinet King Kelly (w great image)

Missed this one in LOTG a couple of years ago and haven't seen one since.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Arazi4442

James, you’re right. I’m as positive as I can be there is no “card” of Rogan so have been hoping for some sort of postcard or type 1 photo, like you said. I remember a couple of Type 1s in a Hunt Auction but they were photos in street clothes.

I'm going to eventually have to settle for a Type 1 of Josh Gibson, it's most likely the only way I'll ever have him in my collection.

[Leon]

Great stuff, guys. My white whale, when I was trying for a complete prewar type set was a D355. As my collection was being sold, the only one I knew of came up for auction. It went for about 5k. Had I still had my collection I would have doubled that number for it. Currently, I have no white whale, just a lot of cool (to me) cards.. I always like the weird stuff.. So when something weird comes up for sale, I am interested.

[Exhibitman]

Al, I am green with envy over that Alifa. I realize it isn't the earliest Pele but I think it is the nicest looking of the early issues.

As long as we're showing the White Whales, my cousin's signed 1951 Ringside:



I was really thrilled to snag that one. It pairs nicely with the 1951 Topps Ringside contract I got from the Topps Vault:



And this White Whale:

[aljurgela]

very cool... love the sentimental items....

[Schlesinj]

IMG_6613.jpg

Height of my collecting life.

[bandrus1]

Originally Posted by Schwertfeger1007

N173 Old Judge Cabinet King Kelly (w great image)

Missed this one in LOTG a couple of years ago and haven't seen one since.

U know where one is

[Topnotchsy]

Not sure whether one can have multiple 'white whales' but I have a few items that fit that.

• I have been building a collection that chronicles Jackie Robinson's career pre-1947. I have something for almost every notable stop, but have never been able to acquire anything from the 1941 Honolulu Bears, and continue to search for something. I've only ever seen one ticket from Jackie's time there. (Crazy fact: Jackie left Hawaii 2 days before Pearl Harbor).
• Integration - In the offseason between 1945-1946, the Dodgers signed 4 black players. Jackie and Johnny Wright signed to play for the AAA Montreal Royals. Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe signed and would play for the Nashua Dodgers. But initially, that was not the team they signed to play for. Branch Rickey had them sign with the Danville Dodgers. But after signing, Rickey was informed that that the team was not ready to integrate, and a few weeks later, they signed a new agreement to play in Nashua. I have Campanella's 1946 contract for Danville and Nashua. I have been able to acquire Newcombe's Nashua contract. But I have never even seen a picture of Newcombe's contract to play in Danville and I think that it would be the final piece to tell that story.
• I have been collecting lineup cards for many years and have had the chance to buy some incredibly cool ones. I have MLB debuts of significant players, milestone games, World Series games etc. In my years of collecting I have found lineup cards with Gehrig, DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mays, Aaron etc. One player that I have not found is a lineup card with Babe Ruth in the lineup. In fact, the only one I have ever seen was from the 1933 All-Star game and sold for $120,000. Lineup cards from the early 1930's exist (I have found images online from lineup cards as far back as 1931) so there is no obvious reason a lineup with Ruth in it should not exist. Would be an absolute white whale for me.

[Leon]

Interesting white whales. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

Not sure whether one can have multiple 'white whales' but I have a few items that fit that.

• I have been building a collection that chronicles Jackie Robinson's career pre-1947. I have something for almost every notable stop, but have never been able to acquire anything from the 1941 Honolulu Bears, and continue to search for something. I've only ever seen one ticket from Jackie's time there. (Crazy fact: Jackie left Hawaii 2 days before Pearl Harbor).
• Integration - In the offseason between 1945-1946, the Dodgers signed 4 black players. Jackie and Johnny Wright signed to play for the AAA Montreal Royals. Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe signed and would play for the Nashua Dodgers. But initially, that was not the team they signed to play for. Branch Rickey had them sign with the Danville Dodgers. But after signing, Rickey was informed that that the team was not ready to integrate, and a few weeks later, they signed a new agreement to play in Nashua. I have Campanella's 1946 contract for Danville and Nashua. I have been able to acquire Newcombe's Nashua contract. But I have never even seen a picture of Newcombe's contract to play in Danville and I think that it would be the final piece to tell that story.
• I have been collecting lineup cards for many years and have had the chance to buy some incredibly cool ones. I have MLB debuts of significant players, milestone games, World Series games etc. In my years of collecting I have found lineup cards with Gehrig, DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mays, Aaron etc. One player that I have not found is a lineup card with Babe Ruth in the lineup. In fact, the only one I have ever seen was from the 1933 All-Star game and sold for $120,000. Lineup cards from the early 1930's exist (I have found images online from lineup cards as far back as 1931) so there is no obvious reason a lineup with Ruth in it should not exist. Would be an absolute white whale for me.

[Epps]

This exact card. Have been underbidder twice on it and would love to finally complete the chase. If anyone knows the owner, I would love to speak with them!

Zeenut McMullin.jpg

[DeanH3]

For me it's a high eye appeal lower grade T205 Cobb that speaks to me. haven't been able to find one in quite same time. The hunt continues.

[Exhibitman]

One card that has been surprisingly hard to find is a 1962 Daytona International Speedway PC of Buck and Buddy Baker. Last one I need to finish my set. Call it a white minnow.

I also would like to finish the rainbow in Canadian Exhibit cards of Joe Louis.

[BeanTown]

Might have to sell a house if one of these come up….

[Section103]

Depending on how you define it I have 3 or 14 white whales. Only 1 of them would ever go for more than $500 and most of the others would go for less than $100. White minnow definitely seems more appropriate. They're just super hard to find. I know 2 of the 3 actually exist on this board - just not for sale.

[Howe’s Hunter]

I'm missing only three Southern Leaguers, and the other two (Bastian and Reagan) I have seen examples of. But never a Shag in either the Piedmont, Old Mill or Hindu back with Howe's stamp.

[B O'Brien]

There are a number of cards I would really like to have, some I have owned in the past and some I have only dreamed of, but this one is THE card for me.

This T206 Lenox Johnson was the centerpiece of the original backs line and also the first card, that the rest were built around. I also owned it years before. I’ve been forced to sell it twice in my 45 years of collecting and if I’m ever able to land it again, it will never leave!

I’m only 5ish hours away from it and frequently work close by the card, so at least I know where it is!

Happy collecting or card stalking, whatever you want to call it!
Bob

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Leon

Interesting white whales. Good luck.

Thanks. I tend to go down very long rabbit holes and my collection niches and white whales reflect that.

If you don't mind indulging me, a Whale that I actually did acquire recently is a perfect example. It is at the nexus of my WWII baseball collection and my Integration Collection.

In September 1945, after Germany had surrendered, the troops played a tournament in Europe that culimated with the GI World Series, a 5 game series which was split between Soldier Field in Nurmberg, Germany, and Reims, France.

In that tournament, the OISE team was integrated and included two future Hall of Famers, Leon Day and Willard Brown.

The OISE team won the series, and Day pitched well.

Programs from that series are (not surprisingly) exceedingly rare. I'm not sure if 10 have seen the light of day in the past 20 years. But one consistency about all of them was that they were unscored. And the kicker is that none of the players are listed in the program, so without it being scored, there is no indication of the historical aspect of the Integrated team, no mention of 2 future HOFers etc.

After years of pursuing this item, and acquiring almost ever copy I came across (became a bit of an obsession and I bought 3-4 of them over the years), a copy showed up that was scored from one of the games. Even better, it was scored from Game 2, which Leon Day started and won in Nurmberg.

It's not everyone's cup of tea but for me the combination of the game being played at a stadium previously used for Axis Power rallies (I'm avoiding terms that may get flagged), and was integrated a month before Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson.

There's a lot more to the story, but this was definitely a whale for me. I don't believe the Hall of Fame even has a copy of the program, or anything else tied to the series, though they do have a nice article about it online. This may also represent the only documentation of a detailed account of what happened in the game.

[mrreality68]

Lucky Enough to Catch my White Whale.

Deal Done.

Now Just Reeling it In...

Details to Follow

[Leon]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Lucky Enough to Catch my White Whale.

Deal Done.

Now Just Reeling it In...

Details to Follow

Nice....not sure if we have seen it (yet) but let us know....

As said, I don't have any white whales now....I just collect things I like, mainly still type cards..

1936 Home Run Candy Cards...

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Might have to sell a house if one of these come up….

Those are amazing whales to go after indeed

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Leon

Nice....not sure if we have seen it (yet) but let us know....

As said, I don't have any white whales now....I just collect things I like, mainly still type cards..

1936 Home Run Candy Cards...

Love these cards

And I have not posted it yet once I send the 2nd major installment at end of month I will post.

Jeff

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

I am jealous of white whales with images that exist 😆

I just saw this and laughed out loud. So damn true.

[atx840]

Some BIG cards in here!

The T206 Plank is now just a dream but I was very fortunate to have landed my "acquirable" white whale a few years ago.

The Chase would have been a WW but we didnt know it existed until recently & another one I still can't beleive I own.

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by atx840

The T206 Plank is now just a dream

Nows your chance Chris. Mile High has a Psa 4 T206 Plank coming up in their August auction

[Leon]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

Nows your chance Chris. Mile High has a Psa 4 T206 Plank coming up in their August auction

So what does a PSA 4 Plank go for nowadays?
(great cards Chris)
.

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by Leon

So what does a PSA 4 Plank go for nowadays?
(great cards Chris)
.

Hi Leon. These have become difficult to value since there have been so few come up for sale over the past 2-1/2 years.

Since 2022 only 9 Planks have come up for auction.

8 of those were either graded authentic or were Psa/Sgc 1's and sold ranging anywhere from $43K to $129K depending on it's eye appeal.

There was a Psa 2.5 that was badly creased that sold via REA in 2023 for $170K.

My guess is that a presentable Psa 4 in todays climate will hit $300K, but we shall see.