Closing Tonight - Love of the Game Late Summer Premier Auction

[Al C.risafulli]

Hi all:

Just a quick reminder that tonight is the closing night of LOTG's Summer auction. This is a pretty special auction, there are a lot of great, rare prewar items including some card types you don't see very often (i.e. G&B Gum, Yum Yum, Gypsy Queen, Western Playground, Kalamazoo Bats, Briggs Chocolates, Punch Cigarros, Centennial Flour, Smith's Clothing and a ton more), but I wanted to point out a few items in particular that might be of interest.

Lot #25 is a 1927 Exhibits Babe Ruth. It's a card that doesn't come up all the time, but the last one we sold in this grade went for $10,800 two years ago. This one currently has no bids!

Lot #6 is a 1952 Tip Top Bread Mickey Mantle. This is a '52 Mantle that's not plentiful; PSA has only graded 20, and none higher than 1.5. That 1.5 just sold for more than $70,000 last week!

Lot #19 is a gorgeous photo from the 1917 Tim Murnane All-Star game, with Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Tris Speaker, Buck Weaver, Walter Johnson and more. The photo is beautiful, but this example was owned by Walter Johnson and has his handwritten caption (along with his humorous question mark identifying himself as an unknown player), and an LOA from Net54's own Hank Thomas!

Lot #22 is a 1950 Bowman Yogi Berra in SGC 9. Between PSA and SGC there are only four MINT 9 examples (three PSA, plus this one SGC), and none have graded 10. One of the PSA 9s sold last week for an astronomical amount!

I also want to point out that we have an enormous collection of companion pieces related to prewar cards - great material for display in your card room. Brand names like Boston Garter, Old Judge, Close Candy, Croft's Cocoa and Candy, Pirate Tobacco, Worch Cigar and more.

Extended bidding starts at 9pm eastern. Good luck to everyone bidding, and to all consignors!

https://bid.loveofthegameauctions.com/Lots/Gallery

-Al

[doug.goodman]

Jeez, I thought this one was never going to end, but I came away QUITE happy, so thank you very much for another great one.

[bandrus1]

Whoever got the n162 Anson got the deal of the year

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by bandrus1

Whoever got the n162 Anson got the deal of the year

It still went higher than it went for on Heritage two years ago. Have Anson prices risen considerably since then?

[bandrus1]

Originally Posted by gunboat82

It still went higher than it went for on Heritage two years ago. Have Anson prices risen considerably since then?

Sgc 7 did 30 a month ago

[parkplace33]

Man, I am seeing some really good deals in this auction. A psa 4 Goudey Ruth for under 15k. What did everyone win?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Man, I am seeing some really good deals in this auction. A psa 4 Goudey Ruth for under 15k. What did everyone win?

I was watching that one. Had it been perfectly centered I think you could have added close to 10k to the price. For a lot of us it's all about the centering.

I struck out, but put in quite a few bids. Great auction again by Al and team. Congrats to all!
.

[JasonB24]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Man, I am seeing some really good deals in this auction. A psa 4 Goudey Ruth for under 15k. What did everyone win?

I went 1-2, the Felsch Block&Kuhl went higher than I was expecting, but I got the Weaver (Tinker pic) Tango Egg...another Black Sox off the list!

[gunboat82]

Originally Posted by bandrus1

Sgc 7 did 30 a month ago

That's fair. On the other hand, a reholdered PSA 6 isn't always a 6.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Man, I am seeing some really good deals in this auction. A psa 4 Goudey Ruth for under 15k. What did everyone win?

A couple of the Ruth cards including the Kashin and an Exhibit seem relatively cheap.

[Johnny630]

Prices are definitely becoming more reasonable and believable….this is a good sign for collector's.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Prices are definitely becoming more reasonable and believable….this is a good sign for collector's.

Except anything I want lol. The HR Derby cards went very high, I thought, for example.

[e107collector]

A 1952 tip top Mantle in a PSA 1.5 sold for $70k last week and now $38K in this auction.

That seems very interesting.

[Johnny T]

I was thrilled with my pickups...upgraded a few T206's...got my first Tattoo Orbit (Mack...always loved that card) and was shocked that I won the '52 Red Man lot for what it went for...can't wait to get the Mays, Williams and Musial!!!

Great auction Al!

JT

[ClementeFanOh]

To Al- thanks for another fine auction. I came away with a nice T206 Harry
Pattee, always happy to add Brooklyn T206 to the fold

I was stunned that the Collins McCarthy Lefty Williams went for $2700. My
guess-meter was way off there.

Great auction!

Trent King

[jsfriedm]

I was considering the n172 Roger Connor PSA 2, but was not willing to go anywhere near the final price of 15K. People who are more into collecting Old Judges - what did you think of that price?

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I was considering the n172 Roger Connor PSA 2, but was not willing to go anywhere near the final price of 15K. People who are more into collecting Old Judges - what did you think of that price?

I'm an OJ collector and that price is absolutely bonkers.

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

I'm an OJ collector and that price is absolutely bonkers.

So far I have two OJs, both HOFers from LOTG auctions (Sam Thompson and Mickey Welch), and both purchased for under 3K each, so that was not what I was anticipating.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

So far I have two OJs, both HOFers from LOTG auctions (Sam Thompson and Mickey Welch), and both purchased for under 3K each, so that was not what I was anticipating.

Around 3k is what I would have expected, maybe a little more since it is a nice image. I purchased an SGC 1 of that exact pose a couple of years ago for under 1k.

Unless it's some obscure variation that I'm not recognizing, it's also not even a rare card...

[Aaron Seefeldt]

A hearty thanks to Al for an excellent auction last night. Really great stuff for collectors of all levels. I’m grateful for these pick ups.

[Bicem]

Picked up the Murnane Tribute Game All-Star team photo. This is the 3rd one I've owned, but never one that belonged to Walter Johnson!

[BioCRN]

I was keeping an eye on the fuzzy-looking SGC 4 N172 Bill Hutchinson (Hutchison) and bowed out at $500. Seeing it hammer for $1500 final price was a bit surprising to me.

I overpaid ($390) for a nice looking T200 Fatima Chicago Nationals SGC 2 with a pen mark and glue residue on the back because it's been a couple months since I even spent more than $30 on anything involving the hobby and I really like how the front presents. I display the oversized pieces out in the open and having good front presentation is really important for me.

[oldjudge]

The one that has me scratching my head the most is the signed ‘51 Bowman Mantle. Yes, it’s his rookie card, but the signature is not from when he was a rookie—it’s a sharpie and was probably signed at some show in the 1980s or 1990s. Whoever got it signed could have just as easily gotten a 1968 Mantle signed or his exhibit signed. Speaking of exhibit, I think the signed Mantle exhibit went cheap considering that since it is a ballpoint signature it was probably signed a lot earlier than the 1951 Bowman was. Also, the signature looks a lot nicer on the exhibit.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Aaron Seefeldt

A hearty thanks to Al for an excellent auction last night. Really great stuff for collectors of all levels. I’m grateful for these pick ups.

Aaron congrats you have a great eye and got some great pickups

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by BioCRN

I was keeping an eye on the fuzzy-looking SGC 4 N172 Bill Hutchinson (Hutchison) and bowed out at $500. Seeing it hammer for $1500 final price was a bit surprising to me.

I overpaid ($390) for a nice looking T200 Fatima Chicago Nationals SGC 2 with a pen mark and glue residue on the back because it's been a couple months since I even spent more than $30 on anything involving the hobby and I really like how the front presents. I display the oversized pieces out in the open and having good front presentation is really important for me.

The Hutchinson was a mislabeled 1890 NL card, a fact that apparently slipped by both the grader and LOTG. In fact, it probably went cheap given its’ scarcity.

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by bandrus1

Sgc 7 did 30 a month ago

It’s still a great card, but i thought this was an older grade, and that hurt it a bit?

[Aaron Seefeldt]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Aaron congrats you have a great eye and got some great pickups

Hi Jeff, thank you kindly.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by jsfriedm

I was considering the n172 Roger Connor PSA 2, but was not willing to go anywhere near the final price of 15K. People who are more into collecting Old Judges - what did you think of that price?

Anomaly, however it looks like Connor cards are on the rise. That final hammer was over the top.

Originally Posted by BioCRN

I was keeping an eye on the fuzzy-looking SGC 4 N172 Bill Hutchinson (Hutchison) and bowed out at $500. Seeing it hammer for $1500 final price was a bit surprising to me.

It is an NL card, but that Hutchison is probably the most common NL card I've seen. It went for more than what I figured it would.


Too bad the Shannon was so trashed, but it still fetched $600. That Frankenstein Deacon White still sold for over $5K. Image is beautiful on that card.

Opening bids were a bit higher than I was anticipating for the OJs.

To me, that cabinet with Anson (Aussie Tour) went for a great price, congratulations to whoever got it.

[Casey2296]

Nice to see the pre 1900 guys realize higher prices.

[Webster]

One of my pick-ups:

Screenshot 2024-09-30 at 8.43.42 AM.jpg

Happy to pay up. As Jay described, this is a tough one. The last similar grade (though not as nice) sold for $1800 in 2019. If anyone has an image of a nicer version of a 1890 NL "Wild Bill" OJ, I would enjoy seeing it.

For you Louisville fans, I also picked up this toughie as well:

Screenshot 2024-09-30 at 8.49.02 AM.jpg

Both were upgrades, so if anyone is looking for copies of these players, please PM.

[wazoo]

I forgot to place a bid on the Tinker Hindu - if anyone grabbed that and is looking to make a profit/trade, please reach out.

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by Webster

One of my pick-ups:

Attachment 636224

Happy to pay up. As Jay described, this is a tough one. The last similar grade (though not as nice) sold for $1800 in 2019. If anyone has an image of a nicer version of a 1890 NL "Wild Bill" OJ, I would enjoy seeing it.

For you Louisville fans, I also picked up this toughie as well:

Attachment 636225

Both were upgrades, so if anyone is looking for copies of these players, please PM.

Congratulations John, both are very nice cards.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Picked up the Murnane Tribute Game All-Star team photo. This is the 3rd one I've owned, but never one that belonged to Walter Johnson!

A mind-bogglingly all-time great item, Jeff, congrats!

[aljurgela]

Does the LOTG closing method bother anyone else? It seems like at some point there should just be individual clocks on lots to me. Most auction houses have moved to this method and I feel like it is the most fair. Am I in the minority here? Do people generally like the 2 OT method?

[oldjudge]

I like the current method

[BobbyStrawberry]

I like the method of live auctions when they just end instead of being extended into infinity

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by aljurgela

Does the LOTG closing method bother anyone else? Do people generally like the 2 OT method?

I really like the way LOTG does it.

The lot by lot closing can really suck when you are interested in multiple items, but cant/dont want to buy them all, and you are battling on one only to give up and see that the other lots you were interested in are all closed. This is the benefit of the entire auction closing at once -- you dont get locked out of any specific item. That said, it sucks when an item that has gotten no love gets a final hit at 5am and/or to have to wake up at 5am to bid or protect your item. LOTG's format is a nice compromise.

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

The Hutchinson was a mislabeled 1890 NL card, a fact that apparently slipped by both the grader and LOTG. In fact, it probably went cheap given its’ scarcity.

SGC tosses 1889 on almost all their 1890s. They change things so much with labeling and they'll probably correct it at some point...then change it again for some reason a year later.

Here's one of mine labeled like that (not from this auction).

[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I really like the way LOTG does it.

The lot by lot closing can really suck when you are interested in multiple items, but cant/dont want to buy them all, and you are battling on one only to give up and see that the other lots you were interested in are all closed. This is the benefit of the entire auction closing at once -- you dont get locked out of any specific item. That said, it sucks when an item that has gotten no love gets a final hit at 5am and/or to have to wake up at 5am to bid or protect your item. LOTG's format is a nice compromise.

But I just can't get on board with the "whomever can stay up the latest" gets the last look. Goes against my sense of fairness, but I figured that enough people must like it so that is why Al sticks with it....

[Aaron Seefeldt]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I really like the way LOTG does it.

The lot by lot closing can really suck when you are interested in multiple items, but cant/dont want to buy them all, and you are battling on one only to give up and see that the other lots you were interested in are all closed. This is the benefit of the entire auction closing at once -- you dont get locked out of any specific item. That said, it sucks when an item that has gotten no love gets a final hit at 5am and/or to have to wake up at 5am to bid or protect your item. LOTG's format is a nice compromise.

+1

Bidders get left out by getting locked out AND consignors lose some bids too… and if you don’t keep your consignors happy you won’t last long in what has become an extremely competitive AH industry

[oldjudge]

No one gets locked out; if you want to go to sleep leave an up to bid at your max.I trust Al as much as anyone in the business.

[Peter_Spaeth]

We have had this discussion 1000 times and it seems that with any of the possible closing methods, there are pluses and minuses and some will like it and some won't.

[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

We have had this discussion 1000 times and it seems that with any of the possible closing methods, there are pluses and minuses and some will like it and some won't.

+1 on this... this format is just the one that I, in particular, happen to hate the most...

[oldjudge]

Then do something about your displeasure and don’t bid

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by aljurgela

But I just can't get on board with the "whomever can stay up the latest" gets the last look. Goes against my sense of fairness, but I figured that enough people must like it so that is why Al sticks with it....

Won't your max bid get the last bid for you if it's the highest you're willing to go? OK, so that makes you try to figure out what that bid might be, but is that a bad exercise? If you're willing to shoot the moon as in "top all bids," go ahead and bid the moon. In a few years it will probably look like a bargain anyway!