Favorite ebay, flea market, or antique mall find

[Andy Sandler]

What was your favorite ebay, flea market, or antique mall find?
For me, it is whenever I find an early Pre-1940 Pro Basketball item. On ebay this has included a New York Celtics game used pair of shorts, programs of the New York Celtics, Philadelphia Sphas, Troy Trojans, and Kingston Colonials, numerous sports broadsides and postcards, among other things.
How about you?
Thanks, Andy Sandler alwysyakn@aol.com

[GrayGhost]

I never found any "huge hits", but Id say, a vintage Braves and Red Sox celluloid schedule for 18.00, that I got 165 for at an antique group shop. Also, a 1973 season complete stratomatc baseball game. Ten bucks, turned into 152.00 or something.

Never really found anything great that I ended up keeping , but I LOVE going to the shops/Flea markets.

[yanks12025]

I've had several big hits on ebay. Mine included Ralph Kiners All-star bat for $600, Mickey Mantle game used bat for $100, Nap, LaJoie for $700, local auction Larry Berra bat for $45, Wade Boggs minor league for $600.

[sayhey24]

In the very early days of ebay it was amazing what you could find -- I was able to purchase game bats that included Ty Cobb, Tony Lazzeri and Jackie Robinson.
One of my favorite stories: I won two bats at auction from the same dealer -- there were no photos, but the bats were described as 1950s coaches model bats of Heinie Manush and Luke Appling. The bats arrived and the Manush was indeed a 50s model, but the Appling was a brand new show model bat. I contacted the seller and he said he couldn't really afford to refund my money, but did mention he had some other bats and I could have my choice in an exchange -- the only other HOFer he had was a Walter Johnson, so he sent me that and it turned out to be what is the earliest known signature model Johnson gamer.
Good deals still pop up on ebay now and then, but there is much more competition -- I did find manage to buy in the last couple of years game bats of Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Miller Huggins and Paul Waner -- all but the Huggins were incrrectly listed as store models.
I know there are others who spend much more time scouring ebay and flea markets, so I'm looking forward to hearing their treasure hunting stories -- I'm sure Carlton has some amazing stories that he has yet to share about flea amerket finds!

Greg

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

In the very early days of ebay it was amazing what you could find -- I was able to purchase game bats that included Ty Cobb, Tony Lazzeri and Jackie Robinson.
One of my favorite stories: I won two bats at auction from the same dealer -- there were no photos, but the bats were described as 1950s coaches model bats of Heinie Manush and Luke Appling. The bats arrived and the Manush was indeed a 50s model, but the Appling was a brand new show model bat. I contacted the seller and he said he couldn't really afford to refund my money, but did mention he had some other bats and I could have my choice in an exchange -- the only other HOFer he had was a Walter Johnson, so he sent me that and it turned out to be what is the earliest known signature model Johnson gamer.
Good deals still pop up on ebay now and then, but there is much more competition -- I did find manage to buy in the last couple of years game bats of Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Miller Huggins and Paul Waner -- all but the Huggins were incrrectly listed as store models.
I know there are others who spend much more time scouring ebay and flea markets, so I'm looking forward to hearing their treasure hunting stories -- I'm sure Carlton has some amazing stories that he has yet to share about flea amerket finds!

Greg

Hey Greg,

Let's see a picture of that Walter Johnson earliest model signature game bat.
Awesome story!!

[Runscott]

Favorite antique store find was a 1930's friction stripe football jersey, nearly perfect condition, for $40.
Favorite ebay find was a players c.1911 scorebook and equipment, including a 1910-14 Louisville slugger used in games against professional black teams.

[sayhey24]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Hey Greg,

Let's see a picture of that Walter Johnson earliest model signature game bat.
Awesome story!!

Scott,

Here is a photo of the Walter Johnson bat (from his days with the Indians), along with a bat of another pretty fair pitcher, Lefty Grove.

Greg
http://www.baseballbasement.com

[bbcard1]

,my coolest find on ebay was Hal Greer's high school diploma from Douglas. Not only a NBA HOFer, but also the first African American to play for a "white" school in WV. If I ever run into him, I'll ask him if he wants it back. As we are both MU alums, I figure it will happen at some point. He went bankrupt in the early 80s and a lot of his stuff got scattered to the wind when his home was sold at auction...figure this is the residue of that event.

[khkco4bls]

Some of my favorites. Goldsmith ball at national 25.00. One of the rarest jackie pins $40. Duck Web glove just outside of Cooperstown $20. World premiere program pride of the yankees at Brimfield $10. One of my EBAY favorites John Clarkson cigar box $500 the only known example and didn't even know it existed. And rare Taylor baseball 1915, 20s.$40 at auction. Actually have 3. Two in the box.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by khkco4bls

Some of my favorites. Goldsmith ball at national 25.00. One of the rarest jackie pins $40. Duck Web glove just outside of Cooperstown $20. World premiere program pride of the yankees at Brimfield $10. One of my EBAY favorites John Clarkson cigar box $500 the only known example and didn't even know it existed. And rare Taylor baseball 1915, 20s.$40 at auction. Actually have 3. Two in the box.

Wow!! Kevin, I don't know where to begin, but that Duck Web for $20 is incredible (they all are).

[LuckyLuke]

Beautiful Rachmaninoff signed8x10 photo...picked up for $300..

[khkco4bls]

Luke I have so many more. I have been very fortunate in my searching. But that's how u get lucky .

[EldoEsq]

Nothing like most of the other postings...but picked this mitt up for .50