1957 and 1958 Omaha Cardinals picture packs with Bob Gibson

[Big35Hurt]

Last night I was going through stuff in my closet and found these picture packs that my dad had given me a couple of decades ago. I started to look through them and read his note where he mentioned that the Gibsons were probably worth around $100. Not sure if he was guessing or if that was the value when he gave these to me. Anyway, thought I would share. At this time, I have not decided what I am going to do with these.

[Big35Hurt]

Sorry for the size of the pictures. I will see if I can figure out how to shrink them.

1st picture is the complete 1958 set
2nd picture shows the two Gibsons
3rd picture is a partial 1958 set minus two players
4th picture is what's left including some from the 1957 set (I don't know if it's complete until I match up players with the checklist I found online).

Removed pictures - sold all of these as a big lot and the buyer wanted to keep things as discrete as possible/asked me to take the pictures down. Not sure why, didn't ask but honoring his request.

[GasHouseGang]

Love those early Gibson cards. Are they just blank on the back?

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Love those early Gibson cards. Are they just blank on the back?

Yep...all of these are labeled as part of picture packs, but are also listed on Trading Card Database. None have numbers and it's hard to read the signatures (not actual signatures) on these to identify the players.

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

Yep...all of these are labeled as part of picture packs, but are also listed on Trading Card Database. None have numbers and it's hard to read the signatures (not actual signatures) on these to identify the players.

Yeah, I was trying to read the other names, but they are difficult to make out. Undoubtedly some made it to the majors, just didn't become as big as Gibson.

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

Yeah, I was trying to read the other names, but they are difficult to make out. Undoubtedly some made it to the majors, just didn't become as big as Gibson.

Gibson is the big one. The guys on Blowout are telling me that I should sell the individually because selling as a lot may actually dissuade interest.

Some other names I recognized include Jim Frey from the 1958 set and Dick Schofield from the 1956 set. There might be others as well.

[Lucas00]

I'd bet you could add another 0 to your father's original note, pretty easily.

Very cool!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

I'd bet you could add another 0 to your father's original note, pretty easily.

Very cool!

More IMO.

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

More IMO.

Yeah it's the kind of item that might actually be smart to auction on ebay (and I don't say that lightly, 90% of the time a bin will net you a higher price). But Bob isn't a lightly collected player, the snipes people may set could really be something..

Then you have leverage for the second as well.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Yeah it's the kind of item that might actually be smart to auction on ebay (and I don't say that lightly, 90% of the time a bin will net you a higher price). But Bob isn't a lightly collected player, the snipes people may set could really be something..

Then you have leverage for the second as well.

None graded by PSA. At the time I bought mine it was the only SGC graded one. I've seen a couple of raw ones and that is it.

[Lucas00]

Scratch my $1000 guess lol.

https://collectrea.com/archives/2019...-gibson-rookie

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Scratch my $1000 guess lol.

https://collectrea.com/archives/2019...-gibson-rookie

As I recall the REA ones had back damage?

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Scratch my $1000 guess lol.

https://collectrea.com/archives/2019...-gibson-rookie

Not sure if the same set resurfaced with Huggins and Scott Auctions, but the price went up exponentially in two years:

https://bid.hugginsandscott.com/bids...?itemid=201464

Edit: not the same set - the one from 2019 was missing the header which is present in the 2021 auction.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Wacko pandemic peak, but still. Get these graded and they will do very well.

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Wacko pandemic peak, but still. Get these graded and they will do very well.

Yep I am definitely going to go that route. You said yours is SGC I believe. Is that the best option for an item like this? PSA will be at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in March, so I might drop them off there.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

Yep I am definitely going to go that route. You said yours is SGC I believe. Is that the best option for an item like this? PSA will be at the Chicago Sports Spectacular in March, so I might drop them off there.

I would start by asking PSA if they grade them. You could do that now. Sometimes they don't grade some issues and can be a pain if they haven't graded one yet. I believe the person in charge of those decisions, at least in the first place, is named Elizabeth. IF PSA will grade them, I would go with PSA, but SGC will be fine too.

Here is mine. Grade is a mystery.

[Lucas00]

Interesting both sold sets were missing a photo. Is yours 24/24?

[Big35Hurt]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

Interesting both sold sets were missing a photo. Is yours 24/24?

Yeah, first set is complete. Second set has the other Gibson and is 22 out of 24. Determined the 1957 set is complete, the 1956 set is 22 out of 24, and there is one extra 1957. It took a lot of work to figure this all out since these just don't seem to be very common.

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

Yeah, first set is complete. Second set has the other Gibson and is 22 out of 24. Determined the 1957 set is complete, the 1956 set is 22 out of 24, and there is one extra 1957. It took a lot of work to figure this all out since these just don't seem to be very common.

I see, I don't think it's much work to be honest. These kinds of items people have saved searches for and are chomping at the bit to pop up. They are going to pay what they will pay, the past 2 sales are pretty much irrelevant. Of course they are a good baseline, but the buyers are collectors of Bob Gibson who have been waiting and are going to set the market. Like folks have said in previous posts, Bob is 99.5% of the value. I would be surprised if the set without him sells for over a couple hundred.

I would do 1 of 3 options. If you are selling.

Option 1. List them here, ask whatever you want. A great option, I'm sure you have PMS already.

Option 2. Auction them with a big auction house or eBay. Also good option, who knows what they will go for.

Option 3. Get in touch with Gibson collectors directly. This is by far the best option, trust me from experience with other very rare items of star players. Go walk the Gibsons around a St Louis show or other nearby show. Or get in contact with a Gibson collector online (Facebook group etc).

Like Peter said, for any option PSA is going to really put people at ease on rare issues. And that = $.

[Big35Hurt]

I appreciate all the solid advice given here. More than likely I am going to wait until the Chicago Spectacular in March and stop by the Heritage and PSA booths to discuss options, costs, etc.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Big35Hurt

I appreciate all the solid advice given here. More than likely I am going to wait until the Chicago Spectacular in March and stop by the Heritage and PSA booths to discuss options, costs, etc.

That makes sense. Good luck and I expect at the end of the day you will do well with these. I recently sold a NM Puerto Rican Schmidt for well over 3K and the Gibson is much scarcer.

[Lucas00]

I'll add to that as well, if you decide to sell both. Make sure to wait a while in between. At least I would.