Legendary Auction -- Josh Gibson Toleteros card

[Potomac Yank]

Originally Posted by zork1974

Sorry guys but I would like to politely disagree with your assessment. Josh Gibson was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. With so few cards to collect, those of us who love the Negro Leagues and the history it represents have only a few cards to target for our collections. The card comes from a vintage era and it was published outside of mainstream America. It's aging and it's scarce. Compared to some of the prices we've seen over the years, $14 000 is a drop in the bucket. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

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Sorry Mr Zork, but I would like to politely disagree with your assessment.
I'm also a Cuban, Latino, and Negro League collector that got to see some of them play.
There is no question in my mind that Josh Gibson was one of the greatest players to ever play the game ... no knowledgeable baseball fan will question that.

The real question is the card itself.

It was created three or so years after his playing days, and after his death in 1947.
Like it has already been stated ... it's a tribute card.
The Puerto Rican Toleteros 1950 - 51 set, had that card in it as a tribute to Josh Gibson.

To say that the card is over - rated, is an understatement.

The Leland's pulled a snow job, and some people bought the snow job over a period of time.

[Peter_Spaeth]

The hobby is full of popular tribute cards. 33 Goudey Lajoie. 48 Leaf Ruth. Sport Kings Cobb. 69 white letter Mantle. Given that there is NO other card of Josh Gibson even roughly contemporaneous with his career, I think the Toleteros is a great card.

[zork1974]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The hobby is full of popular tribute cards. 33 Goudey Lajoie. 48 Leaf Ruth. Sport Kings Cobb. 69 white letter Mantle. Given that there is NO other card of Josh Gibson even roughly contemporaneous with his career, I think the Toleteros is a great card.

It's like you took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to mention the Lajoie and the Leaf Ruth in my first post (as tribute cards) but I thought those were kind of obvious. I'll own those cards someday as well. I have no problem with tribute cards if they have some significance within the hobby and the Gibson certainly has that.

[Minerscoin]

I agree with Potomac Jack. I also believe the card is over rated. There has to be many more out there waitng to be found.
Mark

[Orioles1954]

I just don't like Tribute cards, no matter where they come from. 1933 Goudey Lajoie, 1949 Leaf Ruth, 1950 Toleteros Gibson.....just not into them.

[Matt]

I don't believe the 33 Goudey Lajoie is popular because of Lajoie collectors - it's because it's the bottleneck card for a tough set - it could be of Hugh Critz and probably carry similar value.

[mikedenero]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

I just don't like Tribute cards, no matter where they come from. 1933 Goudey Lajoie, 1949 Leaf Ruth, 1950 Toleteros Gibson.....just not into them.

I agree 100% with everything you have posted on this thread. I also try to avoid (with few exceptions) cards featuring players during their later years, as such cards often depict an old and/or chubby (fat is too harsh a word) version of the once youthful star. :-)

I would also add (and I bet I will catch a bundle of heat for this) that the '52 Topps Mickey Mantle is also on my list of grossly overrated cards. While it depicts The Mick in his youth, the Mick's face looks distorted (much like the 52 Topps Berra). Furthermore, the image on The Mick's '52 Bowman is much, much better. And in a hobby that is essentially visual ...

[Peter_Spaeth]

I agree on the 52T Mantle. I think it is a very poor depiction of him, and indeed barely resembles him.