Are you a Hardcore HOF player collector?

[brian1961]

Howard Chasser : [QUOTE=hcv123;1236395]

"I'll start

I collect Roberto Clemente

The one that got away would be 2 - 1) A stunning 1958 Kahns card (later graded a PSA 6) that walked into the Pittsburgh show before I understood how incredibly difficult the card is and even more improbable in that kind of condition - I wouldn't pay the guy $250 against a $200 book price - He told me I didn't know what I was looking at - he was right - it's current owner has turned down an offer by a friend of about 10k "


Howard, thank you for sharing your story of missing out on that prized Kahn's Roberto Clemente. Your honest humility and enduring pain is easy to understand. Believe me, I feel for you and can so relate to the guy's terse pronouncement, "I didn't know what I was looking at". Wow, the offer of about 10K for a PSA 6-appearing tough Roberto regional underscores what I have maintained for a long, long time. The rare and typically off-condition casualty found among the regionals will eventually come to command "boo koo bucks", once they are understood. Specifically, when a specimen's condition starkly stands out from the norm, decide speedily and get the wallet out fast. Otherwise, the refrain from an old radio show used beautifully in a Daffy Duck - Porky Pig cartoon comes to haunt, "YOU'LL BE SORRY!" The regret indeed haunts, but we tend to accumulate some regrets in life.

I sit amazed as I think of some of the sales involving the 54-55 Esskay Frankfurts Baltimore Orioles.

Better stop. Hope you're able to get a nice black 'n white Kahn's Clemente one day before too long. Cheers. ---Brian Powell

[Harford20]

Al, nice 1956 Hocus Focus. I agree with Al, and although I can't speak about other rare Topps sets, I feel the 1955 Topps Hocus Focus is the TOUGHEST of the "regular"/"mainstream" issues for Ted Williams.

Al, to answer your question, based on sales of the Grey backs including the 1954 Williams over the past 3-4 years, I would estimate about 4x for the lower grade HOF (a Williams in a PSA/SGC 1 equiv sold for just at $220) with commons being closer to 2-3x. The higher grade HOF's actually lose ground with a PSA/SGC 5-6 (something close to Ex/Ex+ if I remember correctly)Williams that sold in the last 18 months selling at only about 3x the regular 1954 Topps card.

When looking, I kinda plan on paying about 3-4 times the price for the 1954 Topps #1 card in comparable condition (like a PSA/SGC 2-5 equiv). It's not really the PRICE with this card as much as FINDING it (unlike the Hocus Focus, which is both the PRICE and the RARITY).

Dave

[David W]

David---what is the News variation ?

Al - There may (or probably is) a blank back version, as well as I think they came out more than 1 time in the year, or were repeated the next year so some stats are different.

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by David W

David---what is the News variation ?

Al - There may (or probably is) a blank back version, as well as I think they came out more than 1 time in the year, or were repeated the next year so some stats are different.

According to Mike Mosier of Columbia City Collectibles only the first sixty of the set are available with a blank back, but, according to sschauer in his 1970-1971 Dayton Daily News Bubble-Gumless Cards checklist the Lou Brock was updated in 1971 with new stats but was mistakenly numbered #80 instead of the correct #88.

[David W]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

According to Mike Mosier of Columbia City Collectibles only the first sixty of the set are available with a blank back, but, according to sschauer in his 1970-1971 Dayton Daily News Bubble-Gumless Cards checklist the Lou Brock was updated in 1971 with new stats but was mistakenly numbered #80 instead of the correct #88.

Thanks.

The reality is the star cards are very hard to find. There are a few players on Ebay, but the HOF'ers and stars are hard to find (and/or expensive for a cutout from a newspaper).

And Mike Mosier has almost all (if not all) of the one's on Ebay, including the variations.

[paul]

I collect Tom Seaver cards. At the top of my want list are the 1970 Topps Cloth Sticker and the 1982 Fleer unissued proof. As far as I know, I have all of his cards that were actually issued.

These are a few of my favorite things ...

[ALR-bishop]

The 70 Cloth will be a bear.

Do you have his 82 Blackless IA card ? Fortunately it was an A sheet card

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by paul

I collect Tom Seaver cards. At the top of my want list are the 1970 Topps Cloth Sticker and the 1982 Fleer unissued proof. As far as I know, I have all of his cards that were actually issued.

These are a few of my favorite things ...

What's the origin of that Korean card?

[Mark70Z]

I know this thread is a bit old so I'm sorry for reviving it (not really), but have a question for the following:

Paul... I had a Brooks Super Star watch (just the watch not the package), and I just picked up another Brooks watch, but the one I purchased had a blueish background instead of the green and the watch "kinda" appears silver rather than the gold. Do you know if there are different variations to the watch since Tom S. was included in the watches?

Al... I know you have the '67 Topps Disc sheet (which I NV), but do you have any single proofs of Brooks? I think I asked before, but can't remember so excuse me if you've already responded to this request.

Everyone else... I'd love to hear more from hard core collectors especially the single player ones. It's so neat to see all of the unique items a player collector picks up.

[hcv123]

Howard, thank you for sharing your story of missing out on that prized Kahn's Roberto Clemente. Your honest humility and enduring pain is easy to understand. Believe me, I feel for you and can so relate to the guy's terse pronouncement, "I didn't know what I was looking at". Wow, the offer of about 10K for a PSA 6-appearing tough Roberto regional underscores what I have maintained for a long, long time. The rare and typically off-condition casualty found among the regionals will eventually come to command "boo koo bucks", once they are understood. Specifically, when a specimen's condition starkly stands out from the norm, decide speedily and get the wallet out fast. Otherwise, the refrain from an old radio show used beautifully in a Daffy Duck - Porky Pig cartoon comes to haunt, "YOU'LL BE SORRY!" The regret indeed haunts, but we tend to accumulate some regrets in life.

I sit amazed as I think of some of the sales involving the 54-55 Esskay Frankfurts Baltimore Orioles.

Better stop. Hope you're able to get a nice black 'n white Kahn's Clemente one day before too long. Cheers. ---Brian Powell[/QUOTE]

Thanks Brian,

I actually have been fortunate enough to own 2 other 1958 kahn's Clemente's (1 of which still sits proudly in my collection). Neither coming close to the amazing condition of the one that was missed! I have found it to be a very interesting thing in the collectibles market - the effects of supply and demand economics. Even though there are some RIDICULOUSLY short supply cards and memorabilia out there - in many cases so few, collectors either don't know about them or consider them so short in supply that they are unattainable - keeping the price relative to the short supply relatively inexpensive. I have been very slow to part with certain rarer/near impossible to replace items I have unless getting very strong prices for them. The handful of people who know what they are looking at are usually tickled to be able to buy these items - as in my opinion they should be given their scarcity............now, has anyone seen a complete 1960 Bazooka box with Clemente around?????????????

[Mark70Z]

Paul... is it possible to get the measurements of the Seaver watch item (both the package and the card/photo inside)?

I've been looking for just the card of Brooks for years now and have never seen a complete package of the watch included as it came originally. That would be awesome to have the whole piece together.

Thanks for sharing; love it!

[paul]

Mark, the box measures 6 1/2" x 9", and the card measures 5" x 9" including the tab. The card is on thin paper, not card stock.

[Mark70Z]

Paul, Thanks so much for the information on the box and photo/card. I didn't know it was thin paper and not card stock since I've only seen a picture of one and have not see it in "real life"... Of course never seen a complete package; thanks so much for sharing. Now this gives me something else to search for.

[brian1961]

Dear Howard Chasser,

You certainly expressed several all-so-true points regarding rarity and commiserate selling prices, or perhaps rather, a moon shot selling price, and no takers for months and months. Currently there's a gentleman on eBay with a complete hot dog package from the 1955 Esskay Franks Baltimore Orioles. The card is of pitcher Bob Kusava, I believe. The vendor's selling price of $29,995.00 has not been agreed upon as yet by a buyer. He's got it 3-4K above what Huggins & Scott auctioned one for a few years back.

Lest I forget, though I have never seen a 1960 Bazooka box with Roberto Clemente, you might try Mr. Irv Lerner. He's retired now, and specializes in championship rings. However, at one time he used to be one of the preeminent collectors during the early days of the organized adult hobby. His specialty were rare regionals and Topps test issues. He always gravitated to the rare, unusual and hard-to-find. For present contact information, give Sports Collectors Digest a buzz at 1-800-726-9966. Ask the in-house operator to connect you to their editor, Mr. Tom Bartsch. A nice chap. Explain your situation. Mr. Lerner advertises occasionally in SCD, and they might be willing to provide you with a contact phone number. If they do not want to give you his number, plead with them to contact him on your behalf and give Irv your contact info. You never know; it might work.

The battle for the best goes on. Cheers, my fellow collecting warrior.
---Brian Powell

[pawpawdiv9]

i jumped right into Mickey Mantle head first i believe. He is and always one of the best.
My all-time great card is my 52 #311 RC var B. It is just so pinnacle for every collector to have, and well I have one that i can safely be proud of. Of course there is other cards, i deeply fall in love with, when i reach and pull them outta my safes.
The 60 post cereal has amazing salmon like color background and is a oversized piece.
Then theres the remarkable 51 Wheaties, which is stunning in B&W. Some others to add: the 51 Bowman, 54 Dan-Dee (raw), 52 BerkRoss
I sold my 66 exhibit portait (to Bestdj777) which at the time didnt matter as much, but looking back i can see why he wanted the piece. I sold my 59 Oklahoma Today piece, which is a hand-cut magazine piece..It has that unique pic of the Commerce Comet.

The one that got away...Is the 63 plaque/mask. I bidded on it and place a extremely high bid, but at the time, i also was bidding on 2 other lots (which i won both)...but keep looking back all the time as WHAT IF?? If i did win it. I know it was a scarce item and condition critical. But look at it this way..I wouldnt have the cash to purchase my RC i love so much and also more recognizable, compared to a plastic piece card. I only seen 1 person on the Net54 boards with such the item. I highly doubt this item would ever come in auction any time soon.

For my Rookie Collectors out there:
I cherish my child-hood fav player Hank Aaron. Being from the Atl area. They always show the HR record video. Hammerin' Hank
Also picked up a 55 Clemente

For the football lovers..i only collected the best of the best RC's:
Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas and etc.