Fun with 100 Minor League Sets

[D. Bergin]

I understand this isn't high stakes, but I'm somehow really enjoying this breakdown. Glad you're taking the time to present this to us.

I've always kind of liked the obscure "cup of coffee" type athletes. In my own specialty one of my favorite things to do is matching up nearly forgotten boxers with ancestral family members. There isn't much money to be made doing that, but it gives me a bit of thrill every time it happens.

I've actually dabbled with the thought of breaking up large cheap lots of minor league cards for this very purpose before.....but then realized I have 10's of thousands of other things put away in storage I'll probably never get the chance to list on one venue or another that would take precedence over doing this.

[swarmee]

I'm thinking about putting together a collection of minor league costumed mascots. If you break apart any sets that have mascots, I'll take the lot for $1/each.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by swarmee

I'm thinking about putting together a collection of minor league costumed mascots. If you break apart any sets that have mascots, I'll take the lot for $1/each.

That's a fun idea. I'll have to check to see if any of these have mascot cards in them...so far the 2-3 I have opened don't, but some might. If they don't sell as complete sets I may break them up and try that way. We'll see how it goes but you have dibs on any mascot cards I uncover.

[Mike D.]

A few more:

1994 ProCards Asheville Tourists

1994 Fleer ProCards Tucson Toros


The Tourists had Jamey Wright and John Thomson. Also a number of guys who this was their only card ever...A ball can be tough!

The Toros (no relation to Tourists) have a number of recognizable names, including Eric Bell, Jim Dougherty, Domingo Jean, Craig McMurtry, Scooter Tucker, Roberto Petagine, Brian L. Hunter, and Phil Nevin! They went 81-63 and finished 2nd in their division.

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
43 complete sets listed on eBay
55 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
1 lot sold
$58.74 original purchase
$6.68 reclaimed (11.4%)

[Mike D.]

A couple more:

1994 Fleer ProCards Bowie Baysox

1994 Fleer ProCards Pawtucket Red Sox

The Baysox features a number of recognizable names, including Armando Benitez, Joe Borowski, Steve Chitren, Vaughn Eshelman, Edgar Alfonzo, Curtis Goodwin, and Alex Ochoa.

The Pawsox team...man, that's my local team, and my senior year in high school. The team wasn't great, and didn't have much for guys who spent time in the bigs...but I know these names. Frankie Rodriguez was a high draft pick who didn't pan out. Bob Zupzic, Gar Finnvold. How can that have been 27 years ago?!

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
45 complete sets listed on eBay
53 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
1 lot sold
$58.74 original purchase
$6.68 reclaimed (11.4%)

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

A few more:

1994 ProCards Asheville Tourists

1994 Fleer ProCards Tucson Toros


The Tourists had Jamey Wright and John Thomson. Also a number of guys who this was their only card ever...A ball can be tough! [/B]

Both Jamey and John came through Colorado Springs on their way to the Rockies. And both were generous signers while they were here.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

Both Jamey and John came through Colorado Springs on their way to the Rockies. And both were generous signers while they were here.

Nice...always glad to hear about guys who were good signers on the way up. I used to get the Red Sox minor league team sets every year and 'graph...either in person (Pawtucket) or TTM (everywhere else).

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I understand this isn't high stakes, but I'm somehow really enjoying this breakdown. Glad you're taking the time to present this to us.

I've always kind of liked the obscure "cup of coffee" type athletes. In my own specialty one of my favorite things to do is matching up nearly forgotten boxers with ancestral family members. There isn't much money to be made doing that, but it gives me a bit of thrill every time it happens.

I've actually dabbled with the thought of breaking up large cheap lots of minor league cards for this very purpose before.....but then realized I have 10's of thousands of other things put away in storage I'll probably never get the chance to list on one venue or another that would take precedence over doing this.

Glad you're enjoying it...and yes, this is whatever the polar opposite of "high stakes" is.

Clearly this is a hobby...any potential profit here is not worth the effort it'll take. But I was curious if a profit could be turned, and the sets are a lot of fun to review. And if I get a few cards and sets into the hands of people who want them, all the better.

You raise a good point about the random minor league cards that people actually buy...I always wonder about why. Do they remember the player from attending games of the minor league team? Are they a friend? Family member?

That's cool about the boxing cards and family. I bet you make some people very happy!

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

You raise a good point about the random minor league cards that people actually buy...I always wonder about why. Do they remember the player from attending games of the minor league team? Are they a friend? Family member?

That's cool about the boxing cards and family. I bet you make some people very happy!

Yes, it's most likely some sort of old memory or family connection.

With boxing it's not so much about the cards (though that does happen), and more about the old photos, publications, programs, posters and even clippings.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Yes, it's most likely some sort of old memory or family connection.

With boxing it's not so much about the cards (though that does happen), and more about the old photos, publications, programs, posters and even clippings.

Interesting. I'm sure these days with those ancestory tracking sites, it's easier for people to discover they're related to someone "famous" and want a little memento of that connection.

[Mike D.]

Sold another two-card lot from the Albany-Colonie Yankees set, this time of Tate Seefried. Tate never made the big leagues after being taken in the 3rd round of the 1990 draft, and played in the minors through 1998.

The cards sold for $1.99 w/ free shipping. With 53 cent eBay shipping and eBay fees, profit is 90 cents...which again more than pays for the whole set.

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
45 complete sets listed on eBay
53 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
2 lots sold
$58.74 original purchase
$7.58 reclaimed (12.9%)

[CobbSpikedMe]

This is fun to follow Mike. I'm pulling for you to make your money back at the very least.


.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

This is fun to follow Mike. I'm pulling for you to make your money back at the very least.

Glad you're enjoying the thread! It's been a lot of fun. If I don't turn a profit, it'll still be worth the cost of the lot in entertainment value.

That being said, with less than half the sets even listed, and only a few sales, I've already got 12.9% of the initial investment back. It'll take some time. but I expect we'll get there, and hopefully have a few PSA subs to boot.

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
45 complete sets listed on eBay
53 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
2 lots sold
$58.74 original purchase
$7.58 reclaimed (12.9%)