Carmelo Deportivo

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

This set has piqued my interest recently. Interesting mix of Negro League players, Cuban league players, Mexico league players, and American major/minor league players. I picked up this lot of 1945-46 cards on Ebay as a starter lot, and they are pretty cool (and literally paper thin). I've further researched the set and learned about the album, the hard to find last card (collectors had to assemble 99 cards in the album and then they could receive the final card as a premium), and various other facts. The cards are definitely scarce, but overall not crazy expensive (except for the hall of famers, Minnoso, Dandridge, etc.).

Cool set. But I can't decide if I should go "all in" and start chasing it or not. Anyone else currently trying to complete this set?

caramelo.jpg

[ALR-bishop]

John---thanks for posting the pics. I think you should go all in, complete the set and post them here as you get them

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

John---thanks for posting the pics. I think you should go all in, complete the set and post them here as you get them

Haha...thanks for the feedback.

The only problem is that you all won't get much enjoyment out of watching me build it because I am a V E R Y S L O W set builder. I'm coming up on five years of my 1952 Bowman set build, and those cards are EASY to find. My 1935 Goudey set is coming up on four years, and I'm only 30% done. And my W517 set only gets a new card added about every 6 months.

At those rates, this difficult Caramelo Deportivo set might take me about 50 years

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

. Anyone else currently trying to complete this set?

I've got 95 of the 100 cards as well as the album. The only ones I'm missing are Ray Dandridge, Raymond Brown, Martin Dihigo and, obviously the Napoleon Rayes.

I haven't decided if or when I'll work on getting the three that would complete the set at 99. Those prices are sky high right now.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

I've got 95 of the 100 cards as well as the album. The only ones I'm missing are Ray Dandridge, Raymond Brown, Martin Dihigo and, obviously the Napoleon Rayes.

I haven't decided if or when I'll work on getting the three that would complete the set at 99. Those prices are sky high right now.

Oh, that's awesome!

You didn't mention Minoso...so that must mean you have that one. Hopefully you picked it up PRIOR to his HOF induction, because that card is also REALLY expensive now.

As for the Napoleon Reyes, I've seen pictures of the card, but never actually seen one for sale.

I think in the thread about Cuban cards on the Main page, someone mentioned there are different versions of the Reyes out there, some with text on the front, some without. Talk about scarce!