G.O.A.T.s in miscellaneous sports

[darwinbulldog]

And more

[Peter_Spaeth]

Nice selection. What is the Roy Emerson?

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Nice selection. What is the Roy Emerson?

Yeah, very little info on the internet about those. Bajonett Serien Samlarbild Sportens Stora translates from the Swedish as Bayonet Series Trading Cards [of] Sports Greats.

There was a Cassius Clay from the same set that sold on eBay a few months ago. As far as I can tell, they were produced as some sort of cross-promotion with a series of Swedish comic books on military history. Why sports cards with military history? I guess it's just the same target demographic (Swedish boys of the 1960s; I like to think Bjorn Borg once collected them). The comic book series seems to have run from 1967-1973, but the few times I have seen the sports cards come up for sale they were always listed as 1965 Bajonett Serien. If that is correct then I guess it is his rookie card; if it's actually from 1967 or later, as seems likely, then I believe he has at least one earlier card (from 1966).

[darwinbulldog]

Do you have any duplicates you might be open to trading or selling? I already have, in addition to the ones I posted, Greg Louganis, Willie Shoemaker, Jack Nicklaus, Stephanie Gilmore, and Leticia Bufoni, but I'd be interested in anyone else from my checklist above.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

Yeah, very little info on the internet about those. Bajonett Serien Samlarbild Sportens Stora translates from the Swedish as Bayonet Series Trading Cards [of] Sports Greats.

There was a Cassius Clay from the same set that sold on eBay a few months ago. As far as I can tell, they were produced as some sort of cross-promotion with a series of Swedish comic books on military history. Why sports cards with military history? I guess it's just the same target demographic (Swedish boys of the 1960s; I like to think Bjorn Borg once collected them). The comic book series seems to have run from 1967-1973, but the few times I have seen the sports cards come up for sale they were always listed as 1965 Bajonett Serien. If that is correct then I guess it is his rookie card; if it's actually from 1967 or later, as seems likely, then I believe he has at least one earlier card (from 1966).

Emerson is in 1966 Ruiz Romero, along with Ashe. I have never seen one for sale, unlike Ashe which I own. Your Emerson is great.

[Peter_Spaeth]

My only dupe in this category is my 1985 Poulain Carl Lewis. I saw somewhere he may have a 1984 issue though if so I have never seen one.

[Exhibitman]

Boxing P4P GOAT is Sugar Ray Robinson and it isn't really close. Mayweather is not even part of the conversation. He fought far too few times and far too few quality opponents at the peak of their games. Harry Greb (298 fights; the #2 pound-for-pound fighter of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization) or 'Homicide Hank' Henry Armstrong (held the featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight titles at the same time when there were eight divisions) would be far better choices for the conversation.

He turned professional in 1940 (retired in 1965) at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 129–1–2 with 85 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight unbeaten streak. Historian Bert Sugar ranked Robinson as the greatest fighter of all time and in 2002, Robinson was also ranked number one on The Ring magazine's list of "80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years". As of May 2023, BoxRec (the official record keeper of the Association of Boxing Commissions) ranks Robinson as the greatest boxer, pound-for-pound, of all time. He was named the best boxer of all time, pound for pound, by the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) in both of its all-time ratings, in 2006 and 2019. He would be better known to the non-hardcore boxing historians if there was more surviving footage of him in action.

The pride and joy of my Robinson boxing materials:



As for heavyweights, toss a coin between Ali and Louis

1935 Detroit Free Press (M129) issued July 21, 1935



1965 signed training camp card

[Peter_Spaeth]

Sugar Ray also is credited with being the first fighter to have an entourage. Amazing career fought until he was ancient all the way through the mid 1960s. One of the more interesting stories about him was that he once wanted to opt out of a fight because he had a premonition he would kill his opponent. And indeed after being convinced to go ahead, just that happened. He then donated his next four purses to the man's mother to help her buy a house.

BTW, that one loss in his prime Adam mentions was to none other than Jake LaMotta who he later defeated several times..

Some footage here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uVXFb8BZoQ