Ohhhhh, pretty.

SGC Poppage!

I love screenshots. The only reason the Play Ball is graded 0 is that I asked for same or better grading, and I am guessing it did not reach that minimum. No matter, I'll resubmit it and have it changed into the SGC holder at a lower grade.

What I was REALLY concerned about was the dimensions of the 1938 Goudey card.  It measured about 1/8'' smaller than the verified dimensions of 2-3/8''x2-7/8''. I was truly, truly scared, but seeing that it came back at the PERFECT grade, I became ELATED. Probably made my week. Definitely made my week.

I'll post more pictures when the cards arrive.

Thanks for tuning in!

It's been a long time comin'

(http://www.deanscards.com/images/actual_images/1938/Goudey/277/283052f.jpg)

After 5 years, one slightly trimmed card, an argument and a meltdown, I have finally landed one of my whales.  Part of the "high numbers" (#277) series, this card features a similar card to this, but a you can see has some additional cartoons where the "low number" (#253) lacks the cartoons.  These cards are often identified by either their lack of or feature of these cartoons.

I actually paid less than what I did for the card I bought at the National Sports Collectors Convention in August, (link to the story here) and from what I can tell from the eBay pictures the card is in far better condition, so I'm a happy camper!

I actually don't have the card in hand yet, should be here Wednesday when I get home from work! Color me excited.

Happy New Year everyone,

Brian

Year in Review

2012 was a good year for me, but a slow one comparably to a year like 2008-9 or 2011. Many of the cards I bought this year were what we call premiums.  These types of cards were given away if kids were to collect a certain amount of cards or candy wrapper, or of the like.

From my memory, the first card I purchased in 2012 was this premium from 1936 (Greenberg is pictures in the first row last on the right):

The next premium I got was a rather inexpensive 1950 Indians team issue. This large card pictures Greenberg as the GM of the Cleveland Indians.

The next premium is a favorite of mine, from 1939 Goudey, Black & White variation.  My favorite part of this card is actually the back, which I do not have a scan of.  It features a very dumbed-down explanation of how to hit; everything from the stance to hand positioning, etc.

The next card is a first of me.  A signed vintage card of Hank.  1939-46 Exhibits Salutations.

This card is a rather large, rather damaged, but nice premium from 1936 R311.

This next premium measures 7''x10'' and features a nice photo of Greenberg leaping in the air. It cost me a little bit more than I'd like, it has punch holes in the top, but is a rather awesome card to own from 1948-9 Sports Exchange All Stars set

The next card began a slew of Wheaties premiums that were originally cut out from the backs of Wheaties cereal boxes.

Another Wheaties panel.

This next premium was my only purchase at the National. 1936 R311 Leather Detroit Tigers team photo.  Greenberg is second row up last on the right.

This premium is a gorgeous Wheaties premium. Got it for a good price, very happy with it.

And the final card of 2012 was the most recently acquired 1939 Play Ball Sample back

Thanks all! Hope 2013 is a good year for everyone.

-Brian

Condition doesn't mean shit

In the world of cards, condition is king. A card's value revolves around factors such as age, rarity, condition, etc.

But who really needs to follow this criteria to say that a card is valuable/not valuable? This seems like a post-modernist/ "hipster" view of an old hobby, but it's a valid argument to present in this day of financial woes. Sure there will always be those collectors that have endless money that they can just throw at cards. Most collectors aren't like this, and can share my sentiment with the cards that are beat to shit, but still love as if it were fresh out of the pack.

There is definitely an affinity with cards with the sharpest corners, with the most vibrant colors, the straightest edges. But these cards cannot tell a story. What does a perfect card say about it's original owner? Probably nothing worth knowing, or interesting enough to want to know.

I like to hear of a card's journey. Recent attic finds totaling $500,000+ is interesting to hear about, but those cards were stashed away for 90 years. They sat, and sat, and sat. My money is on the fact that the original owner of the cards probably forgot that he even had them. Which is a travesty in of itself.

I want to hear stories about how the cards was flicked against the side of a brick wall, about how they were stuck in bike spokes to make riding a bike sound like riding a chopper.  Some people grimace at the sound of those stories, especially when it involves a card of high "value". See, there's that word again..

I am so content with the value of my collection, and the condition of the cards in it. I know that I might never own a card worthy of the Hall of Fame, but I couldn't care less.

I don't really know how I want to end this post, but maybe leave you all with something to chew on..

If you were building a collection starting today, what would it be, and what would you base the value of it on?

What do I win?

Today I had a unique experience with a card that I have owned for the better part of 4 years. It's not even a card I particularly love. This card has been a staple in my collection, and before tonight I thought was one of the more common vintage cards I owned.

That was before about 2.5 hours ago.

In a conversation with my cousin Steve about the Play Ball sample card he got on eBay a couple of weeks ago, I learned that the 1939 Play Ball card that I own is in fact rare.

Steve was telling me how the only card he needs to complete his 39 Play Ball set is the lowercase name variation. I didn't know this was even a variation. I thought back to my own copy of this card, and remembered thinking that the name was lowercase, like in the picture shown. Apparently, the variation is pretty rare. But how rare?

I'll have to do some more research. But all I need now to complete my set is the most common card; the all uppercase version of the regular card.

Thanks Steve!

"So, what do I win?"

HUGE CARD LANDED: Could be my Rarest card

Each of the first 115 cards in the 1939 Play Ball set can be found with red overprinting on the back indicating sample card status...

Collectors will pay a small premium for a type card of a common player. Sample cards of most star players will sell for about double the price of the regular-issue cards, while DiMaggio and Williams samples sell for about the same price as their regular-issue cards.

 2011 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards -- Lemke

You could count the total number of sample cards that I have seen on eBay on one hand. This, and the 1941 Play Ball Paper variation are two obscure, and incredibly rare variations.  Think of what kids did when they got these cards. Something with a red stamp on the back of their card? Right in the trash. The scarcity of these cards are unknown, but some information has been gathered about how this card was distributed in 1939. This promotional advertisement card was handed out at ballparks and other such venues to create excitement for their new Play Ball gum cards and product.

I think I got this card at a great price, and I'm very happy with it. Also, please comment and share this blog/story with whomever you feel would like to follow it. Let me know if you would like to see more videos in the future, or if I should stick to scans.

Thanks ------