My Greatest Hobby High Ever!

DBesse27

I hope you’ll all indulge me in giving this card its own thread, as the title of this thread is not an exaggeration at all. Many of you know that I've been hunting my white whale for years - the 1969 Eskimo Pie Gino Cappelletti/Dale Livingston. Not only is it from a fairly obscure food issue, but the Gino/Dale card is a really tough short print (and an uncorrected error, as they misspelled Gino's last name).

I have hunted for this card for 6 years. For the first 3-4 years I didn't even know what it looked like, as internet searches turned up nothing. I had people scour 2 National Conventions for me, to no avail. Once I finally had a photo (thanks Mullins!), I designed a "wanted" flyer that I handed out at shows and shops. Still nothing. Finally, in January of 2018, one showed up on eBay! Unfortunately for me, it lasted less than an hour and was snagged before I even knew it was there. I was disappointed, but glad it at least went to somebody I knew, and a good guy at that. A few months later, a second copy surfaced, but this time in a BST auction as part of a complete set or large lot (I don't remember which) and it was far outside my budget. The search continued and, given the combination of scarcity and priciness, I seriously wondered if I would ever land a copy.

On the night of Sunday, August 25, 2019, I received a PM on another message board from a virtual stranger. The subject line read "I got you a Capelletti Eskimo pie." In my head, I scoffed. Yeah right! His message said that he saw it on eBay for a very low price and grabbed it, and would sell it to me at his cost. I went to eBay "sold" listings and sure enough, there it was. The sale price was so low that I remained skeptical. However, the guy who messaged me thought it was real and when I exchanged some texts with an Eskimo Pie expert, he thought it looked good too. Finally excited, I quickly reached an agreement, with heaps of thanks! 9 days later, the card had passed through his home and arrived at mine. I came home in the middle of my workday to rip open the mail and couldn't believe the card was finally in my possession! In person, the condition was nicer than I had ever dared hope it would be!

So after 6 years, and without further ado, here is my white whale, the subject of the greatest hobby high I have ever experienced:

 
A note about my particular copy: the Eskimo Pie set was issued in both a cardboard version that could be hand cut from the ice cream box, and also in a sticker form that is even rarer than the hand cut. The other collectors mentioned above and I are all in agreement that mine appears to be the rarer sticker version, stuck to a piece of cardboard and then cut out. One guy has an interesting theory that it was stuck to an original package of Eskimo Pie ice cream, which would make it even cooler.

PSA is currently not grading the set, although I’ve reached out and hope they change the mind. If they won’t, SGC has already said they will.

detroitfan2

Awesome story, this is what the hobby is all about!

JoeBanzai

SWEEEEEET!

lahmejoon

Congratulations, Dan!

_EagleEyeKid_

Congrats and great story Dan. It's always an awesome feeling to finally catch that whale.

Moonman

That is one cool story Dan, what is the next whale on your list?

JBK

Congrats!

Now pay it forward by buying me something rare for very little money.

Stone193

So after 6 years, and without further ado, here is my white whale, the subject of the greatest hobby high I have ever experienced:

Congratulations Dan!

I guess we both share the "high" this week.

Good show buddy.

45isodd

Very cool, Dan. Congrats on harpooning your whale!

stevegarveyfan

That is one great-looking treasure! I really like stuff like this!

NGS428

Great story Dan!!

galaxy27

if someone in the hobby was deserving of a particular card, it was definitely Dan & the Gino Eskimo

i know how much this acquisition means to you......congrats of the highest order

doubledragon

Congratulations! I know this must be a feeling of pure joy! Beautiful card! Enjoy the high!

jay0791

Congrats Dan

Everest is now behind you

DBesse27

@Moonman said:
That is one cool story Dan, what is the next whale on your list?

Thanks but I haven’t even thought about this!

georgebailey2

Congratulations, the hunt is over.

Which begs the question:

That was a joke. Assuming the focus remains on Yaz, Hannah and Topps Venezuela cards.

Gemyanks10

Congrats Dan! Amazing story and was going to ask as well what the next huge pursuit will be, but that was already answered. Cherish it my friend..

UFFDAH

Way to GO!! Congratz!!

AFLfan

That is truly a fantastic pick up. So happy for you! This now completes your Gino collection, correct?

DBesse27

@AFLfan said:
That is truly a fantastic pick up. So happy for you! This now completes your Gino collection, correct?

Thanks! Yes it does, as long as I don’t decide I need the other (cardboard hand cut) version of this one! LOL

brad31

Congrats. Love seeing cards I never knew existed. Very cool that a collector you don’t even know helped you get it!

Kid4hof03

I can't read this story enough! So happy for you!

erikthredd

Great story, Congrats Dan!

paleocards

Congrats, Dan, on harpooning your white whale!

AFLfan

@DBesse27 said:

@AFLfan said:
That is truly a fantastic pick up. So happy for you! This now completes your Gino collection, correct?

Thanks! Yes it does, as long as I don’t decide I need the other (cardboard hand cut) version of this one! LOL

LOL! Watch out. I did that exact thing with my Alworth collection!

DBesse27

Thanks again fellas. Means a lot.

TheThrill22

Great story, congratulations!

NJ80sBBC

What a huge rush it must be for you Dan! A great quest and it ends with the help from a stranger giving back to the hobby. Awesome.

John

perkdog

Congrats again Dan!!🍻👍

70ToppsFanatic

Congratulations Dan. It’s really great to see one of the good guys win!

bishop

Great story, congratulations.....but you do need the cardboard hand cut version

Parkerplenty123

Wow, What a story! Congratulations man!

Ironmanfan

Congrats Dan! Why won’t PSA slab these.

IMF

PatsGuy5000

Nice story and card, first time I have seen

DBesse27

@Ironmanfan said:
Congrats Dan! Why won’t PSA slab these.

IMF

I called and emailed last week to ask, no response yet.

DBesse27

@PatsGuy5000 said:
Nice story and card, first time I have seen

Thanks. As a Pats fan, you might be interested to know that the Jim Nance (with Billy Neighbors) is also a tough short print in the set. A raw one like my Gino sold for $720 last week.

yankeesman

Congratulations Dan!!! It must have been an incredible feeling when you opened the mail that day! That's what this hobby is all about.

thesouthdoesitagain

Dang DanB-- i just read this and you must be so excited. I know very well you been looking and informed you a few times.
After the Yaz Veni....i kept looking for ya on this. Glad you finally got it! Will check out the other forum for updates.

BigMike79

Awesome pick up for you.

I recently had a similar story.

I have been collecting NHL ITG Enforcers set for years. Its a few hundred cards with a few sp and ssp autos. 4 cards were impossible to find. I gave up on thinking they actually existed. Last week i get an ebay email showing a Bob Probert auto that i need for sale. I couldn't purchase it fast enough. I had never even seen a photo of this card. I then check my email and i almost fell out of my seat when i see the same seller is also selling the Wendel Clark. 2 of the 4 cards i didn't think were ever really made, for sale by the same seller.

My point is that high i felt when i saw those emails, that excitement, is why we are into this.

I know you felt the same!

CopperJJ

Congrats!

ahopkins

Dan. This is filthy, sick, and dope all at once. In the great words of George Costanza, "I'm speechless. Speechless! I have no speech!!"

detroitfan2

Dan, were you hoping to get the whole "panel" like it is, or just the 2 photos in the dashed lines? Will you leave it as is, or will you attempt to "clean up" the cuts?

DBesse27

@detroitfan2 said:
Dan, were you hoping to get the whole "panel" like it is, or just the 2 photos in the dashed lines? Will you leave it as is, or will you attempt to "clean up" the cuts?

Good questions. In the hobby, the way you see it now is considered one card. To cut out the dashed played photos would ruin it, in my opinion.

Also, since it is so rare and I coveted it so much, I don’t want to do anything to it, just get it slabbed as is.

IndianaJones

Dan, I am so happy for you, bro. Whenever I'd see your posts, I would notice your desire for this piece, and wish I could help. I know what it's like to dearly wish for a tough regional / food item that seems all but impossible. Thanks for sharing your joy with us, and conveying your story; I loved reading it! Let yourself stay on that "cardboard cloud 9" a long time--us collectors need those rare occasions --- Indiana Jones (Brian Powell)

BaltimoreYankee

Glad to hear it ,Dan. I know you have mentioned this card often over the past several years. congrats!!

DBesse27

Thanks again, fellas.

dale_greenbay

This is by far the craziest story I’ve heard. The Dale Livingston on this card is my late father. I’m Dale Livingston Jr. I have several of his Tressler Comet cards, but didn’t know this Eskimo pie card existed.

I’m going to keep my eyes peeled from now on.

Glad you found it!

DBesse27

@dale_greenbay said:
This is by far the craziest story I’ve heard. The Dale Livingston on this card is my late father. I’m Dale Livingston Jr. I have several of his Tressler Comet cards, but didn’t know this Eskimo pie card existed.

I’m going to keep my eyes peeled from now on.

Glad you found it!

Wow, Dale, so glad to “meet” you! Your dad was a heck of a player. This card rarely surfaces, but one was on eBay for an hour or two earlier this month. I’ll keep my eyes open and would be honored to help usher a copy your way. In fact I might (just maybe) know somebody who has a lead on one. I’ll reach out to him now with fingers crossed. Thanks again for posting!

Ironmanfan

Wow, Dale, so glad to “meet” you! Your dad was a heck of a player. This card rarely surfaces, but one was on eBay for an hour or two earlier this month. I’ll keep my eyes open and would be honored to help usher a copy your way. In fact I might (just maybe) know somebody who has a lead on one. I’ll reach out to him now with fingers crossed. Thanks again for posting!

Dan: You could always be a sport & cut the Livingston card off yours

IMF

yankeesman

Wow! That's a cool connection. I love hobby stories like this.