1950 Scott's Potato Chip Basketball Find
jmullen
Posts: 159 ✭
You'll see this in the next Beckett, but I just wanted to tell a story of the greatest (and unfortunately most expensive) find I've had yet. As most of you know, I started sportscards.info about 6 years ago to specialize in basketball card information. Anyway, I started the site so that I mainly could 1) spread the word on many HTF vintage issues; while 3) pushing prices up; and 4) using the site to attract people looking to sell their cards. The site has done great at 1 and 2, but not until this past week has 3 really kicked in.
So, I got an email last week from someone claiming to have some Scott Potato Chip cards. For those not familiar with basketball, these cards are the holy grail of the basketball hobby. If you take the top 10 vintage collectors that are actively looking for Scott's, only about 3 of the collectors even have an example. I know of two complete sets (one with an old timer who is not looking to sell and one with a new collector who purchased the SCG set of 13 cards that sold for $25,000 on mastronet a long time ago).
Anyway, I gave the seller my number and I got a call about 10 minutes later. The collector had 8 cards from the set (no Mikan) and I asked for pictures. I had pictures about 20 minutes later and was completely shocked -- I was looking at pictures of 8 Scott's cards. Now, Scott's are so rare that if someone has pictures of the cards, they have the cards. So, I gave the seller an offer he couldn't refuse and voila ... they came in on Friday.
Now, for the story of the find. The seller was a 20-something year old that was trying to raise money to go to business school. Fifteen years ago, his uncle was a mover. He was moving a house for an estate sale and saw a box of sportscards. The mover asked if he could have the cards and the mover was given the cards. when the mover went home, he split the cards up between his two nephews. Fifteen years later, the seller noticed that some of the cards his uncle gave him back in the day were called "Scott's potato chips" and he did a google search. My site came up and he read about the cards. He then called a very well known dealer (I won't say who) to try and sell the cards. The dealer didn't know what they were so he couldn't give the seller an offer (if he would have only looked in a guide...). So, the seller gave me a call. I probably could have "stolen" the cards away for nothing, but I gave the kid a good price for the 8 cards (just under $XX,XXX) -- multiple times what he would have gotten from any dealer. Among the 8 was a Pollard, Mikkelsen, and Bud Grant.
The cards were distributed in Minneapolis. This was in the "area" that the uncle moved people. Thus, we think that the uncle most likely found the cards in Minneapolis.
jmullen54@aol.com
So, I got an email last week from someone claiming to have some Scott Potato Chip cards. For those not familiar with basketball, these cards are the holy grail of the basketball hobby. If you take the top 10 vintage collectors that are actively looking for Scott's, only about 3 of the collectors even have an example. I know of two complete sets (one with an old timer who is not looking to sell and one with a new collector who purchased the SCG set of 13 cards that sold for $25,000 on mastronet a long time ago).
Anyway, I gave the seller my number and I got a call about 10 minutes later. The collector had 8 cards from the set (no Mikan) and I asked for pictures. I had pictures about 20 minutes later and was completely shocked -- I was looking at pictures of 8 Scott's cards. Now, Scott's are so rare that if someone has pictures of the cards, they have the cards. So, I gave the seller an offer he couldn't refuse and voila ... they came in on Friday.
Now, for the story of the find. The seller was a 20-something year old that was trying to raise money to go to business school. Fifteen years ago, his uncle was a mover. He was moving a house for an estate sale and saw a box of sportscards. The mover asked if he could have the cards and the mover was given the cards. when the mover went home, he split the cards up between his two nephews. Fifteen years later, the seller noticed that some of the cards his uncle gave him back in the day were called "Scott's potato chips" and he did a google search. My site came up and he read about the cards. He then called a very well known dealer (I won't say who) to try and sell the cards. The dealer didn't know what they were so he couldn't give the seller an offer (if he would have only looked in a guide...). So, the seller gave me a call. I probably could have "stolen" the cards away for nothing, but I gave the kid a good price for the 8 cards (just under $XX,XXX) -- multiple times what he would have gotten from any dealer. Among the 8 was a Pollard, Mikkelsen, and Bud Grant.
The cards were distributed in Minneapolis. This was in the "area" that the uncle moved people. Thus, we think that the uncle most likely found the cards in Minneapolis.
jmullen54@aol.com
0
Comments
Bosox1976
I'm blue-green with envy.........
...congrats.
sell me a couple?
NathanSr
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