What is the best bargain that you ever found?

Cincyfan01 · February 20, 2007 11:40AM

My neibor's father had quite a collection. He passed away last year and the family has auctioned off alot of his cards. One of them was one of the featured items on the Goodwin & Co's last auction. Here is the Link. The final price was $15,178. I found out from my neighbor that his father found it at an antique store for $5.00!!!! It got me thinking about what kind of finds other collectors have had.

My best buy was for a 1963 French Bauer Pete Rose. I purchased a lot of about 100 French Bauer Milk Caps in an old cigar box. The whole box cost me $1000. Most were commons and there were about 7 Frank Robinsons. I kept the only Rose. I just had it graded recently and it came back a PSA 9. The only other graded one is a PSA 3 and it recently sold at auction (I believe Mastronet) for between $800-$900.

What is your best bargain?

lawnmowerman · February 20, 2007 11:44AM

I llike when Big Macs are 2 for $2

I think thats a really good bargain!

lawnmowerman · February 20, 2007 11:46AM

Interesting cap! Why the odd slab?

Dont they a slab for pogs?

Cincyfan01 · February 20, 2007 11:54AM

I know they have slabs for pinbacks and coins. The only thing I can think of is that the stock is more like a card. I think it might move around too much in one of the coin holders.

Stone193 · February 20, 2007 12:06PM

<< I llike when Big Macs are 2 for $2

I think thats a really good bargain! >>

I'm partial to the double cheese for a buck!

ToppsCo1lector · February 20, 2007 12:10PM

<< 

<< I llike when Big Macs are 2 for $2

I think thats a really good bargain! >>

I'm partial to the double cheese for a buck!

>>

I'm partial to the Checkers 2 for 4. Oh, nothing beats Checkers.

Stone193 · February 20, 2007 12:11PM

<< 

<< 

<< I llike when Big Macs are 2 for $2

I think thats a really good bargain! >>

I'm partial to the double cheese for a buck!

>>

I'm partial to the Checkers 2 for 4. Oh, nothing beats Checkers. >>

I'm not familiar with them TC.

mike

lawnmowerman · February 20, 2007 12:12PM

I can eat some double cheese burgers.

Good call Mike!

lawnmowerman · February 20, 2007 12:14PM

<< I kept the only Rose. I just had it graded recently and it came back a PSA 9. The only other graded one is a PSA 3 and it recently sold at auction (I believe Mastronet) for between $800-$900. >>

Wow! That much dough for a 3?

You should bring in some bucks if you decide to sell the 9

ToppsCo1lector · February 20, 2007 12:19PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< I llike when Big Macs are 2 for $2

I think thats a really good bargain! >>

I'm partial to the double cheese for a buck!

>>

I'm partial to the Checkers 2 for 4. Oh, nothing beats Checkers. >>

I'm not familiar with them TC.

mike >>

Very good burger spot. Those 2 for 4 buck ones, you literally struggle to finish one. I'm a big guy, and I can't eat 2 back to back. They're comparable to the Hardees double cheeseburgers, but there bigger and better. If you see a checkers, stop by and check them out. Good stuff.

CDsNuts · February 20, 2007 12:21PM

joestalin · February 20, 2007 12:28PM

The only thing better than the 2 for $2 deal is the 2 for $2 dollar deal the a free...coke...urrrrrr water.

JS

NickM · February 20, 2007 12:30PM

I found a Steve Blake Finest gold xfractor rookie 1/1 in a dealer's dime box. I'd estimate the value at $100 to $300, depending on how many obsessive Blake collectors are out there.

Nick

CDsNuts · February 20, 2007 12:33PM

Most underrated PG in the NBA. How he keeps getting traded is unbelievable to me.

Lee

kylehess10 · February 20, 2007 12:56PM

I've had quite a few bargains:

Rafael Furcal game worn game-winning 11th inning homerun cleats from 5/2/03. Found them on eBay from a guy selling his collection for cheap. It had the original LOA signed by Furcal stating that he wore them for that homerun (from ASI) and I used the Buy It Now right away for a steal at $80. They were sold to me as simply his 2nd homerun cleats from 2003. I later found out that his 2nd homerun that year was a game-winning 11th inning homer. I also found a picture of him from that night wearing the cleats.

Juan Encarnacion game worn 7/22/02 unwashed TBTC jersey. Saw this on eBay also for a BIN of $165, which was incredible. It was MLB Authenticated and completely unwashed with dirt stains all over. He had a "best offer" on the auction so I thought I try to get it for even cheaper and he accepted my offer of $130. I found 1 other jersey of his from the 2002 season from Authentic Gamers and they want $375!

Brian McCann game worn flag hat. Got it a few weeks ago at the 2007 Braves Winter Fanfest. Before I left, I checked out their "Spring Cleaning" sale and saw a few game worn hats left. I looked underneath each one to see the jersey numbers and I saw #16, with a ton of game use. Got it for only $5! I actually heard from someone else that they got a Smoltz hat as well for only $5.

Edgar Renteria game used 2002 Cardinals bat. Got this on eBay from JT Sports. It came with paperwork and LOA's from PSA/DNA. I had found out a week later that it was an extremely rare bat. It is a solid black R205 model, which I found out was from 1 of only 3 orders for them in 2002, and I picked it up for only $50.

Brandon Duckworth signed game worn 1st ML win/game/hit cleats. Got these from a guy on another forum where he had quite a large collection for sale. He only wanted $50 so I picked them up since I always wanted something from any player's first major league anything plus they had the original holograms from ASI. They were sold to me as his first major league win cleats. I had found out later that this was also his first major league game, and that he also got his first major league hit in these cleats on his debut. Not bad for only $50

Eli Marrero game worn 2006 home jersey photomatched. Got this from a very reputible dealer, and I had found a photomatched picture of him wearing the jersey on 6/4/06, just days before he was traded. The pinstripes match up perfectly in the photo and it is just a amazing photomatch. I have an 8x10 picture of him wearing the jersey next to the jersey itself and it's just an awesome sight. Got it for $79!

yankeeno7 · February 20, 2007 1:00PM

A Grand Union grocery store just down the road from me recently closed. During the clearance, I got a package of Oreo Cookies for 75 cents!!!

ripkenintheminors · February 20, 2007 1:14PM

I primarily collect three players: Ripken, P. Manning and Sammy Sosa.

My wife and I are big fans of the Cubs and where we live is an hour or so from what was the AA affiliate of the Cubs from '98-06. One year the Cubs came to play the Diamond Jaxx in an exhibition, which was amazing. A couple of years ago, Sammy Sosa came to west Tennessee to play for the Diamond Jaxx for a series. Fast forward to last year at the close of the season. The Jaxx do not get their contract renewed with the Cubs and they sign with Seattle. They had already been wearing the same uniforms for several years and they decided to sell them since they had Cubs patches.

I called the office and asked if there was any way that I could buy the jersey of Sean Gallagher before they went on sale. I got to know Sean pretty well and I wanted to have his uniform. They agreed and asked if there was anyone else I was interested in. The jerseys of Felix Pie and Matt Murton were unavailable, but all of the others were. Now the cool thing was that the jerseys were not priced based on the player, but the number of patches on the jersey. Essentially the player who wore the jersey meant nothing. I couldn't think of anyone else and declined the offer. Right then it hit me, the #21 jersey.

I called back and asked if there was a #21 home and they said it was there and I told them I'd buy it. They asked what I wasn't telling them and I told them that I'd rather not comment until the sale was complete. I paid for it and they said, "Ok, tell us the story. We know that you know something." My response was as follows before I was interrupted: "The year was 2004..."

My wife and I have been going to Jaxx games for years. We had dates at the park and took our newborn to her first professional game there last season. Having Sammy's jersey from his days with the Jaxx is extra special. It's really cool in that the jersey was customized with the elastic in the sleeves and everything. Even better was the price, at/around $100.

Cubby · February 20, 2007 3:26PM

"I got a package of Oreo Cookies for 75 cents!!!"
Good one...LMAO!

bobsbbcards · February 20, 2007 7:30PM

Cincyfan01,

Beautiful milk cap!!

Bob

rose14com · February 20, 2007 11:07PM

Wow, that is sweet! I passed one of these up on the bay about 5-6 years ago. Damn.

WinPitcher · February 20, 2007 11:21PM

My wife.

Steve

hotmush · February 20, 2007 11:55PM

I picked up 6 boxes of 1991 OPC (regular issue, not premier) baseball for a dollar a box at a dollar store about three years ago. That may not sound like much, but the regular issue OPC baseball from that year are kinda hard to find these days (unlike Topps). In the past six months, there has been only one box on Ebay and it sold for $15. So, not a bad return.

cohocorp · February 21, 2007 12:01AM

excellent answer steve. i would have to say my 2 rotties. at a cost of $2000 and $1000 respectively, both males, i was very lucky. i couldnt ask for more. absolutely perfect dogs.

CDsNuts · February 21, 2007 12:59AM

Do you like the $2000 twice as much as the $1000 one?

Lee

cohocorp · February 21, 2007 1:09AM

lee,
great question. even though it makes my girlfriend upset, i am more attached to that one more. not b/c the $ of course but because i have had him longer. his name is tiny. the second one ($1k) is only 2 yrs old, so he is still a baby for the most part. his name is buster. he has some growing up to do still. they are really amazing to see together. you can really see the difference between what a guard dog is and a watch dog is. of course it always comes down to you get what you pay for.

digicat · February 21, 2007 1:15AM

A couple...

A 1970 Topps OJ Simspon rookie I got for $45. The seller said it was "NM". It got a PSA 9.
A 1969 Topps Juan Marichal I got for about $2. The seller said it was "NM". It got a PSA 9.
A 1971 Topps Willie Mays I got for $30. The seller said it was "EX/NM", it got a PSA 8.

I wish I could find more of those kinds of deals.

Stone193 · February 21, 2007 1:26AM

<< The only other graded one is a PSA 3 and it recently sold at auction (I believe Mastronet) for between $800-$900. >>

Wow Cincy

And you have a 9? People should be coming out of the woodwork with offers!

Did you post this on the registry forum?

Congratulations.
mike

cohocorp · February 21, 2007 1:27AM

mike is right, that should bring great money cincy.
congrats

Stone193 · February 21, 2007 1:33AM

Best buy - with respect to the ratio of purchase vs. grade/value.

Rotman Auctions 1993 - paid 30 bucks for this 61F BKB #46 Baylor IA

Sent it to PSA - came back a 9 - SMR $700.

mike

XanaduNow · February 21, 2007 2:10AM

<< Best buy - with respect to the ratio of purchase vs. grade/value.

Rotman Auctions 1993 - paid 30 bucks for this 61F BKB #46 Baylor IA

Sent it to PSA - came back a 9 - SMR $700.

mike >>

Mike,

Is that the Rotmans Furniture place in MA that had sport auctions? If so, I grew up a few miles away. Always saw their flyers and stuff but didn't collect vintage back then. Nice find on that Baylor!

Arthur

mikeschmidt · February 21, 2007 2:12AM

I bought a card for ~$800- a few years ago that I in turn traded for an E104-III SGC 70 card and a T-206 proof card. That was a great bargain/trade for me

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · February 21, 2007 2:40AM

My first FF version. Incomplete printing on front. Back normal. A steal IMO at $20 or $40, one of those. Yeah its in a GEM holder as a 10 (its OC) and they spelled Ripken Riipken. Geez. Someday I'll find a board member to cross it over to PSA for me as I dont have a need for a membership. My favorite card and my best buy.

Posted 2x as I forgot how to post pics.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/1989_Fleer_Bill_Ripken_Collector/ebaytoys633.jpg

cohocorp · February 21, 2007 2:57AM

that is one sweet baylor mike.

pat

Cincyfan01 · February 21, 2007 9:38AM

That is a nice Baylor. I certainly enjoy finding any card that I want to add to my collection, but there is something extra special about finding it raw and having it come back in a high grade.

I am planning on keeping the Rose for now. It is tough to find in any condition and I am only a few short of the entire set. It may wind up in the Reds Hall of Fame this summer. They are having a Pete Rose exhibit that opens in March (yes it was approved my MLB). I spoke with them yesterday and they are interested in possibly having it as part of their exhibit.

What is the best bargain that you ever found?

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