Garage Sale Find: HAD To Buy It

SoonerCowboy · April 21, 2007 8:54AM

I about fell over when I saw this. And suddenly felt old because I'd been squatting so long looking at books I couldn't stand up. Why not for 10 cents?

#3 !!!!!!!!!!

scooter729 · April 21, 2007 8:55AM

Be sure to stock up on those sweet Joe Charbonneau rookies on the cover!!!

Please share prices with us for some T-206 cards - what's the going rate for that Cobb on the cover???

originalisbest · April 21, 2007 8:56AM

Heck of a deal! I remember that one well too, since it was one I used to have and read to death.

The prices will make ya cry - I believe a mint '56 set books for $340....!

SoonerCowboy · April 21, 2007 9:00AM

Cobb bat off shoulder: $120 !!! Boy, if we only knew then what we know now.

Buccaneer · April 21, 2007 9:01AM

<< Heck of a deal! I remember that one well too, since it was one I used to have and read to death.

The prices will make ya cry - I believe a mint '56 set books for $340....! >>

The operative word is "mint". Do you recall what passed for "mint" cards back in those days??

SoonerCowboy · April 21, 2007 9:01AM

<< Heck of a deal! I remember that one well too, since it was one I used to have and read to death.

The prices will make ya cry - I believe a mint '56 set books for $340....! >>

$480

SoonerCowboy · April 21, 2007 9:02AM

How about a Roger Maris Rookie for $7.00.

scooter729 · April 21, 2007 9:15AM

<< How about a Roger Maris Rookie for $7.00. >>

Thanks - I'll take two! Wow, crazy how it's changed. Thanks for sharing!

stevek · April 21, 2007 9:42AM

Shame he didn't have some cards to go along with the price guide.

originalisbest · April 21, 2007 9:59AM

Of course, I realize that Bucc - but still, if you had a careful eye for truly nice cards, you could've made out well at those prices. It's not like the mint cards of today weren't around then (well, some exceptions to THAT rule, but that's a whole 'nother discussion.

)

Besides, I have no doubt '56's could be turned up in mint - they're among the easiest of all the '50's Topps product to find in nice shape.

baseballfan · April 21, 2007 10:00AM

i have an old americana also from1986. i use it a lot to see who is in a set or what player i need form a set. comes in handy i would like to have one for basketball and football too. i think i paid a buck for mine so yours was a good deal to me.

HoofHearted · April 21, 2007 10:20AM

I've got quite a few of the old price guides from that time. I just checked and I started buying with that same issue -- #3! -- and ended up with a run of them through #10. The SCD guide from '89 I bought because it was the first reference I ever saw to unopened packs. There's an '84 Donruss pack on the cover.

I hope no one minds that I share one of the pages again from the old Card Collectors Company price catalogue (vintage mid '60s??). I should probably rescan it now that I've got a better scanner...

estang · April 21, 2007 10:59AM

Ahhh -- those price guides bring back fond memories. I believe I still have #1 thru #3 at my parent's house. I wore them out pretty good! Too bad I didn't act upon the low prices at the time!

WinPitcher · April 21, 2007 1:04PM

realize that Bucc - but still, if you had a careful eye for truly nice cards, you could've made out well at those prices.

Even back then truly nice cards sold for 2x or 3x book.

Steve

ldferg · April 21, 2007 1:07PM

hoof,
did you notice in your article it talks about the honus wagner card going for $250....LOL holy cow.

WinPitcher · April 21, 2007 1:08PM

Also, dough then was harder to come by then it is today. yes prices have prolly outpaced inflation in many cases but all I know is back in 86 I was 31 and had 2 kids in diapers. Did not have the dough I have today to buy cards, even though i owned a card shop at the time!

Steve

RedHeart54 · April 21, 2007 3:44PM

1952 Topps high numbers were "expensive" even then. Can you imagine a kid in 1963 paying $1.00 per card?

HoofHearted · April 21, 2007 4:07PM

<< 1952 Topps high numbers were "expensive" even then. Can you imagine a kid in 1963 paying $1.00 per card? >>

I remember my allowance was 10 cents (silver dime) a week in the early '60s -- which would've bought a Mantle or Maris card! I had to save up to fill in my 1962 Babe Ruth series and the World Series cards...

GDM67 · April 21, 2007 5:22PM

<< I just checked and I started buying with that same issue -- #3! >>

So did I. That one and #4 (I've wanted a 63 Frank Robby since I saw that one on the back of #4), then I didn't get another one until #10.

3 & 4 have wonderful color sections in the middle, illustrating a single (usually a really desirable one) from most sets and all of the wrappers. Good memories.

jimq112 · April 22, 2007 1:52AM

They made them for football/basketball/hockey too. I'll take the MINT NAGURSKI for $125, alex!

stown · April 22, 2007 2:10AM

Ugh, that just made my knees buckle.

HoofHearted · April 22, 2007 7:33AM

<< They made them for football/basketball/hockey too. I'll take the MINT NAGURSKI for $125, alex!

>>

Jim, what year is this price catalogue from??

Fun stuff to look back on, isn't it?!

Thanks for sharing this, too.

jimq112 · April 22, 2007 8:04AM

<< 

<< They made them for football/basketball/hockey too. I'll take the MINT NAGURSKI for $125, alex!

>>

Jim, what year is this price catalogue from??

Fun stuff to look back on, isn't it?!

Thanks for sharing this, too. >>

It's a 1981. I looked a little and revised my wantlist. I really like the $.42 gretzky rookie!

Elemenopeo · April 22, 2007 8:33AM

From my 1967 edition of the American Card Catalog...

jimq112 · April 22, 2007 8:53AM

<< From my 1967 edition of the American Card Catalog...

>>

Good Lord!

samspop · April 22, 2007 11:21AM

1975 Sports Collectors Bible. I bought this thing when I was in 6th grade. I am 39, now. Actually lists the T-206 Wagner at $1500...the holy grail of the sports card industry. 1955, 1959, and 1960 Armour Discs, .75-2.00 ea....1971 Topps Greatest Moments Set $25.00...1952 Topps 1-310 Valued at .50 to 1.50/ea, 311-407 are valued between $7-$11 due to limited quantity....1954 Topps, No Variations, No Scarcities, Values between .40-1.00...I could go on and on....Fun "and frustrating" to read...

Buccaneer · April 22, 2007 12:45PM

<< realize that Bucc - but still, if you had a careful eye for truly nice cards, you could've made out well at those prices.

Even back then truly nice cards sold for 2x or 3x book.

Steve >>

That is very true. I worked a lot of shows back in 1983 and 1984. The NM-Mint cards were being sold and bought by the big time dealers and investors for much, much than High Beckett. For the rest of us that hadn't learned to look at the corners and centering of cards, we fell for the "Mint" tag for full book. All of those cards (particularly stars) ended up truly being Ex-ExMt.

Regarding the Wagner and other bargain...only if you could have found them. It was not until the boom of the late 1980s when everything started to come out the woodworks, sort of speak and everyone started hearing about the really good cards.

The flip side to all of this, of course, was the book prices we saw a few years later, particularly of the 60s and 70s stars and rookies. We can marvel at the 900% price increase of the 50s and pre-war cards, but one has to acknowledge the 90% decrease of many 60s and 70s cards (not to mention the 80s stuff).

Stingray · April 22, 2007 9:49PM

That is so funny, I only have owned one of those, and that was the one I had. Loved going through that thing.

bifff257 · April 23, 2007 3:39AM

I think I would like the mint 1933 sports king set for $425.00

Garage Sale Find: HAD To Buy It

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