First off, did you get the cards from Lee Graves? He has a lot of nice golf stuff over the years.
Don't kid yourself either, a psa 5 of any of Old Tom's cards will fetch a pretty penny. I know the PSA 9 Copes has traded hands before, and for money way out of my league.
I am sure the reason no registry on Old Tom is simply the fact that there are so few cards of him availalbe from his playing days, but if you added in some of the modern issues, you might hit 8-10 cards ( I am saying this without checking for sure.)
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
I tried to start a registry set for him, but I don't have any graded card certs to enter in for him. If any of you guys who own some of his PSA graded cards have any interest in putting in the request - that'd be cool. Otherwise - I'll take care of it when I eventually have some graded examples of my own.
Today happens to be my son's birthday...His middle name.
Hagen
So to celebrate Birthdays and Walter Hagen, I present to you the rarest Walter Hagen Card I own
Just picked this up awhile back so not graded yet.
This is the Empreza Industrial De Tobacos Limited - There were produced for a company out of Portugeuse East Africa. I bought this from a seller in Portugal. I have never seen another copy. I do know a collector that has one of these but it is also ungraded. Pretty sure this is the rarest golf card I have in my collection regardless of subject.
This is a multi sport set manufactured in the mid 1920's. You could argue this could be considered Hagen's rookie but it is so obscure, I would not want to make that assumption.
There are two other golfers in the set as well, Mille Chaume and Miss Enid Wilson. Wish I would have purchased all three as the sell had all for sale, but I just went with the Hagen.
It appears to have been stuck in an album at one time as the back has a crude stamp on it and it looks like it has a little bit of paper damage on the reverse.
Still a cool card, and just hoping PSA will encapsulate it regardless of grade.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Taking a break from cards for a day and reminding you that tomorrow is the last day to respond or PM me to get into the giveaway contents (see very first post)
The topic today…reference guides.
There is not a lot of attention paid to pricing golf cards. Sure there is the SMR but we know what a fickle beast that can be.
For a short period of time, there was Beckett Golf Magazine, - - - Heck ---- I even got featured in one of the maybe three issues they produced because while opening 2001 SP Authentic I hit what can only be described as a “hot box” with a bunch of the Sign of the Times autographed cards. Sometime this year I will post a copy of this in the thread.
The main source is the The Price Guide to Golf Cards Part 1; Tobacco Cards and then also - The Price Guide to Golf Cards , Part 2, Non-Tobacco Cards, both written by Phillip Smedley and / Bruce Berdock. These came out in 1994-95 and is the best reference available for collecting golf cards. If you are new to the game, or wanting to get more into golf cards, these books are a must.
The downside, the information regarding pricing is nearing 20 years old.
The upside, as a checklist and reference it is the best thing available. There are photos (albeit in black and white) of most every type of set in the two guides as well as checklists of golf cards so from a resource standpoint it is the best thing out there.
You can normally find them on ebay, or even someplace like Amazon will have these two reference guides in stock. They are both softcover but tightly bound books and can usually be had for $10-$15 each.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Does Murray out of the UK give some good guidance with golf issues too?
BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Murray cards has a number of reference guides that are available for sale which are dedicated to certain manufacturers, such as Wills, Ogdens, Copes etc.
Murray cards is also going out of business ....which is sad. They were a great place and had outstanding monthly auctions. I think they are having their last one later this month.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Just in time for the weekend, figured I would talk about the Kellogg’s Pep Cereal Cards from 1948. This is a multi sport set of athlete’s that feature boxers, football, baseball, basketball, golf and others.
There are three golfers in the Set. Jim Ferrier, Lloyd Mangrum (which is his rookie card) and also the Rookie card of Samuel Jackson Snead.
These black and white cards have an enamalized surface which is very prone to having a “crazing effect” much like you would see on vintage pottery. Also there was an album made for kids to put the cards into as they collected them, so often times the cards are found with corner mounting marks (this pretty much marks a card down to PSA 4-5 at best) The card pictured below is an example of this, it has fabulous centering but the corner marks knock it down a bunch of grades from a technical grading aspect.
The cards are also atrocious when it comes to centering, as these are more frequently found off centered then they are centered. Usually WAY off centered!
Quite of few examples of the golfers can be found, but high grade examples are really tough due to the factors I have mentioned above.
I have examples of all three of the golfers, but just had this extra Snead from my collection handy for a scan today (This card is available by the way)
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
This is really a great thread. I love that you add background info and history for each of the cards. The cards you've shown so far are pretty incredible - I just hope you're not showing us all the best stuff in the first week!
Don't worry I don't plan on losing steam any time soon.
Day 7 - Big Jack - Little Jack
Time for something more modern.
Upper Deck has had their Goudey products for a few years, and have featured most notably Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in their offerings.
They make autographed versions of these cards as well, with the auto on card. Some of the Tiger examples, as do most of his autographed cards, go for sick money.
Here are the regular as well as one of the mini size Jack Nicklaus cards from 2008. The Mini cards come in a variety of back colors, I believe green, red, blue and Black.
They try to play off the Sport Kings issues of the 1930's and have a nice appearance for a modern card in my opinion.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
On I will not only feature a set or an issue, but also a player. The nice thing with a lot of the vintage golf cards is many of them feature people that even big golf fans of today would know anything about.
I just upgraded a couple of cards from my 1931 Churchman Prominent Golfers set and they arrived this week, so I will feature one of the players here.
Charles Whitcombe.
Witcombe lived to be 96 years old, and was a fantastic golfer in the 20's and 30's. He came from a family of golfing brothers most notably Reg who is also featured on a number of golf cards.
Charles Whitcome won 8 times professionally, and was captain of the Ryder Cup team on 4 occasions (three of them as playing captain) He never won a major championship, but did with the Irish Open and also was a 2 time winner of the British PGA Matchplay Championship. He cam close a number of times to winning the Open Championship, finishing 3rd 4th twice, 5th, 6 twice and 9th. A pretty good run of top 10's.
This is his 1931 Prominent Golfers Large Side card, Showing front and back scans.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
The 1980's are most known for the Donruss card sets that were issued. Otherwise there were a number of smaller, and shall we say "unrecognized" card sets from the 1980's when it comes to golf Cards.
One of the nicer sets was the 1987 Fax Pax Sporting Personalities set of golfers. This 36 card set features oversized card that are on thicker paper stock and have rounded corners. They are about the size of a postcard and are encapsulated in larger holders. Since the set was produced in England, many of the golfers featured are European Tour Players. It does containg also cards of Jack Nicklaus, and Payne Stewart to name a few as well as Greg Norman, who is pictured below during the height of his career (sorry again for the fuzzy scans)
This set is a complete smaller boxed set and can be picked up relatively inexpensively, normally for no more than $10-$15 tops.
A complete list includes:
Andy Bean Ben Crenshaw Bernhard Langer Calvin Peete Corey Pavin Craig Stadler Dan Pohl David Frost David Graham Fuzzy Zoeller Graham Marsh Greg Norman Hal Sutton Howard Clark Ian Baker Finch Ian Woosnam Jack Nicklaus James Thorpe John Mahaffey Johnny Miller Lanny Wadkins Larry Mize Lee Trevino Mark McNulty Mark O'Meara Nick Faldo Payne Steward Raymond Floyd Bob Tway Rodger Davis Seve Ballesteros Sandy Lyle Rodger Davis Scott Hoch Tom Kite Tom Watson
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Most of you are familiar with the Sportcaster large size cards. If you grade these with PSA you are better than me, as the holders are the big T3 size I would imagine as the cards are large, so grading fees are pricey.
I unfortunately have a few people that are found in these issues that are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame (one of my favorite registry sets) but since I have been too lazy or unwilling to send in just of few of these at the high prices for grading, these cards are not part of that registry yet. Of course I could always find someone here who could use a piggyback on a smaller order maybe...
Ok, enough backstory, this card is unsual as it is one of the few of non-golfers that I own that are part of the membership of the World Golf Hall of Fame. McCormack was a legendary sports agent in his days and two of his earlier and biggest clients were of course Arnold Palmer and Jack Nickalus.
McCormack would learn to play alongside his father and his godfather, poet Carl Sandburg. McCormack played on the golf team at Virginia's College of William & Mary. It was there that McCormack first met a young Wake Forest golfer named Arnold Palmer.
During the 1959 Carling Open in Cleveland, Ohio, Mark McCormack and Arnold Palmer met again, this time with McCormack working at a local law firm and Palmer an established professional golfer.
McCormack informed Palmer that he was considering starting up a business wherein the company would serve as personal business managers (agents) to handle professional golfers' personal affairs.
Palmer thought the idea was a valid one. He had heard that Clifford Roberts served as President Eisenhower's "ultimate inner-circle man, adviser and protector, friend and counselor, through good times and bad, thick and thin, and President Eisenhower entrusted him implicitly."
With that mutual understanding, McCormack and Palmer shook hands to consummate their relationship - no paperwork required.
Arnie later brought in Nicklaus and Gary Player was also an early sign on persona. SO basically this guy had the big three of golf in its heyday of early televsion.
Here is his sportscaster card (italian version) showing him in action on the phone complete with 1979 circa clothing, fancy lamp, rotary dial telephone, a couple of cups of coffee and an ashtray full of cigarettes.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
In the reference books there is a very cool, larger sized card that is from the 1900 CHOCOLATE MEURISSE BELGIUM TRADE CARD issue. I do not know if this was part of a larger set, or strictly a trade card for this company. I do know, however that the design on the card was used for other trade cards representing advertising for other companies.
To my knowledge there is a few version of this sort of type or trade card. The one referenced example features the name of what is likely a chocolate confectionery company on the front. CHOCOLATE MEURISSE. I am uncertain how the reference guide books are able to pinpoint this to 1900, I think that is more of an approximate date.
The CHOCOLATE MEURISSE card is by no means readily available, but I have only seen a few examples in my years of collecting.
I do however have a card that has the identical photograph on the front. The differences are this bold blue ink advertising on the reverse of the card. It appears to be German, perhaps Belgian in origin, but it is a trade card advertising Diamante Shoe Polish.
PSA has turned down my ability to have this card graded as they indicated it is not a catalogued piece. So basically if I would write my own catalog and get some more background on this card maybe they WOULD grade it for me….Not sure.
Anyway, I still have it, and may even part with it someday as I truly like to have all my cards encapsulated..I guess it is a control thing or something, regardless, for your enjoyment, what is perhaps a “one of a kind” DIAMANTE trade golf card from sometime in the early part of the 1900’s.
One of my favorite cards I have ever owned.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Day 12- Is anyone still reading along? If so, what golf cards to you want to see?
Ok, had great feedback and interest when this started. Not many comments since...so....going to accomplish a couple of things in the post today since I had to work extra late and just got home.
**** I am Checking to see if anyone is really looking at this everyday. If so, - this part should not be hard,- let me know what golfer or golfers you want to see a card of in the upcoming 2 weeks, I will try to satisfy everyone on here.
If you post by Friday night a response, I will do my best to showcase a card of that player from my own collection.
Sorry for the slight break today, but I figured this would be a good directive on those who are following along to see some cards and get some back story on some golfers and maybe a few of the issues of cards that are out there.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Do you collect any autographed golf cards? I wonder what a Payne Stewart would go for.
Look back at your January 9 post. You made a list of the players in a set. I'm just curious if you wrote the names yourself or if they were copied and pasted. The reason I am asking is because Payne Stewart is listed as "Payne Steward" and I was wondering if maybe that was an error card.
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Still reading. I wasn't sure if you wanted others to post on the thread, though. I'm subscribed, so I read every post and have really enjoyed learning about the cards.
As for a request - I'd love to see some cards of some of the classics like Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, James Braid, etc. What about a whole week dedicated to Bobby Jones? Just an idea. It's your thread - I am not trying to steal the thunder.
I don't read every day, but I do log on every few days and catch up to what I've missed. I am an autograph collector, so I will second the mention of autographs. If you have any, I'd love to see one (or more).
"WITH GORILLA GONE, WILL THERE BE HOPE FOR MAN?" Daniel Quinn, Ishmael
Hang in there --- from someone who did this before there will be times when you will not get a response for days but people are out there. I would like to see any oddball items old golfers or new Thanks for posting Mike
BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Thanks for starting the thread and I look to more of the posts
I'd like to see some vintage woman golfer cards,,,, not of well know players such as Joyce Wethered or Glenna Collette Vare but of say Simone de la Chaume,,,,,
In your own research into that first mysterious card what leads you to believe 1930's besides the dress of the woman player?? I am confused as she is left handed in the card,,,, a rarity in those days,,,, to own a left handed set of brassies would cost a woman quite a bit,,,, while her style of dress is consistent with a late 1920-1930's its a unique pic,,,, that ones got me researching and very intrigued,,,,
Nicklaus 1971 barratt centered if you have it.... Or an Arnold Palmer either Bancroft or Mira. I enjoy your commentary on each set. Nice thread. I read it just don't respond much.
I to am following along everyday . Would love to see more Jack , Arnold and Lee or other classic players from the 70`s on up . Enjoying this thread , keep up the great job.
I have asked this for a few year. Why wouldn't someone make a set of JUST golf cards? I don't think the market can support it every year, but it was last 2005, there are a bunch of young players that have no cards out.
Lo and behold! A call from my local card shop today.
Now I have never owned "metal cards" and it appears the price point is around $100 a pack/box whatever you want to call it.
YIKES!
I will try and put a base card set together, but with just 24 base cards in a case that may not be an easy task. The only info I have is what you see here. I don't have anything else on this at this time.
Discuss? Good Idea? Bad Idea? The limited cards they show on the advertising sheet do look pretty nice.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
WOW ... $20.00 PER CARD ... quite high IMO. Don't think it would be a good idea getting into them if you were looking to make money, but if you have the extra money and want the set for yourself, why not!
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Now, I am not like many "collectors" with Set Registries. I will from time to time upgrade my sets, but I don't have the $$$, or frankly the gumption to have the #1 graded set in every catergory of golf cards that I own.
I learned a LONG time ago, there is always someone with more money that you...so you always need to be controlled when trying to build or upgrade sets.
Suprisingly there are a number of folks that have this set completed, The 1901 Ogdens are not that easy to find.
First off, they are 110 years old! Second, they have black border (horrible for grading) Third many time they have been touched up with a black marker (think 1971 Topps Baseball here Baseball guys) and 4th, I have no idea how PSA grades Ogdens.
I have had cards come back 2 grades higher or lower than I estimate at time, Now I have sent in cards to PSA for years, so while I am not a guy that nails the grade all the time, I usually am pretty close.
Many times when I get cards with this issue I am left scratching my head, either in a good or bad way.
I still need one card to complete this set. the Late F.G. Tait, as I have never really come across an example that wasn't creamed, so I am on the lookout for the right price.
This set uses real photos albeit very small photos, it features Old Tom Morris and an number of cards of a match between Harry Vardon and James Braid, although interestingly enough, in the I base series neither of these two golfers is featured solely on the card by themselves by name like everyone else in the set.
Still here is a 94% complete set, Missing one card, and now #6 on the registry for this year!( Nice Job Mark)
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Once again - great cards, Dave. You're right about the grading of these cards - it appears to be all over the place. That said, your Tom Morris card (without seeing the back) looks better than a PSA 5, in my opinion.
BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Well, I spent some time this weekend scanning in all of my Ogdens Cards. Matter of fact, I am planning on scanning in all of my cards, so I am basically doing everything again from the start.
This is a slow process, but I like to have the scans on my set registries, and frankly do a poor job keeping them up to date.
On the heels of the 1901 Ogden's I Base Golfers, there is also a group of 6 Golfers from the numbered Series. I am by no means an expert in how to tell the different "types" of the Guinea Gold cards, but there are variations or what is referred to as "base variations" and this is by how the letters in the word "cigarette" are typeset. If anyone of the golf guys that are following this have good info on this feel free to share it here.
The 6 numbered cards are always in high demand. They feature, John Ball, Harry Vardon, James Braid, John Graham, H.H. Hilton and J.H. Taylor
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Slight break from cards today to tell more of a story from last night, but at least it is golf related.
A couple of years ago, I got to realize a lifelong dream. I was invited to attend the Saturday and Sunday rounds of the Masters. I attended the year that Kenny Perry lost a late lead and "El Pado" Angel Cabrerra, won in extra holes.
I followed Dustin Johnson on Saturday thinking - this guy has game!. I followed Tiger and Phil on Sunday as they made a LOT of noise on the front 9 only to falter late. I was on 16 when Perry about holed his tee shot, saw him burn it away on 17, and was on 10 green to see the playoff end as the sun fell into the Georgia pines.
My only regret of this great trip is that I could not take any photos of this beautiful golf course.
Like many others I put in for practice round tickets, and like many others I was unsuccessful.
My wife turns to me last night while watching the Golden Globes and says ...."where else are we going to go this year? let's got to a Monday Practice Round"
Airline tickets purchased with Free Miles - Check Hotel Room Booked - Check Rental Car - Check
Tickets for Monday...ummmmmm. Not yet. I figured I better get the accommodations taken care of and then try to hook up some Monday Tickets, so...that is up next for this Golf Collector!
If anyone reading this is going to be there Monday, let me know! Another wierd plan I have is to take a Hagen or Jones card and shoot some photos of the encased PSA card at famous sites at the Golf Course.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Congrats, Dave! My wife isn't a huge sports fan, but occasionally she surprises me with something nice. You guys are gonna have a blast. Good luck snagging those tickets!
Day 17 - Keeping with the Ogden's C229 Harry Vardon
Since I have gotten all my Ogden's scanned in, I figured I will post another one.
This is the 1902 Ogden's Tabs C229 Harry Vardon. This is a TOUGH card. Only 6 examples of this card have ever been graded. I don't know why this particular series of cards is so rare, but they are.
There is only one PSA 5 that has been graded, I don't own that but I do have one of the two PSA 4's. The other three cards that have been graded are even lower grades.
As I have mentioned in other posts, the ogden's are brutal from a grading perspective, poor centering, fragile paper, black borders, tendency for surface cracking, etc....basically from the 1902 tabs cards - any of them, I think they are much tougher to find in grades of even PSA 4 or 5 than their counterparts from 1901 issues
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
The 1902 Ogden's F series cards are just darn tough. I know I have mentioned that the 1902 tabs cards are toughter to find and are much tougher to find in higher grades than the 1901 Ogdens.
If this is the case the F series cards are the next step up in difficulty.
These cards I have found are much more scarce. They are numbered but all have the F numbering as well. Another feature is that these cards are the only ogdens golf series cards that have writing of any sort on the back. Some of a longer write up, others just say series of 420 subject (you can see examples in scans)
There are just 10 golfers in teh F series cards. I currently have these 7 graded, I have two at PSA - a F341 Vardon as well as another F351 Ball, and I have a raw J.E. Laidley which I recently picked up that unfortunately has been re-colored on the edges. The seller was nice about it, as he had missed it as well, so he told me to keep the card AND he refunded all of my money!
I am always looking for the F352 Laidley, F353 F.G. Tait and always looking for any Vardon cards, so if you have the F341 vardon or the F242 Vardon, drop me a line, I am likely interested.
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Day 19, Upper Deck to release 2012 SP Authentic Golf! It's about time! Comments welcome!
It is like someone in production at Upper Deck finally listened to me.... If you are reading, would love to hear your comments on this upcoming product.
2012 Upper Deck Sp Authentic Golf is announced....yeah, I pasted this off an internet site...sorry.
I am most excited that we will finally have a licensed card of Ernie Els for my world golf hall of fame registry.
I have attached some scans and details below. My local card shop alerted me of this today as he received the order form from his wholesaler.....
For the past handful of years, it has been quiet on the golf card front. But things are teeing up in 2012, first with Leaf Metal Golf and now Upper Deck bringing 2012 SP Authentic Golf. Matching Leaf's strong line-up of golfers, such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Annika Sorenstam, Upper Deck gets a huge boost for having exclusive hobby rights to Tiger Woods. 2012 SP Authentic Golf sticks with the familiar content that's made the brand popular for more nearly 20 years, including Chirography and Sign of the Times signatures and autographed rookie cards. In total, signatures fall three per box, including one numbered rookie autograph. Other highlights include several base set parallels and variations such as red foil, memorabilia and autographed memorabilia. A card that is bound to be one of the top 2012 sports cards is a dual autograph with Michael Jordan (in golf gear) and Woods.
Estimated Release Date: 6/26/12 Product Configuration: 20 packs per box, four cards per pack Price Point: Mid-End Golf Card Target Audience: Golf Collectors, Autograph Collectors, Rookie Card Collectors, Tiger Woods Collectors, Hit Seekers
2012 SP Authentic Golf Box Break One Numbered Rookie Autograph Two Additional Autographs One Rookie Holo F/X Insert Eight Rookie Extended Series Cards Eight Parade of Stars Cards 80 Total Cards
2012 SP Authentic Golf Product Highlights:
2012 SP Authentic Golf is the first Upper Deck set for the sport since 2005. The base set has 50 regular cards, in addition to various subsets.
Among the golfers in the set: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus,Dustin Johnson, Arnold Palmer, Payne Stewart Fred Couples, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els and Gary Player.
Every box promises three autographs including one numbered Autographed Authentics Rookie numbered to 699 or 299.
All autographs in the product are on-card except for those featuring four or more signers.
Base set variations: Autographs (#/25), Autograph and Swatch Tier One (#/100), Tier Two (#/25), Tier Three (#/10).
Collectors can also hunt for Red Foil Parallels (#/10), which fall four or five per case.
SP Chirography autographs numbered to 50 and 25. First-time signers are highlighted in Rookie Chirography.
Immortal Ink (#/10) is a signature series that focuses on golf's all-time greats.
Inserted one per case, Sign of the Times Dual autographs (1:240) feature signatures from two people. An early pairing shows a card with both Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.
Sign of the Times cards available with up to eight signers: Trios (#/15), Quads (#/10), Fives (#/8), Sixes (#/6), Sevens (#/5), Eights (#/3).
Parade of Stars (1:2.5) subset cards available with rare signed variations.
Rookie Extended Series (1:2.5) fall eight per box.
Notable Names to Look For: Tiger Woods Dustin Johnson Jack Nicklaus Ernie Els Arnold Palmer Byron Nelson Fred Couples Annika Sorenstam Payne Stewart Paula Creamer Gary Player Nick Faldo Bubba Watson Johnny Miller Anthony Kim Sergio Garcia Natalie Gulbis Raymond Floyd Tom Lehman Curtis Strange Morgan Pressel Se Ri Pak David Duval
Dave Johnson- Big Red Country-Nebraska Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Comments
Don't kid yourself either, a psa 5 of any of Old Tom's cards will fetch a pretty penny. I know the PSA 9 Copes has traded hands before, and for money way out of my league.
I am sure the reason no registry on Old Tom is simply the fact that there are so few cards of him availalbe from his playing days, but if you added in some of the modern issues, you might hit 8-10 cards ( I am saying this without checking for sure.)
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jeff
Jeff
Hagen
So to celebrate Birthdays and Walter Hagen, I present to you the rarest Walter Hagen Card I own
Just picked this up awhile back so not graded yet.
This is the Empreza Industrial De Tobacos Limited - There were produced for a company out of Portugeuse East Africa. I bought this from a seller in Portugal. I have never seen another copy. I do know a collector that has one of these but it is also ungraded. Pretty sure this is the rarest golf card I have in my collection regardless of subject.
This is a multi sport set manufactured in the mid 1920's. You could argue this could be considered Hagen's rookie but it is so obscure, I would not want to make that assumption.
There are two other golfers in the set as well, Mille Chaume and Miss Enid Wilson. Wish I would have purchased all three as the sell had all for sale, but I just went with the Hagen.
It appears to have been stuck in an album at one time as the back has a crude stamp on it and it looks like it has a little bit of paper damage on the reverse.
Still a cool card, and just hoping PSA will encapsulate it regardless of grade.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
PS - Happy Birthday to your boy!
Jeff
Taking a break from cards for a day and reminding you that tomorrow is the last day to respond or PM me to get into the giveaway contents (see very first post)
The topic today…reference guides.
There is not a lot of attention paid to pricing golf cards. Sure there is the SMR but we know what a fickle beast that can be.
For a short period of time, there was Beckett Golf Magazine, - - - Heck ---- I even got featured in one of the maybe three issues they produced because while opening 2001 SP Authentic I hit what can only be described as a “hot box” with a bunch of the Sign of the Times autographed cards. Sometime this year I will post a copy of this in the thread.
The main source is the The Price Guide to Golf Cards Part 1; Tobacco Cards and then also - The Price Guide to Golf Cards , Part 2, Non-Tobacco Cards, both written by Phillip Smedley and / Bruce Berdock. These came out in 1994-95 and is the best reference available for collecting golf cards. If you are new to the game, or wanting to get more into golf cards, these books are a must.
The downside, the information regarding pricing is nearing 20 years old.
The upside, as a checklist and reference it is the best thing available. There are photos (albeit in black and white) of most every type of set in the two guides as well as checklists of golf cards so from a resource standpoint it is the best thing out there.
You can normally find them on ebay, or even someplace like Amazon will have these two reference guides in stock. They are both softcover but tightly bound books and can usually be had for $10-$15 each.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Murray cards is also going out of business ....which is sad. They were a great place and had outstanding monthly auctions. I think they are having their last one later this month.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jeff
Just in time for the weekend, figured I would talk about the Kellogg’s Pep Cereal Cards from 1948. This is a multi sport set of athlete’s that feature boxers, football, baseball, basketball, golf and others.
There are three golfers in the Set. Jim Ferrier, Lloyd Mangrum (which is his rookie card) and also the Rookie card of Samuel Jackson Snead.
These black and white cards have an enamalized surface which is very prone to having a “crazing effect” much like you would see on vintage pottery. Also there was an album made for kids to put the cards into as they collected them, so often times the cards are found with corner mounting marks (this pretty much marks a card down to PSA 4-5 at best) The card pictured below is an example of this, it has fabulous centering but the corner marks knock it down a bunch of grades from a technical grading aspect.
The cards are also atrocious when it comes to centering, as these are more frequently found off centered then they are centered. Usually WAY off centered!
Quite of few examples of the golfers can be found, but high grade examples are really tough due to the factors I have mentioned above.
I have examples of all three of the golfers, but just had this extra Snead from my collection handy for a scan today (This card is available by the way)
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jeff
Thanks for all of the interest and for following so far.
PM sent to californiacards3 for shipping info for trade card.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Day 7 - Big Jack - Little Jack
Time for something more modern.
Upper Deck has had their Goudey products for a few years, and have featured most notably Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in their offerings.
They make autographed versions of these cards as well, with the auto on card. Some of the Tiger examples, as do most of his autographed cards, go for sick money.
Here are the regular as well as one of the mini size Jack Nicklaus cards from 2008. The Mini cards come in a variety of back colors, I believe green, red, blue and Black.
They try to play off the Sport Kings issues of the 1930's and have a nice appearance for a modern card in my opinion.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
On I will not only feature a set or an issue, but also a player. The nice thing with a lot of the vintage golf cards is many of them feature people that even big golf fans of today would know anything about.
I just upgraded a couple of cards from my 1931 Churchman Prominent Golfers set and they arrived this week, so I will feature one of the players here.
Charles Whitcombe.
Witcombe lived to be 96 years old, and was a fantastic golfer in the 20's and 30's. He came from a family of golfing brothers most notably Reg who is also featured on a number of golf cards.
Charles Whitcome won 8 times professionally, and was captain of the Ryder Cup team on 4 occasions (three of them as playing captain) He never won a major championship, but did with the Irish Open and also was a 2 time winner of the British PGA Matchplay Championship. He cam close a number of times to winning the Open Championship, finishing 3rd 4th twice, 5th, 6 twice and 9th. A pretty good run of top 10's.
This is his 1931 Prominent Golfers Large Side card, Showing front and back scans.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
The 1980's are most known for the Donruss card sets that were issued. Otherwise there were a number of smaller, and shall we say "unrecognized" card sets from the 1980's when it comes to golf Cards.
One of the nicer sets was the 1987 Fax Pax Sporting Personalities set of golfers. This 36 card set features oversized card that are on thicker paper stock and have rounded corners. They are about the size of a postcard and are encapsulated in larger holders. Since the set was produced in England, many of the golfers featured are European Tour Players. It does containg also cards of Jack Nicklaus, and Payne Stewart to name a few as well as Greg Norman, who is pictured below during the height of his career (sorry again for the fuzzy scans)
This set is a complete smaller boxed set and can be picked up relatively inexpensively, normally for no more than $10-$15 tops.
A complete list includes:
Andy Bean
Ben Crenshaw
Bernhard Langer
Calvin Peete
Corey Pavin
Craig Stadler
Dan Pohl
David Frost
David Graham
Fuzzy Zoeller
Graham Marsh
Greg Norman
Hal Sutton
Howard Clark
Ian Baker Finch
Ian Woosnam
Jack Nicklaus
James Thorpe
John Mahaffey
Johnny Miller
Lanny Wadkins
Larry Mize
Lee Trevino
Mark McNulty
Mark O'Meara
Nick Faldo
Payne Steward
Raymond Floyd
Bob Tway
Rodger Davis
Seve Ballesteros
Sandy Lyle
Rodger Davis
Scott Hoch
Tom Kite
Tom Watson
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Most of you are familiar with the Sportcaster large size cards. If you grade these with PSA you are better than me, as the holders are the big T3 size I would imagine as the cards are large, so grading fees are pricey.
I unfortunately have a few people that are found in these issues that are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame (one of my favorite registry sets) but since I have been too lazy or unwilling to send in just of few of these at the high prices for grading, these cards are not part of that registry yet. Of course I could always find someone here who could use a piggyback on a smaller order maybe...
Ok, enough backstory, this card is unsual as it is one of the few of non-golfers that I own that are part of the membership of the World Golf Hall of Fame. McCormack was a legendary sports agent in his days and two of his earlier and biggest clients were of course Arnold Palmer and Jack Nickalus.
McCormack would learn to play alongside his father and his godfather, poet Carl Sandburg. McCormack played on the golf team at Virginia's College of William & Mary. It was there that McCormack first met a young Wake Forest golfer named Arnold Palmer.
During the 1959 Carling Open in Cleveland, Ohio, Mark McCormack and Arnold Palmer met again, this time with McCormack working at a local law firm and Palmer an established professional golfer.
McCormack informed Palmer that he was considering starting up a business wherein the company would serve as personal business managers (agents) to handle professional golfers' personal affairs.
Palmer thought the idea was a valid one. He had heard that Clifford Roberts served as President Eisenhower's "ultimate inner-circle man, adviser and protector, friend and counselor, through good times and bad, thick and thin, and President Eisenhower entrusted him implicitly."
With that mutual understanding, McCormack and Palmer shook hands to consummate their relationship - no paperwork required.
Arnie later brought in Nicklaus and Gary Player was also an early sign on persona. SO basically this guy had the big three of golf in its heyday of early televsion.
Here is his sportscaster card (italian version) showing him in action on the phone complete with 1979 circa clothing, fancy lamp, rotary dial telephone, a couple of cups of coffee and an ashtray full of cigarettes.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jeff
In the reference books there is a very cool, larger sized card that is from the 1900 CHOCOLATE MEURISSE BELGIUM TRADE CARD issue. I do not know if this was part of a larger set, or strictly a trade card for this company. I do know, however that the design on the card was used for other trade cards representing advertising for other companies.
To my knowledge there is a few version of this sort of type or trade card. The one referenced example features the name of what is likely a chocolate confectionery company on the front. CHOCOLATE MEURISSE. I am uncertain how the reference guide books are able to pinpoint this to 1900, I think that is more of an approximate date.
The CHOCOLATE MEURISSE card is by no means readily available, but I have only seen a few examples in my years of collecting.
I do however have a card that has the identical photograph on the front. The differences are this bold blue ink advertising on the reverse of the card. It appears to be German, perhaps Belgian in origin, but it is a trade card advertising Diamante Shoe Polish.
PSA has turned down my ability to have this card graded as they indicated it is not a catalogued piece. So basically if I would write my own catalog and get some more background on this card maybe they WOULD grade it for me….Not sure.
Anyway, I still have it, and may even part with it someday as I truly like to have all my cards encapsulated..I guess it is a control thing or something, regardless, for your enjoyment, what is perhaps a “one of a kind” DIAMANTE trade golf card from sometime in the early part of the 1900’s.
One of my favorite cards I have ever owned.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Ok, had great feedback and interest when this started. Not many comments since...so....going to accomplish a couple of things in the post today since I had to work extra late and just got home.
**** I am Checking to see if anyone is really looking at this everyday. If so, - this part should not be hard,- let me know what golfer or golfers you want to see a card of in the upcoming 2 weeks, I will try to satisfy everyone on here.
If you post by Friday night a response, I will do my best to showcase a card of that player from my own collection.
Sorry for the slight break today, but I figured this would be a good directive on those who are following along to see some cards and get some back story on some golfers and maybe a few of the issues of cards that are out there.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Look back at your January 9 post. You made a list of the players in a set. I'm just curious if you wrote the names yourself or if they were copied and pasted. The reason I am asking is because Payne Stewart is listed as "Payne Steward" and I was wondering if maybe that was an error card.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
As for a request - I'd love to see some cards of some of the classics like Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, James Braid, etc. What about a whole week dedicated to Bobby Jones? Just an idea. It's your thread - I am not trying to steal the thunder.
Jeff
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
Inspired by your quick and early responses, Here is another Modern issue Payne Stewart card.
This is from the 1994 Ritchie and Company Chartered Accountants Ryder Cup 1993 - The Belfry
This set feature players who played for both the USA and European teams in the Ryder Cup.
This is card #3 Payne Stewart. Also has the advertisement with telephone for the business on the reverse.
Ritchie Made a few different golf card sets around this same time frame.
Here are front and back examples of the Payne Stewart Card. (sorry I forgot to shrink these down..>The scanner went supersize on me here!)
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Just wanted to let you know that I've been enjoying this thread... I'm sure a number of others are as well without posting.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got in the way of T218s!
Thanks for posting
Mike
<< <i>Day 12- Is anyone still reading along? If so, what golf cards to you want to see?
>>
I'm still reading as well. I would like to see all the true rookie cards of all the members of the Golf Hall of Fame throughout the year.
Mike
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Thanks for starting the thread and I look to more of the posts
I'd like to see some vintage woman golfer cards,,,, not of well know players such as Joyce Wethered or Glenna Collette Vare but of say Simone de la Chaume,,,,,
In your own research into that first mysterious card what leads you to believe 1930's besides the dress of the woman player?? I am confused as she is left handed in the card,,,, a rarity in those days,,,, to own a left handed set of brassies would cost a woman quite a bit,,,, while her style of dress is consistent with a late 1920-1930's its a unique pic,,,, that ones got me researching and very intrigued,,,,
Keep posting Dave,,,,,
Jeff
looking for 1988 Fournier estrellas stickers , 1985 Prism Jewel stickers , anything Jesse Owens .
I have asked this for a few year. Why wouldn't someone make a set of JUST golf cards? I don't think the market can support it every year, but it was last 2005, there are a bunch of young players that have no cards out.
Lo and behold! A call from my local card shop today.
Now I have never owned "metal cards" and it appears the price point is around $100 a pack/box whatever you want to call it.
YIKES!
I will try and put a base card set together, but with just 24 base cards in a case that may not be an easy task. The only info I have is what you see here. I don't have anything else on this at this time.
Discuss? Good Idea? Bad Idea? The limited cards they show on the advertising sheet do look pretty nice.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
That price point is way too high for golf - most of these players are relatively easy autographs to get if you can attend PGA and LPGA tournaments.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
Now, I am not like many "collectors" with Set Registries. I will from time to time upgrade my sets, but I don't have the $$$, or frankly the gumption to have the #1 graded set in every catergory of golf cards that I own.
I learned a LONG time ago, there is always someone with more money that you...so you always need to be controlled when trying to build or upgrade sets.
Suprisingly there are a number of folks that have this set completed, The 1901 Ogdens are not that easy to find.
First off, they are 110 years old! Second, they have black border (horrible for grading) Third many time they have been touched up with a black marker (think 1971 Topps Baseball here Baseball guys) and 4th, I have no idea how PSA grades Ogdens.
I have had cards come back 2 grades higher or lower than I estimate at time, Now I have sent in cards to PSA for years, so while I am not a guy that nails the grade all the time, I usually am pretty close.
Many times when I get cards with this issue I am left scratching my head, either in a good or bad way.
I still need one card to complete this set. the Late F.G. Tait, as I have never really come across an example that wasn't creamed, so I am on the lookout for the right price.
This set uses real photos albeit very small photos, it features Old Tom Morris and an number of cards of a match between Harry Vardon and James Braid, although interestingly enough, in the I base series neither of these two golfers is featured solely on the card by themselves by name like everyone else in the set.
Still here is a 94% complete set, Missing one card, and now #6 on the registry for this year!( Nice Job Mark)
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jeff
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Well, I spent some time this weekend scanning in all of my Ogdens Cards. Matter of fact, I am planning on scanning in all of my cards, so I am basically doing everything again from the start.
This is a slow process, but I like to have the scans on my set registries, and frankly do a poor job keeping them up to date.
On the heels of the 1901 Ogden's I Base Golfers, there is also a group of 6 Golfers from the numbered Series. I am by no means an expert in how to tell the different "types" of the Guinea Gold cards, but there are variations or what is referred to as "base variations" and this is by how the letters in the word "cigarette" are typeset. If anyone of the golf guys that are following this have good info on this feel free to share it here.
The 6 numbered cards are always in high demand. They feature, John Ball, Harry Vardon, James Braid, John Graham, H.H. Hilton and J.H. Taylor
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jason
Erik
Slight break from cards today to tell more of a story from last night, but at least it is golf related.
A couple of years ago, I got to realize a lifelong dream. I was invited to attend the Saturday and Sunday rounds of the Masters. I attended the year that Kenny Perry lost a late lead and "El Pado" Angel Cabrerra, won in extra holes.
I followed Dustin Johnson on Saturday thinking - this guy has game!. I followed Tiger and Phil on Sunday as they made a LOT of noise on the front 9 only to falter late. I was on 16 when Perry about holed his tee shot, saw him burn it away on 17, and was on 10 green to see the playoff end as the sun fell into the Georgia pines.
My only regret of this great trip is that I could not take any photos of this beautiful golf course.
Like many others I put in for practice round tickets, and like many others I was unsuccessful.
My wife turns to me last night while watching the Golden Globes and says ...."where else are we going to go this year? let's got to a Monday Practice Round"
Airline tickets purchased with Free Miles - Check
Hotel Room Booked - Check
Rental Car - Check
Tickets for Monday...ummmmmm. Not yet. I figured I better get the accommodations taken care of and then try to hook up some Monday Tickets, so...that is up next for this Golf Collector!
If anyone reading this is going to be there Monday, let me know! Another wierd plan I have is to take a Hagen or Jones card and shoot some photos of the encased PSA card at famous sites at the Golf Course.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
Jeff
Since I have gotten all my Ogden's scanned in, I figured I will post another one.
This is the 1902 Ogden's Tabs C229 Harry Vardon. This is a TOUGH card. Only 6 examples of this card have ever been graded. I don't know why this particular series of cards is so rare, but they are.
There is only one PSA 5 that has been graded, I don't own that but I do have one of the two PSA 4's. The other three cards that have been graded are even lower grades.
As I have mentioned in other posts, the ogden's are brutal from a grading perspective, poor centering, fragile paper, black borders, tendency for surface cracking, etc....basically from the 1902 tabs cards - any of them, I think they are much tougher to find in grades of even PSA 4 or 5 than their counterparts from 1901 issues
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
GREAT cards Dave, and please keep up with the posts - I certainly will keep reading and learning more about some of these great cards!
Thanks,
Scott
The 1902 Ogden's F series cards are just darn tough. I know I have mentioned that the 1902 tabs cards are toughter to find and are much tougher to find in higher grades than the 1901 Ogdens.
If this is the case the F series cards are the next step up in difficulty.
These cards I have found are much more scarce. They are numbered but all have the F numbering as well. Another feature is that these cards are the only ogdens golf series cards that have writing of any sort on the back. Some of a longer write up, others just say series of 420 subject (you can see examples in scans)
There are just 10 golfers in teh F series cards. I currently have these 7 graded, I have two at PSA - a F341 Vardon as well as another F351 Ball, and I have a raw J.E. Laidley which I recently picked up that unfortunately has been re-colored on the edges. The seller was nice about it, as he had missed it as well, so he told me to keep the card AND he refunded all of my money!
I am always looking for the F352 Laidley, F353 F.G. Tait and always looking for any Vardon cards, so if you have the F341 vardon or the F242 Vardon, drop me a line, I am likely interested.
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.
It is like someone in production at Upper Deck finally listened to me.... If you are reading, would love to hear your comments on this upcoming product.
2012 Upper Deck Sp Authentic Golf is announced....yeah, I pasted this off an internet site...sorry.
I am most excited that we will finally have a licensed card of Ernie Els for my world golf hall of fame registry.
I have attached some scans and details below. My local card shop alerted me of this today as he received the order form from his wholesaler.....
For the past handful of years, it has been quiet on the golf card front. But things are teeing up in 2012, first with Leaf Metal Golf and now Upper Deck bringing 2012 SP Authentic Golf. Matching Leaf's strong line-up of golfers, such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Annika Sorenstam, Upper Deck gets a huge boost for having exclusive hobby rights to Tiger Woods. 2012 SP Authentic Golf sticks with the familiar content that's made the brand popular for more nearly 20 years, including Chirography and Sign of the Times signatures and autographed rookie cards. In total, signatures fall three per box, including one numbered rookie autograph. Other highlights include several base set parallels and variations such as red foil, memorabilia and autographed memorabilia. A card that is bound to be one of the top 2012 sports cards is a dual autograph with Michael Jordan (in golf gear) and Woods.
Estimated Release Date: 6/26/12
Product Configuration: 20 packs per box, four cards per pack
Price Point: Mid-End Golf Card
Target Audience: Golf Collectors, Autograph Collectors, Rookie Card Collectors, Tiger Woods Collectors, Hit Seekers
2012 SP Authentic Golf Box Break
One Numbered Rookie Autograph
Two Additional Autographs
One Rookie Holo F/X Insert
Eight Rookie Extended Series Cards
Eight Parade of Stars Cards
80 Total Cards
2012 SP Authentic Golf Product Highlights:
2012 SP Authentic Golf is the first Upper Deck set for the sport since 2005. The base set has 50 regular cards, in addition to various subsets.
Among the golfers in the set: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus,Dustin Johnson, Arnold Palmer, Payne Stewart Fred Couples, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els and Gary Player.
Every box promises three autographs including one numbered Autographed Authentics Rookie numbered to 699 or 299.
All autographs in the product are on-card except for those featuring four or more signers.
Base set variations: Autographs (#/25), Autograph and Swatch Tier One (#/100), Tier Two (#/25), Tier Three (#/10).
Collectors can also hunt for Red Foil Parallels (#/10), which fall four or five per case.
SP Chirography autographs numbered to 50 and 25. First-time signers are highlighted in Rookie Chirography.
Immortal Ink (#/10) is a signature series that focuses on golf's all-time greats.
Inserted one per case, Sign of the Times Dual autographs (1:240) feature signatures from two people. An early pairing shows a card with both Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.
Sign of the Times cards available with up to eight signers: Trios (#/15), Quads (#/10), Fives (#/8), Sixes (#/6), Sevens (#/5), Eights (#/3).
Marks of Distinction (#/35).
Rookie Holo F/X (1:12), Die-Cut Rookie Holo F/X (1:288).
Parade of Stars (1:2.5) subset cards available with rare signed variations.
Rookie Extended Series (1:2.5) fall eight per box.
Notable Names to Look For:
Tiger Woods
Dustin Johnson
Jack Nicklaus
Ernie Els
Arnold Palmer
Byron Nelson
Fred Couples
Annika Sorenstam
Payne Stewart
Paula Creamer
Gary Player
Nick Faldo
Bubba Watson
Johnny Miller
Anthony Kim
Sergio Garcia
Natalie Gulbis
Raymond Floyd
Tom Lehman
Curtis Strange
Morgan Pressel
Se Ri Pak
David Duval
Collector of Vintage Golf cards! Let me know what you might have.