Finally got my "white whale": 1967 Venezuelan Winter League #98 Damaso Blanco (update: got
digicat
Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
I've been hunting this card for a few years. Since it proved very difficult to find, it ended up being the last one I needed to have a complete collection of the first card (major league, minor, or foreign) of EVERYONE who's ever played for the SF Giants since they moved out west in 1958.
He was a utility infielder who got most of his playing time as a late game sub. Topps never bothered to make a card of him in the American sets, and I don't see that he had any American minor league cards.
When I finalized the deal for this card, I felt like a little kid again, and opening the mail box was like a mini version of Christmas morning. Unfortunately the guy who sold it to me quietly waited 3 weeks after I paid him before he actually sent the card, but that's another story.
Anyways, here it is, the 1967 Venezuelan Winter League #98 Damaso Blanco.
Apparently these cards were frequently glued or taped into albums, so you can see that the card has horrid paper-loss on the back. Half of it is glue and paper that I might be able to get off, but the middle part is actual paper-loss. I asked one of the big Venezuelan collectors here if he could email me a nice scan of the back of his graded one so I can print it out and stick it in the toploader with it.
He was a utility infielder who got most of his playing time as a late game sub. Topps never bothered to make a card of him in the American sets, and I don't see that he had any American minor league cards.
When I finalized the deal for this card, I felt like a little kid again, and opening the mail box was like a mini version of Christmas morning. Unfortunately the guy who sold it to me quietly waited 3 weeks after I paid him before he actually sent the card, but that's another story.
Anyways, here it is, the 1967 Venezuelan Winter League #98 Damaso Blanco.
Apparently these cards were frequently glued or taped into albums, so you can see that the card has horrid paper-loss on the back. Half of it is glue and paper that I might be able to get off, but the middle part is actual paper-loss. I asked one of the big Venezuelan collectors here if he could email me a nice scan of the back of his graded one so I can print it out and stick it in the toploader with it.
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Comments
Justin
Retired - Eddie Mathews Master Registry Set (96.36%) Rank 1
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
<< <i>By the way , where did you end up finding it ? --- Sonny >>
This one was bundled with a large lot of 67 Venezuelans that didn't sell on Ebay (very high starting bid). I asked the seller if he'd sell it alone and we agreed on a price.
It's a beater, I know, and I am going to keep my eyes open for a mid-grade card to upgrade to, but for me having this card on my "upgrade" list is infinitely better than having it on my "don't have" list.
Sometimes I'd rather have a hole in my card than a hole in my collection.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
It's got a diamond-ish cut to it, but it's got a back you can read.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Congratulations on maintaining such focus on your collecting. I similarly have a first-card focus in my collecting and it helps because you cannot buy everything, lol. I was wondering if u wouldn't mind sharing what rules you may have imposed on yourself in compiling your collection such as what was your decision if there were 2 or more cards that could be considered first cards? Similarly, If there is a first-card not considered an RC but issued the same year as the RC, what did you do? (e.g. minor league card issued same year as RC). Did stickers, pins, post-cards, team issued photos, marbles, bottle caps, candy lids, etc. get the nod if they were the first image? Anything else you can add? Thanks for your time and assistance!
Joe
Justin
Retired - Eddie Mathews Master Registry Set (96.36%) Rank 1
Congrats on your white whale pickup.
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
For no reason in particular, here's a 1974 Topps card:
<< <i>For no reason in particular, here's a 1974 Topps card: >>
Nice, did you just mock that up?
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
<< <i>
<< <i>For no reason in particular, here's a 1974 Topps card: >>
Nice, did you just mock that up? >>
I did. I read your post, did a Google image search and when I saw that one of him in a Giants uni, I immediately thought it would look great on a 1974 Topps card. I'm never particularly impressed with the backs of cards I make, but I really like how that picture turned out on the card front.
<< <i>Way to go in finding the Blanco. I don't know why that particular card seems more elusive than the rest of the red-backed Winter League set, I know you've been looking for one for quite some time. Glad you found one with a full back! >>
Blanco is currently a popular sportscaster in Venezuela. You'd think that with his popularity, his cards wouldn't be so tough to find.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25