If You Could Have Any One Card - But Could Never Sell It
mattyc_collection
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What would it be? I am talking about for a collection, under the condition it could never, ever be sold. Just to look at and enjoy for any reason that matters to you, be it aesthetic, favorite player, historical significance to the game or the hobby, etc.
For me it would be a centered Ruth Rookie followed very closely by a centered 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. The Ruth's relative rarity, age, it being the undisputed rookie of the game's most legendary player ever, it being an image of him pitching in a Red Sox uniform, all these factors make me choose the Ruth. But the 1952 Mick would be very close behind.
My third choice, absurd as it may sound at first blush, would be a 1984 Topps Don Mattingly, based on the place that card held for me growing up.
For me it would be a centered Ruth Rookie followed very closely by a centered 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. The Ruth's relative rarity, age, it being the undisputed rookie of the game's most legendary player ever, it being an image of him pitching in a Red Sox uniform, all these factors make me choose the Ruth. But the 1952 Mick would be very close behind.
My third choice, absurd as it may sound at first blush, would be a 1984 Topps Don Mattingly, based on the place that card held for me growing up.
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PSA 8 1909 E90-1 American Caramel Ty Cobb pop 2
<< <i>The mordern card I wanted but never got as a kid would be the 84 Donruss Donnie baseball. Betting that was a lot of hobbiests holy grail as a kid. >>
Oh, it sure was. Having any of his major 1984 cards made you a rock star in NYC growing up as a kid in the mid-late '80s. The Strawberry and Gooden Traded cards were also elusive and almost mythical like the 84D Donnie was, at that time. The images still hit that part of the brain when looking at them today.
I remember one time in 1986 I had a 1984 Topps Donnie-- but I was looking at the card on my windowsill while I was sick and home from school; the window was open and I left it unattended for a moment. When I came back it had blown out the window...gone.
Then in '89 I traded the kid across the street for his Donnie 84 Topps. It was my second crack at having one after the window debacle. He was a huge Will Clark fan and we made a pretty equitable deal. I was so pumped to have one-- until his uncle knocked on our door and demanded I undo the trade. What a bush league move, LOL!
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Otherwise, a 1915 Sporting News Babe Ruth.
Shane
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WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
1961 Fleer PSA 9 Wilt Chamberlain
Barry
<< <i>1985 Topps Baseball #620 >>
That was one of the first graded cards I ever bought. Way back when I crossed it hoping for a BGS 10. I remember looking through CURRENT CARD PRICES when I was a kid and seeing the Gooden #620 always had the big black diamond next to it, which meant it was hot. The card had that diamond for like a year straight.
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Second choice would be a signed 1978 Topps Munson. 1978 is the first year I collected. I've been working on a signed set for years and am down to a half-dozen cards. The Munson is nearly impossible to find.
<< <i>
<< <i>1985 Topps Baseball #620 >>
That was one of the first graded cards I ever bought. Way back when I crossed it hoping for a BGS 10. I remember looking through CURRENT CARD PRICES when I was a kid and seeing the Gooden #620 always had the big black diamond next to it, which meant it was hot. The card had that diamond for like a year straight.
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
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Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
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<< <i>
<< <i>The mordern card I wanted but never got as a kid would be the 84 Donruss Donnie baseball. Betting that was a lot of hobbiests holy grail as a kid. >>
Oh, it sure was. Having any of his major 1984 cards made you a rock star in NYC growing up as a kid in the mid-late '80s. The Strawberry and Gooden Traded cards were also elusive and almost mythical like the 84D Donnie was, at that time. The images still hit that part of the brain when looking at them today.
I remember one time in 1986 I had a 1984 Topps Donnie-- but I was looking at the card on my windowsill while I was sick and home from school; the window was open and I left it unattended for a moment. When I came back it had blown out the window...gone.
Then in '89 I traded the kid across the street for his Donnie 84 Topps. It was my second crack at having one after the window debacle. He was a huge Will Clark fan and we made a pretty equitable deal. I was so pumped to have one-- until his uncle knocked on our door and demanded I undo the trade. What a bush league move, LOL! >>
Great story Bro!
I think we all have a lot of similar stories regarding the 1984 Donruss Mattingly. It's very telling how incredibly popular that card is even though his career fizzled out and he won't be in the HOF. It's just remained an iconic card to those of us in our late 30's/early 40's who were into cards like crazy as kids.
It was the Holy Grail for me as well. Legend had it that it did exist, but I had never seen one. Local card shops had none, the $25 wax packs never yielded one. What did it look like? And is 1984 Donruss really as rare as 1952 Topps High Numbers? (At least that was my perception). Is it a short print? Is it just a hoax? Number 248 was etched in my brain...
One Christmas, I got a pack of 1984 Donruss. I let my mom open it for good luck. Lo and Behold, the 6th card in came Donnie Baseball. After seeing the 1984F and Topps, it wasn't what I was expecting. But I became enamored with it. Just thought it was a treasure I found that some day I could sell for a million trillion dollars. I immediately put it in one of those 1" deep screw down plastic cases, thinking it's as secure as it can get. (Uh, not so much lol) I had that card sitting on my nightstand in my bedroom forever. Finally got out of cards and packed it up, not to be seen again until 5 years ago when I started getting back into it. I sent it in for grading, got an 8 and sold it on eBay. Looking back, I really regret doing that. But the memories are all good!
Ah, those were the days
TheClockworkAngelCollection
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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.
<< <i>Brutal card. I am still looking for an Ozzie with no bottom tilt myself. I don't care if such a specimen surfaces in POOR 1 condition, it would still be so much rarer than a high grade one with the usual tilt. >>
I honestly don't know if it's possible. If you accept the premise that he tilt is due to the way it was produced and not a cutting issue, then the only way you'd lose the tilt is by having a diamond cut card with tilted vertical edges.
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<< <i>If I could have one card but never sell it, it would be this (yes, I'm serious)...
Thank you, bro. Deeply appreciate that.
That particular card means a lot to me-- not just for the reasons in my first post about The Babe and the card's place in baseball and hobby history, but that specific example crystallizes the whole ethos of buying the card and not the grade, which is how I roll.
Funny, I received a very serious offer on the card yesterday night, and was discussing it with a fellow collector this morning. Turned it down. I even explained it to my lady and while initially she thought me nuts, after showing her pictures of others in higher grade, she actually agreed with keeping it. I made the case that to ever replace it with the same centering, whiteness, no print line, and just overall eye appeal, it would cost a crazy ton more (with no guarantee such an example even surfaces in years) and would therefore be impossible.
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<< <i>If you accept the premise that he tilt is due to the way it was produced and not a cutting issue >>
I thought the Ozzie was a cutting issue, similar to other cards on the corners of the sheet? Problem with blade pushing the sheets as it cut or something.
My concern about '68 3d's (and any Kellogg's 3D's) is post slabbing cracking. It's happened to a few people I know, and while it's not a huge loss on Kellogg's, on '68 Topps it could be a 5 figure loss.
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
<< <i>I'll go with a dark horse candidate. 1968 topps 3D Clemente in PSA 10. I'd feel compelled to keep the Wagner or Ruth rookie in a safe deposit box, so I wouldn't get to enjoy them much. I'd also put a Cobb, Mathewson or Wagner W600 on the short list. >>
GREAT call on the Clemente!
<< <i>Matty, is that card a blank back or an ad back? If so which one?
>>
Here's the back-- Sporting News version. I knew beggars could not be choosers, so would have taken any back on the card, but as it worked out it had the most desirable back for me. Was cool and lucky the important words were left unmolested.
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1. 1960 Topps Venezuelan #148 Yaz RC. Would love to be the owner of the PSA 5 that is pop 1, none higher or, even better, to find and sub the first PSA 6
2. A T-206 card of any HOFer. The set is iconic and attractive, I don't own any yet, and it would be awesome if I had one of the big guns from that set.
Collecting:
- Post War baseball HOF RC's
- 1980's unopened baseball
- All Mutoscope and American Beauties
1953 Topps Jackie Robinson
1950 Jackie Robinson
1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle
85 topps and 86 fleer mattingly.
I met Donnie at a charity dinner as a kid and had both signed. The 85 topps is signed on back and front as his pen dried up during his signing front.
I will get scans. Would never sell and will always cherish.
52T mantle would be my one iconic choice.
And thx, Dan!
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<< <i>My concern about '68 3d's (and any Kellogg's 3D's) is post slabbing cracking. It's happened to a few people I know, and while it's not a huge loss on Kellogg's, on '68 Topps it could be a 5 figure loss. >>
Very good observation on the cracking. That would suck if you ever needed to sell it. The OP's suggestion was that it is a card you'll never sell. I think I could live with a crack if it's in my personal collection. It would probably be wise to save a few bucks and buy a lower grade that presents well. I think the card has a great image of one of the best.
Always looking for Mantle cards such as Stahl Meyer, 1954 Dan Dee, 1959 Bazooka, 1960 Post, 1952 Star Cal Decal, 1952 Tip Top Bread Labels, 1953-54 Briggs Meat, and other Topps, Bowman, and oddball Mantles.
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<< <i>Ted has a ton of gorgeous and slept-on cards. The 54 Franks is among my favorite cards in the whole hobby. His 50 Bowman, 54 Topps "bookends," 56 Topps, and 57 Topps are all gorgeous. I'm sure there are others I haven't gotten that into yet. Ted's stats seem cartoonish on baseball reference. >>
56 Ted is awesome
I've coveted the Chicle set since I first saw the Nagurski in a price guide back in the early 80's.
Its art deco design looked like no other card I had ever seen, 1935 seemed absolutely ancient to my teen mind, and I couldn't ever imagine being able to afford one.
If I had to get rid of everything but one item, it would be my ghetto grade Chicle set. If I had to get rid of everything but one card, it would be the Bronk.
Snorto~