A puzzling search for my Cardinals collection is finally over!
frankhardy
Posts: 8,097 ✭✭✭✭✭
Well....a very frustrating search is finally over! After over 6 years of searching, I have finally located a $3 card that has been giving me fits!
In December 2010, I started a project to add to my Cardinals team set collection. I wanted to add 1996 to present Topps Chrome and Refractors to my Cardinals collection. Six years after starting that project, I have finally found the most puzzling of them all. I finally found a 2001 Topps Chrome Refractors (Retrofractors) #146 Fernando Tatis. I have searched virtually every day for this card. Ironically, I missed one on COMC a couple of years ago and it made me sick. It really puzzles me as to why this card is so hard to find. I have even bought 3 or 4 boxes of 2001 Topps Chrome Series 1 over the past couple of years just to take a chance on finding one (2 refractors out of every box) with no luck. I even tried offering a finders fee with no luck.
Finally, this morning in my Ebay search emails, I found a listing for a lot of 150 2001 Topps Refractors. When I saw that the listing included the Tatis, I got tunnel vision and my heart skipped a beat! It had a best offer on it. I almost always make an offer. However, I could not take a chance on someone buying the lot out from under me, so I pulled the trigger. So.....I paid $199.99 for a $3 card plus 149 others. However, I can just relist the lot of 149 and try to sell them and get some or all of my money back. I'm not worried, though! I would have probably paid $200 for just the Tatis!
If you simply do a Google search on 2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors Fernando Tatis, you will see multiple postings on different message boards from me trying to find this card.
FINALLY!
Shane
Comments
Congratulations! What year did he hit his two grand slams in one inning?
To be honest, no direction, but...
1966-69 Topps EX+
1975 minis NrMt Kelloggs PSA 9
All Topps Heritage-Master Sets
Shane,
Congrats on your pickup.
You must be super-excited, I would be.
Sometimes our white whale is not always expensive, just hard to find.
Good for you for having such perseverance.
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)
Shane ... I remember when you offered that finders fee ... $100.00 IIRC. So happy for you! Post the card when you receive it. ENJOY.
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.
2 grand slams in 1 inning....I believe it was 1999.
Yes, I did offer a finders fee. Not sure how much. Anyway....I found it myself!
Shane
I applaud your patience and congrats.
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If my math is right, you bought the lot for $199, you would have paid $200 for Tatis, therefore the value of the other cards is negative $1. Go right ahead and send me the other cards and don't forget to include the dollar.
Congrats!
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
Congratulations Shane! I know that card has been an elusive one for you. That must have felt amazing when you saw the Tatis was part of that lot. Way to go!!!!
www.questfortherookiecup.com
(in my Donald Trump voice) WRONG! I didn't pay $199... I paid $199.99. So, that means the value is negative $0.01.....That, I can tell you.....Believe me!
Shane
Congrats on your pick-up. Always feels good when you can track down a card that has been challenging.
Way to go on picking up the Tatis ...............I remember your previous posts how you were constantly on the lookout for
this elusive card !
Robbie
1963 Fleer
Lou Brock Master Set
I saw him in that lot and thought of you. Glad you finally got it.
CDsNuts, 1/9/15
Nice. Now watch, you'll start seeing them everywhere.
Either that.....or....the guy won't deliver the lot.....or....it will get lost in the mail.
Shane
That would really suck!!!
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 have been looking for one refractor too for six years. It makes zero sense on why it has not been for sale. Congratulations on finding the Tatis
Congratulations Shane! When I saw this thread I immediately knew it was the Tatis from all your years of looking.
Congrats man.
I remember you discussing this card for the last several years.
saucywombat@hotmail.com
Same here - congrats!
Wow...I didn't realize that many people would remember my search. I must have really bugged all of y'all!
Picture coming Thursday of Friday after I get it!
Shane
I remembered card well
I just never found any of those refractors at my small local show
congrats!!!
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
Congrats on finding your card, Shane. I have been looking for almost the entire time for you. I saw that lot, and was going to make an offer, but it got snapped up right away. I was wondering who overpaid so much for it.
Margaret Thatcher
What card are you looking for? I have been trying to put together all of the Topps Chrome Refractor sets from 1996-2015 including colors. I have tons of extras, I may have what you need.
Rob A.
gopherfan13@yahoo.com
Margaret Thatcher
Rob,
That is exactly why I overpaid and pulled the trigger so soon. I could not take a chance of someone buying it. Typically, I always make an offer....I just couldn't risk it. Thanks for looking for me. I really appreciate it.
If I recall correctly, aren't you trying to finish that set? If so, let me know what numbers you need and I'll help you out on it.
By the way....I do have it now. Picture coming soon when I'm not so busy.
Shane
I'll buy the Mariano rivera
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Panama
Congratulations on finally finding the Tatis! I give you credit for your persistence.
Here it is.
Shane
Great job Shane! Glad you finally found it.
That set is tough. I finished the traded set and am now sitting at 75% on the base retrofractor set. PM me if you want to get rid of your extras.
CDsNuts, 1/9/15
Congrats Shane. If I was back home I would be tempted to buy the remaining cards in the lot and have you send them to Bob with the one cent just so he would have to figure out what to do with them
Tatis set a standing record with the two slams in one inning. The pitcher set a standing record by giving up two in one inning. Was his card included in the lot ? (CHP)
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
No Chan Ho Park. I remember that inning very well!
Shane
I think most people want to help find stuff like this for others and it just sticks sometimes.
Well.....I KNEW it would happen. I just didn't think it would happen this soon. When did I get my Tatis?.......One month ago.
Lookey at what I just found! I had to buy it just for kicks. It is another Tatis....except it is in an uncut 3 card panel.
ebay.com/itm/112318308511?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Shane
tatis mania
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Panama
Shane,
When it rains it pours. That's okay, now you have 2 versions of the card.
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)
For some reason I decided to revisit this thread.
So within a couple of weeks I found a single Tatis and a 3 card panel with the Tatis.
Just so everyone knows.... I still have that card in my searches and not one time has one been for sale since.
Also, I shortly after getting the Tatis, I sold the rest of the lot for $5 less than I paid for it.
Shane
Ha! Did t notice the dates until this last post.
Belated congrats!!!
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
That's pretty cool Shane.
Is Tatis on the DL?
You reneged on the deal with Bob ?
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
I would have traded the lot for a 1967 Topps Stand-up McCarver or Cepeda..... For some reason I just could bring myself to initiate the negotiation!
Shane
Thanks.
Tatis Sr is long retired.... Tatis Jr is on the 60 day IL.
We are getting old!
Shane
Notice the date in this thread.... 2017. I had looked for a 2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractor (Refractor) Fernando Tatis for over 6 years for my Cardinals team sets. Finally found one in a lot of $200 and sold off the rest. A few weeks later I found one in a 3 card uncut strip and bought it (and kept it uncut).
Juat for kicks, I kept it in my saved Ebay searches. A few weeks ago.... 6 years later than the last purchase, another one came up for sale. I just had to bid on it. I got it for a little over $40, so apparently there were others looking for it as well..
That card is so strange that I have only seen 3 in 12 years of Ebay searches. Crazy.
Shane