July 2026 Pickups Thread…

@galaxy27 said:
this is an iykyk acquisition. if you don't, here's a brief backstory.

gnomes are the most sought-after item at the Masters every year. they have developed a cult following unlike any other. Augusta National started selling these at the 2016 tournament, with a different iteration each year with the exception of 2017. and the reason they bypassed '17 is due to the lack of interest in the gnome from the previous year. sometimes the smartest thing you can do is simply grab something just because, without having any clue what the future holds. once in a blue moon it turns into a dream scenario for a collector. the OG gnome from '16, which sold for 40 bucks at the tournament, now exchanges hands for 5 figs on secondary markets. in fact, one in the original box hammered for over 30 grand in an auction last spring around Masters time.

i went to the '23 & '24 Masters and procured gnomes from those years for a song while there. this guy, not so much. but that's what happens when you're relegated to non-Masters prices. he's the 2019 version -- the year Tiger won his last green jacket. had to have it.

Very cool backstory. I did not know these gnomes existed or were so collectible. Are you going to save up your pennies for the 2016 one someday? LOL

@galaxy27 said:
@MantleFan23 yes. plasma donations twice a week for the rest of my life. my plan is to live until i'm 127.

@Cooptown thanks for sharing! i've been three times -- '14 (pre-gnomania), '23, '24. it's truly a majestic place, as you can attest to. i've tossed my hat into the lottery ring 13 times. let's just say that if i was a professional hitter, i would have been sent to the minors a long time ago........and never allowed back. still looking for my first hit. meanwhile, an ex i went with in '24 was chosen in her third try. the other two times i went the secondary market route, which i wouldn't even think about attempting today. the crackdown is very real.

as for the merch, oh man don't get me started. to say that i blew my wad every year i went would be a sizable understatement. but i wasn't alone. i read an article a few months ago that said the club generated 70 mil in sales during Masters week this year. that's 10 mil a day, 1 mil per hour, 16k per minute, 277$ per second.........in just one week, with no online sales. surprised? me neither.

hope you get to run it back one day!

edit: i suck at photography, but i'm pretty proud of this shot i took in 2024

That is a great photo!! I have an uncle who has been four times: the first time in the 90s his wife knew someone in Augusta who told her "If you husband ever wants practice round tickets, let me know." She declined on his behalf, thinking why would he want to travel that far for a practice round. Months later, after the Masters, she relayed the message to him and he's like "Are you crazy!?!?! Of course I wanted to go". So she called this guy up, and he went the following year. He then has won the lottery twice in the late 90s/early 2000s. One year, I was just out of college, broke, and not into golf he offered me a ticket and I stupidly declined. I took two of his tickets and sold them on ebay, which was in its infancy. Then I won the lottery and took him.

I have a colleague who recently went and it was the first time he had entered the lotto. His sister loves golf and mentinoed she wanted to go, so as a Christmas gift he googled how to get tickets. Entered his first time, and won. Didn't realize how hard it is to win the lottery.

I have wanted to go the secondary route recently, but also have heard the crackdown is very real. Are you in the south?

@1951WheatiesPremium said:

@Stone193 said:

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
I feel very grateful with this one. Eight of ten items coming home in slabs, two are the highest graded and grades that were as expected or better in every case.

One of my best subs of all time:

It’s been a very good month and I’m a lucky guy.

Hi Tim - you didn't pick all these up at once? If so - you have a lot of dups? Wow!

Mike,

To be clearer? These were the results of a ten card submission I sent in and 8/10 came back holdered. Of what’s been graded here, I have another raw copy > @Cakes said:

@judgebuck said:
Remarkable group of vintage Yankees/Mantle items, Tim. Congratulations!!

Very nice indeed. I am a novice in that area please help me understand the grades? They seem very low.

Oversize items have a very large surface area and did not have much in the way of ‘safe storage’ possibilities for a long time. Little surface dings, scratches and corner wear can often be present but also barely visible. For the trifolds specifically, the stock is very, very thin like a glossy magazine page and very susceptible to minor damage.

Hope it helps!

It does, thank you. I figured it was a surface issue/stain but the corners, etc. all looked strong to me.

I guess I need to just accept the fact that grading has just gotten harder and harder over the last 5 to 10 years.

You did it again Keith!

You are the king of finding cards that appear way better than the grade.

I've got a 66T Mantle 6.5 that doesn't look as good as yours.

I always think back to your 53T Mantle. Job well done buddy.

@KendallCat

Do you feel like you got a good deal on them? I'm not asking you to share prices, but curious if you feel like you were paying 4 comps for a 2 that looks like a 6 etc. ?

@EnriqueRomo80 said:
Why are the Williams and the Mantle in a 2 and 6 slab? Is there some “nano glitch” in the surface? Absurdity…..

The Williams has a very small indentation. It’s hard to see on the front and a very light crease which is hard to see. The Mantle i have no idea the issue, and the 1966 is the first ever Mantle I owned as a kid. I actually let Keith Jr have dibs on it since he really wanted it.

KC

Well, they are both beautiful cards and I got mixed up thinking the Mantle was a 6 lol. That card is stunning, especially for a “4”. You did well…..