Sports Cards Mania

[Traut]

Anyone familiar with this card? Topps Departures -- Jon Lester To Chicago (from the A's) On the reverse, it says, "Season Ticket Holder".
You need to scroll down the link a little to get to the image.
Front of card

All I found on a search was "extremely rare" on eBay but no price. Since I somehow have one, I'd like to find out what it is worth.

I can't find anything on this card. Ebay descriptions are often misleading. Things like "extremely rare" and "error" cards are common descriptors but in no way indicative of value.

Of the top of my head the card is probably with a few dollars at most. Pitchers in general aren't valuable unless you have a guy who people collect (like Pedro), it is a non-rookie card, it's not an auto/superfractor, and Lester while a good pitcher isn't in the Hall of Fame.

The value lies in if there is someone looking to say get every card of Jon Lester's or someone who builds sets. There can be micro markets, somewhere in this thread @Deathofthebambino referenced a guy who overpaid for Andres Galaragga cards because he wanted to have them all. Perhaps that exists for Lester but who knows.

If you want to find out its value, list it on eBay for .99 and see what people bid.

You can also poke around PSA's website. I couldn't find the card there. But knowing what set it is in would help: https://www.psacard.com/pop/baseball-cards/2014/topps-update/124612

 

[zenax]

You can also poke around PSA's website. I couldn't find the card there. But knowing what set it is in would help:

There was no number on the card and the only thing printed on the back was the card was "Season Ticket Holder." Lester was granted Free Agency on 30 October 2014 and signed with the Cubs on 15 December. I found this site:
https://www.baseballcardpedia.com/index.php/Main_Page that seems to be a very good source for finding unusual cards but I didn't find Topps Departures. However, there are links to forums, blogs, etc., that I can try.

I apparently got the card when I attended the SABR National Convention in Chicago in 2015. Thanks for taking time to respond.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

There was no number on the card and the only thing printed on the back was the card was "Season Ticket Holder." Lester was granted Free Agency on 30 October 2014 and signed with the Cubs on 15 December. I found this site:
https://www.baseballcardpedia.com/index.php/Main_Page that seems to be a very good source for finding unusual cards but I didn't find Topps Departures. However, there are links to forums, blogs, etc., that I can try.

I apparently got the card when I attended the SABR National Convention in Chicago in 2015. Thanks for taking time to respond.

This is kind of confusing, because the link you provided indicates that card was only made in digital form (don't get me going, I never got into the digital cards, and only know enough about them to be dangerous), but I don't believe that came out of any traditional set, so I'm thinking at the time, Topps must have been doing some marketing for their digital cards and let loose photos of the cards that would be there, or someone printed a picture of their digital card into a card form and you ended up with it.

 

[deanx0]

WWE cards are entering a very interesting timeframe - the Panini era is coming to an end. For the 2022-2024 cycles, Panini had the WWE license (and Upper Deck had the AEW License), so Topps was boxed out of pro wrestling products. And wrestling saw a huge boom in what has otherwise been a "decline from COVID peak" cards market.

For the last four months we've seen about 80k sales per month of wrestling cards on major auction/marketplaces. This compares to 10-20k a month for most of 2022 and 2023. Sales of $500+ cards have nearly doubled from 2022 and 2023 and are 20x more than 2021. $1000 sales have exceeded the 2022 Prizm insanity and are substantially above 2020-2021. A ton of this aligns with the revival of the WWE post-McMahon but also is a credit to what Panini did with WWE cards - which was make them feel on level with cards from other major sports or at least closer to it. WWE Topps was largely an afterthought - they got a few baseline sets (Hertiage, Topps Chrome) as well as some specialty sets but it was usually a second thought with a limited scope except for Transcendent - as well as more younger collector focused elements (Slam Attax). This was also before the Fanatics acquisition where Topps was in a pretty lazy place. The upside is that it was cheap - they had WWE Undisputed which was a $200 box with 8 on-card autos and 2 relics, but it was never taken too seriously, but there was very little revolutionary about the product.

Those days are done for sure - Fanatics has taken a notable interest in WWE merchandising wise and in terms of a partnership, the WWE section at Fanatics Fest was one of the most popular and highlighted areas of the show, and there's clearly been a major uptick in pro wrestling interest. As such, we'd probably expect changes in the cards too. We've gotten official previews of Topps Chrome as well as fairly informed speculation that Topps Chrome will be around the price of WWE Prizm and Select in a fairly similar format (12 packs a box, 8 cards a pack, 2 autos a box) - mixed bag on card quality (some of them look good and some look terrible) but they certainly seem to be aiming for the market Panini set. The real question is going to be can they keep the momentum. UFC fans have been unhappy with the Panini to Topps transition and some of the things Panini has done - like having a good chance at hitting the biggest names on autographs, the popular Prizm/Select rainbows, and generally keeping numbered cards fairly low (/499 really being the highest we've seen). As much as Panini is generally disliked in other areas, WWE collectors are used them and like them by and large, so it'll be a challenge.

Thanks for this. Can I ask whether this boom has had a positive impact on the pre-Panini WWE cards? For example, one of my best pulls ever is a Rey Mysterio Superstar Autographs SuperFractor 1/1 from 2021 Finest and I have noodled with the idea of flipping it, but it is hard to find comps with it being a 1/1.

 

[Fishercat]

I feel like this came up previously and our best guess was that this was a season ticket holder event giveaway. One sold on eBay for $.99 like three months back, I suspect DotB is right, probably a limited printing of a digital card that falls in that "it's rare but no one knows about it so..."

Thanks for this. Can I ask whether this boom has had a positive impact on the pre-Panini WWE cards? For example, one of my best pulls ever is a Rey Mysterio Superstar Autographs SuperFractor 1/1 from 2021 Finest and I have noodled with the idea of flipping it, but it is hard to find comps with it being a 1/1.

A lot of it is dependent on card and wrestler. From what I've seen, we've seen a surge in early 2010s Topps cards due to low print run and some of the huge debut names. The latter stuff, like a 2021 card, not so much in terms of singles (though wax is creeping up). The issue for Rey is that he is a very consistent Panini signer and card subject (he was redemption but fulfilled those) so the volume of autographs in the market has come up, so those prices are lower than they were prior to the Panini debut. However, when it comes to 1/1s that could be offset by the PC folks who I find are particularly obsessive folks when it comes to super low print run cards.

I wouldn't expect it to bring a ton more than before, but if you were looking to sell I think now is a reasonable time. Select the last Panini Gold Vinyl cards (which is basically their Superfractor) and collectors really went nuts on those as a ton of wrestlers didn't have one, and Topps is getting back the license which is a brand awareness item as well as meaning more supers. If you do decide to sell, to maximize it I recommend one of two things. If you do eBay, do not run an auction. There are people who shill bid WWE 1/1s and more generally you'll get a better result with a high price / best offer strategy to invite folks in. Second, WWE more than most are private sale heavy. A Stacy Kiebler supercollector showed off his Top 10 acquisitions and said HALF were via private sale and he breaks a lot.

This is kind of where the wrestler thing comes in - I am sure there are Rey supercollectors...but I have no idea who they are. There are wrestlers - commonly very accomplished, generally liked and popular wrestlers, who don't have dedicated collectors. Stone Cold is one where everyone wants an auto or a cool card but few are like "I want every good SCSA card". Rey is another. I believe hitrowcollectibles on Instagram collects Rey but for most people he's a wrestler that people are happy to get but don't obsess over

Pricing wise, there's a handful of Rey's 1/1 on eBay.
2021 Topps Chrome 5 Timers Auto ($2500)
2022 Select Black Prizm Auto ($2000),.
2024 Photogenic Auto ($1250)
2024 NT Mat Auto ($700)
2022 Revolution ($500)

I'd personally consider the Superfractor above the bottom three in desirability and probably around the Select card (the 5 Timers Club is a beloved set), but those are list prices. In terms of sold values over the last three years

2022 Immaculate Logo Patch Auto - $800 then $1100 (2023 both times)
2023 Immaculate Signature Moves Auto - $1069 (2024)
2022 Prizm White Sparkle Auto - $1000 (2022)
2022 Select Black Prizm Patch Auto ($800) (2024, relisted for $2000 I believe)
2023 Immaculate Memorabilia Auto ($570) (2024)
2024 Immaculate Horizontal Memorabilia Auto ($505) (2024)
2021 Topps WWE Flagship Auto ($350) (2022)

What this is telling me is that pricing wise, you'll probably do better now than if you sold before Panini got the license or in like, mid 2023 or so, but maybe not as well as when the massive hype for 2022 Prizm happened. I feel like a true superfractor auto is probably more desirable than any sold auto but the 2022 Logo Patch Auto (IMO) but that's just my taste. If you were motivated to sell I might test the waters in some Facebook Wrestling Card groups or maybe even DM the instagram handle I provided, but if I were to post I'd probably put a price between the $1200-$2000 with best offer on and probably hope for something in the high three digits, but 1/1s are a huge guessing game so you never know if a collector has been waiting for this to appear or not.

If you want to wait, I see both a short and long-term window. Short-term window, wait for the return of Topps Chrome hype to peak, which I suspect will be early February. A ton of people will be searching Topps Chrome cards and you'll get more eyes even if it's Finest, or you wait for Finest. The long term wait is for Rey to inevitably retire, have his big blowoff one last time matches, HoF induction, and get in at that hype. That does mean you're probably buying into the wrestling boom from it. I suspect 1/1s will become much tougher to hit with Topps so...might be worth a thought holding a bit longer.

 

[deanx0]

I feel like this came up previously and our best guess was that this was a season ticket holder event giveaway. One sold on eBay for $.99 like three months back, I suspect DotB is right, probably a limited printing of a digital card that falls in that "it's rare but no one knows about it so..."



A lot of it is dependent on card and wrestler. From what I've seen, we've seen a surge in early 2010s Topps cards due to low print run and some of the huge debut names. The latter stuff, like a 2021 card, not so much in terms of singles (though wax is creeping up). The issue for Rey is that he is a very consistent Panini signer and card subject (he was redemption but fulfilled those) so the volume of autographs in the market has come up, so those prices are lower than they were prior to the Panini debut. However, when it comes to 1/1s that could be offset by the PC folks who I find are particularly obsessive folks when it comes to super low print run cards.

I wouldn't expect it to bring a ton more than before, but if you were looking to sell I think now is a reasonable time. Select the last Panini Gold Vinyl cards (which is basically their Superfractor) and collectors really went nuts on those as a ton of wrestlers didn't have one, and Topps is getting back the license which is a brand awareness item as well as meaning more supers. If you do decide to sell, to maximize it I recommend one of two things. If you do eBay, do not run an auction. There are people who shill bid WWE 1/1s and more generally you'll get a better result with a high price / best offer strategy to invite folks in. Second, WWE more than most are private sale heavy. A Stacy Kiebler supercollector showed off his Top 10 acquisitions and said HALF were via private sale and he breaks a lot.

This is kind of where the wrestler thing comes in - I am sure there are Rey supercollectors...but I have no idea who they are. There are wrestlers - commonly very accomplished, generally liked and popular wrestlers, who don't have dedicated collectors. Stone Cold is one where everyone wants an auto or a cool card but few are like "I want every good SCSA card". Rey is another. I believe hitrowcollectibles on Instagram collects Rey but for most people he's a wrestler that people are happy to get but don't obsess over

Pricing wise, there's a handful of Rey's 1/1 on eBay.
2021 Topps Chrome 5 Timers Auto ($2500)
2022 Select Black Prizm Auto ($2000),.
2024 Photogenic Auto ($1250)
2024 NT Mat Auto ($700)
2022 Revolution ($500)

I'd personally consider the Superfractor above the bottom three in desirability and probably around the Select card (the 5 Timers Club is a beloved set), but those are list prices. In terms of sold values over the last three years

2022 Immaculate Logo Patch Auto - $800 then $1100 (2023 both times)
2023 Immaculate Signature Moves Auto - $1069 (2024)
2022 Prizm White Sparkle Auto - $1000 (2022)
2022 Select Black Prizm Patch Auto ($800) (2024, relisted for $2000 I believe)
2023 Immaculate Memorabilia Auto ($570) (2024)
2024 Immaculate Horizontal Memorabilia Auto ($505) (2024)
2021 Topps WWE Flagship Auto ($350) (2022)

What this is telling me is that pricing wise, you'll probably do better now than if you sold before Panini got the license or in like, mid 2023 or so, but maybe not as well as when the massive hype for 2022 Prizm happened. I feel like a true superfractor auto is probably more desirable than any sold auto but the 2022 Logo Patch Auto (IMO) but that's just my taste. If you were motivated to sell I might test the waters in some Facebook Wrestling Card groups or maybe even DM the instagram handle I provided, but if I were to post I'd probably put a price between the $1200-$2000 with best offer on and probably hope for something in the high three digits, but 1/1s are a huge guessing game so you never know if a collector has been waiting for this to appear or not.

If you want to wait, I see both a short and long-term window. Short-term window, wait for the return of Topps Chrome hype to peak, which I suspect will be early February. A ton of people will be searching Topps Chrome cards and you'll get more eyes even if it's Finest, or you wait for Finest. The long term wait is for Rey to inevitably retire, have his big blowoff one last time matches, HoF induction, and get in at that hype. That does mean you're probably buying into the wrestling boom from it. I suspect 1/1s will become much tougher to hit with Topps so...might be worth a thought holding a bit longer.

Thanks for all this, it is incredibly insightful. For the past few years, I've been building an access database of my card collection and so I was going back into it and seeing what autographs I have, specifically in WWE. When working there from 2005-2012, I had access to our samples closet and between some visiting wrestlers wanting individual cards of themselves and no one really wanting the sample boxes, I got to shred and keep a lot of content from back then, including like four boxes of 2010 Topps Platinum, so I realized I also have multiple auto relics of people like Punk, Cena, and Orton. I also got a box for 21 Undisputed, which was probably my most high-end box opening ever. One of the cards I got out of that at the time seemed kind of lame, an autographed mat relic card of Dominik Mysterio numbered to 50, seems a lot more fun now that he's a much more celebrated heel versus his white-bread second generation superstar schtick back then.

 

[zenax]

This is kind of confusing, because the link you provided indicates that card was only made in digital form (don't get me going, I never got into the digital cards, and only know enough about them to be dangerous), but I don't believe that came out of any traditional set, so I'm thinking at the time, Topps must have been doing some marketing for their digital cards and let loose photos of the cards that would be there, or someone printed a picture of their digital card into a card form and you ended up with it.

Yeah, I saw something that seemed to indicate a digital card. I've never known about them and wasn't able to find any other Topps Departures. Maybe the Cubs paid Topps to provide a printed version to give to their season ticket holders.

 

[Bergs]

Yeah, I saw something that seemed to indicate a digital card. I've never known about them and wasn't able to find any other Topps Departures. Maybe the Cubs paid Topps to provide a printed version to give to their season ticket holders.

This is the only thing that makes sense, imo. It IS a very cool card; if I was a Cubs collector, I'd certainly grab it if I saw it at a show for a few bucks.

 

[Traut]

Yeah, I saw something that seemed to indicate a digital card. I've never known about them and wasn't able to find any other Topps Departures. Maybe the Cubs paid Topps to provide a printed version to give to their season ticket holders.

You may also want to ask r/baseballcards . Someone may know something about the card/set.

 

[JimywockyTranslator]

Thanks for all this, it is incredibly insightful. For the past few years, I've been building an access database of my card collection and so I was going back into it and seeing what autographs I have, specifically in WWE. When working there from 2005-2012, I had access to our samples closet and between some visiting wrestlers wanting individual cards of themselves and no one really wanting the sample boxes, I got to shred and keep a lot of content from back then, including like four boxes of 2010 Topps Platinum, so I realized I also have multiple auto relics of people like Punk, Cena, and Orton. I also got a box for 21 Undisputed, which was probably my most high-end box opening ever. One of the cards I got out of that at the time seemed kind of lame, an autographed mat relic card of Dominik Mysterio numbered to 50, seems a lot more fun now that he's a much more celebrated heel versus his white-bread second generation superstar schtick back then.

Have you ever considered using the Trading Card Database (tcdb.com) to track your collection? The user interface leaves a lot to be desired, but it's pretty easy to track your collection and wantlists. The data is crowdsourced, but folks will upload checklists, scans of cards and other set information. It's pretty nifty once you get the hang of it.

 

[deanx0]

Have you ever considered using the Trading Card Database (tcdb.com) to track your collection? The user interface leaves a lot to be desired, but it's pretty easy to track your collection and wantlists. The data is crowdsourced, but folks will upload checklists, scans of cards and other set information. It's pretty nifty once you get the hang of it.

I use the TCDB to review sets that I have forgotten, and I know if I put my cards in it, it would go a lot faster, but I kind of enjoy building the tables and queries in my own database, so that it part of why I do access instead.

 

[Bergs]

Have you ever considered using the Trading Card Database (tcdb.com) to track your collection? The user interface leaves a lot to be desired, but it's pretty easy to track your collection and wantlists. The data is crowdsourced, but folks will upload checklists, scans of cards and other set information. It's pretty nifty once you get the hang of it.

That is one helluva understatement right there. Anyone with database/Excel/whatever chops is much better served building their own, imo.

 

[AlNipper49]

What sucks is when my kid was in pokemon there was an app you could scan the card and it would pop up with value etc. Sports cards have nothing like that. I tried one called Card Ladder, and of the maybe ten cards I tried it didn't recognize one.

 

[Ale Xander]

What sucks is when my kid was in pokemon there was an app you could scan the card and it would pop up with value etc. Sports cards have nothing like that. I tried one called Card Ladder, and of the maybe ten cards I tried it didn't recognize one.

Try Center stage for raw (not always effective) and Alt for graded

 

[AlNipper49]

Thanks dude. Center Stage looks pretty good!

I have a bunch of graded stuff but I just leave that in the safe. I told my son I’d match every $500 that he earns (so long that it goes back into the ‘business’), and he’s 13 so it’s a volume play. If this works out it will be incredibly useful.

 

[Fishercat]

Thanks for all this, it is incredibly insightful. For the past few years, I've been building an access database of my card collection and so I was going back into it and seeing what autographs I have, specifically in WWE. When working there from 2005-2012, I had access to our samples closet and between some visiting wrestlers wanting individual cards of themselves and no one really wanting the sample boxes, I got to shred and keep a lot of content from back then, including like four boxes of 2010 Topps Platinum, so I realized I also have multiple auto relics of people like Punk, Cena, and Orton. I also got a box for 21 Undisputed, which was probably my most high-end box opening ever. One of the cards I got out of that at the time seemed kind of lame, an autographed mat relic card of Dominik Mysterio numbered to 50, seems a lot more fun now that he's a much more celebrated heel versus his white-bread second generation superstar schtick back then.

Color me jealous of that experience.

Also, like we're being watched, one of the more prominent WWE Card writer types highlighted a Panini vs. Topps high end sale (two Roman Reigns 1/1s) and that the Panini 1/1 (a "mid-end" 1/1) came out way ahead of a higher end Topps 1/1. Mostly to say that there's an argument to waiting longer for Topps to reintegrate itself into the fan's mindset to maximize card value.

 

[Fishercat]

Well, Topps diving in hard on WWE early

WWE Topps Now Has Arrived Featuring Autographs and Relics from The Rock, Roman Reigns

They got The Rock to sign (who hasn't signed a licensed card in nearly 30 years) in their sets and on Now, Reigns seems to be back signing after a couple years of not really responding to Panini, and ring worn/used material. Definite muscle flexing by Fanatics. Panini's last run (Flawless) is also seeing some huge sales on the way out for their 1/1s.

 

[Bergs]

Fanatics QC is REALLY starting to pop in the 2024 Topps Archives. Not only are 90% of the foils scratched up, but check out how they spelled Yaz. It's hilarious.

Spoiler

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

OMG. That’s a fatal error, in my book.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Fanatics QC is REALLY starting to pop in the 2024 Topps Archives. Not only are 90% of the foils scratched up, but check out how they spelled Yaz. It's hilarious.

Spoiler

Yikes. That’s horrible.

Picked this up the other day - I love the 86 Topps design for some reason

 

[JimywockyTranslator]

Thanks for all this, it is incredibly insightful. For the past few years, I've been building an access database of my card collection and so I was going back into it and seeing what autographs I have, specifically in WWE. When working there from 2005-2012, I had access to our samples closet and between some visiting wrestlers wanting individual cards of themselves and no one really wanting the sample boxes, I got to shred and keep a lot of content from back then, including like four boxes of 2010 Topps Platinum, so I realized I also have multiple auto relics of people like Punk, Cena, and Orton. I also got a box for 21 Undisputed, which was probably my most high-end box opening ever. One of the cards I got out of that at the time seemed kind of lame, an autographed mat relic card of Dominik Mysterio numbered to 50, seems a lot more fun now that he's a much more celebrated heel versus his white-bread second generation superstar schtick back then.

You didn’t happen to end up with any Papa Shango numbered/autographed cards you want to sell, did you?

 

[deanx0]

You didn’t happen to end up with any Papa Shango numbered/autographed cards you want to sell, did you?

I do have a 2010 Topps Platinum Green Papa Shango numbered #130/499.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Not sure if any of you are familiar with him (@Kliq might be due to his AEW affiliation), but famed collector Jeremy Padawer lost his home and entire collection in the CA wildfires. It must have been at least a 20 million dollar collection, probably more, with some super amazing and rare pieces. What a shame, seems like such a nice guy with a real rags to riches story.

It was all insured, but still…and who knows if he gets the full payout.

 

[AlNipper49]

I think that a real good business in the future will be a custodial firm holding cards. I think that PSA has already started this, but I doubt any serious collector would be interested in commodity-level storage.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I think that a real good business in the future will be a custodial firm holding cards. I think that PSA has already started this, but I doubt any serious collector would be interested in commodity-level storage.

Already happening with PSA and Goldin. But the issue is some collectors like to also have the items in their houses to physically view/be around and, really, the same kind of thing could potentially happen to these places. I believe PSA is in Santa Ana. I know they claim everything is fire protected, but would everything survive something like this? Maybe, I really don’t know the technology well enough.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

When I sold some things thru Goldin, they were really pushing their Vault services.

 

[deanx0]

Not sure if any of you are familiar with him (@Kliq might be due to his AEW affiliation), but famed collector Jeremy Padawer lost his home and entire collection in the CA wildfires. It must have been at least a 20 million dollar collection, probably more, with some super amazing and rare pieces. What a shame, seems like such a nice guy with a real rags to riches story.

It was all insured, but still…and who knows if he gets the full payout.

Damnit, this really sucks. I worked with Jeremy at WWE when he was at Jakks. They made such a leap forward with the action figures and the Legends in particular. I basically wallpapered by office with the unopened Legends figures while there. During my tenure, WWE was in a lawsuit with Jakks Pacific over the video game license, which led to awkward interactions, but Jeremy was always a wonderful person to work with.

 

[JimywockyTranslator]

I do have a 2010 Topps Platinum Green Papa Shango numbered #130/499.

Thanks, but I have that one. I just need the /50 gold version and the red /1 version of that set.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Bought a box of ‘24 Topps Chrome and ‘24 Topps Heritage from a LCS. Basically, I lit $420 on fire. But, I did like this card:

 

[Bergs]

I had the Sox in a 5 hobby box break of 2024 Archives last night. It did not go especially well for me.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Blew more money today. Did like this hit from ‘24 Chrome



Opened a box of Triple Threads and it was pretty brutal. Lit $600 on fire.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

First, a story...

I grew up in Providence, like my dad before me, and he generously handed down his Red Sox fandom to me. Some of my first memories were the 1967 pennant chase and World Series (I was 6), and how just the word "Yastrzemski" had its own mystical power. I watched a ton of games on TV with my dad and on my own, and we'd go to a couple of games at Fenway every year which was a major treat. My love of the Red Sox just accelerated more and more.

Maybe 15 years ago, when I was pushing 50 and my dad was pushing 80, we were sitting around talking baseball. I was going on about how I hated the Yankees, as one does, and my dad said "You know, when I was a boy, I was a Yankee fan." My jaw literally dropped. I felt empty. He explained that it was the 30s, and DiMaggio was a national hero, and that's just what everyone did. I was, and remain, incredulous and prefer to think that conversation never happened.

Last year, my dad passed at the ripe age of 94. When we were going through his papers, I discovered three diaries he had kept during his college years at Harvard. They were awesome -- details on all the classes he took, the dances he went to, the movies he went to, and all the games. Lots of Harvard sports, of course, but he had a special fondness for Holy Cross hoops since the Crusaders scheduled a lot of doubleheaders at the Garden with Harvard and my dad adored Bob Cousy. Think they're pretty much the same age.

Interestingly, when he talked about baseball, it was mostly not the Red Sox, not the Yankees -- but the Philadelphia A's. Turns out my dad had a cousin who lived in Philly who helped fund a lot of my dad's college tuition and he was connected somehow to the A's. That was familiar to me, because of two artifacts my dad gave me (well, I insisted on taking) -- a fantastic Connie Mack autographed baseball that remains in great shape, and a 1945 first edition of a Connie Mack biography, also autographed. Both "To Melvin".

Laying aside the Yankees/A's intrusions into my memories of my dad (he was a great Red Sox fan all my life, honest), these are some remarkable pieces of memorabilia as you can see in the pictures below. I didn't expect to monetize either, and still probably don't... but I think the ball at least is worth several thousands of dollars.

Curious to hear perspectives on how/if I should look into getting these properly appraised.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Wow, that’s great. For the ball, you can get it authenticated by PSA. Not sure on the other items.

In the way less cooler items category, these came in the mail today:

 

[Bergs]

Wow, that’s great. For the ball, you can get it authenticated by PSA. Not sure on the other items.

In the way less cooler items category, these came in the mail today:

View attachment 94680

View attachment 94681

Nice! I got a Papi auto from Ginter X #/25 in the mail today. One of the better break results I've had in awhile.

 

[deanx0]

Just decided to pre-order two Jumbo boxes of 2025 Topps Baseball and enter the drawing for 2025 Topps WWE Chrome on the Topps website.

If interested in the Chrome purchase drawing it's going until 1PM Eastern today (the 14th), so get in there now!

 

[Ale Xander]

Wow, that’s great. For the ball, you can get it authenticated by PSA. Not sure on the other items.

In the way less cooler items category, these came in the mail today:

View attachment 94680

View attachment 94681

These are very cool.
Can’t wait until I’m 55 and get some too large townhome /villa in FL in a 55+ place with a gate and just use a ln entire bedroom as storage so I could go on a 3/4 life crisis and buy a bunch of shit like that. Hope to still have eyesight too of course

 

[Fishercat]

First, a story...

I grew up in Providence, like my dad before me, and he generously handed down his Red Sox fandom to me. Some of my first memories were the 1967 pennant chase and World Series (I was 6), and how just the word "Yastrzemski" had its own mystical power. I watched a ton of games on TV with my dad and on my own, and we'd go to a couple of games at Fenway every year which was a major treat. My love of the Red Sox just accelerated more and more.

Maybe 15 years ago, when I was pushing 50 and my dad was pushing 80, we were sitting around talking baseball. I was going on about how I hated the Yankees, as one does, and my dad said "You know, when I was a boy, I was a Yankee fan." My jaw literally dropped. I felt empty. He explained that it was the 30s, and DiMaggio was a national hero, and that's just what everyone did. I was, and remain, incredulous and prefer to think that conversation never happened.

Last year, my dad passed at the ripe age of 94. When we were going through his papers, I discovered three diaries he had kept during his college years at Harvard. They were awesome -- details on all the classes he took, the dances he went to, the movies he went to, and all the games. Lots of Harvard sports, of course, but he had a special fondness for Holy Cross hoops since the Crusaders scheduled a lot of doubleheaders at the Garden with Harvard and my dad adored Bob Cousy. Think they're pretty much the same age.

Interestingly, when he talked about baseball, it was mostly not the Red Sox, not the Yankees -- but the Philadelphia A's. Turns out my dad had a cousin who lived in Philly who helped fund a lot of my dad's college tuition and he was connected somehow to the A's. That was familiar to me, because of two artifacts my dad gave me (well, I insisted on taking) -- a fantastic Connie Mack autographed baseball that remains in great shape, and a 1945 first edition of a Connie Mack biography, also autographed. Both "To Melvin".

Laying aside the Yankees/A's intrusions into my memories of my dad (he was a great Red Sox fan all my life, honest), these are some remarkable pieces of memorabilia as you can see in the pictures below. I didn't expect to monetize either, and still probably don't... but I think the ball at least is worth several thousands of dollars.

Curious to hear perspectives on how/if I should look into getting these properly appraised.

View attachment 94638View attachment 94639View attachment 94640

That's so cool.

I would probably suggest JSA or PSA for autograph verification. PSA will definitely do the ball, the book is tougher in that I think PSA would verify the auto but probably won't slab a book, and you probably don't want to damage the book at that. I think JSA will authenticate and letter it?

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

I pre-ordered a case of 25 series one jumbo’s. Actually, I accidentally pre-ordered two cases, but thankfully, I was able to cancel the one fairly simply, although I’m sort of wondering if I should’ve kept it and just re-sold it on eBay.

2025 series one doesn’t have that premier rookie card in it, though, like Paul Skenes. I would say James Wood or Dylan Crews are probably the two biggest rookie cards in series one.