With the Baseball season in full swing, Gellman at Sports Cards Uncensored has dusted off what remains of a not-so-old tradition of the Blog Bat Around. Yes, a collectors chance to share a bit about ourselves and our twisted hobby driven minds is back. What little morsel of information shall I be asked to share with all of you? Will it be a look at my favorite card? How about my favorite sports moment?
Wait.... I think we answered some of those questions already. Didn't we?
What else could we all share this time around? Well, Gellman has come up with a doozy that had me pondering the possibilities. If I had $50,000.00 to burn on cards what would I buy on eBay. He prefaces it with the notion that I had only 15 minutes to decide, but with $50,000.00 there is just no way I could conceivable find the cards/ memorabilia items I want. There would just not be time to search. On top of that, not every card out there is available on eBay at any given time, and $50,000.00 is a lot of change to spend.
So, I'm gonna change the rules a bit and just leave it wide open. If I had a $50,000 shopping spree for cards on eBay what would I get? I will abide by no time limit and I'm going to take the liberty to assume that some of the rarities on my list would be attainable at any given time- even though some won't be.
Anyway, here we go. My dream list would include the below items.
First, I would find the 1922 American Caramel Babe Ruth "holding a bird" card. This is my all-time favorite card. Just look at it. It's the Babe holding a bird next to some guy nobody recognizes. How random is this. Heck, I don't think it's a stretch to say that there is no better oddball looking card in the hobby. Prices on this card would vary depending on condition, but let's say that this card in EX condition could probably be had for $5,000.00.Next in line would be my first Dodger card. It would be the 1913 T200 Fatima Brooklyn Nationals (Dodgers) team card. This card ranks high on my "wish list if money where no object." Fortunately, this card could actually be attainable someday since a nice VG to EX condition example can probably be found for $600.00.
A Negro League legend would be my next purchase, and I would head straight to the best player to never play in the Major Leagues. Below is the 1950-51 Cuban Toleteros Josh Gibson card. This is the only vintage Baseball card known to exist of him and I would have to track one down. They are scarce and would not be cheap. If I'm not mistaken only a dozen or so are known to exist so I won't be picky about condition. I'll assume that $10,000 will snag me a card in VG condition. A few years back a NM-Mint version (cleaner than the one above) sold for over $80K, but prices have since come down to earth significantly.How could it take me so long to add this gentleman to my list. I would hunt down the following Jackie Robinson cards: 1948 Leaf, 1949 Bowman, 1950 Bowman and 1952 Topps. Since I don't need gem mint cards and VG to EX would be just fine let's say $6,000.00 for the group.
How about a nice 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige. What could be better than a sharp looking rookie card of the games most dominant pitcher who never had a chance to prove it? $10,000.00 for a NrMint example.
Speaking of pitchers, how about this 1902-1911 Christy Mathewson W600 Sporting Life Cabinet for $7,000.00.
Now, moving on to completing My Want List. There are several sets that I continue to try to complete. Most are vintage and can be difficult to track down. First, I need 19 cards to complete my 1947 Tip Top Bread set. Fortunately, they are all commons (so no key cards are needed), but they are all short prints. Since I am not picky about condition it could cost me about $1000.00. Below are examples from my set.
Now, I will complete my 1948 R346 Blue Tint set. I need 9 cards (not including the B&W variations that are just impossible) to complete it. A handful are stars (like Ted Williams, Feller and Durocher), but since it is not a widely collected set they shouldn't cost a whole bunch. Let's say $500.00 for the lot. Below are examples from my set.
My Callahan Hall of Fame set is also something I would also like to complete- although I doubt I ever will. I only need 7 cards, most are stars, and they are all short prints, so they would not come cheap. Let's say $2,000.00 for the remaining cards. Below is what they look like.
Time to finish off my 1910 T218 Boxing card set. I have 12 cards to go, including Jim Jeffries, but it should only cost $300.00, at the most, to finish. How about that 1951 Topps Blue Back set. I need 30 cards and in the Ex to NrMint condition that I would need to go with my current cards it would probably cost about $600.00. The 1954 NY Journal American set would be my next target and this one will be expensive. I still need the Mantle, Robinson, Snider and Mays. The 19 remaining cards will probably cost $3000.00. Now it's time to finish off my 1969 Topps set by tracking down about 300 cards for a total cost of about $600.00. Finally, I would get every T206 card of a Brooklyn Dodger. I need quite a few of them, 19, and figure it would cost about $1000.00.
That's leaves me with a little bit of change just in case my estimates are off. Overall, though, having $50,000.00 would be very dangerous indeed.
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