5 Cool Vintage Jackie Robinson Cards You Can Own Without Going Broke

Several weeks back Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily put together a fun list featuring vintage Willie Mays Baseball cards.  Check out that post here.  It was titled "5 Cool Vintage Willie Mays Cards You Can Own Without Going Broke," and I was so smitten by it I decided to echo it here.

So, please check out my list of "5 Cool Vintage Jackie Robinson Cards You Can Own Without Going Broke" below.

BTW, I decided to go off the beaten path a bit by focusing on the "truly" affordable cards, i.e. cards you can get for about $20 bucks or less.  As a result, I've had to be rather liberal about what vintage means.

As is the case with Jackie Robinson cards, nearly all of the available issues from his playing days will cost you a pretty penny.  In fact, there is only one card produced and distributed from when he actually played that can be deemed affordable (that card is at the very bottom).  The other cards in my list were all issued post-retirement - some several decades later. 

Now, on to my list:

1977 Renata Galasso TCMA - Series 1

By no means is this card rare.  In fact, it's plentiful in the marketplace and downright cheap.  You should be able to pick it up for just a couple of bucks.  What I love about this card is the image they used on the front.  It's a classic.   

1980 Perez-Steele Hall of Fame Postcard

Whether your favorite player is Nolan Ryan or Jackie Robinson you must have a Perez-Steele Hall of Fame postcard of that star in your collection.  They were produced by noted sports artist Dick Perez and Peggy & Frank Steele over a 20-year period in 15 different series, and are limited to 10,000 copies.  Since their inception they became the autograph collectors best friend as fans sought to get every card possible signed.  As you can see, the Jackie Robinson postcard is absolutely gorgeous.  You should be able to find a copy for $10 to $20; oftentimes even less.

1961 Nu-Card Baseball Scoops 

This is the first real "vintage" aged card on my list.  These 1961 Nu-Card Baseball Scoops were of a standard card size and feature a mock newspaper card design in front.  As you can see, the card commemorates Jackie's remarkable game against the Phillies during the last game of the regular season in 1951.  As you know, Jackie helped the Dodgers eek out a victory to force a playoff series against the Giants for the pennant.  Unfortunately, this game proved to be the last highlight of the year for the Dodgers.  They would go on to lose a three-game playoff against the Giants in spectacular fashion.  This card can be purchased for about $10 to $20.

1960 Nu-Card Baseball Hi-Lites

The 1960 Nu-Card set is almost as large as your typical postcard.  They measure 3 1/4" x 5 3/8", and like the set shown above feature a mock newspaper card design in front.  In fact, this card commemorates the exact same moment as the 1961 card.  Unlike the above card, there is no description on the reverse.  Instead, it is on the front and the reverse includes a trivia question.  This card can be purchased for about $10 to $20.

1947-1966 Exhibits

Produced by the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago over a 20-year period, these cards were available to fans in "penny arcade" vending machines in local stores.  They are printed on heavy cardboard and are nearly postcard sized (3 1/4" x 5 3/8").  It is likely the Robinson cards were manufactured during his entire Baseball career, but were discontinued upon his retirement.  They can be purchased from between $15 to $25.

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2014 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks - All the Dodger Cards

Panini America released their newest Baseball card set last week.  It is called Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks, and it's a prospect heavy offering.  In fact, the Base Set includes three of the Dodgers first five picks from the 2014 Draft; Alex Verdugo (2nd), John Richy (4th) and Jared Walker (5th).  Their first round pick, Grant Holmes, is also available in the set, but as an insert.  Of note, prospect Victor Arano is also a part of the Base Set as a Dodger, but as you'll recall he was traded to the Phillies as the "player to be named later" in the Roberto Hernandez trade.  Go here to see a complete checklist.

It appears that due to the limited appeal a draft pick set tends to have, I do not have photos of all the Dodgers in the set yet.  I will update this Dodger checklist as they show up. 

BTW, this set includes the very first trade cards as professional ballplayers for Victor Arano, Alex Verdugo, John Richy and Jared Walker.  There is also an autograph card of Verdugo in the set - a first for him, as well.

Directly below is the Base Set, and four Dodger players are included.  Check them out below. 

Base Set

#41 Alex Verdugo                                    #59 Jared Walker

#81 Victor Arano                                      #94 John Richy

2014 Draft Class

#20 Grant Holmes

Minors Gold Prizms

#27 Joc Pederson

Panini High School All-America Team Prizms

#5 Grant Holmes

#10 Alex Verdugo

(Not Available At This Time)

Unfortunately, I have yet to see an autographed Verdugo card.  I will updated this post once one appears. 

Prospect Signatures Prizms

#22 Grant Holmes

#62 Alex Verdugo

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Blog Kiosk: 11/18/2014 - Dodger Links - Zaidi, Sweeney and Kershaw's Commemorative MVP T-shirts

As evidenced in the photo above, Yasiel Puig and Carlos Santana are becoming best bud.  They appear to be purchasing friendship bracelts for each other.  Photo abouve was tweeted by Carlos Santana.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Yvonne Carrasco at Dodger Insider, "Fernandomania is alive and well in Guadalajara."

“This statue looks like me, looks like how I pitched,” Valenzuela said. “I feel very happy that this statue, that my first one is here. I feel a lot of emotion, a lot of love from the people here. This moment has given me goosebumps.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Is 'Phase Two' all about payroll reduction?"

“It sounds overly simplistic, but we’re just going to try to make good baseball decisions,” Zaidi said. “Sometimes, those good baseball decisions are going to increase our payroll, sometimes they’re going to decrease our payroll and I think over time it will come down because that’s what the accumulation of smart baseball moves will just do to the roster.

• Via David Waldstein at the NY Times, "For Dodgers G.M. Farhan Zaidi, New Team Affords New Possibilities."

“It’s a recalibration,” he said, “but it’s also an exercise in not throwing the baby out with the bath water. It’s about applying the principals we practiced in the smaller markets while leveraging greater resources.”

• Via Mark Whicker at the LA Daily News, "Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Darnell Sweeney just looking to fit in."
• Here's an opportunity to learn a little bit about our new AAA affiliate Oklahoma City RedHawks.  Via Paul Caputo at SportsLogos.net, "Birds of Play: The Story Behind the Oklahoma City RedHawks."
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy shares his very rare Vin Scully Bobblehead that was given out to just friends and family.
• The Dodgers added some depth to the outfield position in AAA.  Via Alden Gonzalez at MLB.com, "Dodgers acquire Minor League slugger Jensen from Marlins."
• Check out Kershaw's new t-shirt, in benefit of Kershaw's Challenge.

Pre-order a MVP tshirt today! Super soft, one-of-a-kind shirt commemorative of 2014 season!  http://t.co/TO5urbUYs1 pic.twitter.com/Jt4LpNpNFd
— Kershaw's Challenge (@KershsChallenge) November 17, 2014

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