BucCollector's Pirates Autographs, 1970-1979

[BucCollector]

Jim Bibby went 50-32 in five seasons with the Pirates, appearing in an All-Star game. He had three effective starts in the 1979 postseason, capping a season in which he went 12-4 with a 2.81 ERA that led the team's starting pitchers. The 1982 Topps card came in a trade with a member of The Bench.

 

[BucCollector]

Steve Blass seems to have two signature styles - I much prefer the version on the 1966, 1968, and the 2021 Topps Fan Favorites card. My beef with the Fan Favorites is that Topps used a 1960s photo on a 1975 card. There's a 2020 Heritage High Number Auto that looks better - it uses the same photo, but it's a 1971 style card, so it's a little less jarring. That card is /71 and is going for about $500, so I'll wait.



All of these were eBay pickups.

 

[mrmopar]

That is crazy. I had trouble picking up the Garvey heritage cards from the 72 series, but finally waited it out and ended up with all 3 versions (Base, Red /72 and the GU/Au /25). I am stunned a Steve Blass would sell for so much. Crazy set collectors or crazy Blass collectors?

 

[mrmopar]

Do you have a wantlist made up and available for viewing so that people might help you out on some items?

 

[BucCollector]

That is crazy. I had trouble picking up the Garvey heritage cards from the 72 series, but finally waited it out and ended up with all 3 versions (Base, Red /72 and the GU/Au /25). I am stunned a Steve Blass would sell for so much. Crazy set collectors or crazy Blass collectors?

It must be 1971 WS nostalgia. The insert is 2020 Topps Heritage - 1971 World Series Champion Autographs and is three players, all numbered to 71 -

• Blass - three available on eBay, starting at $450; Mavin has four sales in 2020 in the $200 range
• Al Oliver (who has no shortage of autos) - one on eBay now at $157; seven sold between $106 and $250
• Manny Sanguillen (also has many autos) - none on eBay; seven sold on Mavin, most in the $200 range, and apparently one I missed a month ago at $30

 

[BucCollector]

Do you have a wantlist made up and available for viewing so that people might help you out on some items?

Thanks for asking. Since the focus of my collection is standard-sized cards, in Pirate or Pirate minor-league uniforms, remaining needs are tough to meet off-the-shelf, but here goes:

• 1960 Topps #467 Pirates Coaches signed by Frank Oceak (have never seen signed; Oceak died in 1983)
• 1971 Topps / OPC #73 George Brunet (have never seen one signed; Brunet died in Mexico in 1991)
• 1971 Topps / OPC #603 Pirates team card signed by George Kopacz (does not sign)
• 1973 Topps / OPC #517 Bill Virdon / coaches card signed by Mel Wright (have never seen signed; Wright died in 1983)
• 1978 Topps #606 Pirates team card signed by Terry Forster (used to sign, but no longer does)
• 1980 Topps #551 Pirates team card signed by Larry Sherry (died 2006)
• 1989 Star Princeton Pirates Tom Dettore; or, 1991 ProCards Salem Buccaneers Tom Dettore (have never seen either signed; Dettore is a notorious non-signer)
• 2012 Sportkings Series E - Top 50 Broadcasters Cut Signatures #TBC-BP Bob Prince (1/1)
• Bob Moose - any Topps card between 1968 and 1976. Moose died in 1976, but cards are out there for $400 - $500 authenticated, or you can take your chances
• Roberto Clemente

I also need the following, who never appeared on Pirates cards and so I'll have to be creative:

• Rimp Lanier (does not sign)
• Daryl Patterson (no longer signs)
• Chris Zachary (deceased)

 

[Dilferules]

It must be 1971 WS nostalgia. The insert is 2020 Topps Heritage - 1971 World Series Champion Autographs and is three players, all numbered to 71 -

• Blass - three available on eBay, starting at $450; Mavin has four sales in 2020 in the $200 range
• Al Oliver (who has no shortage of autos) - one on eBay now at $157; seven sold between $106 and $250
• Manny Sanguillen (also has many autos) - none on eBay; seven sold on Mavin, most in the $200 range, and apparently one I missed a month ago at $30

They put out a World Series Champion Autograph set for the A's last year and those also sell really high, so I think it's a very popular set.

 

[BucCollector]

Just one today - Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven. Kind of unexpected that Panini used this picture.

Bert has had Signature Series buyback autos in the last four Topps Archives sets, so it's time that I picked up a signed 1979, 1980, or 1981.

 

[mrmopar]

Thanks for asking. Since the focus of my collection is standard-sized cards, in Pirate or Pirate minor-league uniforms, remaining needs are tough to meet off-the-shelf, but here goes:

• 1960 Topps #467 Pirates Coaches signed by Frank Oceak (have never seen signed; Oceak died in 1983)
• 1971 Topps / OPC #73 George Brunet (have never seen one signed; Brunet died in Mexico in 1991)
• 1971 Topps / OPC #603 Pirates team card signed by George Kopacz (does not sign)
• 1973 Topps / OPC #517 Bill Virdon / coaches card signed by Mel Wright (have never seen signed; Wright died in 1983)
• 1978 Topps #606 Pirates team card signed by Terry Forster (used to sign, but no longer does)
• 1980 Topps #551 Pirates team card signed by Larry Sherry (died 2006)
• 1989 Star Princeton Pirates Tom Dettore; or, 1991 ProCards Salem Buccaneers Tom Dettore (have never seen either signed; Dettore is a notorious non-signer)
• 2012 Sportkings Series E - Top 50 Broadcasters Cut Signatures #TBC-BP Bob Prince (1/1)
• Bob Moose - any Topps card between 1968 and 1976. Moose died in 1976, but cards are out there for $400 - $500 authenticated, or you can take your chances
• Roberto Clemente

I also need the following, who never appeared on Pirates cards and so I'll have to be creative:

• Rimp Lanier (does not sign)
• Daryl Patterson (no longer signs)
• Chris Zachary (deceased)

I have wondered if a 75 Moose was possible. If so, the window is very small. I believe he died in New Years day 76 if I recall correctly. That would be my pick if I could have any Moose.

I'd figure some of those team or coach cards would pop, maybe signed by all of them. Good luck, I can't help you out unfortunately.

 

[BucCollector]

I received this Dorian Boyland signed card in a trade back in 2015. The business card came with it. Boyland Auto Group is still operating at the location on the card, but I don't know if he signs items sent to that address.

 

[BucCollector]

I have wondered if a 75 Moose was possible. If so, the window is very small. I believe he died in New Years day 76 if I recall correctly. That would be my pick if I could have any Moose.

October 9, 1976, Moose's 29th birthday. It was Clemente who died on New Year's Eve, 1972.

 

[BucCollector]

This Ken Brett card came from eBay, a very inexpensive pickup at a time when there didn't seem to be a lot of his autos out there (he died in 2003) and most of his cards were signed on the back. They seem to be almost too easy to find now, front or back. I'd like to upgrade but will likely wait until I come across a 1974/75/76 Topps that I know is legit.

 

[mrmopar]

It was Dan Frisella now that I think about it, who died on New Years day 1977 in a Dune Buggy accident. His 77T is one I'd like to get, if it exists.

 

[BucCollector]

Nellie Briles, another upgrade candidate - the card is a beater, although the signature is a beauty. I obtained this in a trade with an SCN member.

 

[BucCollector]

Chuck Brinkman doesn't have a Pirates card. I found this custom card in a Facebook group and printed two copies on heavier paper (not cardstock); Brinkman signed them TTM in June 2020. The one on the right (mustache variation) is available.

 

[BucCollector]

Frank Brosseau doesn't have a Pirates card either; in fact he doesn't have a card at all. I printed these out on heavy paper (not cardstock) and he signed them TTM in 2019. One is available for trade.

 

[BucCollector]

Steve Brye played one season with the Pirates, his last in the majors. This card came via the big Bench trade I've mentioned previously, the trade that inspired me to go after a complete run of signed Pirates cards from the 1970s.

 

[Therion]

Free advice on the customs.

They will degrade if the paper is too thin. To combat this, glue them (with glue sticks, the purple ones are best) to an actual baseball card. I find the 2021 Topps set to be particularly good for use as backing.

 

[BucCollector]

Thanks, appreciate it.

 

[BucCollector]

Fred Cambria signed this 1971 Topps TTM. The Big League Cards auto was an eBay pickup.