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January 2025 Arrivals

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mrmopar

Member
Jan 19, 2010
6,643
5,328
Know we're mostly baseball in here but...the new centerpiece of my non-Sweet Spot collection. GU stick, auto, 1/1, HOF...
View attachment 361409
Hopefully everyone can appreciate the variety. I am sure there are pure collectors who only do one sport/one team/one player, but I think most of us delve into a little bit of everything. There isn't a trading card yet I have rejected, although non-sport cards are less appealing to me overall except for a few sets from shows/movies I really liked.
 

nevermore

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
3,396
624
New York
1975 Topps Mini Thurman Munson #20 Autograph PSA/DNA Certified -- Grail level purchase this week. On my Top 10 card list from this post many years ago, finally able to cross it off. Last year, I was disappointed after I purchased a raw Munson autograph which was deemed not to be genuine. Rather than deal fees and the hassle of grading, I picked up a slabbed one this time.

I was holding out for a signed Topps card rather than settle for an index card or a modern cut auto. Finding one with eye appeal and the right price took some time. Undoubtedly, the autograph being on the back of the card helped to keep the price in my budget. I feel, it also works better with the design. On a lot of his signed cards, the signature is lost in the dark background or overlaps his facsimile signature which becomes too cluttered. Plus, this signature is a clean example, not a rushed or signed in faded marker. The card itself has decent centering and the autograph being on the back of the card helps it pop. Outside of his RC and 1971 Rookie Cup design, the 1975 Topps design is in my opinion his next best card. The bright colors screams the 1970s and the mini version remains unique amongst all Topps vintage issues.

This purchase was not a steal at around $1350, but I felt there was some value in this getting it for a little more than what an authenticated piece of paper would have cost. Seeing completed auctions on Goldin/eBay, index cards and cuto autos from programs start at $1000 for custom ones and pack issued cut autographs from recent Topps products were fetch close to $2,000. I paid a fraction of what dealers were asking for his signed cards at shows both locally and at the National. I remember seeing sticker prices for $3000-5000 with sloppier and faded signatures. Online, the BINs on eBay and Steiner are even scarier, well into the five-figures.

Extremely happy with this example, but I will continue on my quest to perhaps upgrade this one day.


munsona.jpgmunsonb.jpg
 

banjar

Well-known member
Mar 22, 2015
2,776
1,176
Lafayette, Colorado
Wow!

1975 Topps Mini Thurman Munson #20 Autograph PSA/DNA Certified -- Grail level purchase this week. On my Top 10 card list from this post many years ago, finally able to cross it off. Last year, I was disappointed after I purchased a raw Munson autograph which was deemed not to be genuine. Rather than deal fees and the hassle of grading, I picked up a slabbed one this time.

I was holding out for a signed Topps card rather than settle for an index card or a modern cut auto. Finding one with eye appeal and the right price took some time. Undoubtedly, the autograph being on the back of the card helped to keep the price in my budget. I feel, it also works better with the design. On a lot of his signed cards, the signature is lost in the dark background or overlaps his facsimile signature which becomes too cluttered. Plus, this signature is a clean example, not a rushed or signed in faded marker. The card itself has decent centering and the autograph being on the back of the card helps it pop. Outside of his RC and 1971 Rookie Cup design, the 1975 Topps design is in my opinion his next best card. The bright colors screams the 1970s and the mini version remains unique amongst all Topps vintage issues.

This purchase was not a steal at around $1350, but I felt there was some value in this getting it for a little more than what an authenticated piece of paper would have cost. Seeing completed auctions on Goldin/eBay, index cards and cuto autos from programs start at $1000 for custom ones and pack issued cut autographs from recent Topps products were fetch close to $2,000. I paid a fraction of what dealers were asking for his signed cards at shows both locally and at the National. I remember seeing sticker prices for $3000-5000 with sloppier and faded signatures. Online, the BINs on eBay and Steiner are even scarier, well into the five-figures.

Extremely happy with this example, but I will continue on my quest to perhaps upgrade this one day.


View attachment 361418View attachment 361419
 

mrmopar

Member
Jan 19, 2010
6,643
5,328
1975 Topps Mini Thurman Munson #20 Autograph PSA/DNA Certified -- Grail level purchase this week. On my Top 10 card list from this post many years ago, finally able to cross it off. Last year, I was disappointed after I purchased a raw Munson autograph which was deemed not to be genuine. Rather than deal fees and the hassle of grading, I picked up a slabbed one this time.

I was holding out for a signed Topps card rather than settle for an index card or a modern cut auto. Finding one with eye appeal and the right price took some time. Undoubtedly, the autograph being on the back of the card helped to keep the price in my budget. I feel, it also works better with the design. On a lot of his signed cards, the signature is lost in the dark background or overlaps his facsimile signature which becomes too cluttered. Plus, this signature is a clean example, not a rushed or signed in faded marker. The card itself has decent centering and the autograph being on the back of the card helps it pop. Outside of his RC and 1971 Rookie Cup design, the 1975 Topps design is in my opinion his next best card. The bright colors screams the 1970s and the mini version remains unique amongst all Topps vintage issues.

This purchase was not a steal at around $1350, but I felt there was some value in this getting it for a little more than what an authenticated piece of paper would have cost. Seeing completed auctions on Goldin/eBay, index cards and cuto autos from programs start at $1000 for custom ones and pack issued cut autographs from recent Topps products were fetch close to $2,000. I paid a fraction of what dealers were asking for his signed cards at shows both locally and at the National. I remember seeing sticker prices for $3000-5000 with sloppier and faded signatures. Online, the BINs on eBay and Steiner are even scarier, well into the five-figures.

Extremely happy with this example, but I will continue on my quest to perhaps upgrade this one day.


View attachment 361418View attachment 361419
Congrats. I wanted his 71T auto so bad and actually thought I had a legot shot at one once, but fell quite short.

Munson is one of those guys who clearly outperforms where I feel he should be. Obviously he died young, but not necessarily early enough to where there wasn't supply. I understand he was a bit gruff and wasn't all that accommodating in many cases, so that doesn't help. For a non-HOFer, his prices are HOF like for sure.

I have a 76T that is signed. I am not necessarily confident it's real. One of these days I may have it checked out just to see. Maybe I got incredibly lucky. I didn't pay a lot, as it came in a good sized lot of that era signed cards. They all looked pretty good and it wasn't huge names, aside from Munson, so it's possible I stole it!
 

nevermore

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2008
3,396
624
New York
@banjar - Thank you!

@mrmopar -- Thanks, that is an awesome find if real. A few other collectors I know have found their Munsons that way, hidden autographs inside of programs or mixed into lots. Maybe worth listing on eBay for a crazy amount and using that as a way to get PSA DNA Quick Opinion for $10. I think they only evaulate listings.

A few pick ups this week...

2012 Topps Update Ichiro Target Red
-- Gives me the red, white and blue versions and the Bowing SSP. Next are Gold and Black.

ichiro red.jpg

Yankees Lot -- Needed the 1999 SP Autograph, one of the easy ones on my list. Felt was a decent bundle for $75 shipped for all three. All are on-card playing year autographs. Felt it was a decent price for $20-25 each.

lot.jpg

2017 Topps Archives ProDebut 1/1 Jameson Taillon Buyback Autograph -- I've been collecting his Altoona cards and a few select Yankee releases. This one is my favorite base release. Couldn't pass up a signed version. I have the 1/1 Topps Vault Blank back version as well. I need to grow my Altoona alumni collection, O'Neil Cruz, Paul Skenes, Gerrit Cole, Andrew McCutchen even a few former Yankees on rehab assignments. I will have to flesh out a checklist of players.

taillon.jpg
 

mrmopar

Member
Jan 19, 2010
6,643
5,328
I was chasing Raider autographs for a while, then realized that it wasn't my passion any longer. Too much new junk to weed through as well. At one point, I wanted an amari Cooper in a raider uniform. I feel like I got one, but can't recall now. Anyway, I will often settle for something just to get the autograph in my collection, but if I see a design I really like, I may add additional cards.

Such was the case here. I saw this card and even though it was listed with an opening bid of $20+, I seemed to recall that his cards were selling in that range. I bid hoping to win at the opening price.

about 3-4 days later, I see another listed and it's starting bid was $0.99! I did and going into the night before, it was less than $10. I began regretting my earlier bid on the other, thinking maybe I will get a deal.

Both ended on the same day and I ended up winning both. The first one I was never outbid on and the 2nd copy I won, I think for under $10. I guess I don't mind too terribly much. It is a cool card and is numbered to /56. It's also a RC issue and he has topped 10K receiving yards for his career, although he has not been a Raider for a while now. He is 57th all time receiving (bottom spot above 10K) and one of only 9 active players above the 10K mark, including another one time Raider Davante Adams.
Cooper 38 CA.pngcOOPER 21 Iowa.png
 

Topnotchsy

Featured Contributor, The best players in history?
Aug 7, 2008
9,470
236
Excited to pick up this photo of the Cleveland Buckeyes. Different sources have it as from 1946 and others 1947. In 1947, the team lost to the NY Cubans in the ***** League World Series.

Key players include future Brave and ROY Sam Jethroe, catcher Quincy Trouppe and others.

1946-1947 Clevland Buckeyes Lineup.jpg
 
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