Specialty Cards

1970 Topps OJ Simpson Rookie Card

Specialty Cards

1970 Topps OJ Simpson Rookie Card

1970 Topps Football Set

1970 Topps Football, one of the neatest football card sets around. I have had my sets for quite some time and it was quite a challenge putting the sets together. The major flaws being centering and of course the behaviors off the field of one of the key cards in the set, you guessed it…The OJ Simpson rookie card.

Way to go OJ! Just when I started coming around to collecting your cards again, more of the same problems. I still own a few complete sets of 1970 Topps Football, they are awaiting life after grading! The sets are mostly in near mint condition, I am talking very gradable cards here, particularly the OJ Simpson rookie cards. Does this guy care about anybody’s collection, but his own? Or the fact that people still collect sports cards?

About 3 years ago I decided to begin purchasing his cards again, I noticed that football fans were beginning to embrace his football sports cards and it appeared that his football career would not be a complete wasted era to the sports memorabilia collectible world.

What Is The OJ Simpson RC Card Worth?

One day maybe I can have an OJ barbecue and flame broil my 1970 Topps set in the backyard, along with all his other stuff. Anyway, against my better judgment and for the sake of the sports cards industry, I am going to submit his cards along with the rest of the set for grading to PSA. In the spirit of the Football season, I can try to make a little chump change with some of these, before his sentencing and perhaps piggy back on his All-Star stupidity. Incidentally, I just witnessed a PSA 9 1970 Topps OJ Simpson rookie card sell online for about $500.00, not bad.

The 1970 Topps football set does have some other keepers in the set, Larry Csonka, Bob Griese, to name a few Miami Dolphins. How about Fran Tarkenton, just to name some of the many, many of the Hall of Famers in the set. Overall this is a nice set to have graded, the OJ Simpson rookie card really is a nice card. A must have for all football fans, although his relationships with the law are always going to be a question, fact remains he was a stud running back.

The card grades nicely and the because of the white borders, if you can find a nicely centered one, you have a chance at a very special card. We can still close our eyes and see him running all over those teams in the AFC East as a member of the Buffalo Bills. He seemed to run much more carelessly back when he was carrying the old rawhide, now every time he runs it seems like he is running from something other than defensive linemen, and he seems to be only carrying his past.

1970’s, Ah those were the good old days…

1997 Leaf Mark McGwire Autograph – Read How I Got It!

Baseball card price/ Specialty Cards

1997 Leaf Mark McGwire Autograph – Read How I Got It!

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Sports Cards And Autographs

As far as autographs go how many of the autographs in your sports card collection have been given to you as opposed as to you purchasing them? I can tell you that I have both in my collection. I have the ones I purchased, the ones I have received in person for free, and even the ones that I have received in person and I had to pay for them. Mostly the way of a collectible show. Although I have been asked to pay once, while not in a show. Kind of crazy, but there are always different circumstances for different autographs. What is the craziest amount you ever paid for an autograph?

Pictured here in this post is my Mark McGwire autograph. I received this autograph in person in the then called Joe Robbie Stadium, a stadium that was at the time being leased to the Florida Marlins so that they can play baseball in Miami. I am sure you have since heard of the their new stadium and the changed name to Miami Marlins.

While working in the capacity of a vendor for the stadium, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the St. Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire on a Marlins home stand. What a night it was. This gentle giant, hit two monster home runs that day, in fact the second one still has not landed. The year was 1997. After waiting for an ungodly three hours for Big Mac to finish his post game rituals, which I am sure included plenty of time in the training room, and perhaps some rub down time, and what not. After the entire bus had already loaded. My opportunity came.

Mark McGwire Baseball Autograph Of A Lifetime!

I approached Mark McGwire, and right as I did my supervisor came out of nowhere just like if he was watching me. As I handed the blue sharpie and baseball card (a 1996 Leaf Mark McGwire) to him and asked him ever so nicely for an autograph. My supervisor recited the employee manual on approaching baseball players a big no-no and I knew it. They harp a big deal about this for a reason. These ball players do not want to get into the whole autograph thing behind the scenes. Besides they also don’t want the employee getting any ideas of selling autographs to pad their already low salaries. But they put nothing in there about the collector and our warped sense of needing more and more collectibles.

My supervisor threatened me with ending my career as a Joe Robbie employee. Believe me I needed the job. I was holding down three jobs at the time. My wife had just had my first of three children, and I could not afford to lose this job over a Mark McGwire signature, even though the thought of owning it, does and did make me shake nervously. After all this was never an easy autograph and he just did not sign much. Again he was one of those spoken out players about people profiting over his name.

As I was getting threatened and told by my supervisor that I was through with the company, and I had better not get that card autographed. Something happened that I will never ever forget. To Mark McGwire I am sure he never thought of this incident again. But I will never forget that he looked my supervisor right in the eyes, and told him that I had better be back tomorrow night for the third game of the series, or else. That was it. He didn’t have to say much else. The weasel, I mean my supervisor rode off in his little golf cart and I got to keep the autograph, and more importantly my job. Although It pains me to ever state that the job I had been more important than this autograph to me. This autograph was recently submitted to BGS (JSA) authentication, not for me. I always knew the card was legit, but you must admit this gives my story a better boost, knowing that the autograph is legit. Thanks for reading. Have a story like this? Please share it with me.

1995 Florida Sports Plus The Delay Of The MLB Season

Specialty Cards

1995 Florida Sports Plus The Delay Of The MLB Season

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It was April 1995 when I was already slated to go to the NY Mets vs. The Florida Marlins opening home season. See the picture to get a glimpse of the opening day ticket that never was. The MLB empire had endured one of the biggest black eye it has ever gotten. But thanks to the enhanced performance scandals that keep on surfacing, with the latest from Miami in which the names of Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez and many more are listed in some form or fashion.

No World Series in 1994

MLB was just fresh off of the first World Series cancellation in over 100 years. The world, sports fans, and baseball players aficionados world-wide were stunned. I don’t think that anything prior to that time was painful to watch in sports. But we have become a nation that endures, and although any tragedy in a sport will never compare to a tragedy in life, being a society that pretty much revolves around sports, it was a shock nonetheless. It’s after shock was felt for a very long time.

As a baseball fan, I was looking towards the start of the 1995 season, but I must admit I can remember an empty feeling, but it was not necessarily pointed towards the players, not like the substance abuse is.

1994 MLB All- Star Game

All we had that year from baseball was a partial season, and an All-Star game, one of which I have little memory from. In fact if it wasn’t for the All-Star numbered bat from that year with the autograph of Alex Rodriguez, which I acquired at an event just before the game, and my 1994 World Series MLB ball, which were sold because they were never used, that whole 1994-1995 sports year would be a blur to me.

Dan Marino – Miami Dolphins

That was also the year that I met Dan Marino, see the picture with the autograph. Thank goodness that for every set back we endure, there is always a seasonal sport to lift us up. Football was the sport that year that made us forget the 1994 MLB debacle and endure the reception, cold reception, that we gave baseball in 95.

Autograph Collecting/ Specialty Cards

Baseball Loses Two Legends This Weekend

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Stan “The Man” Musial And Earl Weaver

Baseball lost two legends this weekend. Stan “The Man” Musial and Earl Weaver. As a serious baseball card and memorabilia collector, these are two pieces that would most certainly be the centerpiece of any collection. During the last 15 years, I have been lucky enough as a collector to have met both.

Obtaining autographs in person is a treat and an experience that every sports card and memorabilia collector should try to have. I know that some cities have slowed down the baseball card shows and memorabilia sales over the last years that have been riddled by our country’s recession. But if you enjoy collecting and want to have a collection that satisfies you, the collector, you have to try to get some of these in person, and have a brush with sports greatness.

Pictured here in this post is my very own American League baseball, back when the umpires and baseball used things like the baseball to separate the leagues. Something they no longer do. I met Earl Weaver at a Miami sports show about 11 years ago. I was on a roll back then, and the Miami Marlins who were the Florida Marlins, were still fresh off a World Series championship and the memorabilia and sports cards show were still thriving. They have dwindled since then, and shows in this area have become all but extinct.

BC Sports Collectibles

One of the biggest companies serving up autograph signings, and sports cards sales was BC Sports and Collectibles, and this recession reduced this company to the original store in Philadelphia. This was one of the one stop shops for me. Sports cards, jerseys, and memorabilia. You can still use them if you have access to the Internet. I signed up for their newsletters which include specials and great information on upcoming autograph sessions.

Although there is no substitute for autographs obtained in person. This is always a good option, plus they have a large supply of autographs. Everything from mini helmets, baseballs, footballs, photos. Earl Weaver was just what you saw on TV a feisty person, but also a kind and loving person. It was a great joy to have met him, and get his autograph in person. Something I recommend every autograph seeker do. A brush with greatness adds something extra to the autograph and story.

Specialty Cards

1966 Topps Superman Alternative Set

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PSA Registry Sets

You won’t have to “leap tall buildings in a single bound” to complete the 1966 Topps Superman set. An affordable alternative to the 1940 Gum, Inc. Man of Steel issue, this 66-card offering showcases black and white photos from the ’50s TV show. The fronts – exhibiting vertical or horizontal designs – also boast captions, while the backs of cards #1 through 44 can be uncovered in three different formats.

“The white backs are the rarest. They’re the ones that are commonly called ‘proofs’ because of the absence of color on the back. They never made the final stage of printing,” explained Steve Lucas, whose 1966 Topps Superman set is tied for fourth on the PSA Set Registry.

Superman

PSA Set Registry Hall of Famer, Bill Bengen, who owns three sets, agrees. “I’ve been collecting the white back variety for 10 years and I’ve got all of one card to show for it,” he said. “The white backs are incredibly rare.” An orange border is present on the second back incarnation that also includes copyright information along the card bottom. The final variation boasts an orange border, but showcases “WATCH SUPERMAN ON T.V.” in black print across the bottom. These two versions are more common than the white backs.

The back variations don’t apply to cards #45 to 66 which showcase puzzle pieces. Bengen notes that these pieces can be merged into two puzzles. Cards #45 to 56 form a cartoon picture of Superman, while singles #57 to 66 depict George Reeves. Superman – The vast majority of these cards were distributed in five-cent wax packs without gum. However, in issue #176 of The Wrapper, non-sports card pioneers, Bob and Jeff Marks, unveiled a Superman wrapper indicating on it that gum was included. Wax packs with gum are extremely rare. “I’ve had several boxes and opened a lot of wax packs, and there has never been gum in any of the packs I’ve opened,” said Steve Lam, who owns the registry’s top set. Bengen has had a similar experience. “I really don’t know what went on at Topps at that time. Gum really was Topps’ primary business, so I don’t know what they were trying to do. This set is a real puzzle,” he said.

But mysteries like this are part of this set’s appeal, as are the memories it evokes. “I’m a big Superman fan. I used to watch the show when I was a kid. The cards bring back memories for me,” said Brian Karl, who owns the No. 2 registry set. “I’m such a fan that I own the episodes on DVD now.” Lam shares similar recollections.

Read the rest of this article from PSA…..

2000 Upper Deck E Cards/ Specialty Cards

Mike Piazza New Book “The Long Shot”

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Baseball card prices of legendary stars have always held their own. But the steroid business has just about broke the value of many sports cards, for instance Barry Bonds. Without accusing anyone of any wrong doing, the proof in the declining prices is just cause for many sports card investors and collectors to dump these cards, at any reasonable price.

With plenty of graded 1987 Fleer Glossy Barry Bonds baseball cards, you can expect to pay in the area of $150.00 for a BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint) or a PSA 10. The eBay listings are plenty.

Other Future Hall of Fame players like Mike Piazza, also hold some type of decent price for his respective baseball cards. But all of this Hall Of Shame business has clouded the future of many of this years class and their path to the eventual entry into the Hall of Fame.

Mike Piazza has a new tell all book that is coming out called “Long Shot” The co-author of Mike Piazza’s autobiography said Thursday that the former Dodgers and Mets catcher will address the questions and rumors of steroid use in the soon-to-be-released book. After reading the book, they believe that many people will believe that Mike never used any performance enhancing drugs.

Recently on ESPN, one of the largest baseball card collectors of Mike Piazza sports cards in a Florida Marlins uniform around. With over 100 pieces in this collection, it is truly an impressive collection of Mike Piazza, given that he spent all of four days as a Marlin in 1998.

Collecting sports cards is something that should be done, not as a business but more as loyalty to sports figures worldwide. Unfortunately cheating has killed fans in every aspect of the sports world, collecting included.

Specialty Cards

Dale Murphy Entrance Into The Hall Appears To Be A Reverse Negative

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I recently read the warranted gripes by Craig Biggio that cry out and beg for him not to be associated with people, players that cheated on baseball or at the very least, since almost none are proven, the allegation of cheating. I have to wonder if he will ever be vindicated, here is why. Please take a look at the numbers between Craig Biggio and one of my favorite all time players, Dale Murphy.

While I won’t go deep into the stats, Craig Biggio was a lifetime .281 hitter, he hit 291 home-runs, 1175 RBI’s and had 414 stolen bases.  He played 20 seasons and those are pretty impressive numbers. Are they Hall of Fame worthy though? While Craig Biggio was but a noteworthy player for the Houston Astros, he was little else in the rest of the baseball world, right? I mean after all he was not a hobby favorite outside of Houston, any collector knows that. But does that make him unworthy of a Hall of Fame induction?

My contender, and the reason I do not believe that Craig Biggio was singled out because he happens to be in this group of accused cheaters. Dale Murphy. Here are some of his comparable stats, and let me make this noteworthy notation, he has sat on this list of non-Hall of Fame nod players for 15 years. Dale Murphy was a .265 lifetime hitter, with 398 home-runs, and 1266 RBI’s and 161 stolen bases, and he did this with 2 less years of service with three National League baseball teams. The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Colorado Rockies.

All I am saying is that I do not think in the case of Biggio, the class he keeps this year hurt him, but rather the way the writers vote for the Hall of Fame. This years class has brought shame to the sport of baseball, while some noteworthy players were on this list many of those that were snubbed in my opinion scarred baseball forever. As I look at this list of baseball players 19 on this list in total, and Dale Murphy is the one man on this list that I felt should have already landed a bust at the Hall. For 15 years Dale Murphy has been on the ballot attempting to get into the Hall of Fame. Dale Murphy was a player that played the game clean, hard and by the time his career was over ended up playing over 7 positions much like Baseball Hall of Fame defunct Pete Rose.

Now even though Pete Rose has special circumstances that have not allowed him into Baseball Hall of Fame we all know what those were and we don’t need to rehash them here. I want to concentrate on Dale Murphy a baseball player who played hard, clean and played baseball for one of the worst teams in the 1970’s. It would be hard to dispute that anyone baseball player meant more to their baseball team that Dale Murphy meant to the Atlanta Braves during those non winning years. Yet for 15 years he has not been able to get the amount of votes needed to get into Baseball Hall of Fame, I have to ask those that vote, why? Many say that his numbers are not worthy of the Hall of Fame to some degree I will agree with them, so why is Craig Biggio gripping? But the same way that steroids have stained this year’s ballot we have to look back on players that held pride, family, and a dedication to the game they loved first and center and reward them and enshrine them for however long forever means. Let Dale Murphy into the Hall!!! Bring back pride, hard work and family into the game we so love.


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