The Post War Cards Newsletter #17
Teddy Ballgame In Jail, Mars Attacks, OPC Wrappers, Beckett's Yankees Guide, And A Salesman Sample
Happy hobby Thursday! This week, we’ve got:
The Splendid Splinter behind bars in 1958,
Memory Lane Inc.’s Winter Rarities Auction,
A vintage OPC glassine, not wax, wrapper, along with a teaser,
Beckett’s must-have monster guide to collecting the NY Yankees,
And a partial 1962 Topps salesman sample.
👮⚾️ Ted Williams’ Mug Shot
You may have seen the following photo, which looks like a mugshot of Ted Williams, for sale before.
But that’s a little misleading. Sportsworld Auction clarified that it was actually a photo needed for a gun permit. They sold one signed by Williams in their “The Lineup” auction, which ended on April 27th, 2001.
The full description was as follows:
Ted Williams Mug Shot Original 8x10’’ photo from Sept. 23, 1958 shows a grim faced Williams Standing in Bostin police line up. Looks like an actual mug shot, but really is photo needed for a gun permit that Ted applied for. Obtained directly from former Boston police detective whose father (a detective as well) took the photo. Comes with handwritten LOA from the retired officer. Signed by Williams “To Frank, Good Luck, Ted Williams” in bold Sharpie. A truly great Ted Williams piece. EX-EX+ MB $500
👽 Memory Lane Inc’s Winter Rarities Auction
Memory Lane Inc’s Winter Rarities Auction ended last week, on January 11th, highlighted by the sales of a bunch of ultra-premium cards including a trio of PSA-8 graded 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth cards; #144 sold for $197k, #149 sold for $317k, and #181 sold for $185k.
Maybe a bit under the radar, but they also sold the sole PSA-9 and highest graded (of 485 examples in PSA’s Pop Report) 1962 Mars Attacks #1 The Invasion Begins card for $54k. Such a classic!
There’s only one PSA 10 card across the entire 55-card, Norm Saunders illustrated, 1962 Mars Attacks set, and it belongs to card #29, Death in the Shelter. But if you’re looking to complete a set across a common condition, the checklist card is generally going to be the priciest.
✍️ Great Hobby Writing
Diamond Jesters: Repack Haiku #392 (Luis Medina)
cllct: Inside one collector's quest for the rarest Mickey Mantle-signed 1952 Topps card
Sports Collectors Daily: The Great David Robinson Chase of 1989
Topps Ripped: 1952 Topps Look ‘n See | Vintage Vault
The Topps Archives: Brown & Blue
Crocodile Sports Cards: 1981-87 TCMA Football Set
Donruss 1982: This is analysis of the stats on the back of Topps Baseball cards from 1952-1980
Not Another Baseball Card Blog: Conlon Collection Cards
Nine Pockets: Danny White: QB-P
Sports Collectors Daily: Mystery Of 1904 Anonymous Cabinet Cards May Be Solved
🏒 Unopened Item Of The Week - 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee Series “A” Wrapper
I didn’t do a complete overview of Classic Auctions Fall 2024 auction, but one item I found particularly interesting was the 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee Series "A" Hockey Wrapper that sold for $519.60.
The wrapper is interesting because of its historical value and rarity and because it’s made of glassine rather than the waxy material that vintage wrapper collectors are used to.
If this 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee Series "A" Hockey Wrapper piques your interest, stay tuned! I may dive deeper into it and the other early O-Pee-Chee series wrappers in a future issue of The Unopened Market Report here on Substack 😉
📝 On The Blog
January 10, 2025: The Trader Speaks, Vol 3 No 10 August 15, 1971
January 11, 2025: Hobby History from a Classic 1930s Propaganda Set: The 1933 Goudey R174 World War Gum Uncut Proof Sheet
January 12, 2025: An Incredible Wilson Football Cradle Counter Sign Featuring Charley Trippi and Paul Christman
January 12, 2025: Key Cards Of The 1984 Baseball Hall of Fame Class
January 13, 2025: Exploring Big League Collectibles’ 1982/83 Diamond Classics and 1983 Original All-Stars Sets
January 14, 2025: Incredible Auction History – A Lot For Mickey Mantle’s 1967 Topps Stand-Ups Regular and Proof Cards
January 15, 2025: A Scarce Early Process Proof 1962 Topps Baseball Uncut Sheet
📰 In The News
The Takedown on SI: WWE And Topps Reunite For Long-Term Trading Card Partnership
PR Newswire: Beckett Reaches Contract Extension with Industry's Most Prominent Authentication Team
Collectibles on SI: $2 Million Vintage Sports Card Collection Sold
The Athletic: Leading trading card grader PSA to grow operations in Canada, Europe and Japan
Sports Collectors Daily: PSA’s Most Graded Vintage Baseball Cards of 2024
Desert Sun: Documentary 'The Diamond King' tells the story of Baseball's Picasso, artist Dick Perez
ESPN: Emma Roberts shows off rare Baltimore Orioles Jackson Holliday card
AP News: Giuliani fights to save his Yankees World Series Rings from $148 million defamation verdict
WVIA: Trial of four suspects in museum art and rare sports memorabilia heists begins Monday
Sports Collectors Daily: Sports Card Documentary “Hobby Hustle” Explores the Good and Bad
🗽 In The Hobby Library - Beckett’s Ultimate Unofficial New York Yankees Collectors Guide
In 2007, Beckett released a Collectors Guide dedicated to the New York Yankees, which they described as the premier collectibles primer for fans with a pinstripes passion.
The 160 pages don’t disappoint; the eye candy that was consolidated for it is incredible, like a signed 1927 New York Yankees Murderers Row photo that was the property of Yankees rookie pitcher George Pipgras; Memory Lane sold it for $176 in December 2006.
🧩 A Partial 1962 Topps Salesman Sample Featuring Tom Tresh
A low-grade 1962 Topps Tom Tresh card typically wouldn’t fetch $137.50, like the one recently sold on eBay by Greg Morris Cards on January 10th—unless, of course, it was 1/3 of a salesman sample!
Happy collecting!