The Post War Cards Newsletter #5
If there is a set you'd like me to research for the blog or the newsletter, just email me!
🏀 Bob Cousy Signing His 1995 Action Packed Hall of Fame Signature Series Cards
The 1995 Action Packed Hall of Fame basketball autographs seem really under-appreciated to me compared to the incredible popularity of a lot of the early '90s baseball autograph sets (e.g., 1990 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson, 1991 Score Mickey Mantle, and 1992 Donruss Elite Cal Ripken). While those baseball cards thrive on nostalgia, the basketball set stands out for its scarcity and features legends like Elvin Hayes, K.C. Jones, and Lenny Wilkens—and other players whose autographs are generally harder to find.
Every Hall of Famer in the 39-card insert set (Pete Maravich wasn't included because he had already passed away) signed at least 500 cards, but the real gems are the Greats of the Game subset cards, which included Bill Bradley, Bill Walton, Bob Cousy, and Bill Russell.
Cousy and Russell were featured in an April 1995 Sports Cards magazine piece that promoted the set, which included the following photo of Cousy signing his cards; how's that for provenance?!
For more, check out this June 2020 story from Sports Collectors Daily about previously unknown 1995 Action Packed redemption autos that were found in a storage locker.
✍️ Great Hobby Writing
Night Owl Cards: Back to the Book
When Topps had (Base)Balls: "Then and Now" 1974 Felipe Alou
Sports Collectors Daily: 100 Years Ago This Week: Memorabilia from Red Grange's Game for the Ages
Hobby News Daily: WNBA Card Hype is Here, but is it Built to Last?
The Topps Archives: The Last Pale Light in the West
Cards as I See Them: A New Era
Collectibles on SI: Old Baseball Cards on Twitter: Here are Ten Vintage Accounts to Follow
The Shlabotnik Report: Non-Random Team Review: 1982 Topps Oakland As (plus Weigh-In #82)
Video: Brian Gray published a two-hour interview with Bill Mastro on YouTube.
📦 Unopened Item Of The Week - 250 1974 Topps Baseball Vending Cases
The following was reported in December 1994:
Interestingly, I've never seen a BBCE-authenticated 1974 Topps baseball vending box before.
💰🔨 Interesting eBay Sales - An Incomplete 1966 Topps Venezuelan Baseball Album
The Topps Venezuelan collecting community is one of the hobby's more dedicated and passionate niches, perhaps because of the difficulty in identifying them, the smaller print runs, and the difficulty in finding examples in decent condition.
Some are so tough to find in mint condition because it was common in the Venezuelan market to paste them into albums, which are pretty tough finds, too. On October 11th, Greg Morris Cards auctioned off one such example, a 1966 Topps Venezuelan Album; it sold for $1,060.
They sold themselves short by not sharing the number of the set's 370 cards that were included in the album. For reference, an album with 290 cards was sold on eBay for $2,300 in August. But, at least GM Cards shared a photo of the page with Mantle's card.
Also, if you're curious, 1966 Venezuelans are identifiable by their darker-colored backs.
📝 On The Blog
October 17, 2024: Everything We Know About the 1977 Topps Star Wars #207 C-3PO Anthony Daniels Error Card
October 18, 2024: The 1992 Galovich Report on Unopened Material
October 19, 2024: 1976/77 Topps Basketball Unopened Vending Case
October 20, 2024: 1980 Baseball Card and Sports Memorabilia Show with Brooklyn Dodger Guests
October 21, 2024: 1947-66 Exhibit Baseball Cello Boxes
October 21, 2024: 24 1969/70 Topps Basketball Wax Packs
October 22, 2024: 1938 O-Pee-Cheer Horrors of War Dealer Advertising Sheet
📰 In The News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Atlanta Braves File Lawsuit Against Two Former Employees in Hank Aaron Memorabilia Case
Collectibles on SI: $10,000 Mike Trout Rookie Card Found in Goodwill Pallet
Sports Collectors Digest: Topps to Launch New VeeFriends Partnership, Cards at New York Comic Con
Marca: Tom Brady's Jaw-Dropping Memorabilia Collection Revealed: A Look Inside His Sports Shrine
Collectibles on SI: Why The $1.7M Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Card Was Crossed to PSA 10
CBS Sports: Miami's Cam Ward, Florida's DJ Lagway Release Special Edition Trading Cards to Help Hurricane Milton Victims
Topps Ripped: The Hobby is Growing Down Under
GlobeNewswire: GameStop Announces Collaboration with PSA
Sports Collectors Daily: Fanatics Cancels Orlando Show
KSAT: San Antonio Sports Card Collectors Files $200,000 Lawsuit Against Memorabilia Company
ESPN: Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 Ball Fetches $4.39 Million
📘 In The Hobby Library - One Splendid Season
One of The Hobby Library's highlights is my copy of Phil Rosenzweig's One Splendid Season: Baseball and America in 1912, Told with the Words and Images of the Hassan Triplefolder Set.
Phil sent me a copy of the unpublished book directly in early 2023; it's an inspection copy. He printed up a small number for private distribution and to see if he could interest a publisher in a larger commercial run. He told me, at the time, he had no luck with the latter, but he may still revise and produce a larger quantity for sale later.
The 153-page 10 1/2'' x 10 1/2'' book tells the story of the 1912 baseball season with the words and images of the Hassan Triplefolder set. It's an incredibly well-researched, well-written, engaging, and visually stunning piece. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to obtain a copy someday.
🆘 Hobby Help Needed - Gelmen Storage Boxes
I thought I'd take one more crack, after multiple social requests and a blog post, at reaching out to the hobby to see if anyone has any more information about Richard Glemen's Card Collectors' Co. 4 Color Cardboard Storage Boxes.
If you know anything about 'em, let me know!