I was in a Target store last night buying some items for the house, and buying various packs of sports and non-sports trading cards (I got two Elvis Is insert cards). I also bought the latest issue of Tuff Stuff Card Collector magazine.
As I was leaving the card area, a little old lady (yes, about 70 years old and very short), asked me what she should do with some baseball cards she had in a book.
When I asked how old the cards were, she said about 50-60 years old. I almost fainted. She said that she was thinking about throwing them away as she was cleaning out her house.
After I picked up my jaw from the floor, I told her that under no circumstances should she throw them away. Told her to buy the same magazine I had just bought so that she could become familiar with the prices of old cards, and that she should contact a card store to see if she could get them appraised or sell them.
50 years ago is 1958-59. Mantle, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Pee Wee Reese, Richard Asburn, Roy Campanella, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax - all the cards I gave a friend in exchange for some Davey Crockett Green series cards. I could have retired on them.
Just learned that a Hollywood writer I correspond with burnt his cards in 1957. I cried when he told me who were in his collection. (See above for a hint).
Many years ago, at an outside flea market in northern Va., another little old lady asked me about what to do with a shoebox or two of old cards. Again probably from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Gave her the same advise as I did last night.
Never let little old grandmothers or your mother TOUCH your cards. Never, never, never!
It sounded real cool flapping in the spokes when he attached it to his bike with a clothes pin.
“I could have retired on them.”
No you couldn’t have - your mom would have tossed them while you were away at college. (Happened to my Father in law - 1950’s). :(
My brother collected cards in the 40s and a few were signed and due to military moves quite a number of times over the years the cards got tossed. There was probably 80 or more cards. His old train sets also got tossed in moves. Sad.
Those game balls and autographs are going to my sons when they are old enough..