Fresno collectors uncover rare 1869 baseball card

The Fresno Bee ^ | 1/8/09 | Mike Osegueda

[Wolfstar]

Bernice Gallego sat down one day this summer, as she does pretty much every day, and began listing items on eBay.

She dug into a box and pulled out a baseball card. She stopped for a moment and admired the picture. "Red Stocking B.B. Club of Cincinnati," the card read, under a sepia tone photo of 10 men with their socks pulled up to their knees. The card itself was dirty and wrinkled in a few places.

[SNIP]

The card is actually 139 years old. It, and a handful of others like it, are considered the first baseball cards.

This is an excerpt. Read more at the link provided.

[Wolfstar]

PHOTO CAPTION: The front of the very first baseball card, an 1869 Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Red Stockings card, features a sepia-toned, gelatin-silver photographic print of the first professional baseball team.

PHOTO CAPTION: Bernice Gallego of Collectique holds a rare 1869 baseball card of the Cincinnati Red Stockings that turned up at her Tower District shop in Fresno.

The historical significance, from the conclusion of the 3-page article:

Before the Cincinnati Red Stockings, there were no professional baseball teams.

Formed in 1868, the team set the foundation for what we know today as Major League Baseball.

"To borrow a term from rock 'n' roll, they were a kind of supergroup," says Tim Wiles, the director of research at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

"They brought in some of the best baseball players from around the country. They went around and challenged all comers. They barnstormed around the country and were undefeated."

The Red Stockings won games by as many as 30, 40 and 50 runs, Wiles says.

"They were kind of an all-star team before that concept really existed," he says. "In 1871, what the Red Stockings started would evolve into the first baseball league and the first sports league."

[ONTHEFIFTY]

would be a nice addition to cooperstown.

do you think she’ll sell it?

[OrioleFan]

I think the Cincinnati Reds should declare themselves a bank and apply for TARP money bailout to buy this card.

[CastleMan95]

She should definitely sell this card. I see a value of about $30,000 from an online price guide I subscribe to. That being said when something so rare comes to market, it's final “value” might just come down to publicity generated. They should take their time and contact more media outlets with the story. Its a neat story and should only help with their final auction price. At minimum they should be able to take a dream vacation with the proceeds. Hard to pass that opportunity up especially for non-baseball fans.

[CastleMan95]

There is one of these currently on Ebay with a “Buy it Now” price into the 5 figures but it doesn’t appear to be hers. In my opinion, her’s is in better condition. I don’t think I should link to an Ebay auction on FR but it wasn’t too hard to find through a search.

[Wolfstar]

Would be a nice addition to Cooperstown. Do you think she’ll sell it?

It would be a good addition to Cooperstown, but the baseball HOF should make an offer if they want it. She seems to want to sell it, but she wants what it's worth. The only way to find that out might be through a sports memorabilia auction.

[Wolfstar]

I think the Cincinnati Reds should declare themselves a bank and apply for TARP money bailout to buy this card.

ROFLMBO! Actually, the top price for this card is probably peanuts compared to the bailout money being thrown around. (Wish some would trickle down to me.)

[mwyounce]

Those Cincinnati Red Stockings ended up as the Atlanta Braves...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Atlanta_Braves

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

She shouldn’t have went public. Just donate it to Cooperstown and get money under the table. Now if she sells it, she’s going to get taxed on it.

[Fresh Wind]

Now if she sells it, she’s going to get taxed on it.

As I understand the law, as a collectible, it is subject to a 28% capital gains tax.

[Wolfstar]

Just donate it to Cooperstown and get money under the table. Now if she sells it, she’s going to get taxed on it.

Doubtful if Cooperstown would agree to pay money "under the table." Also, is Cooperstown considered a charity? If not, she couldn't deduct the value off her taxes as a charitable contribution. Effing government gets you coming and going, no matter what.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Ciexyz]

I have friends who go to estate sales and then sell on ebay, who report that they often find bargains esp. in jewelry. People undervalue what they have. A higher carat in silver jewelry can add several hundred dollars to the price.