| About Nowbatting19 Sports Cards (& More!)... |
1948 Leaf Boxing #1 Jack Dempsey
1951 Topps Ringside Ray Robinson
| About Nowbatting19 Sportscards |
I have been collecting cards since around 1970. I was 7 years old. The Vietnam War was going on, the Civil Rights movement was in full-swing, people were getting it on (freely) and I
was oblivious to all. Which may or may not be a good thing. I was into baseball and baseball cards. I sold my first collection in 1979 to buy my first car (a 1965 Volkswagen Bug that I
was to later roll on the Glendale Freeway). I got back into collecting; put the cards away in my grandmother's closet and joined the Army. Three years later I got out and wouldn't you
know my grandmother did not throw my cards out! So I have been collecting since. Now the mess in Iraq is going on and I am not so oblivious anymore. Though I would sure like to
be. So I created this site to bring you back to your childhood memories; a beat-up leather glove, a ball cap, and soft grass under your feat. When you played baseball, all other
things were forgotten... In case you have not figured it out, I named this website in honor of my favorite all-time player, Fred Lynn.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to email me. Thank you for visiting! Tim Pulcifer
was oblivious to all. Which may or may not be a good thing. I was into baseball and baseball cards. I sold my first collection in 1979 to buy my first car (a 1965 Volkswagen Bug that I
was to later roll on the Glendale Freeway). I got back into collecting; put the cards away in my grandmother's closet and joined the Army. Three years later I got out and wouldn't you
know my grandmother did not throw my cards out! So I have been collecting since. Now the mess in Iraq is going on and I am not so oblivious anymore. Though I would sure like to
be. So I created this site to bring you back to your childhood memories; a beat-up leather glove, a ball cap, and soft grass under your feat. When you played baseball, all other
things were forgotten... In case you have not figured it out, I named this website in honor of my favorite all-time player, Fred Lynn.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to email me. Thank you for visiting! Tim Pulcifer
| Here are my 2 Cents |
My feelings on collecting cards is that YOU SHOULD COLLECT WHAT YOU WANT! Don't listen to someone telling YOU what YOU should collect! Some hobby periodicals make you
feel like your cards are worthless and that only the highest graded cards should be acquired. This is HORSE$^#$! If you have lots of dough to spend and that's what you want to do
then feel free to spend like there is no tomorrow. If you don't have that kind of dough (like me) then just buy what you can afford and enjoy. I like the saying by Max Keddy (Max K's
Cards); "I never met a card I didn't like." So enjoy them! Remember, you can't take 'em with you!
feel like your cards are worthless and that only the highest graded cards should be acquired. This is HORSE$^#$! If you have lots of dough to spend and that's what you want to do
then feel free to spend like there is no tomorrow. If you don't have that kind of dough (like me) then just buy what you can afford and enjoy. I like the saying by Max Keddy (Max K's
Cards); "I never met a card I didn't like." So enjoy them! Remember, you can't take 'em with you!
Graded cards. If you haven't already, check out our We grade THEM page where I grade the grading services. While there is a definite need for such third-party services,
keep in mind that in most cases the only graded cards that sell for premiums are HIGH graded cards (such as NM/MT and above for vintage cards), or cards that are rare or
desirable. Keep that in mind when sending in your cards to these companies. Also beware of grading services that are not reputable; there are several out there who are in for
their "piece of the pie" (well, they ALL are!!!) but these companies do you a disservice by OVERGRADING your cards. You can find these graded cards all day long on eBay and
they usually sell at much lower prices than the big 4 (PSA, SGC, Becketts, GAI) so be aware of this.
Babe Ruth was the "Bambino," the "King of Swat," but he is also the king of baseball cards. While Mantle is high on most collector's lists, his cards are relatively affordable,
especially some of his 1960's Topps cards. However Ruth cards during his playing days are extremely expensive, even in lower grades. Among the most popular Ruth cards are
the four that were included in the 1933 Goudey set, but each of those will run you well over $1000 even in VG condition. The above 1935 Goudey 4-1 card features Ruth as a
Boston Brave and is technically his last card as a player. It is much more affordable than the earlier Goudey cards and features the same Ruth picture (as a pinstriped Yankee)
as 1933 Goudey #181. However it is much more affordable; it lists at $400 in VG. Bargain Ruth!
keep in mind that in most cases the only graded cards that sell for premiums are HIGH graded cards (such as NM/MT and above for vintage cards), or cards that are rare or
desirable. Keep that in mind when sending in your cards to these companies. Also beware of grading services that are not reputable; there are several out there who are in for
their "piece of the pie" (well, they ALL are!!!) but these companies do you a disservice by OVERGRADING your cards. You can find these graded cards all day long on eBay and
they usually sell at much lower prices than the big 4 (PSA, SGC, Becketts, GAI) so be aware of this.
Babe Ruth was the "Bambino," the "King of Swat," but he is also the king of baseball cards. While Mantle is high on most collector's lists, his cards are relatively affordable,
especially some of his 1960's Topps cards. However Ruth cards during his playing days are extremely expensive, even in lower grades. Among the most popular Ruth cards are
the four that were included in the 1933 Goudey set, but each of those will run you well over $1000 even in VG condition. The above 1935 Goudey 4-1 card features Ruth as a
Boston Brave and is technically his last card as a player. It is much more affordable than the earlier Goudey cards and features the same Ruth picture (as a pinstriped Yankee)
as 1933 Goudey #181. However it is much more affordable; it lists at $400 in VG. Bargain Ruth!
1935 Wheaties (Series 1) Lou Gehrig (cut from cereal box)
1935 Goudey 4-1 Brandt, Maranville, McManus,
Ruth
Ruth
1974 Topps #1 Hank Aaron (All-Time Home Run King)
Another big bopper, Henry "Hank" Aaron. Aaron cards are very affordable, in fact you could say they are undervalued. Most of his cards from the late 1960's through the 1970's
can be had for less than $50 in NM condition. This is my favorite Aaron card as it features him as the "New All-Time Home Run King." Even this card is less than $50 in NM. I can
only sympathize with guys like Aaron and Roger Maris. These guys, who obtained their records with hard work and determination have to take a back seat to guys who were
allowed to cheat (by Major League Baseball no less) by using steroids and other growth hormones? What a joke. Barry Bonds is going through some hard times outside of San
Francisco but what he has to endure in NOTHING like what Aaron had to endure as a black ballplayer in the 1950's. It got worse for Aaron when he approached Babe Ruth's 714
mark. Yet he handled it with dignity and class. Bonds, on the other hand deserves whatever is coming to him. He has shown no class or dignity throughout most of his career. So
thank you Major League Baseball for showing the youth of American that it's OK to cheat. It's OK as long as you are Michael Jordan but not if you are Pete Rose. It's OK to consort
with gamblers (Leo Durocher) yet not OK if you are Joe Jackson. So thanks MLB and Commissioner Bud "Buffoon" Selig for really F#$%ing up the sport!
can be had for less than $50 in NM condition. This is my favorite Aaron card as it features him as the "New All-Time Home Run King." Even this card is less than $50 in NM. I can
only sympathize with guys like Aaron and Roger Maris. These guys, who obtained their records with hard work and determination have to take a back seat to guys who were
allowed to cheat (by Major League Baseball no less) by using steroids and other growth hormones? What a joke. Barry Bonds is going through some hard times outside of San
Francisco but what he has to endure in NOTHING like what Aaron had to endure as a black ballplayer in the 1950's. It got worse for Aaron when he approached Babe Ruth's 714
mark. Yet he handled it with dignity and class. Bonds, on the other hand deserves whatever is coming to him. He has shown no class or dignity throughout most of his career. So
thank you Major League Baseball for showing the youth of American that it's OK to cheat. It's OK as long as you are Michael Jordan but not if you are Pete Rose. It's OK to consort
with gamblers (Leo Durocher) yet not OK if you are Joe Jackson. So thanks MLB and Commissioner Bud "Buffoon" Selig for really F#$%ing up the sport!
1970 Topps #660 Johnny Bench
As a kid, I grew up collecting cards from the 1970's. My dad actually got us our first cards in 1968 (or maybe a bit later) when he brought home a Milton Bradley game which contained
Topps baseball, football, and other non sports cards (these bright yellow backed cards now carry a significant premium over regular 1968 Topps cards). I remember having that feared
slugger Ed Brinkman (he was a terrific fielder though), Ed Mathews, Hank Aaron, and some guy with the Giants (I can't recall offhand, Jim Davenport?). In the early 1970's I remember
our mom would buy us packs of cards when we were sick (I remember 1971 Topps basketball specifically because of the cool color and graphics; Thanks Mom!!!). And of course all of
the trades and non-trades with my friend Danny Mesorio ("Hose"). I remember he had a 1972 Topps Clemente he brought to wood shop and he was waving it in my face because I
didn't have one and I snatched it and we were running around the class like, well, "hoses." The teacher was not amused and our grades reflected such. Danny also introduced me to
an early hobby publication; I think it was called "The Trader Speaks" and one time we rode our bicycles from Montrose to Culver City (about 35 miles away) to buy a set of 1970 and
1975 Topps baseball cards that I had seen in that periodical. I still remember the toxic bus fumes as we rode behind RTD buses.
Among the top cards from the 1970 set is this third year Johnny Bench card. It is one of his scarcer cards as it was printed in the high numbered series. Frank Robinson and Nolan
Ryan are also in that series. This Bench card is one of my favorites. Bench was the "best of the best" back then and he won his first MVP award in 1970 with a .293 batting average, 45
home runs (led league), and 148 RBIs (also led league). He also won his third Gold Glove award (Bench went on to win 10 Gold Glove Awards). At one time this card was more
valuable then his rookie card (1968 Topps #247 Reds Rookie Stars), selling for $150 in ungraded NM condition! Now a graded NM example like the one above sells for around $85
compared to his rookie card which sells for about $125. However the 1970 Bench is much more difficult to acquire.
Topps baseball, football, and other non sports cards (these bright yellow backed cards now carry a significant premium over regular 1968 Topps cards). I remember having that feared
slugger Ed Brinkman (he was a terrific fielder though), Ed Mathews, Hank Aaron, and some guy with the Giants (I can't recall offhand, Jim Davenport?). In the early 1970's I remember
our mom would buy us packs of cards when we were sick (I remember 1971 Topps basketball specifically because of the cool color and graphics; Thanks Mom!!!). And of course all of
the trades and non-trades with my friend Danny Mesorio ("Hose"). I remember he had a 1972 Topps Clemente he brought to wood shop and he was waving it in my face because I
didn't have one and I snatched it and we were running around the class like, well, "hoses." The teacher was not amused and our grades reflected such. Danny also introduced me to
an early hobby publication; I think it was called "The Trader Speaks" and one time we rode our bicycles from Montrose to Culver City (about 35 miles away) to buy a set of 1970 and
1975 Topps baseball cards that I had seen in that periodical. I still remember the toxic bus fumes as we rode behind RTD buses.
Among the top cards from the 1970 set is this third year Johnny Bench card. It is one of his scarcer cards as it was printed in the high numbered series. Frank Robinson and Nolan
Ryan are also in that series. This Bench card is one of my favorites. Bench was the "best of the best" back then and he won his first MVP award in 1970 with a .293 batting average, 45
home runs (led league), and 148 RBIs (also led league). He also won his third Gold Glove award (Bench went on to win 10 Gold Glove Awards). At one time this card was more
valuable then his rookie card (1968 Topps #247 Reds Rookie Stars), selling for $150 in ungraded NM condition! Now a graded NM example like the one above sells for around $85
compared to his rookie card which sells for about $125. However the 1970 Bench is much more difficult to acquire.
1967 Topps #1 The Champs (Frank Robinson, Hank Bauer, Brooks Robinson)
1956 Topps #33 Roberto Clemente
You will find quite a few cards on this site featuring Roberto Clemente. Clemente was one of the game's greatest players and one of it's greatest ambassadors. He created
ballparks and schools for the Puerto Rican kids in his country and gave the greatest sacrifice, his life, in trying to help others. What more can you say about the great Roberto
Clemente? Here is his second baseball card from the 1956 Topps set. Look at that sweet catch!
Roberto Clemente cards are quite popular and can be expensive (his 1955 Topps rookie card, #164, lists for $1500 in ungraded NM condition!). However an affordable solution
would be one of his later cards from the 1970's. The 1972 Topps #309 Roberto Clemente card lists for $25 in NM condtion, #310 Roberto Clemente In-Action card lists for $15 and
there is also a World Series card in that set that features Clemente (1972 Topps #226 Game 4) that lists for $8. Another great Clemente card is his last card, 1973 Topps #50
which lists at $24.
ballparks and schools for the Puerto Rican kids in his country and gave the greatest sacrifice, his life, in trying to help others. What more can you say about the great Roberto
Clemente? Here is his second baseball card from the 1956 Topps set. Look at that sweet catch!
Roberto Clemente cards are quite popular and can be expensive (his 1955 Topps rookie card, #164, lists for $1500 in ungraded NM condition!). However an affordable solution
would be one of his later cards from the 1970's. The 1972 Topps #309 Roberto Clemente card lists for $25 in NM condtion, #310 Roberto Clemente In-Action card lists for $15 and
there is also a World Series card in that set that features Clemente (1972 Topps #226 Game 4) that lists for $8. Another great Clemente card is his last card, 1973 Topps #50
which lists at $24.
1982 O-Pee-Chee #111 Carlton Fisk (In Action)