| The Horror... The Horror... Baseball Card Atrocities!) R.I.P. |
Long before there were grading companies that entombed a card forever in a plastic case, long before there were plastic sleeves and sheets to protect & store cards in, long
before there was a Beckett's or Sports Collectors Digest to tell you how much a card is "worth," there were the cards themselves. What did these naive card collectors for heaven's
sake do with their cardboard treasures? They PLAYED with them that's what! They studied the stats, checked out what a player looked like in his new uniform, looked for errors
and goofs that the card companies occassionally would provide for them, played games with them, traded for them, wrote on them, and even stuck 'em on bike spokes to make
cool sound effects. The hobby and dealers would have you think these are "JUNK," when actually they are really just "well loved cards." Here we present a gallery of some well
loved cards. These cards have been loved more than the most expensive cards in the world. Enjoy!
before there was a Beckett's or Sports Collectors Digest to tell you how much a card is "worth," there were the cards themselves. What did these naive card collectors for heaven's
sake do with their cardboard treasures? They PLAYED with them that's what! They studied the stats, checked out what a player looked like in his new uniform, looked for errors
and goofs that the card companies occassionally would provide for them, played games with them, traded for them, wrote on them, and even stuck 'em on bike spokes to make
cool sound effects. The hobby and dealers would have you think these are "JUNK," when actually they are really just "well loved cards." Here we present a gallery of some well
loved cards. These cards have been loved more than the most expensive cards in the world. Enjoy!
This 1954 Topps Ted Williams card
(to the right) should get some sort of
award for it has almost every kind of
atrocity committed upon it; Trimming,
writing, creasing, tears...it just doesn't
get any better than this!
(to the right) should get some sort of
award for it has almost every kind of
atrocity committed upon it; Trimming,
writing, creasing, tears...it just doesn't
get any better than this!
1954 Topps #1 Ted Williams
Mickey Mantle is one of the most beloved baseball players; partly
because of his exploits on the field, and partly of his exploits off
the field, which resulted in his premature death in 1996. This 1953
Bowman Mickey Mantle card truly looks like it has spent the last
52 years in someone's back pocket. Bob Costas perhaps? (Costas
by the way keeps a 1958 Topps Mantle All-Star card in his wallet).
I don't think there is a place on this card that ISN'T creased!
(Note: This card still managed to sell on ebay for $83.45!)
because of his exploits on the field, and partly of his exploits off
the field, which resulted in his premature death in 1996. This 1953
Bowman Mickey Mantle card truly looks like it has spent the last
52 years in someone's back pocket. Bob Costas perhaps? (Costas
by the way keeps a 1958 Topps Mantle All-Star card in his wallet).
I don't think there is a place on this card that ISN'T creased!
(Note: This card still managed to sell on ebay for $83.45!)
1953 Bowman #59 Mickey Mantle
This Tony Conigliaro card is from the 1967 season
in which he was seriously beaned and missed the
World Series. This card is a well loved gem that
reminds us of what could of been for Tony C..."
(card courtesy of the Fred Mauro Collection)
For more on Tony C, check out our new TONY C
Page!
in which he was seriously beaned and missed the
World Series. This card is a well loved gem that
reminds us of what could of been for Tony C..."
(card courtesy of the Fred Mauro Collection)
For more on Tony C, check out our new TONY C
Page!
1955 Topps #2 Ted Williams
1955 Topps #47 Hank Aaron
This is just a damn shame. How can ANYONE deface a Ted Williams card? I am at a loss for words on this one.
I also have no idea why someone would trim (& badly at that) this second year Henry "Hank" Aaron card. Sometimes you find cards that have been trimmed slightly to
hide flaws and make the card appear nicer than it is. This is death to a baseball card. And worse it is usually a high priced card that someone ends up paying a lot of
money for. That is called "deceptive trimming." The Aaron card above is not a deceptively trimmed card at all. But either way trimmed cards bring little if any value so I
don't suggest you do ANY of these things to your cards!
I also have no idea why someone would trim (& badly at that) this second year Henry "Hank" Aaron card. Sometimes you find cards that have been trimmed slightly to
hide flaws and make the card appear nicer than it is. This is death to a baseball card. And worse it is usually a high priced card that someone ends up paying a lot of
money for. That is called "deceptive trimming." The Aaron card above is not a deceptively trimmed card at all. But either way trimmed cards bring little if any value so I
don't suggest you do ANY of these things to your cards!
I guess someone did not like the potato chips as they cut
out "Dan-Dee" from the front of this very scarce Mickey
Mantle issue. Too bad, as this card otherwise would be
very valuable (around $2000 in NM condition). As it is this
one would grade POOR at best and definetly used as a
"filler" until a better copy could be obtained. Regardless it
is a VERY tough Mantle and one of the most expensive
Mickey Mantle cards from the 1950's. Note the tape stain
on the card back; this card was probably taped to the wall
of a young Mickey Mantle fan back in 1954.
out "Dan-Dee" from the front of this very scarce Mickey
Mantle issue. Too bad, as this card otherwise would be
very valuable (around $2000 in NM condition). As it is this
one would grade POOR at best and definetly used as a
"filler" until a better copy could be obtained. Regardless it
is a VERY tough Mantle and one of the most expensive
Mickey Mantle cards from the 1950's. Note the tape stain
on the card back; this card was probably taped to the wall
of a young Mickey Mantle fan back in 1954.
(back viewl)
1954 Dan-Dee Potato Chips Mickey Mantle
This "Say Hey" Willie Mays card was well loved. So well-loved in
fact that "Allen" had to put his name on his beloved treasure.
This card has not really been abused, but rather was the victim
of unconditional love. The obvious corner rounding is further
testimony that this card was well-handled, probably studied over
numerous times by Allen as he debated with his pals over who
was the greatest centerfielder in New York in 1954- Willie,
Mickey, or the "Duke." Allen, wherever you are, I hope you
someday get your card back...
fact that "Allen" had to put his name on his beloved treasure.
This card has not really been abused, but rather was the victim
of unconditional love. The obvious corner rounding is further
testimony that this card was well-handled, probably studied over
numerous times by Allen as he debated with his pals over who
was the greatest centerfielder in New York in 1954- Willie,
Mickey, or the "Duke." Allen, wherever you are, I hope you
someday get your card back...
1954 Topps #90 Willie Mays
EEEEEEK!!! Saw this one on eBay. A 1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson is a very
valuable card; however this one has been torn right through Jackie's forehead which would
lower the grade to no better than Poor, the lowest grade on the grading scale. Too bad.
There is no way this tear is accidental so some kid probably either didn't like Jackie
Robinson (maybe he was a Giants fan) or maybe it was a little sister who got in her
brother's room and created mayhem. Who knows. Regardless it finds a treasured spot on
our BASEBALL CARD ATROCITIES page!
valuable card; however this one has been torn right through Jackie's forehead which would
lower the grade to no better than Poor, the lowest grade on the grading scale. Too bad.
There is no way this tear is accidental so some kid probably either didn't like Jackie
Robinson (maybe he was a Giants fan) or maybe it was a little sister who got in her
brother's room and created mayhem. Who knows. Regardless it finds a treasured spot on
our BASEBALL CARD ATROCITIES page!
| 1955 Topps #210 Duke Snider |
WHAT THE ??????!!!
P.S.> I am looking for a vintage card that has been shot with a BB
gun or has some cool holes punched in it. If you have any, or of ANY
other great card that has been tortured to death please send me a
scan and I will add your card to our BASEBALL CARD ATTROCITIES
PAGE!!!
P.S.> I am looking for a vintage card that has been shot with a BB
gun or has some cool holes punched in it. If you have any, or of ANY
other great card that has been tortured to death please send me a
scan and I will add your card to our BASEBALL CARD ATTROCITIES
PAGE!!!
This 1955 Topps Duke Snider card happens to be the last card in the set
and as such, it is rarely found in high grade. This one has seen some time
with what looks like water stains, surface wear, and well rounded corners.
This card has not really been "abused," but it appears it did suffer some
unintentional damage. Maybe it was in a basement that got flooded (which
happened to my 1972 Topps collection back in the great Highland Park
flood of '72). But compared to the 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle card (above,
right) this Snider appears pretty damn good!
and as such, it is rarely found in high grade. This one has seen some time
with what looks like water stains, surface wear, and well rounded corners.
This card has not really been "abused," but it appears it did suffer some
unintentional damage. Maybe it was in a basement that got flooded (which
happened to my 1972 Topps collection back in the great Highland Park
flood of '72). But compared to the 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle card (above,
right) this Snider appears pretty damn good!
| 1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson |
| 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle |
1971 Topps #630 Roberto Clemente 1963 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle 1953 Bowman Color #117 Duke Snider
One thing about lesser condition cards is that you can get them for CHEAP! While not the most eye-pleasing examples, they are still vintage baseball cards
and some, like the above examples, can literally be had for pennies on the dollar. All 3 of these examples were listed on eBay. I don't know how much they
actually sold for, but I would imagine the Clemente sold for less than $5, the Mantle for maybe $15-$20, and the Snider, which looks like an example of "Rats
Gone Wild," for maybe the same. If these cards were near mint examples, the Clemente would sell for about $90, the Mantle for close to $400, and the
Snider for $450.
and some, like the above examples, can literally be had for pennies on the dollar. All 3 of these examples were listed on eBay. I don't know how much they
actually sold for, but I would imagine the Clemente sold for less than $5, the Mantle for maybe $15-$20, and the Snider, which looks like an example of "Rats
Gone Wild," for maybe the same. If these cards were near mint examples, the Clemente would sell for about $90, the Mantle for close to $400, and the
Snider for $450.
| 1968 Topps #280 Tony Conigliaro |
1977 TCMA Ed Plank
| 1963 Fleer #8 Carl Yastrzemski |