It’s been awhile since I’ve had a reaction from the lovely wife regarding my trips to Cleve’s. She mostly just takes a quick look at what I bring home, nods or snorts, depending on if she approves of the pickups or not and goes about her business. So when I came home tonight with my usual armload she asked the question from the title -“This isn’t going to stop, is it Napkin?”
It was more of a statement than question, and was posited more with acceptance than indignation. She was pretty blown away with Cleve’s generosity with me the other day. Plus, despite her teasing, I think she knows how much I enjoy this stuff. But the question made me think a little, and what I realized kind of depressed me. It IS going to stop someday. Cleve won’t hold these auctions forever. One of these days he’ll hang up his spikes and close shop. I don’t think it will happen soon, but it will happen. Apparently, well run shops with owners who care about the hobby like Cleve are apparently a rare breed. That’s really a shame. And selfishly, I dread that as when eTopps decided to pull the plug, another source of cards (and blog material) will be taken from me. I can’t imagine anyone will take over the auctions when Cleve has had enough. He’s too well connected and has too many sources across the country to be easily replaced.
But, like I said, I don’t think it will stop anytime soon, so I’m going to enjoy the auctions while I can. This week was really, really solid. Here is part 1 of what I got:
This 1960 Topps Whitey Ford is in fantastic shape. I would bet it would get a very nice grade if I were to send it in, which I'm not. This is one of the few 1960 Topps cards I have, so it will make a great addition to my sampler album (which I've not yet started). Great deal for $6 I think.
Speaking of sampler album, I bought this lot of 1972 Topps Cards for just that purpose. For $3 I got this nice little assortment of stars, all of which are, like the Ford above, in great shape:
Vintage Grades:
1960 Topps Whitey Ford- $6 A: A vintage card of a Hall of Famer that is in near mint condition. Hard to beat that.
1972 Topps Lot $3 A: Great looking cards, and all of well known players.
1965 Topps Embossed Lot B+: These aren't all in great shape, and not exactly star players, but they're still pretty cool looking, and only $.60 per card.
4 comments:
A++++ on the Whitey! Great card from a great set.
Glad this isn't going to stop. I live vicariously through you.
That is a great deal on those 72s. That is one of my favorite sets.
I also go to a shop that is rare in the sense that the employees are super kind and always down to talk baseball. They have a cool bid board and are starting a trade night in a couple weeks. But, I would love an auction night, which seems social and interactive. I hope the new trade night at my LCS becomes a cool gathering of baseball fans and collectors.
Awesome pickups. The Ford especially. Great, great price.
I'd probably pay that much just for the Bench. Nice going as usual.
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