Yes, the lovely wife was in for yet another shock tonight on my return from the weekly sports card auction at Cleve's Sports Cards. I came home with quite a haul, for a small time collector. Instead of goody boxes, this time I brought home goody binders. Let's see how I did:
Let's start with one of the main reasons I went tonight. I had my eye on this box of screw down cases, and hoped to get it under $10. I did. $7 got me this box of 34 holders, and I was very happy to see that 6 of them were the magnet types. Full disclosure- I spent $38 total tonight. This particular purchase paid for the evening for me in my estimation.
Purchase grade: A+ I'll take $.18 per screw down/magnet holder any day of the week. And they are in great shape. I'm just ticked that I didn't jump on the box of 50 brand new 9 pocket pages that went for $3.
On to the cards:
I didn't scout this card out before hand, and didn't need it at all, but when no one else was biting for $2, I grabbed it.
Purchase Grade: B It is a Topps Certified auto, but I just didn't need it. Although, if I can get something good in trade for it, I will give myself a better grade.
1956 Sandy Amoros and a 1969 Micky Mantle Checklist Card. These were separate purchases, but in the interest in keeping the post a reasonable length, I combined these cards. I always try to pick up some vintage of players I don't have at these auctions, thus the Amoros. I'll take any Brooklyn Dodger I can find, and this beauty was only $3. The Mantle was $3 as well, and it's now the only vintage Mantle I have. Purchase Grade: A- For the Amoros. I'll take Brooklyn Dodgers for $3 in great condition every time.
C For the Mantle. I didn't get a good look at this card. It has been checkmarked. I also would like an earlier Mantle than 1969. I was too impulsive on this one.
1958 Roberto Clemente- $5. This is actually the second 1958 Clemente I've got from one of Cleve's auctions. Again, I did not scout this one out ahead of time and didn't see the big creases in it from my perch in the back of the store. Still, I think I would have bought it for $5 anyway had I known. It's Roberto Clemete for crying out loud.
Purchase Grade B- It's creased, but it's Clemente and it was $5. Hint: I can definately see this as a potential prize should I decide to do another Big Fun Game in the near future...
1960 Ernie Banks- $7. This was my card of the night. I do not have a vintage Banks, and this one was in fantastic shape! There is a little ink on the bottom of the card and some dings along the edges, but I'm very happy with it. Purchase Grade- A+ I would have had to pay twice this amount for a card in this condition online. It was a HOF player that I wanted but didn't have yet. Best buy of the night IMO.
Tomorrow, I'll cover the goody binders that my wife rolled her eyes at. She's lucky I didn't really go crazy. I held off on a lot. There were several pages of (9) 1956 Commons that I could have had for $3 each. I'm starting to kick myself over that miss. There was a Gayle Sayers autographed football that went for $17. There was a cool ticket from a Yankee game at Yankee Stadium from the 50s that went for $10. There were several unopened wax boxes from the junk wax years that went for $3 each. See baby, it could have been worse. Much worse.
But, so far, what do you think? Can you please explain to the lovely wife what a great job I did? And yes, most all of this (and what I show tomorrow) is up for trade, except the Banks.
