Rapid Fire

Collecting The world of vintage baseball cards BY MICHAEL OSACKY The hobby of collecting baseball cards picked POPULAR SETS Many veterans were up steam in the early 1950s, when athletes such collectors before and as , Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and after their military service. On a recent Sandy Koufax graced the baseball diamond. The trip to New York, I met with a Vietnam sport was embraced as the national pastime, War veteran who was reluctant to and boys were in heaven trading and coveting share his story. When he went off to the cards of their favorite players. serve his country, his mother threw Many of the era’s best baseball players out his card collection, which had fought for their country in World War II and been passed down to him from his were deeply proud of their service. Like them, grandfather. She thought she was just getting my grandfather returned from the war, married rid of “clutter.” When her son returned home Wartime veterans from war, his room had been cleaned, and Babe and started a new life. When I was 16, he gave inducted into Ruth, and cards from the me a musty old shoebox full of old baseball the Baseball Hall 1920s and 1930s were among the items thrown cards rescued from the attic. My excitement of Fame and passion for collecting was ignited that day. away. A treasure trove of history gone forever. As a vintage card/ The more popular sets collected include: Army appraiser and collector, I want to help preserve Tobacco cards from 1909-1911 These were 55 these pieces of history. As I travel through inserted into tobacco packages. The reverse different states, I relish the thrill of the hunt for sides are ads for different tobacco brands. 25 Navy vintage baseball card collections. Each has a Cracker Jack cards Issued in 1914 and 1915 in Marine unique story of how and when it was obtained, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Chicago, these were a Corps its significance to the owner, and the question gimmick to increase sales. One of the most 4 of how the collection will be passed on to famous advertising ploys in sports history, cards Coast future generations. Unfortunately, an unknown featured future Hall of Famers such as “Shoeless” 1 Guard amount of vintage memorabilia will never see Joe Jackson, Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson. the light of day again, lost to the passage of Caramel staining is usually prevalent. Inductees in the time or landfills. National Baseball Hall 1933 This set of 234 cards includes Sports memorabilia is a niche hobby that has of Fame who served many future Hall of Famers. The set has four evolved over time. Many people are unsure of during wartime in cards and two Lou Gehrigs. The key how to value their vintage card collection, so more than one card needed to complete the set is . here are a few tips for the amateur card collector: conflict are Larry The only way to obtain it was to write the MacPhail (Army, Is your card trimmed? Unscrupulous people Goudey Gum Co. World War I and trim cards to make it seem like the card has four 1952 This year produced Mickey Mantle’s World War II) and Ted perfectly sharp corners. Use a ruler to . Williams (Marine determine if a card is the appropriate size. Corps, World War II Has there been paper loss? Many cards in the A BIT OF HISTORY Hall of Famer and World and Korean War). early 1900s were glued in scrapbooks. I’ve seen War II veteran is the only pitcher in Source: Baseball-Almanac.com cards that look great, but when I turn them Major League Baseball history to pitch an over, the entire back is missing. Remember to opening day no-hitter. Shortly before his death look at both the front and back of the card. If in December 2010, we met for his last sit-down it’s glued into a scrapbook, do not remove. interview. He served as a gunner on USS Pay attention to centering. People pay less Alabama and missed four years of baseball to money for cards that are “off-center.” Cards defend his country. Feller struck out all-stars with off centering (top to bottom and/or left to such as Mantle, Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio. He right) are visually unappealing. never struck out Ruth but did see him pitch. Creasing matters. Creasing, big or small, will significantly lower the value of a card. Use a Michael Osacky is an expert appraiser and historic preserver of pre-1970 sports cards and magnifying glass to help identify creases. memorabilia. He writes a column for Parade. Most cards manufactured after 1975 are worthless. There are a few exceptions, but www.baseballintheattic.com these are rare. (312) 379-9090

56 the american legion magazine | december 2013