REA Auction update

Last week I posted about the REA Auction. I gave myself $10,000 in 'play' money, focusing only on the reserve (opening) price listed in the catalog.

Now that the auction is closed I decided to see what would have happened if I was the winning bidder (what the items actually sold for). As far as I know, these prices do not include any sort of buyer's premium.

Lot 33

1887-1889 N172 Old Judge SGC-Graded Collection (7)

Starting Bid - $300

Ending Bid - $1,400

Lot 73

1888 N28 Allen & Ginter SGC-Graded Complete Set of Baseball Players (10)

Starting Bid - $500
Ending Bid - $3,250

Lot 101

1887-1941 Prewar Card Collection (51) Plus P2 Sweet Caporal Pins (30)

Starting Bid - $500
Ending Bid - $2,500

Lot 289

Circa 1910 T3, T200, T201, T202, T207 Tobacco Card Collection (50)

Starting Bid - $200
Ending Bid - $1,500

Lot 361

1911 T3 Turkey Red Graded Partial Set (64 cards: 59 Different Plus 5 Duplicates)
Starting Bid - $1,500

Ending Bid - $8,500

Lot 524

1933 R333 DeLong Gum "Die-Cut" Complete Set (24)

Starting Bid - $100

Ending Bid - $800

Lot 605

1949 Leaf #8 Satchel Paige Rookie Card - PSA NM 7

Starting Bid - $4,000
Ending Bid - $14,000

Lot 685

1953 Bowman Color #33 Pee Wee Reese - PSA NM-MT 8

Starting Bid - $400
Ending Bid - $1,100

Lot 949

1934 Oversized Bat Presented to Mickey Cochrane - Signed by Over 140 Players including Gehrig, W. Johnson, Lazzeri, and Hornsby

Starting Bid - $1,000
Ending Bid - $3,000

Lot 980

1948 Bowman Complete Autographed Set (48)

Starting Bid - $500
Ending Bid - $3,250

In my fantasy had I been successful, I'd have spent $39,300 on those sets.

In real life, I didn't bid on anything. But I've got a great catalog, thanks to Robert Lifson, president of Robert Edward Auctions.

I'm a winner!

I enjoy the contests in the sports cards blogosphere. There are many generous bloggers out there.

The other evening I was playing BoBuBingo at Crackin Wax. I didn't win, but had a fun time.

My folks asked if I ever won any of the contests that I entered. I told them of the time I got the off-centered Dan Uggla jersey card from Dinged Corners. And that I just received an Antoine Walker card/jersey card combo from Shot Not Taken.

Then I walk back to the laptop to check my email. I received a note from Mike over at Bad Wax saying that I had won a "Hockey Smorgasbord" of cards. He also asked if we could exchange links on our respective blogs.

I had to think about that one for a while. Mike is a talented writer and has a great blog. His player Definitive Collections are a must read, as are the weekly Free Autograph Signing schedules. What I was having trouble with was his Craig's List Idiots posts. I think that they are an interesting look into sellers trying to make a quick buck. What I don't like is some of the language used in those posts. So, do I link to something that I don't like or set it aside, knowing that readers can get to his blog dozens of other ways? That is what I've been wrestling with in my mind the last day or so.

I tend to be conservative in many areas of my life. I don't use the type language that sometimes show up in the CI posts. I try to keep this blog as PG as possible. I do this for my readers, myself and my family.

I've come to a decision regarding this issue. I'm adding Mike's BadWax blog to my little blogroll. I'm not going to be reading the CI posts. I'm in favor of informed censorship. If you don't want to see/hear/read something, turn off the TV/radio/computer. Be responsible for your own actions. (NOTE: I'm not advocating that those avenues of information be firehosed with all sorts of content. I'm saying that I'm not going to tell Mike or anyone else what they can or can't say on their own blog. If I don't want to read a particular post, I know how to click to another one.)

I've also added Shot Not Taken to the blogroll.

So, thanks for the contest organizers. And thanks to the bloggers.

Update... I created this post this afternoon, but set it to 'be live' at 10:00pm. Since I originally wrote the post, I won another contest.

John, over at Boxes of Cards, held a contest for a TTM signed Bill Virdon card. I wasn't familiar with either his blog or Bill Virdon. But I entered and won.

John has been blogging since March of this year. He's got some very balanced insight and is engaging, with a good base of topics and a specific goal. Hop over there and read about it yourself.

Tales from the Dodger Dugout

I recently finished reading Carl Erksine's Tales from the Dodger Dugout. A delightful read in which the pitcher shares stories and remembrances from his playing days. The stories range in length from a few paragraphs to a few pages. This is not heavy reading. Your mind will not be taxed.

But, your heart will be warmed, your memory jogged and an occasional smile will come to your face.

Here's a scan of Carl's autograph from the front pages of the book.

If you need something to fill a quiet evening, this might be the book for you.

Answers to your comments

I haven't quite figured out the best way to answer or respond to the comments that readers leave.

So, I'll do it here...

Dave commented on Smokies Stumble out of the gate: I'll have to check the Carolina Mudcats schedule to see when he and his team will be in town.

The Smokies will be visiting your Mudcats on the following dates: May 31-June 4, July 4-7 and August 22-26. Should be some good series.

Several readers commented on Name Those Ball Parks.

Dan got all five right.

More readers commented on Cards-R-Fun, in particular, the ladies over at Dinged Corners who asked: No web presence--does he even sell on ebay?

Short answer is: No. He isn't computer savvy. His wife sold some stuff on ebay, but didn't like to keep up with it.

Angie (my wife) commented on A day late: Silly me. . . I thought you were going to post a birthday entry for your daughter. :)

My response: I did, already. Look at my Happy Birthdays post. Sad when spouses have resorted to communicating through blogs. Especially about their children. Really, though we had a delightful time with two parties. I think that Angie's got some photos on up on her blog. I'm sure that there will be more to come.

And an open response to those that read this blog, whether you've commented or not...

Thank you. There are times when I wonder if anyone reads it (and if they do), are they taking anything of value from it? My guess is that bloggers go through moments of this type of wonderment. I've received some very kind comments and feel very accepted in this small part of the 'net. I thank you, kind readers.

Legs akimbo

 

While looking through some Diamondback cards with my dad I eyed this 2001 Fleer Triple Crown card of Jay Bell (card # 119).

I think that Mr. Bell is avoiding Eric Young who is trying to break up a double play.  My other guess is that the extra leg belongs to Tony Womack, shortstop for the D-backs.

This two time All-Star (1993 & 1999) has a World Series ring (2001) and has gracefully suspended his 184 lb. body in mid-air for 8 years now.  Okay, maybe not gracefully.  But eight years is a really long time, graceful or not.

Maybe being born at the Eglin Air Force Base gives some clue.  Perhaps his father was involved in some sort of secret, invisible, hovering aircraft project and Jay stole a miniature version.

 

Latest ebay Hershiser

Here's the latest Hershiser card for my collection. 

It is a 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game, Forever Game-Used Jersey card, number F-OH.  I picked it up on ebay for $2.21, plus $2.79 shipping.  Five bucks.  Yeah, I know, jersey cards are yesterday's cards.  Well, I like yesterday's cards.

There are 23 different cards in this subset.  According to the 2008 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, production numbers are:

Common Player: 149 sets

Jersey: 99 sets

Patch Number: 49 sets

Patch Logo: 10 sets

I'm a bit confused by this.  This is a subset of jerseys.  Any common player should have a jersey, therefore there shouldn't be a difference.

If you look in the upper left on the back of the card, there is a small discolored area.  This is a gap in the UV coating.  I'm assuming that it is UV.  The coating is glossy.  The gap isn't.  I'm guessing that that this is where the card should be numbered.  But it wasn't.

The card also seems to be cut slightly crooked.  The border isn't equal all the way around.  Not the end of the world.

For five bucks I'm happy.

New REA catalog

Here's the new Robert Edward Auctions catalog. I received it via UPS Red the second week of April. For the last few weeks I've been looking over it, almost lusting over some of the items that they offer. Almost.

The bulk of the catalog deals with baseball although some football, basketball, boxing, hockey and non-sport crop up towards the end. 1,558 lots crammed into 642 full color pages. Do not read this while standing over small children. Should you drop it, serious harm could be inflicted.

I decided to give into my auction fantasy and wondered what damage I could do with $10,000. As I selected items, I only kept the tally on the reserve price. For reference, I've included the current (as of Friday evening) prices. When the auction is over, I'll count the real cost.

I selected items that I'd want to own. Some of the items in the catalog didn't do much for me. I don't really think I'd want a jersey. I'd take a signed baseball, though I didn't include it in my "purchases."

My favorites are the 1953 Pee Wee Reese card and the 1948 Leroy Paige card, with the T3 Turkey Reds coming in a close third. I like the Pee Wee Reese card because of the action. I like the Leroy Paige card because of the look on his face. It doesn't matter that it is his rookie card.

That being said, here are my selections...

Lot 33

1887-1889 N172 Old Judge SGC-Graded Collection (7)

Starting Bid - $300

Current Bid - $1,100

Lot 73

1888 N28 Allen & Ginter SGC-Graded Complete Set of Baseball Players (10)

Starting Bid - $500
Current Bid - $3,250

Lot 101

1887-1941 Prewar Card Collection (51) Plus P2 Sweet Caporal Pins (30)

Starting Bid - $500
Current Bid - $1,800

Lot 289

Circa 1910 T3, T200, T201, T202, T207 Tobacco Card Collection (50)

Starting Bid - $200
Current Bid - $1,200

Lot 361

1911 T3 Turkey Red Graded Partial Set (64 cards: 59 Different Plus 5 Duplicates)
Starting Bid - $1,500

Current Bid - $7,500

Lot 524

1933 R333 DeLong Gum "Die-Cut" Complete Set (24)

Starting Bid - $100

Current Bid - $700

Lot 605

1949 Leaf #8 Satchel Paige Rookie Card - PSA NM 7

Starting Bid - $4,000
Current Bid - $14,000

Lot 685

1953 Bowman Color #33 Pee Wee Reese - PSA NM-MT 8

Starting Bid - $400
Current Bid - $1,100

Lot 949

1934 Oversized Bat Presented to Mickey Cochrane - Signed by Over 140 Players including Gehrig, W. Johnson, Lazzeri, and Hornsby

Starting Bid - $1,000
Current Bid - $2,250

Lot 980

1948 Bowman Complete Autographed Set (48)

Starting Bid - $500
Current Bid - $1,500

As a bonus, REA included a magnet with the catalog. It is the cover of the catalog. Right now it is keeping a recipe for Hearty Lentil Soup firmly attached to the side of the fridge.

The auction ends on Saturday.