I ran across this advertisement for “beautiful 4 color cardboard storage boxes” in the October 1977 issue of The Trader Speaks but haven’t been able to find any more information about them! If you have any, please reach out.
Hobby Library
The American Premium Guide To Baseball Cards
I ran across this advertisement for what is now a Hobby Library essential, The American Premium Guide to Baseball Cards by Ron Erbe, in the October 1981 issue of The Trader Speaks.
As the advertisement says, the book is massive, at 752 softbound pages.
It’s full of interesting info. Here’s the Table of Contents.
As an example of the book’s awesomeness, here’s a photo of a 1956 Topps promotional sheet—the same one I shared from Baseball Cards magazine.
They also included a nice collage of T206 white border backs.
But every set has a nice, insightful introduction.
If you have a Hobby Library, I recommend picking up a copy of this book. Despite inflation, you can still get a copy shipped to you for the cover price of $14.95.
1945-46 Caramelo Deportivo Cuban League Set In Original Album
High on The Hobby Library want list is a 1945-46 Caramelo Deportivo Cuban League original album, ideally with a complete set inside; this one, from Mastro in June 2006, came with a near set (98/100).
The scan pictured above is from Mastro’s June 2006 Classic Collector Auction, and the catalog didn’t include a description of the catalog. However, a few other auction houses have offered these albums.
But first, if you’re interested in learning more about the set, Pre-War Cards, and Cardhound Vintage have nice summaries. Now, Hake’s Auctions offered an album with a complete set of 100 cards in their March 2013 auction; it sold for $805. Here’s the item description, followed by a few of the photos they included online:
8.25×10.75″ album w/thin cardboard cover has 16 pages and contains complete set of 100 cards all mounted at appropriate spots. Issued by Caramelo Deportivo (Sporting Caramels) this set covers the 1945-46 Cuban Winter League season and features teams: Habana, Almendares, Marianao and Cienfuegos. These teams are represented by pennants on the cover art and color pennant cards inside. The other cards have bw photos. Cards are 1-7/8×2-5/8″. Page text includes info on the players, teams, etc. Inside back cover has season results filled in by original owner as intended. This set features many former and future stars of the Major Leagues as well as the Negro Leagues, in some cases providing the only cards issued contemporary with their playing careers. The top card in the set is Martin Dihigo. The other key cards are Ray Dandridge, Raymond Brown, Minnie Minoso and Napoleon Reyes (which was a short print incentive card and therefore scarce). Other stars include Armando Marsans, Lazaro Salazar, Manuel “Cocaina” Garcia, Adolfo Luque, Luis Tiant Sr., Dick Sisler. Cards have general wear/aging as mounted but images for the most part remain bold and distinct throughout. Visually some cards are just VG but most exceed this and are more in the Exc. visual realm, including most the keys. Cover is well worn and split along spine edge w/tape repairs. Trace of staple rust. Pages also worn/aged. Small 1×1/5″ piece missing from top edge of back cover and last page but not affecting any cards. Album itself only about Good. Please contact us if more detailed card condition information and/or photos are desired. From the Richard Merkin Collection and comes with Hake’s COA.
A few years earlier, in June 2009, Lelands sold this album with 91 cards pasted in for just under $400.
If you’ve got an album for sale, reach out; I’m a buyer. Happy collecting!
Topps Remembers Willie, Mickey & The Duke
Despite its short run of only 16 issues, Topps Magazine produced a ton of amazing content, including this brief piece from Skip Rozin on New York heroes Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider.
I love that the magazine highlighted the three players’ 1952 Topps baseball cards.
An Advertisement For TCMA’s 1978 Official Minor League Card Sets
TCMA was ahead of its time, as evident in this advertisement from the June 1978 issue of The Trader Speaks, which offered a subscription to their 1978 Minor League card sets.
You also got to pick from your choice of a free 1975, 1976, or 1977 set when you signed up.
Based on TCDB’s archives, it looks like TCMA printed at least 27 minor league sets in 1978. A few of the bigger 1978 TCMA minor league cards were the Knoxville Knox Sox Harold Baines, Tidewater Tides Mike Scott, Greenwood Braves Brian Snitker, and the first card for hobby favorite Rusty Kuntz.
A Bobby Bonilla Advertisement For Ultra PRO Platinum Hologram Pages
Bobby Bonilla was a spokesman for Ultra PRO in early 1992. Do you think they’re still paying him today, like the Mets?
If you weren’t tracking:
After being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers part way through the 1998 season, he signed with the New York Mets for a second time in 1999. When the Mets wanted to release him at the end of the year, he negotiated a settlement whereby the Mets would pay him $1.19 million on July 1 every year from 2011 through 2035, a date that has become known in Mets fandom as “Bobby Bonilla Day”. He is also paid $500,000 by the Orioles every year from 2004 to 2028 due to them also having a deferred contract with him.
Wikipedia
PS, I scanned the Ultra PRO advertisement from the April 1992 issue of Trading Cards Magazine.
A 1976 Laughlin Diamond Jubilee Ad
If you read modern hobby guides about the 1976 Laughlin Diamond Jubilee set, most will say that the cards were available from the artist for $3.50. Well, here’s an ad from the March 1977 issue of The Trader Speaks proving it!
Note that not only were sets advertised for $3.50, but you could get “2 sets for $6.”
Laughlin described the set as 32 cards based on baseball’s most memorable moments, like Hank Aaron’s 715th home run.
