Vintage Sports Cards – Baseball – Basketball – Football – Hockey
Here’s some hobby-show history from March 1982, when you could get a Hank Aaron autograph for $5!
The advertisement for the “East Coast’s Newest and Largest Show..Sports & Paper Collectible Show and Sale” in White Plains, NY, was scanned from the February 1982 issue of Trader Speaks.
And here’s what may be the coolest Hank Aaron signed items in the hobby: a signed ticket stub from the game where he hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth.
How cool is this giant vintage Wonder Bread cardboard sign? It’s dated to the late ‘50s and pictures eight of the era’s biggest stars in “floating” headshot style, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Elston Howard, Warren Spahn, Stan Musial, Paul Hornung, Del Shofner, and Sam Huff.
The December 2001 auction lot described the cardboard display as “thick” and 46 x 34 inches.
This would be an awesome collectible for Boston Celtics fans, a B.F. Goodrich Bob Cousy “P.F.” Basketball Shoe Advertisement.
The “P.F.” All-American was B.F. Goodrich Company’s shoe made to compete with Converse’s “Chuck Taylor.” I’m sure having Cousy endorse the product helped; he was one of the most popular players in the 1950s.
The item was available in MastroWest Auction’s March 2000 catalog and was described as a 22″ x 20″ cardboard piece in Ex-Mt to Nr-Mt condition.
How’s this for a hobby niche—Topps Signed Checks! Here’s an official Topps Chewing Gum Inc.” copy dated May 19, 1961, made out to Henry L. Aaron!
The back has Aaron’s signature and a printed agreement between Topps and Aaron for the rights to use his image on the upcoming years’ baseball cards.
This incredible piece of hobby memorabilia, a Josh Gibson signed Puerto Rican Winter League contract, was offered up for sale in the Mastro West Auction March 2000 catalog.
Gibson is considered one of the greatest catchers and hitters in baseball history. Gibson signed this contract with the Santurce ballclub in New York City on August 29, 1945. The contract states, “For the aforementioned services, the team will pay the player the sum of twenty-five dollars per week.”