Cardboard Treasure

I did it! I finally did it! I found some cardboard treasure in Brooklyn -- and on my street nonetheless. I was walking home from parking my car and turned on my street. To my right I noticed a set of bobbleheads on a table and was immediately lured over. To my delight the entire table was filled with anything and everything baseball. Eventually, my eyes were drawn to a pile of cards that served as a base for Rod Carew and all his 1975 Topps glory. I picked up the pile and began sifting through them. I came across Gaylord Perry, Steve Carlton, Jim Palmer, Johnny Bench, Rollie Fingers, and Vida Blue just to name a few. I asked the kid (he was probably in his mid 20’s) how much he wanted for the 27 cards I had picked out. He told me to name a price, and I blurted out “$10”? “Deal”! He said.

After completing the deal I walked across the street to my  apartment and began looking up the value of each card. It turns out that the book value of all 32 cards came out to $114.15! Of course I probably wouldn’t get that much for them, but it’s really not the point. I finally found some cardboard treasure in Brooklyn!

The cream of the crop! '75 Topps Steve Carlton, '74 Topps Jim Palmer, '78 Topps Johnny Bench, '75 Topps Rod Carew, and a '71 Topps Joe Niekro.

A '75 Topps Jim Kaat, '75 Topps World Series-Rollie Fingers, '72 Topps Bert Blyleven, '74 Topps Catfish Hunter, '75 Topps Joe Morgan, and a '72 Topps Vida Blue.

A '73 Topps Lou Piniella, '76 Topps Rollie Fingers, '74 Topps Vida Blue, '73 Topps Bert Blyleven, '73 Topps Don Sutton, and a '75 Gaylord Perry.

Here are the two newest cards that fetched the most value. An '05 Bowman Chrome Draft Refractor Melky Cabrera Rookie, and a '05 Topps Update Ryan Braun Rookie. Both are in great condition!

Here are some of the lower valued cards. '98 Pinnacle Plus Cal Ripken Jr., '92 Upper Deck Manny Ramirez Rookie, and a '00 Upper Deck Black Diamond Rookie Edition Mike Piazza. I was surprised the Manny Ramirez Rookie didn't fetch more, but I'm sure that card was way overproduced back in the day.

The bottom of the barrel. I was surprised that the Olerud and Pedro rookies didn't fetch more, but again they were probably overproduced.

I also found these cards. I had never heard of the Ballstreet brand before today. Apparently these cards were only made in '91 and '92. If anyone could provide more information these cards it would be greatly appreciated.

Oh...I almost forgot about this '03-'04 Just Prospects Robinson Card. I have never heard of this card company before, but it's a cool card nonetheless.