Anonymous Collectibles NJ said...

“Let me see if I got this right. You buy low grade

beat up cards and feature them on your blog.

That’s awesome. Totally different than all the

other blogs I have seen featuring the nicest cards.”


12.31.2008

1973 Topps
Roberto Clemente

While I am more than happy to have a few of these cards in different conditions, this example makes me sad, and not because of the many pinholes.

It was on this day, 36 years ago, that the baseball world lost one of its finest players.

Clemente died on December 31, 1972, in an airplane accident while helping earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

While I did not get this cards from its wax pack, I can only imagine the feelings its original owner felt after opening that pack and getting the recently-departed superstar.

Happy and sad, I guess.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I too posted a blog about Clemente on December 31 . . . like minds think alike . . . lets trade links . . . http://www.wait-til-next-year.blogspot.com
Happy New Year
Steve

John Keller said...

Great tribute to Clemente. Sweeeet!

Anonymous said...

As great a player as Roberto Clemente was, he was an even better human being.

LADXXX said...

I own the 1973 Clemente card, and yes I opened that pack with Clemente's last card as an 11 year old. The smell of gum and the powder on the card are long gone now, but the card remains on my office shelf in its protective holder.

As a Pittsburgh native, I remember watching Roberto hit 2 home runs in a game while sitting in the Three Rivers Stands. I was too young for JFK; but to this day I remember the pain in my gut and the tears in my eyes as my father told my the devastating news New Years morning.