1962 Topps All-Star Willie Mays

It must have been 1982 or so and I was earning about $20 every Saturday helping my uncle put newspapers in racks around town. One day after completing the route, we stopped by a local baseball card shop.

If my memory serves me, baseball card shops were starting to spring up about then. A few years later, there would be hundreds to choose from.

As I made my way throught the shop, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I know that phrase is overused but that's the best way I can describe the feeling I had as I saw shelf after shelf of vintage cards in cases.

The pricetags were scarry for a 13-year-old. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Earnie Banks, Willie Mays. Superstar cards selling for $20-30 each!

How could I justify spending my entire earnings on a single card? What would my mom say if I told her I spent it all on a baseball card?

Instead, I gravitated to a binder marked 25 cents. Looking through, I found my first poor old baseball cards. Warren Spahn, Bob Lemon, Ed Mathews, Luis Aparicio, Early Wynn, Al Kaline, Juan Marichal and this Willie Mays. All cards from the late 1950s into the 60s.

I was thrilled. I must have spent $3-$4. Each card went into my binder.

It was in that same shop that I bought my first Bowman, a 1955 Art Ditmar. Later I learned about Goudey and bought a 1933 Phil Collins. And then I saved up for my first T206, a George McQuillan.

I remember, for some reason, really wanting a 1933 Goudey Frankie Frisch. I must have called that shop every day for months asking the owner it's price. It was always too much.

A week ago I got a 1934 Goudey Frankie Frisch. I'm still waiting for that 1933.

1949 Bowman Willie 'Puddin-Head' Jones

It's one thing to have a pejorative nickname, it's another to have it printed on the back of your baseball card. At least I assume it's degrading, right?

When trying to find the meaning of 'Puddin-Head' I got several explanations.

One refers to the fact that Willie Jones wasn't the brightest bulb in the box. Another attributes it to a popular song of the 1930s. A third says Jones was hit in the head, not ducking while sliding into second base. A fourth says he actually liked to eat pudding.

So which was it? Anyone out there know?

Jones himself was a pretty good third baseman and two-time All-Star. He was an important part of the 1950 Whiz Kids team. And he had a unique nickname.

1955 Bowman Allie Reynolds

Today I learned that Allie Reynolds was part of the Creek Nation. And as a Native American ballplayer, he was nicknamed Superchief.

In baseball's days past, most Native American players were nicknamed Chief: Chief Bender, Chief Meyers.

Slow farmboys were called Rube: Rube Marquard, Rube Waddell.

Deaf players were called Dummy: Dummy Hoy. Dummy Taylor.

Today, these nicknames would not be tolerated. Reynolds played at least 40 years after the other players mentioned. I've never heard of anyone calling him Superchief. He's always been known as Allie as far as I knew.

But that's not the case for the others. I would have to think hard to tell you Chief Bender's real first name is Charles. And did you know Marquard's real name is Richard and Hoy's is William?

Reynolds was actually a pretty good pitcher for some pretty good teams.

He threw two no-hitters in one year, was named to six All-Star games and won 6 world championships as a member of the New York Yankees.

Many consider him a borderline Hall-of Famer. More than just a nickname.

1968 Topps Harmon Killebrew

Do yourself a favor.

After reading this post, log onto eBay and type in "1968 Topps Harmon Killebrew." Buy it.

One in this condition should cost you about $2. One in much better condition about $5.

Take the card, admire it for a few days and then give it to a kid. It doesn't matter if it's a son or grandson, daugher or granddaughter, nephew or niece.

Explain that Harmon Killebrew was one heck of a ballplayer and one of the game's good guys.

Tell them of his 573 home runs, his 13 All-Star appearances and his 1969 MVP season.

Tell them about the time he hit a ball 520-feet in Minnesota or the time he hit a ball over the left field roof at Detroit's Tiger Stadium. Tell them how he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

And make sure to tell them about his character. That he was a nice guy. That he played fair and with humility.

1949 Remar Baking Charles Dressen

I had never seen one of these cards before this one arrived a few weeks back.

The 32-card set was exclusively comprised of members of the Pacific Coast League's Oakland Oaks. And while Charlie Dressen would make a name for himself as manager of Brooklyn's Boys of Summer from 1951-53, the best know acorn on the team was a young infielder named Billy Martin.

Only available in the Bay Area, this is a fairly rare set but not a particularly  expensive one. Distributed in loaves of Remar bread, samples can be found for under $10.

What a treat to go along with that peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

1920 W516 George Kelly

It happened again.

I was talking to a local baseball card store owner a few weeks ago and I was explaining my preference for poor old baseball cards. The man said he was reluctant in buying poor cards because there's no market.

It's not like someone comes in every day asking for a ripped Mickey Mantle or a heavily creased Willie Mays.

But there's something I've noticed lately. The value of poor old baseball cards is going up, up, up.

A few years ago, this Highpockets Kelly would have fetched about $5 in this condition. I paid $15.

A few years ago, I could find a ripped or heavily creased T206 for under $10. Today, you'd need to spend about $12-14 for the worst of the worst.

Yesterday, I bid on a lot of 12 1933 Goudeys. Each had a hole near the top where it was obviously pinned to a corkboard. These cards were in bad shape, and that's something coming from me. I was outbid at $52.09.

Time after time I'm seeing these cards selling for higher and higher prices. I find that to be both sad and exciting. Sad that it stretches my wallet and exciting that these old gems are being appreciated.

I guess I'm not the only one out there collecting poor old baseball cards.

1948 R346 Blue Tint Ewell Blackwell

In every post, I try to give a little information about each card.

What I do know is Ewell Blackwell was considered one of the most feared pitchers of his day. Think Randy Johnson.

He was a tall (6-6) and lanky. And he had an unconventional sidearm delivery.

In 1947, he was one inning away from tying teammate Johnny Vander Meer as the only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters.

That being said, I honestly know little about this Blue Tint set.

First, a little inside baseball card talk. This card is designated by an 'R' as in R346. Generally speaking, that means it's a gum and candy card. But from what I can tell, this card was available in strips, meaning it should be designated a 'W' card.

There's no doubt it was hand cut but I've read it was available in strips of six or eight cards. But where was it available? Was it sold in vending machines or in corner stores?

Surely there's someone out there who can share their knowledge of this not-so-common set.

1948 R448 Swell Sport Thrills Most Dramatic Home Run (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig)

Generally speaking, you'd be lucky to find Mickey Mantle or Jackie Robinson cards issued during their playing days for less than $40.

Poor old Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax cards are a bargain between $10 and $15.

Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth?

Good Luck finding Gehrig for under $400 in any condition or Ruth for under $700.

I've been looking for a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth for years but can't seem to find the right one. Even those that appear to have been driven over by a truck will set you back $800.

While it's not a card issued during their playing days, this 1948 Swell Sport Thrills card is a fairly rare and early card of the duo. Is there an earlier card featuring the two Yankee legends?

I admit it, I paid $75 for this beauty. Did I get a good deal? How much would you pay?