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.