Alex Rodriguez - 1997 E-X2000 Hall or Nothing #9 [VAR:GOLD] (Mariners)
Very scarce GOLD version of the already great die-cut insert on a see-thru acrylic card stock.
Grade |
NM/MINT |
Book Value |
n/a |
Our Price |
$ 27.50
Add to cart
|
Below are short bits & pieces on sportscard & baseball trading card collecting.
Please wander around the website for more info, prices, values & images
on vintage baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sport and non-sports cards.
1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE Checklist & Values
This scarce 72-card test issue set was released with very limited
East Coast distribution making them quite scarce.

Officially simply called "Topps Baseball Photos", their serrated or "DECKLED"
edge gave them the name they go by today.
The 2 7/8" x 5" inch cards were sold in 2 card packs with gum or 3 card
packs without for 5 cents.
Click to enlarge Complete Proof Sheet on left
Fronts are similar to b&w Exhibit Postcards from the 50's
with photos and facsimile autographs.
The backs make this very scarce test issue more interesting !
They feature handwritten script of player's name, team, position & date
and location of the photograph as well as a mock newspaper article.
This was Topps 2nd "Deckle Edge" issue, their first being the smaller
and more common 1969 Topps Deckle Edge inserts in 1969 Topps packs.
Variations of 1974 Topps Deckle Edge exist,
making this issue more fun and challenging to collect.
Backs can be found in gray or a much scarcer white.
Also, more limited proof versions with non-scalloped edges exist and
can be found with and without card numbers.
Click for complete
1969 Topps Deckle Edge checklist and prices
Click for complete
1974 Topps Deckle Edge checklist and prices
Note: You may be on that page right now.
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1963 Fleer Baseball Cards Checklist & Values
1960 & 1961 Fleer baseball card sets of old-timers
like Babe Ruth bombed. Kids wanted Willie Mays & Mickey Mantle.
Topps had rights to baseball cards & gum so Fleer
tried something new ... COOKIES !!!
Cherry flavored cookies with 1963 baseball cards.

1963 Fleer baseball card set was cut short at 66 cards & checklist
by Topps lawsuit. But what 66 cards! Attractive & packed:
Clemente,Koufax... & 2 very scare Short Prints.

Maury Wills 'rookie' card is a story.
Majors in 1959, quickly superstar. But 1963 for rookie ???
In 1959 Topps deemed Wills NOT WORTHY.
Wills was upset. After 1962 MVP, Topps came knocking but he said "NO!".
Finally, 1967, Wills first Topps & most costly card.
Note: 1961 Post Cereal card, years BEFORE
'official' rookie. He also photo-bombed a 1960 Topps card.
Disclaimer: Above mostly true - but Wills has said "no feud".
Click for complete
1963 Fleer baseball cards Checklist and Prices
Note: You may be on that page right now.
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1969 CITGO Coins
In 1969, to commemorate Baseball's 100th Anniversary, CITGO released their
"Famous Baseball Player Coin Collection" of 20 brass coated metal coins.
On the front, the coins featured the player's name and a raised image of
his head. The back displayed a banner honoring baseball's s 100th Anniversary.
The coins are approx. 1" in diameter and are very susceptible to
tarnishing due to oxidation.
Customers received a single coin in it's sealed pack free with a fill-up and
could pay 25 cents for additional coins.
The 20 coin set could be inserted into a cardboard backing for display.
On the back of the display was a short bio with stats of each player.
Click to view an image of the
cardboard backing and some more sample coins:
Pictured is an unopened pack containing one coin.
Click for complete
1969 CITGO Coins Checklist and Prices
Note: You may be on that page right now.
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Baseball card collecting terms (part B)
Bazooka Bazooka Bubble Gum put baseball cards on the back of their
boxes from 1959 thru 1971. Complete boxes and panels can get extremely costly.
Most kids back then could not afford complete boxes of bubble gum at one
making Bazooka cards quite scarce. I actually don't recall ever obtaining
a Bazooka card directly from a box as a kid. Do you ???
Black Sox Scandal Name given to the the most famous scandal in
baseball history after the 1919 Chicago White Sox versus the Cincinatti Reds
World Series when 8 White Sox players were accused of throwing the series.
Details have remained somewhat unclear. The players were acquitted of
criminal charges but 8 players still received a lifetime ban from
professional baseball including the All-Time great "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
Blank-Back a card in which nothing is printed on the back.
These cards are usually not in packs and are either "PROOF ISSUES" or
were removed from the factory in some way.
Blanket a term used for collectibles in the 1910's made of fabric .
Border is the part of the card that surrounds the photo or image.
Bowman was a card manufacturer in the 1940's and 1950's that was
bought out by Topps. In 1989 Topps started issuing cards using the Bowman
brand.
Break a term used to indicate the opening of a set, pack, box or case.
Break Value is the total book value of each card added up individually.
The break value of a set is usually way, way more than the value of the complete set.