WIREPHOTO: Greg Maddux - [05/07/91] 'Bearing Down' (Cubs)

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1959 Topps displays vintage 1959 Topps Baseball sports cards.
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These beautiful official government issued postage stamps from Manama were made of a plastic like material and used a an advanced printing technique to show multiple images as the card was moved. This technique was later used on a baseball card issue called "Sportflics".

Each of these postage stamps pictured 2 different players as the stamp was titled. There were 8 different stamps issued, 4 with American player-combos and 4 with Japanese player-combos.

A special stamp picturing BABE RUTH alongside the famous Yankees "MURDERS ROW" was also issued and appears to be significantly scarcer than the others.

Team signed baseballs were the thing well before single-signed balls exploded on the market.
What is a "Team Signed Baseball" ???
Simple answer: A ball with XXX signatures of a certain team for a certain year. What is difficult is the XXX. Baseball tons of roster moves make it nearly impossible to "Get Them All".

Generally, team signed baseballs from early 1900's had 10 to 15 signatures, the 1940's that jumped to 18 to 25. Joyce Sports Research Collection (Notre Dame) says "signatures must include only members of a specific team from a specific year, and there must be some approximation of completeness."

Not concrete but to me a "team ball" MUST have ALL the team's STARS (unless a rookie or in season trade) and in today's market at least 20, preferably more, and the manager.

Determining Age of Team Signed Balls
"Official" league balls have stamped signatures of current league presidents on the "sweet spot". Starting 1934/1935 balls were produced by Spalding (NL) and Reach (AL). Rawlings took over in 1977/78. Have a possible team roster at hand, ESPN & baseball-reference.com have great sites), decipher a few signatures then solve the puzzle.

Team Signed Baseballs Values
Pricing team signed baseballs is difficult due to subjectivity and factors involved suce as: Signatures placement, quality, strength, number of autographs, stars, age, team significance, and eye appeal considering fading, whiteness, scuffs, shellacking, staining, overall wear...

Team autographed baseballs on official league balls get higher values. They are "official", made better, preserve better and even help in dating especially with balls signed at "Reunion" baseball card shows which brought together great teams of the past.

Facsimile Autographed Balls
1960's/1970's machine-printed "autographed" team baseballs were sold at stadium gift shops for around $1.95. Easy to identify as all signatures were uniform in ink, color, size and look. "Facsimile" signatures are also often found on baseball cards.

Only inserts in 1961 & 1962, stamps had their own issue in 1969 ! A nickel for a 12-stamp strip plus mini album !!!

The 1969 Topps Stamps set contained (240) 1x1-7/16 inch stamps. Stamps were released in both horizontal & vertical panels with the player's name in a banner. 1974 Stamps, the name was inside an oval.
Topps issued a mini albums to hold complete 10-stamp team sets and the back cover had facsimile autographs of each players.

The 1969 Topps Stamps set is packed with stars: Pete Rose, and Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente & more !!!

Baseball, Football, Basketball & Hockey Memorabilia Cards

It's cool to have a card of your favorite player.
It's even cooler to have your favorite player's jersey or bat.
Well just think how cool it is to have a card of your favorite player embedded with a piece of his bat or jersey that he used in a real major league game !!!
That's the concept that Upper Deck dazzled the hobby with in 1996. Ever since the hobby has been in love with Game-Used memorabilia cards and they have become a staple of sportscard collecting. Originally they were very scarce inserts with less than 1 every few boxes. Now these insert cards are so popular that many products include one in every pack.

Be sure you visit our Game-Used card section with nearly 1,000 available at discount prices.

WIREPHOTO: Greg Maddux - [05/07/91] 'Bearing Down' (Cubs)

1972 Manama
Official Postage Stamps

Team Autographed / Signed Baseballs

1969 Topps Stamps
Checklist & Values

WIREPHOTO: Greg Maddux - [05/07/91] 'Bearing Down' (Cubs)

1972 Manama Official Postage Stamps

Team Autographed / Signed Baseballs

1969 Topps Stamps Checklist & Values

1972 Manama
Official Postage Stamps

1969 Topps Stamps
Checklist & Values