1965 O-Pee-Chee/OPC # 48 Claude Raymond (Houston Colt 45's/Astros)

This is a neat 'Houston Colt 45' card. Cards later in set where Astros cards.

Grade	EX/MINT to NEAR MINT
Book Value	n/a
Our Price	$ 11.95 Add to cart

1965 O-Pee-Chee/OPC # 48 Claude Raymond (Houston Colt 45's/Astros) cards value

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.

1981 Topps Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values

For the first time in many years, Topps had to share the baseball card market with others. Donruss and Fleer entered the market with their own 1981 sets. When collector's heard they were thrilled. When they saw the Donruss and Fleer cards they were many sighs of disappointment.
1981 will always be remembered for "FERNANDO MANIA" !!!
Fernando did not make the Hall-of-Fame and he even had to share his rookie card with another player, but he had more impact during the 1981 season then anyone.
Other rookies included Hall-of-Famers Tim Raines and Harold Baines. Kirk Gibson's rookie is also here. Not a Hall-of-Famer, but who can forget his home run off the then unhittable Dennis Eckersley ?

Click for complete 1981 Topps Baseball card checklist, values and prices.
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1952 Topps Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values

1952 is often thought of as Topps 1st baseball card set, but it was not.
Topps issued several smaller baseball card sets prior to their huge 1952 set.
The buzz word at Topps back then was "BIGGER is BETTER" for their 1952 Topps set which Topps described as: "GIANT IN BOTH SIZE and NUMBER of CARDS" (407).
Key card in the 1952 Topps set is #311 MICKEY MANTLE. Often called Mickey Mantle's Rookie card - BUT IT IS NOT. That honor goes to his 1951 Bowman.
1952 Topps "High Numbers" (#311-#407), are very, very scarce with an interesting story:
This HUGE set was released in series, released weeks apart. By the last series, baseball was over and football starting.
??? Perhaps the set was too huge ???
Shops had cards left from earlier in the year so many orders were cancelled, thus the scarcity.
Adding interest is how Topps got rid of the now useless cards, including THOUSANDS of MICKEY MANTLE's. They dumped them into the Ocean !!!

Click for complete 1952 Topps Baseball card checklist, values and prices.

Topps Vault & Proofs

Auctioneer Guernsey's went thru Topps offices gathering over 3,000 items for the auction. Topps spokesman reported auction sales of OVER $1.5 million !!! Additional sales were made from a mail-only auction. Collector Keith Olbermann, at the auction, described it as an archaeological dig.
Topps archive material continued to accumulate after the auction ending up with another treasure of over 250,000 transparencies, uncut sheets, color separations, art, photos, slides, proof sheets & wrappers, canceled checks, contracts and one-of-a-kind items to sell.

Click for complete Topps Vault, Proofs & Blank-Backs
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Baseball card collecting terms (part A)

Airbrushing is the art of touching up a photo prior to the card being printed. It was generally done to remove imperfections or update or hide a players jersey/cap logo. Because of advancements in print technology and computers this is no longer needed.

All-Star card (AS) usually a subset card picturing a player who participated in the previous season�s all-star game. Topps created these in their 1958 High Number issue and has continued the practice fairly regularly to date. Such cards are usually designated in price guides with the abbreviation of AS.

Assorted A general mix of cards often containing many duplicates.

Auction items are sold to the highest bidder. Auctions used to be live or thru the mail/phone but today most auctions are online.

Auction Catalog lists the rules and descriptions and often images of the items in an auction.

Authentication verification that an item (card, autograph) is genuine. Most "game-used" material inserts have a written declaration of authenticity on the reverse. Authorized Issue card or memorabilia item that has been properly licensed. If the item is of a player, his written permission must be given in order for it to be considered authorized.

1965 O-Pee-Chee/OPC # 48 Claude Raymond (Houston Colt 45's/Astros)

1981 Topps Baseball Cards Checklist & Values

1952 Topps Baseball Cards Checklist & Values

Topps Vault & Proofs

1981 Topps Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values

1952 Topps Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values