Since 1986....Buy With Confidence
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eBay Gold Power Seller™
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National Hobby Dealer Since 1986
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Premier Member of Square Trade™
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Since 1986....Buy With Confidence |
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| Mickey's Clubhouse | Sports Cards | Non Sports | Publications | Autographs | |
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The Mint Gallery |
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MINT Baseball
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1949-1964 Baseball - Yankee's Go Home From '49 to '64, the Yankees missed appearing in the World Series only twice. Commentators described Yankee fandom as "rooting for U.S. Steel." MINT cards from this period continually sell for multiples of "book" value as they represent Baseball's Golden Age - and a period fondly remembered by many of today's advanced collectors. |
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1965-1973 Baseball - In Transition Beginning with the sale of the Yankees to CBS, baseball began its transformation from the National Pastime to a Corporate investment. Cookie cutter, astroturf stadiums replaced quant neighborhood ballparks; the World Series moved from the afternoon to Late Night television; and players became more and more truculent (Dick Allen et al). Despite these changes, some of the most memorable moments in baseball history occurred during this span - the Miracle Mets of 1969, Denny and the Tigers, and the Impossible Dream. From Reggie's shot off the light tower to Roberto's fabulous Fall Classic. |
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1974-1989 Baseball - The Modern Game Topps scrapped the release of its cards in series - a commentary on the attention span of the modern sports collector (and fan). As Football supplanted Baseball as the National Pastime, Baseball cards underwent a transition as well - more companies issued record numbers of sets, rookie card mania, and the emergence of 3rd Party Grading changed the hobby forever. Of course the period many of the great stars that collectors of today remember - Seaver, Schmidt, Ryan, Jackson, Brett, Carlton, and so on. Given their recent vintage, one might think MINT graded cards are not a big deal...think again. For example, the entire 1986 Topps set as of this month has a Grand Total of 12 PSA 10s graded ever! Open a case and see for yourself - these cards are often ExMt right out of the pack! Still affordable and in growing demand. |
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MINT Pigskin
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1955-1985 Football - America's Game Topps first National Football set in 1955 exemplified the public image of the game at the time - all-time college greats including Thorpe, Grange and the Four Horsemen. Pro Football was still somewhat a minor league sport. In the late 50s, the Giants and Colts put the NFL on the map and the league steadily gained exposure and fans. From Lombardi's Packers to Namath's guarantee, Pro Football went on over the next two decades to establish itself as our National game.
Though Football card sets were much smaller in size than their Baseball counterparts - typically 25% of the size - the print runs were much smaller and thus high grade "Mint" examples are much harder to find today. Check out our PSA 9 MINT inventories of Gridiron Greats. Our Vintage Football inventory includes PSA 9 MINT cards from the Fifties and Sixties Our Modern Football inventory covers the "Monday Night Football era" - 1970 to 1985. |
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MINT On Ice
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1954-1972 Hockey - The Icemen Score-eth! Limited in size compared to its Baseball counterparts, OPC and Topps Hockey cards are among the most difficult to find in MINT grade. OPC cards were notorious for their ragged cuts, early Parkhurst cards were often issued on poor paper stock, and Topps cards in the US though printed in larger quantities, were not widely collected as the sport lacked a National Television contract until well into the 70s.
Given the NHL was for many years a six team league, Hockey Cards were not lacking for star power. Virtually every team among the original six were stocked with HOFers on several lines and in the crease. Names like Orr, Howe, Hull, Esposito, and Plante resonate even today. The GAG line, the French Connection and the Broad Street Bullies are all etched in our memories.
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MINT Hoops
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1957-1971 Basketball - Hardwood Heroes With only two major releases over a twelve year period, Basketball cards were met with some disinterest when they reappeared on the market in 1969. Today, collectors recognize the five major basketball issues (1948 -1970) as among the most condition sensitive sets ever produced. A recent sale on eBay of a 1969 PSA 9 Mint Wilt Chamberlain for $5,000 bears out the popularity of MINT examples of these "hoop stars."
Topps 1957 Basketball set is one of the sharpest looking sets ever - akin in design to the popular 1957 Baseball issue. Unfortunately for collectors, the centering on the issue is possibly the worst ever - a recent from of over 2000 vending cards yielded less than 100 centered examples. Topps next basketball release was 12 years later - indicating collector demand (and presumably print runs) for the issue were very low. Fleer stepped in 4 years later with its major Basketball release - amazingly the set suffers the same failures as the Topps set - very poor centering. Between these two sets, only the 1961 Fleer is reasonably found in MINT condition.
The 1969 and 1970 issues are occasionally found in MINT grade - but of course the oversize design makes these highly condition sensitive as well. Check Out our MINT Hoops inventory!
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