Woman Finds Box Of 1914 Baseball Cards Worth $800K

fanofnyrangers · 12-02-2004, 06:36 AM

http://www.nbc5.com/irresistible/3963061/detail.html

Sportscard Official: Joe Jackson Card 'Best In Existence'

POSTED: 3:53 pm CST December 1, 2004
UPDATED: 4:08 pm CST December 1, 2004

WILLOWBROOK, Ill. -- A complete set of 1914 Cracker Jack baseball cards featuring "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb that a woman had in a shoe box in her home has sold for $800,000, a suburban Chicago auction house announced this week.

The cards did not have the usual caramel stains found on many Cracker Jack cards and were in pristine condition, said Doug Allen, president of MastroNet Inc., the auction house in Willowbrook. The previous record for a complete set of baseball cards was $360,000, Allen said.

"It's not everyday we sell a set of cards for $800,000," Allen said. "There's never been a complete set like that without caramel stains. Condition and rarity are what make high-grade cards, and this particular collection was fortunate to have both."

The New York woman -- who along with the buyer asked to remain anonymous -- found the 144-card set with 2,500 other baseball cards in a shoe box in her home. The cards originally belonged to her uncle, who died during World War II, and the woman's father kept them until his death last year, Allen said.

Along with the Jackson and Cobb cards, the set also includes a rare Christy Mathewson that looks "like it was printed yesterday," Allen said.

Sportscard Guaranty, which evaluated the cards for authenticity and quality, called the set "monumental."

"It's hard to find words that would do this set justice," said Sportscard president Dave Forman in a statement on the company's Web site. "The Joe Jackson card ... is the finest prewar card our firm has ever graded. In my opinion, it is the best prewar card in existence period."

CrawfordFan13 · 12-02-2004, 07:01 PM

Wow what an unbelievable story. I wish I could be that lucky.

101589dpm · 12-02-2004, 07:09 PM

Holy cow those are some beautiful cards

spuds1961 · 12-02-2004, 07:53 PM

i wouldn,t say she found them she knew about them and was waiting for her husband to die to cash in 800,000 now that,s what i call a fortune for cardboard

sjncomic · 12-03-2004, 01:07 AM

ummm actually it was her father wh ohad the cards from his brother :) but I am just picking at ya, spuds!

Stephen

12-02-2004, 06:36 AM	#1
fanofnyrangers Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 61 Trader Rating: (5 ) Ebay ID: fanofnyrangers1 View my Trade List My Card Inventory Card Cash: 200.00	Woman Finds Box Of 1914 Baseball Cards Worth $800K http://www.nbc5.com/irresistible/3963061/detail.html Sportscard Official: Joe Jackson Card 'Best In Existence' POSTED: 3:53 pm CST December 1, 2004 UPDATED: 4:08 pm CST December 1, 2004 WILLOWBROOK, Ill. -- A complete set of 1914 Cracker Jack baseball cards featuring "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb that a woman had in a shoe box in her home has sold for $800,000, a suburban Chicago auction house announced this week. The cards did not have the usual caramel stains found on many Cracker Jack cards and were in pristine condition, said Doug Allen, president of MastroNet Inc., the auction house in Willowbrook. The previous record for a complete set of baseball cards was $360,000, Allen said. "It's not everyday we sell a set of cards for $800,000," Allen said. "There's never been a complete set like that without caramel stains. Condition and rarity are what make high-grade cards, and this particular collection was fortunate to have both." The New York woman -- who along with the buyer asked to remain anonymous -- found the 144-card set with 2,500 other baseball cards in a shoe box in her home. The cards originally belonged to her uncle, who died during World War II, and the woman's father kept them until his death last year, Allen said. Along with the Jackson and Cobb cards, the set also includes a rare Christy Mathewson that looks "like it was printed yesterday," Allen said. Sportscard Guaranty, which evaluated the cards for authenticity and quality, called the set "monumental." "It's hard to find words that would do this set justice," said Sportscard president Dave Forman in a statement on the company's Web site. "The Joe Jackson card ... is the finest prewar card our firm has ever graded. In my opinion, it is the best prewar card in existence period." __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Collecting To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. . Please check To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. .

12-02-2004, 07:01 PM	#2
CrawfordFan13 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4,503 Trader Rating: (31 ) Ebay ID: Ely836 View my Trade List My Card Inventory Card Cash: 1.80	Wow what an unbelievable story. I wish I could be that lucky. __________________ Ultimate Carl Crawford Collection: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. It's spelled LOSE, not LOOSE... so sick of seeing it spelled wrong.

12-02-2004, 07:09 PM	#3
101589dpm Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,067 Trader Rating: (31 ) Ebay ID: 101589dpm View my Trade List My Card Inventory Card Cash: 2,056.00	Holy cow those are some beautiful cards __________________ 2004 Topps Chrome Set: 398/466 85% 1911 T205 Set: 25/218 11% 1911 T3 Set: 3/100 3% (Hah! Wish me luck :icon_roll ) Currently looking for a 2003 Topps Tribute World Series Carlton Fisk Auto/Bat/Wall

12-03-2004, 01:07 AM	#5
sjncomic Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,305 Trader Rating: (73 ) View my Trade List My Card Inventory Card Cash: 50.00	ummm actually it was her father wh ohad the cards from his brother :) but I am just picking at ya, spuds! Stephen __________________ I collect Verlander, Niemann, Townsend, Hochevar Maybin, Greinke (preferably numbered cards), Sleeth, Pie, Milledge, Philip Hughes, Christian Garcia. I could also use Tampa Bay Lightning cards. Whoa, whoa, whoa... They have the internet on computers now??? - Homer J. Simpson

12-02-2004, 07:53 PM	#4
spuds1961 Baseball Advisor Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9,663 Trader Rating: (164 ) Ebay ID: spuds1961 View my Trade List My Card Inventory Card Cash: 2,207.00	i wouldn,t say she found them she knew about them and was waiting for her husband to die to cash in 800,000 now that,s what i call a fortune for cardboard

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