Flash Market Report — What Old Baseball Cards Sold Big This Week? (8/12/2018)

Another week, another seven days of amazing baseball cards online (eBay in particular).

For anyone who thinks that the hobby will never be what it once was, well … you’re probably right.

But that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of fun to be had in the cards, and it doesn’t mean there’s no market for old cards.

In some ways, in fact, the good old stuff has never been stronger.

As evidence, here are five amazing lots that changed hands during the week ending August 12, 2018.

Enjoy!

(Note that these listings contain affiliate links, which means if you click over to eBay and buy something, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.)

1951 Bowman Robin Roberts (PSA 9)

When you think of 1951 Bowman baseball cards, a few things probably pop into your mind: gorgeous paintings, weird card size, last year before Topps made a “real” set, and the true rookie cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.

Robin Roberts probably doesn’t make your first-blush list of 1951 Bowman memories.

But that might change once you take a look at this eBay lot, which offered up a PSA 9 copy of Roberts, card #3 in that long-ago set.

It’s a great looking pasteboard featuring Robers in his red, white, and blue Philadelphia Phillies togs the year after he helped the Whiz Kids make it all the way to the World Series (where they were swept by Mantle and his New York Yankees).

The PSA Population report shows only eight Roberts cards have been graded at 9 and none have made a perfect 10.

So, you know, good luck finding a better copy.

This particular card sold for $6000, a big price for a big, scarce card.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1974 Topps Nolan Ryan (SGC 98 GEM 10)

If you think nothing issued after the 1950s or 1960s ever brings really big money, this card just might change your mind.

This 1974 Topps Nolan Ryan card has a lot to offer …

Nolan Ryan getting ready to unleash a fastball at your head as you stand in the batter’s box
Nolan Ryan at his physical peak, when he was regularly hammering out 300+ strikeouts per season
Nolan Ryan
The less confusing “California” Angels.
A Topps card from the first year they issued all their cards at one time (except for that “Washington Nat’l League” thing)
A grade of SGC 98 GEM 10

What would you pay for all that?

If you were the winner of this lot, you would pay $8500.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Bo Jackson Rookie Cards (40)

Man, nobody was more exciting to watch — or collect — in 1986 than Bo Jackson.

Every year brought its share of hyped players, but Bo seemed like the guy who might actually be able to do it all.

Hit the ball … hit the ball with power … catch the ball … throw the ball … steal bases … flatten linebackers … score touchdowns … return kicks and punts for touchdowns.

Dude pretty much wore a cape on NFL fields and MLB diamonds all year round.

So, as you can imagine, there was a lot of speculation around his cards, and there for awhile, he gave Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire and Randy Velarde a run for their cardboard money.

Of course, after Bo’s hip injury ended his football career and curtailed his diamond dreams, his cards softened.

But even after all these years, Bo is still fascinating.

So when a huge lot of his rookie cards comes up for sale, you can bet there is going to be a lot of interest — it’s a chance to relive Bo’s greatness and the excitement of the 1980s hobby all at once.

But are the cards still worth anything.

Depends on your definition of “anything,” but these forty 1986 Topps Traded Jackson rookie cards gaveled down for $3383 on the strength of 55 bids.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

1957 Topps Baseball Cards Complete Set

What’s the most beautiful baseball card set of the 1950s?

There are quite a few candidates, right? I mean 1951 Bowman, 1953 Bowman, and 1953 Topps all come to mind as strong contenders.

But if you’re more into clean card designs and gorgeous photography, then it’s hard to beat the 1957 Topps set.

And, since the set was issued after Topps took down Bowman and before Fleer starting messing around with baseball cards, you get everyone all in one shot: Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, the Frank Robinson rookie card.

You could try to put this thing together piece by piece, or you could buy a complete set already done up for you.

Neither one is all that easy to find, but this eBay lot offered up the latter — a complete 1957 Topps set with many of the biggies in EX or better condition.

This hunk of hobby bistory brought in $5500.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

Lifetime Collection of 15,000+ Vintage Cards

After more than 35 years of collecting, I continue to be intrigued by big, honking hodgepodge lots that look like they might contain anything.

I suspect I’m not alone in that, and this eBay lot bears that out.

Offering 15,000+ cards, this listing was billed as a lifetime collection and included goodies like a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks rookie card and 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card among thousands of other vintage baseball and football cards.

This heap of fun pulled in 65 bids and finally sold for $2755.55.

Worth checking out for all the mouthwatering photos alone.

See the original eBay listing here (affiliate link).

(Check out our other posts about card values here.)