10 Things You Didn't Know About Baseball Memorabilia

Seen, discussed or overheard at the National Card Show in Fort Washington, PA...

10.) Should you be lucky enough to find a mint condition 1952 Topps Andy Pafko (Card #1)keep it close. Because almost none exist. The reason? Back in the day, kids would keep their cards together with a rubber band with Pafko's #1 on top. Either this really did happen or this is the most common misconception in the hobby.

9.) All of the certified Joe DiMaggio signed baseballs? They're genuine. No problems there. However, in what has to be the most creepy and low-rent money-grabs of all time are the baseballs signed--and released into circulation--by the Yankee Clipper on his death bed. Dubbed "death bed" DiMaggio balls, you'd have to have some set yourself to shell out money for these.

Cain/Palin bumper stickers. Seems the gun-folk are thrilled with BHO. Inside the card show featured Punter Sean Landeta (the long-time Giant wearing an Eagles cap) an 80-year-old Robin Roberts and softball queen Jennie Finch. Walking the aisles in near anonymity: famed 1970's hockey goon Dave "the Hammer" Schultz. And we're in Philadelphia and no one recognizes him. Another good reason to wear a helmet: No one recognizes you.

5.) The 1914 Cracker Jack find that we reported last year fetched an unbelievable amount of money...more than $150,000. Separate from that auction, a 1914 "Cracker Jack" Joe Jackson was graded a 10 out of 10. One dealer told me, that once that's gone, you'll never seen another in better condition. Today's grading system of cards takes the guesswork out of a card's value...Much like buying a diamond, baseball cards carry color, cut and clarity as well.

4.) Sadly, baseball cards in the 1980s are virtually worthless save for a few cards. Those were my salad days. By 1981, Topps was no longer the only game in town and rival card companies such as Fleer and Donruss entered the market and produced set after set after set to the point where you can longer keep track of the sets.


3.) Two collectors thus far have completed the massive 6,661 Yankee Stadium Legacy series from Upper Deck—the card company carried over last season’s games to the 2009 set as well.

2.) Not baseball related but I saw some cashed bank checks from Moe Howard, Curly Howard, and Larry Fine—The Three Stooges.

1.) Quick Story: Going back to DiMaggio. He had few friends and mostly kept to himself, expect apparently when there was appearance money involved. A long-time business partner of DiMaggio’s got wind of Carl Yastrzemski’s charity event. DiMaggio was asked to attend but declined the invite. The business partner said, “Joe, it’s for charity.” To which DiMaggio motioned to his heart as if to explain, “Charity begins at home.” Now we can remember him as “The Yankee Gypper.”