u/profgannod

I made my weekly visit to the mother lode mine. The mine seems to be getting to the point of providing diminishing returns. Most of the day looked like the first picture. I was able to find some sealed complete sets as well as several unopened packs. Eventually, I came across some of the 1968 Topps game cards, and a partial 1978 Topps set.

I expect that we'll be closing this mine down soon. Most of what is left is opened junk wax. I've found a pretty active market for the unopened packs and boxes, which has allowed us to raise over $1K for the wedding.

1985 Burger King Huntsville Stars, including Jose Canseco.

8 sets available at $15 each, including shipping.

I have 3 of the Nashville Sounds set (including the Mattingly RC). I also have game tickets bearing Mattingly's picture.

Arby's Nashville Sounds: $90 + $5 shipping, each

Tickets: $15 each ($36 for all three) + $1 PWE or $5 BMWT

DM if interested

Today, I took another trip into the mother lode mine and spent an hour looking through boxes of junk wax. But like a dwarf breaking through rock with a pickaxe, I hit the true vein. I emerged from the mine with these treasures! Needless to say, the Yogi Berra is a real find, and the Rizzuto and Mantle cards have me tickled pink.

To date, from the sales of the sealed boxes of junk wax and random singles, we've raised approximately $1000 and we've just gotten started. Anyway, I expect to purchase these cards myself. However, soon I will begin posting a while bunch of other vintage cards for sale either here or on Ebay.

Amidst all the sorting through the mother lode, I got a chance to attend the Upper Cumberland Card Show today in Cookeville, TN.

The Gibson is a great looking card regardless of what the SGC grader said. I'm also really happy with the Monte Irvin autographed ball.

After finding the 1970 Topps story booklets in the mother lode, what would the odds be that I find two of them at the show the very next day?

Finally, look at those pictures for Al Oliver and Jerry Koosman from the 1973 Topps set, especially the Oliver - doesn't it look like they just stopped of at the side of the highway and took that picture?

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I was back at it today with the mother lode and came across these gems. First, I found two 1981 Arby's Nashville Sounds complete sets, including the Don Mattingly and Willie McGee RCs. I also found minor league cards from Huntsville Stars with McGwire and Canseco RCs (not shown).

There were also 16/25 1970 Story Booklets, including Rose, Banks, Gibson (not shown), and Mays books. Also from 1970, I found un-scratched baseball game scratch off card games, including a Yaz. The Stottlemyre was scratched.

Another interesting find was a 1954 Gillette World Series Record Book, which is a small almanac of sorts. Finally, I found 1969 NBA team stickers. Oh, I also found 1989 Fleer hanger packs with production release numbers 6811-A. Maybe someone here can tell me if that is an early production run. Everything I've found online says yes.

It's been so much fun sorting through this stuff. I've had to wear gloves and use bleach wipes on a lot of the packs and storage boxes. The boxes were in storage for several years and so evidence of rodents, bugs, and of course dust is all over. My main challenge is to keep from ripping packs and having my house get even more inundated with cards than it already is!

I have been marching through my list of needs from my Rosebud (1976 Topps) set and so last week when I visited Chattanooga to see the Lookouts play in their new stadium (love it by the way) I visited one of the LCS', which has a ton of vintage. I was able to find one that I needed (SB leaders) while also upgrading two others. I also couldn't pass up the 1973 Topps Ryan and Mays cards. Probably over paid, but I have no problem supporting local small mom and pop shops.

I also ripped one pack from the mother lode today. It's been an exercise in self control to keep from ripping more. There really is only one card of any value in the 1993 Pinnacle Series 2 and you're looking at it - the Jeter RC. I wish ripping packs was always that successful, which I why I don't rip modern packs. Today, I couldn't help it.