Vintage star cards roundup

Here's a Greg Morris lot that was very oddball-heavy. Lots of Venezuelan cards. '64 and '68 have very different backs. '66s are just kind of greyer on the front and redder on the back. Other highlights include two Babe Ruth subset cards. There's my first '53 Bowman B&W (Stu Miller). Two '61 Fleer cards of men in suits. The Ford Frick card mentions that MLB headquarters were in the RCA Building in New York. It is now known as "30 Rock" (30 Rockefeller Center). That year Frick got a lot of attention due to Roger Maris's asterisk.

The prior week saw slimmer pickings, though I did knock off another big name for my 1970 Topps booklets. Now just need Gibson and Mays. Occasionally I bid on a cheap football card, and I did that week. The Ditka had a lot of gum stuck to it that I was able to get off by scratching lightly, it looks better not than it did when I took the photo.

I bid more than I usually would for a lower-tier HOFer (no offense to Ashburn, a fine player who doesn't seem to have a strong market for his cards). However, this was one of a kind as someone wrote what appears to be a 1954-style phone number on the side. Even though the dash is in the wrong place I assume that's what it is. Bonus points for a great view of Manhattan apartment buildings outside of the Polo Grounds.

Vintage Stan Musial card for two bucks, great deal at any condition.

Happy to add another vintage Aaron for about $10.

Even better was a '61 Mays at that price. The ghouls all come out when a star dies, thinking there will suddenly be a big market for their cards. They overestimate how much collectors will overpay immediately after a death, leading to a temporary oversaturation of the market. I think that's why this one was so cheap.

 

Baseball card story from Dylan Cozens

Outfielder Dylan Cozens played nine seasons of professional baseball, mostly in the Phillies organization. He played in 27 major league games for the Phillies in 2018 and 2019, hitting .154 with 1 HR and 2 RBI. In 778 minor league games he hit .250 with 136 HR and 463 RBI, stealing 110. He also played professional football as a defensive lineman for the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League. Now a general construction contractor and a real estate agent at Engel & Völkers in Arizona, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"One time either Topps or Bowman or one of the companies sent me cards to sign that were of Mitch Walding but had my name and stats on them so signed them all anyways without the picture being me on the card."

Thanks! I believe this is the card with Walding.

I don't have that card, but here is a card of Cozens from my collection.

1976 SSPC Dan Driessen

 

The card, in brief: An interesting looking card with Driessen sitting on the ground, and teammate Cesar Geronimo walking in the dirt behind him.

The player, in brief: Dan Driessen came up with the Reds in 1973 and instantly became an important member of the Big Red Machine, spending time at first base, third base and the outfield. In 1976 he became the first NLer to be a DH in the World Series. In 1977 the Reds traded Tony Perez and Driessen became the regular first baseman and had several productive seasons. He had an excellent eye at the plate, walking more than he struck out during his career and leading the NL with 93 walks in 1980. He ended his career with stints with the Expos, Giants, Astros and Cardinals. Overall in 1,732 games over 15 seasons, he hit .267 with 153 HR and 763 RBI, walking 761 times.

Post-playing career, in brief: After his playing career Driessen returned to him hometown of Hilton Head, SC. He owns Driessen Excavating Services and has coached the high school baseball team.

My collection: I first starting collecting Topps stickers in 1986, before I switched to cards. Driessen was one of my first stickers and I always liked him from that point on. I have 35 of his cards, from 1974 to 1986. I would be interested in trading for 1978 Hostess #64.