I immediately thought about Holding Back the Years when I saw this...

Thanks for sharing

Great pic, either perfectly or luckily timed, with Clemente's photocard in mid-hand off, upturned, and oriented to the camera.

I'm intrigued by the background details/circumstances: healthy crowd, officer in the mix for security?, higher percentage of women (as perhaps expected for the shopping venue, but surprisingly not all or most with kids, unless they're too short to all be captured).

(And Clemente seems more sharply dressed than the rest, as expected. Cuff links are the key apparently!)

Right!
 

I just forwarded this along to PSA as they are currently considering whether to grade these or not. Couldn't have dreamt up a better picture!

Thanks for posting Mike!

This is an amazing photo find! It's also interesting that Dick and Smokey's stacks seem much larger than Clemente's stack, although I wonder if that is due to the fact that Clemente seemed to start putting up some noticeable numbers in 1960 and would do so for many years thereafter. Anyway, I guess there's a good probability that the Clemente samples that Howard and I have in our collection came from that stack in front of Clemente, and we may have someone in that photo to thank for saving it!

1969 Transogram Complete Box and 1947-66 Exhibit
 

If you have either let me know at Charles.strite@yahoo.com

I’m new to the forum and this is my first post but did anyone else notice how crazy Clemente PSA 9 cards went for in Heritage this past weekend? From the 59 to the 71 they went for records, sometimes multiples of the last sale. Is this a sign of renewed and greater interest in Clemente post the anniversary of his passing?

It's weird but I don't know what it is. But it has been happening for some time over the past 2 yrs not only just in the past little while. And also I think for Aaron and Mays too, so not necessarily to do with Clemente specifically.

Perhaps it is a flight to other quality after people are finally tiring of Mantle?? (said, looking over a shoulder and then ducking out of sight)

It doesn't make a lot of sense given the relative stability of all these issues in the mid-single-digit thousands range for the past many years. And that with pop counts of a dozen to several dozen even in that grade they aren't exactly scarce (even if always being competitive). Tack on the unresolved alteration scandals that cast a shadow over all, and it seems crazy.

Maybe the sales aren't all real, and just another round of 'buyer's club' shenanigans that has been revealed in the past. Otherwise it makes little sense since those valuations don't seem sustainable over the long term (there aren't enough people with enough wealth to drop in cash as much as they might take out in a five year loan for a luxury sedan, instead for mid-career-era possibly-altered-cards that aren't particularly rare, given that one or more routinely comes up for resale month after month after month).

It could be well-off individuals, with few current expenses, successful retirement portfolios, a sudden sense of mortality and hankering to enjoy things they like while they can ... and hence in a rush to bid and not concerned about valuation. But if so, see segment above, that that's not likely a sustainable valuation model for anyone expecting to perpetually sell for more than they once paid.

(just my off-hand analysis)

Very well stated
 

That said, I believe most if not all of the cards were "old grades" and the few I looked at, not the strongest cards.

It's ironic that "Roberto" is used on the giveaway picture however "Bob" is used in the print ad