1961 Dice Game

[ALR-bishop]

Bob and Larry both have some. I just have the Kaline I posted in the proof thread

[sflayank]

hi
i have pascual but im still a buyer
let me know if u want to sell
thanks
larry

[Mark70Z]

I "need" the Brooks Robinson dice game card, but just couldn't afford it, or even justify the expense, when it came up in auction a while back. In the H&S action the Brooks went for around 19K if I can recall correctly.

So, whoever owns a Brooks Dice Game card, remember the Brooksie single player collector is in "need", or "want" if you want to be picky about it...

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

I "need" the Brooks Robinson dice game card, but just couldn't afford it, or even justify the expense, when it came up in auction a while back. In the H&S action the Brooks went for around 19K if I can recall correctly.

So, whoever owns a Brooks Dice Game card, remember the Brooksie single player collector is in "need", or "want" if you want to be picky about it...

I often use the air quotes when I tell someone I "need" something.

[ALR-bishop]

"It's easy to sit there and say you need more money. And that's what I like about it, sitting there, rocking back and forth, and wanting that money "....Jack Handey

[bobsbbcards]

LOVE the Dice Game cards, Bob. I'm assuming those have no staple holes, since they're graded so high?

From what I've read over the years, there are possibly 3 or 4 copies of each card in existence? One with staple holes, one factory cut, 1 cut from a sheet, and another still in sheet form? Anyone know if the sheets each had a complete set?


Al, the Plaks are probably still my favorite test issue. When Mile High came up with their "find", I was tempted to finally complete the set, even though it would have cost something crazy compared to the $300 or so I spent on the 13 I owned way back when. I settled for just getting a Killebrew.

You may recall, a couple of years ago I wrote on this forum that I believed I once owned a Drysdale Plak, which was apparently a false memory. What nags me, however, is I've been telling the story of owning a Drysdale Plak ever since getting on the internet in '97, which was only 6-7 years after I sold my collection. It's probably still a false memory, but if so, I at least feel confident it's not because of old age.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

"It's easy to sit there and say you need more money. And that's what I like about it, sitting there, rocking back and forth, and wanting that money "....Jack Handey

Al,

I'm not sure if this quote is in reference to me or not, but it sure sounds like it may be. So, let me make a few comments if you are referring to me. First, I do need more money so you've got me there, but I do not and don't plan to purchase in the future a rocking chair, a La-Z-Boy maybe, but not a rocking chair. Secondly, I would not think about wanting more money rocking back and forth in the newly purchased La-Z-Boy, I'd think about that '67 Disc sheet, or maybe the '74 Topps Deckle sheet w/Brooks included, something in that regard.

Also, if you'd like to reference me in the future, please make it a sports quote, I like sports quotes and what would be even cooler would be a Brooksie quote.

[ALR-bishop]

Mark-- the quote was not directed at you and although it deals with money I was relating it to the discussion of rare cards many of us here wish had or hope to get. It applies to me as much as anyone

Karl-- I mix and match on the 67s, but I think Larry is mostly die cuts. not sure about Bob, but think they both have full sets

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I often use the air quotes when I tell someone I "need" something.

Ha! "Maybe" I got it from you I really can't recall how I ever started to use quotes like that.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Bob and Larry both have some. I just have the Kaline I posted in the proof thread

Al,

Please post it here too; you know we love your Kaline Dice Game card!

[cardinalcollector]

Is Bill White confirmed in this set?

I had the Earl Battey card; bought it in Willow Grove in 1984 or 1985, sold it in the early 1990s. My recollection is that I was offered several others, but I was such a "mint fanatic" that I passed on them due to condition. The Battey wasn't mint - it had the typical staple holes - but it had nice corners and the staple holes were nearly invisible.

I had similar experiences with 1955 Topps Stamps and 1970 Topps Cloth Stickers (and several other more "common" test issues). I managed to find groups of each from dealers like Mid-Atlantic Coin, Rosen and Morris, then "cherry-picked" the nicest ones and turned my nose up at the others, not realizing how rare they were. Again, I sold these and most everything I had around 1991, some through SCD ads and some to Levi Bleam.

When I first got on the internet in 1997 and then eBay a year later, I thought I'd be able to find and replace all the stuff I regretted selling. Didn't happen.

[ALR-bishop]

Neat story Karl. I have just one each of the 61 Dice, 55 Stamps and 70 Cloth. Along with the 66 Punch Outs and recently posted 71 Rookie Artists Proofs, they seem to be the rarest of the unissued Topps test sets.

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Neat story Karl. I have just one each of the 61 Dice, 55 Stamps and 70 Cloth. Along with the 66 Punch Outs and recently posted 71 Rookie Artists Proofs, they seem to be the rarest of the unissued Topps test sets.

I wasn't even aware of the Artists Proofs in the 1980s, and the 1966 Punch Outs weren't on my radar, either. Besides the '61 Dice, '55 Stamps and '70 Cloth, my other grail was the Plaks - I had 12 or 13 of them, and searched like crazy for the others, some of which I know now probably never existed.

In 1984, my company (Cargill) actually transferred me from Minneapolis to an office right in Willow Grove - I think I spent my transfer bonus at a card show the first weekend. There were shows within driving distance pretty much every weekend back then.

I don't recall many other collectors pursuing test issues at the time, and most of what I turned up was through persistence - always giving out updated want lists to dealers, badgering Rosen and Morris on the phone, taking out SCD classified want ads (which actually netted me quite a few items).

I bought my 1955 Stamps from Mid-Atlantic, but only after going to their office/warehouse and asking if they had any oddball stuff. Someone (Rex?) led me to a room, left me there alone and told me to come get him if I found anything of interest. I found 7-10 stamps, but only 3 were uncreased or not miscut. At the time, I don't think anyone knew if they were a legitimate test issue. My recollection is that I just took the 3 nicest ones and paid $10-$20 each for them.

To illustrate how much of a "mint freak" I was, even though I collected everything Topps from 1951-1989 (I got as far as 85% complete, all NMMT and centered, before throwing in the towel), I wouldn't buy any of the 1960 or 1964 tattoos because of the tears they virtually always had. Around 1989, I finally bought a small stash of unissued 1964s from someone that were minty fresh, but I only kept the Killebrew - I finally had it graded a couple of years ago. I think I also agonized about the centering on the 1974 Puzzles, but finally put a set together after it became clear that no centered versions existed for several of them.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Karl Mattson

I had the Earl Battey card; bought it in Willow Grove in 1984 or 1985, sold it in the early 1990s. My recollection is that I was offered several others, but I was such a "mint fanatic" that I passed on them due to condition. The Battey wasn't mint - it had the typical staple holes - but it had nice corners and the staple holes were nearly invisible.

I had similar experiences with 1955 Topps Stamps and 1970 Topps Cloth Stickers (and several other more "common" test issues). I managed to find groups of each from dealers like Mid-Atlantic Coin, Rosen and Morris, then "cherry-picked" the nicest ones and turned my nose up at the others, not realizing how rare they were. Again, I sold these and most everything I had around 1991, some through SCD ads and some to Levi Bleam.

When I first got on the internet in 1997 and then eBay a year later, I thought I'd be able to find and replace all the stuff I regretted selling. Didn't happen.

I sold 1 I regretted - I had the 1966 Mays punchout. "stole" out of a Rosen auction of all places ~20 years ago. Sold it for a nice profit (~1k) to a Mays collector shortly after. Huggins and Scott just auctioned it off for I think about 23k

Originally Posted by hcv123

I sold 1 I regretted - I had the 1966 Mays punchout. "stole" out of a Rosen auction of all places ~20 years ago. Sold it for a nice profit (~1k) to a Mays collector shortly after. Huggins and Scott just auctioned it off for I think about 23k

Holy cow! I'm not sure I want to know if any of the stuff I had is worth that much today!

Owning rare or unique items, even if only briefly, is a special kick, ain't it? Even when family and friends think you're nuts.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Karl Mattson

Holy cow! I'm not sure I want to know if any of the stuff I had is worth that much today!

Owning rare or unique items, even if only briefly, is a special kick, ain't it? Even when family and friends think you're nuts.

It is. I appreciate knowing that I was in the chain of ownership. Still have a number of items that fit the bill.

What I really love about those family and friends think I'm nuts thing is when I tell them about selling something that they thought I was nuts for buying at a huge profit - I don't usually hear about how nuts I am at the end of those stories :-)