Garage/Estate Sale Success?

[ALR-bishop]

My only experience is recounted in part in Love of Game's current and future auctions involving "the Texas Find". I am originally from St Louis but have lived in San Antonio since 1995. St Louis is a baseball town, San Antonio is not. I am a fairly serious post war collector with full Topps, Bowman and Fleer runs.

As Al C has related in his auction preview, my wife was in a church bible class and was telling a friend about a trip we were about to make to Phoenix this past March to see some spring training games with a group of fellow baseball card collectors who gather there each year. Another woman she did not know heard the conversation and related that her husband had died unexpectedly back in 2007 and left behind a "bunch" of baseball cards. She wondered if I would look at it and make some suggestions on how she could sell it.

Because she said he was a lifelong San Antonio resident I went not expecting much, but it took me. 3 days to wonder through it all. Some was well organized but because of his sudden death before retirement, much was spread out all over in boxes and suitcases. Most in a study, full to the brim with every wallfull of shelves full of cards in binders, and packed closet as well. Some was in the garage. Cards , autographed balls and photos, and publications.

A lot of stuff was post 80 and there were hundreds of older and newer minor league sets. But there was a full Bowman and Topps run and a large number of extra autographed 52 cards, including an autographed Campos black star card, some older basketball sets and a few oddball older baseball sets or partial sets.

In the end I put her in touch with a couple of folks, including Al at Love of Game, who the family ultimately chose to sell the collection. The whole event was a lot of fun. Because of the connection my wife and I developed to the family and the fact I recommended him, I can say how pleased I was with how Al Crisafulli handled the entire matter

[Leon]

What a great story all around!!! Thanks for sharing, Al.

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

My only experience is recounted in part in Love of Game's current and future auctions involving "the Texas Find". I am originally from St Louis but have lived in San Antonio since 1995. St Louis is a baseball town, San Antonio is not. I am a fairly serious post war collector with full Topps, Bowman and Fleer runs.

As Al C has related in his auction preview, my wife was in a church bible class and was telling a friend about a trip we were about to make to Phoenix this past March to see some spring training games with a group of fellow baseball card collectors who gather there each year. Another woman she did not know heard the conversation and related that her husband had died unexpectedly back in 2007 and left behind a "bunch" of baseball cards. She wondered if I would look at it and make some suggestions on how she could sell it.

Because she said he was a lifelong San Antonio resident I went not expecting much, but it took me. 3 days to wonder through it all. Some was well organized but because of his sudden death before retirement, much was spread out all over in boxes and suitcases. Most in a study, full to the brim with every wallfull of shelves full of cards in binders, and packed closet as well. Some was in the garage. Cards , autographed balls and photos, and publications.

A lot of stuff was post 80 and there were hundreds of older and newer minor league sets. But there was a full Bowman and Topps run and a large number of extra autographed 52 cards, including an autographed Campos black star card, some older basketball sets and a few oddball older baseball sets or partial sets.

In the end I put her in touch with a couple of folks, including Al at Love of Game, who the family ultimately chose to sell the collection. The whole event was a lot of fun. Because of the connection my wife and I developed to the family and the fact I recommended him, I can say how pleased I was with how Al Crisafulli handled the entire matter

[DBesse27]

Picked up this card for $5 at a yard sale. Also a 59 Topps Fence Busters w/ Hammerin' Hank for $2.

[RobDerhak]

These are among a TON of stuff that is in one starting tomorrow...I'll be there in line 2+ hours before it opens...anything specific I need to check on the Ruth to make sure it is authentic? (I am not very hopeful it is, but hey, judging form the contents of the sale the guy was a former dealer or something and it isn't full of junk like Coaches Corner crap, so I have a glimmer of hope at least)

[JeremyW]

The Ruth is a reprint. It's cropped incorrectly & too much space between photo & black line.

[RobDerhak]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

The Ruth is a reprint. It's cropped incorrectly & too much space between photo & black line.

Thank you for pointing out the space between the line & the photo...when I compare that to a PSA graded version you are spot on correct.

[RobDerhak]

#2 in line.

[aelefson]

Rob-

I would be very leery of that Ruth card. There are many old threads on how to tell the difference between real and fake versions of this card, so definitely study those before you go. My gut feel is that it is a fake without looking at it too closely.

Also, getting to the estate sale 2 hours in advance probably will not be good enough for you to be one of the first sports people in line. It all depends where you live. In MA, you normally have to get there between midnight and three am as that is when the sign up sheet goes up at the good estate sales. Then, you need to make sure no one changes the sheet until numbers are given out around 7am. I am not sure this sale is worth the effort, especially if those are the only cards pictured. I hope I am wrong though, and you get some great items!

Alan

[RobDerhak]

There are 8-10 3200-5k boxes that have cards @ $.75 each...alot of what can be seen in the pics is junk, but there are some decent things showing (Steve Spurrier RC, 1968 Topps Game card) that I'll dig through for <$1 ea...dozens of 50s/60s stars priced entirely too high (clearly tape damaged 63 Mantle for $150 for example)...I may grab the Spahn & see if there is any damage that isn't in the pic or on the back, and head right to the bulk boxes to see if there is anything missed in there.

I usually show up 30-45 minutes early for a promising sale and am in the first 4-5 in line, so I'm getting there well in advance of that tomorrow

Originally Posted by aelefson

Rob-

I would be very leery of that Ruth card. There are many old threads on how to tell the difference between real and fake versions of this card, so definitely study those before you go. My gut feel is that it is a fake without looking at it too closely.

Also, getting to the estate sale 2 hours in advance probably will not be good enough for you to be one of the first sports people in line. It all depends where you live. In MA, you normally have to get there between midnight and three am as that is when the sign up sheet goes up at the good estate sales. Then, you need to make sure no one changes the sheet until numbers are given out around 7am. I am not sure this sale is worth the effort, especially if those are the only cards pictured. I hope I am wrong though, and you get some great items!

Alan