Favorite ebay, flea market, or antique mall find

[dell webb]

Two of my favorite Ebay finds. First a 1907 picture of the Victor Mill team with Joe Jackson. Second the pool table that was originally in the Vernor's mansion and was featured in the movie The American President. The seller had the pool table listed for $150,000 on a major billiard website for several years and actually turned down an offer of 100K. For whatever reason he wanted to sell it fast and put it on Ebay with no reserve. I bid 40K right at the end and got it for $3600. vm.jpg

IMG_5970.jpg

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by dell webb

Two of my favorite Ebay finds. First a 1907 picture of the Victor Mill team with Joe Jackson. Second the pool table that was originally in the Vernor's mansion and was featured in the movie The American President. The seller had the pool table listed for $150,000 on a major billiard website for several years and actually turned down an offer of 100K. For whatever reason he wanted to sell it fast and put it on Ebay with no reserve. I bid 40K right at the end and got it for $3600. Attachment 46807

Attachment 46808

Georgeous pool table! What a deal!!

[iwantitiwinit]

I want that pool table. Awesome!!!!!!

[ibuysportsephemera]

I have been going to Antique Shows, Flea Markets, Paper Shows, etc. since the mid 1980's. I have had many great finds but the 2 below stand out.

At an antique show in PA. I purchased a bunch (maybe 50 to 75) of 1950's ticket stubs from the Yankees and Dodgers. I paid $250 for the group. In the lot was the Dodgers and Giants Bobby Thompson playoff hr stub and also the first game (P1 and P2). Sold the pair for $1,600.

My biggest find was many years ago when eBay had just begun (1997ish). I advertised in the newspaper pretty regularly for sports memorabilia wanted. I got a call from a strange guy who wanted me to meet him at a self storage place about 15 minutes from my house. I was pretty nervous, but what a find. He had a mint collection of 1930's - 1950's yearbooks, programs, magazines from the Dodgers, Yankees, Packers, etc. It was about 300 pieces and I paid $3,200. I didn't realize it but included was a Packers Redskins Championship Program from the 1930's. I sold that one item for $2,200 on eBay.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by dell webb

Two of my favorite Ebay finds. First a 1907 picture of the Victor Mill team with Joe Jackson. Second the pool table that was originally in the Vernor's mansion and was featured in the movie The American President. The seller had the pool table listed for $150,000 on a major billiard website for several years and actually turned down an offer of 100K. For whatever reason he wanted to sell it fast and put it on Ebay with no reserve. I bid 40K right at the end and got it for $3600. Attachment 46807

Attachment 46808

On that pool table WOW...I litterally let out a laugh when I read that..bid 40K, got for $3600...man that's a story....you'd be buying the pizza that night!...a solid congratulations!

This is a good thread...I may have to get involved latter when get time

[sicollector1954]

Found a 1969-72 Thurman Munson game bat in a barrel of bats last November for under $50.00. It still happens once in awhile...you just have to keep looking!

[mcgwirecom]

Got a Ruth game bat (possibly) for $500 buy it now!

[packs]

I don't think I'll ever get tired of showing this one off. I purchased this Grover Cleveland Alexander signed baseball on Ebay only about a month or two ago. The auction had no photo and was described as being signed by GL Alexander. I took a risk and purchased the baseball sight unseen for $80.

A week goes by. I receive the baseball and soon after its being authenticated by JSA. Total cost to me on this beauty: $250.

The deals are still out there.

[aelefson]

Hi-
I am an avid flea market/antique shop goer and have been for a number of years. I found a group of Joe Dimaggio ca 1940s tattoos/transfers along with other characters (like Dick Tracy) at a flea market for 40.00. I sold them to a few different dealers for over 2000.00.
Over the summer I found a couple of really cool 19th century bats for less than 50.00 each at a flea market. Just this past weekend I found a Ruth 250 model bat (31 inches) for 3.00 and an OJ of Glasscock that was rebacked (but has a decent image) for 25.00.
I go to my favorite flea market nearly every Sunday. I try to get there as close to sunrise as possible and I ask every dealer that carries antiques if they have early baseball items. Several dealers save me any old baseball item as I have developed a strong rapport with them over the years. It makes the early morning efforts and hour drive each way worth it by knowing I will almost always come home with something.
More than 90% of my collection comes from flea market and antiquing finds. I really value finding items "in the rough" as opposed to trolling ebay or major auction houses. It definitely helps to live in the Northeast of course.
Alan

[gashouse34]

Wow some absolutely fantastic finds...I'm afraid my finds pale in comparison to others. I have to collect on a budget so I am naturally extremely thrifty when buying. That's what is great about this hobby...there are great finds to be had out there if you do the research and act quickly when those opportunities arise!

A couple of my recent finds:

The Melvin Ott signed '34 Cardinals Score Card (posted on here about it) paid: $50

A lot of 45 Different 1930's Wheaties Panels for $30. I sold about 20 of them but kept all the HOFers.

A Washington Redskins Real Face Bobblehead Paid $47

[Vintage Basketball Pat]

Now that is an Ebay find! That's a great piece!

[JustinD]

This is easily my favorite Ebay find ever. Especially because I get to wear and enjoy it on a regular basis. I found it a few years ago poorly listed as a "Tops" baseball watch. I have never seen nor heard of another out there as of yet. I believe that this was a presentation piece for a Topps Banquet.

It's a 10K gold Hamilton Automatic, and she may run a wee bit fast but I don't care. The watch face is emblazoned with "TOPPS AWARD" with the trophy dead center. It's very intricately done by the factory and beautiful. The back is engraved with "TOPPS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA 1969".

I would love if anyone actually knew anything about this. I would love to know the provenance of who this was actually given to. I'm really not even sure of the sport honestly. It seems like Topps used the phrase all-america more for football, but I am grasping at straws. I have thought it may be even an award for the best college player. I just don't know, maybe one of you does? I just know I love it and lots of people ask about it, it makes a good story.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by JustinD

This is easily my favorite Ebay find ever. Especially because I get to wear and enjoy it on a regular basis. I found it a few years ago poorly listed as a "Tops" baseball watch. I have never seen nor heard of another out there as of yet. I believe that this was a presentation piece for a Topps Banquet.

It's a 10K gold Hamilton Automatic, and she may run a wee bit fast but I don't care. The watch face is emblazoned with "TOPPS AWARD" with the trophy dead center. It's very intricately done by the factory and beautiful. The back is engraved with "TOPPS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA 1969".

I would love if anyone actually knew anything about this. I would love to know the provenance of who this was actually given to. I'm really not even sure of the sport honestly. It seems like Topps used the phrase all-america more for football, but I am grasping at straws. I have thought it may be even an award for the best college player. I just don't know, maybe one of you does? I just know I love it and lots of people ask about it, it makes a good story.

Well Done Justin. That is a fantastic find! I love stuff like that.

[Exhibitman]

First Team All America sounds like college football.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

First Team All America sounds like college football.

That's what I have thought also. However, the trophy is that of baseball player. It seems they would have some football reference, but maybe they presented these across a field of sports at the time and the baseball trophy was the default. Really, "first team all-america" can be any college sport, from Soccer to Lacrosse. I am sure it has to be from the big three sports and they couldn't have handed out enough watches for every First team all-american in even one sport because it would have been numerous watches, some would have surfaced here and there. It was probably at a Topps Banquet trying to impress some notable college players coming up. Which at Topps the emphasis was mostly in Baseball during the late 60's. I wish it had a name on it.

[doug.goodman]

It's about a foot and a half square, and cost me 1000 yen (about $8 at the time) at a flea market in Japan...

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by JustinD

This is easily my favorite Ebay find ever. Especially because I get to wear and enjoy it on a regular basis. I found it a few years ago poorly listed as a "Tops" baseball watch. I have never seen nor heard of another out there as of yet. I believe that this was a presentation piece for a Topps Banquet.

It's a 10K gold Hamilton Automatic, and she may run a wee bit fast but I don't care. The watch face is emblazoned with "TOPPS AWARD" with the trophy dead center. It's very intricately done by the factory and beautiful. The back is engraved with "TOPPS FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA 1969".

I would love if anyone actually knew anything about this. I would love to know the provenance of who this was actually given to. I'm really not even sure of the sport honestly. It seems like Topps used the phrase all-america more for football, but I am grasping at straws. I have thought it may be even an award for the best college player. I just don't know, maybe one of you does? I just know I love it and lots of people ask about it, it makes a good story.

I missed this thread originally. Never seen the watch-wow!

There used to be college All American Baseball Players. I assume one of these ten first teamers received that watch at some point:
P Larry Gura
P Burt Hooton
C Bob Williams
1B Mike Walseth
2B Dick Gold
3B Les Rogers
SS Bill Stein
OF Bob Long
OF Paul Powell
OF Larry Pyle

[LuckyLuke]

Wow...unbelievable finds. Here are a few of mine. Regrettably.....I don't own some of these beautiful pieces anymore. The Rookie Gehrig EXHIBIT was accompanied with the Sisler and a lower grade Ty Cobb EXHIBIT(1927). Within the same week I stumbled across the 1928 World series Game 4 ticket. The others are also nice finds. All these pick up were over the last 2 years and I consider them finds because the costs to purchase was 1/20th of the market value today.