(This is just a reminder that I have not forgotten about those collectors who signed up for a stack of my Dodgers extras. I also haven't forgotten about the collectors who I had planned to send cards to before I even started this Dodgers giveaway project. But while I've banned myself from the post office until around New Year's, my January will be filled with distributions. In 2022, I shall be the Night Owl Fulfillment Center! But now it's time for Cardboard Appreciation. This is the 310th in a series):
Well, lookee here. This is quite the occasion. This is not only the first Morrell Meats card in my collection but the first time I've even cast eyes on a Morrell Meats card.
Morrell Meats was a regional food-issue set of just Dodgers players issued between 1959-61 with 12 cards the first two years and six in the final year. This Don Drysdale is from the middle year, 1960.
This is what the online sellers would call a "tough regional issue" and a Drysdale card in similar shape on the ebay goes for at least 25 bucks. Then take a look at what it's going for in your average Standard Catalog of Everything Baseball Card in near minty mint shape. Try 120 bucks.
So what about that 50-cents tag on the front?
That's what fellow collector Joe paid for it when he discovered it at a shop. He didn't know exactly what it was but he knew that I might be interested. And I knew that it was a set issued only in Southern California and my chances of finding one was limited.
So why is it just 50 cents?
I think I know.
The card has been in the holder for too long and if you attempt to pull it out, part of the picture stays attached to the plastic. There's a nice little 3-D effect to it where Drysdale's glove pops away from his jersey, but then you realize that Drysdale's pants are coming away and he's now just a disembodied head and torso! The horror!
Joe said perhaps a little heat may help reseal the paper parts to the picture but so far that hasn't helped and I don't think it will (I may have sabotaged it by pulling on it anyway).
Safe to say it won't be leaving its holder.
Meanwhile, the back is perfectly intact.
It's still worth far more than 50 cents. I love the shot of a young Drysdale with the wide-expanse of the L.A. Coliseum behind him.
Joe sent me a few other Dodgers, including a festive one that I'll save for closer to the holiday.
Comments
First I see the word Japan.
The font on the back looks like something not made in 1960.
The stats are interesting in that it has Games Started and Complete Games.
I don't think CG appeared on Topps/Fleer cards until 1981. Not sure when GS appeared.
DOB: is odd where the month is spelled out with the slashes (this might not be odd as I have not looked at card backs in a while)
30 years ago I spent a lot of time in my LCS. Like a whole lot. When the guy would go to lunch or need to run an errand he would let me run the place for him, that's how much I was in there. One day a guy brought in a T206 Cy Young that was stuck to the screwdown. The guy only wanted 100 because it was stuck and my LCS owner said no he would have a hard time reselling it stuck to the case. I piped up and said I'll give you 80 for it; which is a nono when your a customer at a card shop, you should't make an offer to another customer because that is how the LCS makes money. The guy said he would take it so I gave him 80 and after her left I gave the LCS owner a 20. (he didn't request it but I knew I had overstepped so I offered him the 20) I had remembered reading the Tuff Stuff Forum that if a card was stuck to a screwdown you can sometimes get it unstuck by getting it hot and then putting it in the freezer.
I wrote about this in a Bat Blog around long ago.
https://thoughtsandsox.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-bat-around-round-2.html