10 cool things at the National Sports Collectors Convention

Mark Potash
Aug 1
3 min read

Updated: Aug 5

New York Daily News newspaper with coverage of the Beas' 14-10 victory over the Giants in the 1963 NFL Championship Game. George Halas's last NFL title team ($25).

Original costumes from the classic "Batman" show that ran for three seasons from 1966-68. The Batman & Robin costumes sold for $615,000 in 2023. Not sure if they're up for auction again or just for show, pretty cool items if "Batman" was part of your youth.

An unopened package of 10 Post mini cereal boxes with a Mickey Mantle trading card on the bottom. The Mantle card is the bulk of the value on this item, but this would be a prime item for me even without it. Those mini-box assortments — Kellogg's "snack pack" and "variety pack" were more popular — bring back mostly fond memories for baby boomers.

A ticket stub from Game 8 of the 1919 World Series — when Sox starter Lefty Williams was shelled early in a 10-5 loss at old Comiskey Park that clinched the Series for the Reds (5-3) and completed the "Black Sox" infamously throwing of that World Series.

It would be cooler if you could see the 1969 cello packs in this complete box, but I included it because it was sold, apparently as soon as the show opened on Wednesday, for $275,000. Wow!

Not sure what the variation is with this sleeve. But while "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was not the Beatles' first hit record, it was the first one in the U.S. in 1964 and the No. 1 record when the Beatles' appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964.

Press passes will always have a special place in my heart, and for whatever reason there are more of them at card shows than ever — quite a few different ones at this year's National. This one not only is from the historic 1960 series (eventually won on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run), but it belonged to Hall of Fame sportswriter Shirley Povich of the Washington Post. Just like I'd buy the "Post-Tens" assortment for the cereal boxes and not the Mickey Mantle card, I'd buy this press pass because of Shirley Povich and not the 1960 World Series.

A pennant from the historic 1962 U.S. Open, when Jack Nicklaus beat Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff for his first professional victory ($750)

For anyone who grew up with the Durocher Cubs, this is the most memorable scorecard — not only because it was the ill-fated 1969 season (which was an exhilarating, exciting season despite the dreadful conclusion), but because of the design that acknowledged the National League's expansion to Montreal and San Diego. (The Cubs had a similar style program cover in 1962 with the expansion Mets and Astros). (Three for $20)

Ron Santo homered off future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal to break a scoreless tie in the Cubs' 4-3 victory over the Giants on July 28, 1969.Santo hit .296 with seven home runs in 115 at-bats vs. Marichal in his career. Only four players hit more home runs off him.

Just like in 1984 when Harry Caray said, "The Good Lord wants the Cubs to win." after Pete Rose's line drive in the ninth inning deflected off Lee Smith to shortstop Dave Owent for a game-ending double play, the Cubs seemed destined to win in 1969 when they rallied to beat the Giants with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the ninth. And Bill Gleason's story in the Sun-Times reflected that feeling of inevitability, just as Joe Goddard's game story in 1984 did.

This is a fascinating piece of baseball history related to the mysterious death of Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty, who died when he fell into the Niagara River after being kicked off a train, reportedly for disorderly conduct — a letter from authorities to the wife of Delahanty with "Bridge Watchman's" account of the incident. It is several pages long and original. ($4,500)

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10 cool things at the National Sports Collectors Convention

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