Page 20 - JOA-august-23

series, running until 2001. Each card is of a Hall of
Famer and numbered to 10,000. They can be
purchased today, unsigned, with prices from $2 to
over $100, depending on the player. When these
cards came out, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, and
Joe DiMaggio were still alive, and since they were
all prolific signers, there are several cards available
with their signatures. Looking on the internet and
in card catalogs from top dealers, you can find
DiMaggio for $200-$250, Mantle for $235-$500,
and Williams for $150-$200. The most expensive
one I saw was former Dodger catcher Roy
Campanella for $700. Paralyzed in an automobile
accident, it is said that he did sign items before his
death with the help of an autopen, so you must
assume that this is where they came from. There
were several Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford cards
running in the $50-$60 range, with Carl
Yastrzemski for $100, Willie Mays for $150, and
Sandy Koufax for $200.

Perez-Steele Baseball Hall of Fame

Great Moments
1993 Donruss Masters of the Game Post Cards Nick Markakis Topps Turkey Red card
Kirby Puckett Minnesota Twins #13 These are my favorites. They come in 5¾” x 8”
full-color cards with a greenish border and a gold
nameplate. Designed after the original T-3 Turkey
what is out there now. Part of their appeal over the years is the artwork, Red cards, they are each numbered to 5,000. On the back is a story
and that they are a great piece to get signed, for those who collect about the Hall of Famer and the picture on the front. There are 96 of
baseball autographs. them, released in eight series of boxed sets from 1984-1993. Unsigned,
For the most part, the Perez Diamond Kings are not that expensive they range from $4 to $60. The most expensive one I found is #87,
except for those that have been signed by Hall of Famers. The lineup featuring Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider, the three
of cards each year varied in the artwork and the players selected, and great center fielders who ruled New York in the 1950s. Signed copies
while most are big-name stars, some are guys who had a brief touch of this one run in the $500-$700 range. There are some other cards that
with baseball immortality for a few seasons. contain more than one player, including one of Jackie
Most of the early Perez Diamond King cards Robinson and Pee Wee Reese (#91), and one of the famed
range from $1-$5. The exception would be the Cubs infield of Tinker to Evers to Chance (#40). I found
final year Perez did the Diamond Kings in 1996. some copies of the Robinson-Reese card, signed by Pee Wee,
The cards were numbered on the back to selling in the $60-$80 range. Some other signed cards were
10,000, which makes them more valuable in the Joe Morgan ($60), Yaz ($80), and Willie Mays ($150). Duke
resale market, selling from $5 to $20, depending Snider, Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, and Al Kaline sell in the
on the player. It is not unusual at a big card $40-$80 range. To me, these are great deals on some of the
show to find some in common boxes. Some best players in baseball history. You can purchase the
Diamond Kings were also made as larger cards, different complete boxed sets online with the price
available through the mail at the time. You depending on what cards are in the set.
occasionally see a few of these at shows. They One of my favorites is card #1 of Babe Ruth in a Red Sox
can be a little pricier, as they are scarcer and uniform, which goes for about $20-$50, unsigned of course.
numbered on the back. Most everything you find of Ruth is as a Yankee, so I think
I have always liked the art cards for getting it will make this one an even more valuable collectible in the
nice, clean, collectible autographs. If the cards long run.
have been signed, of course, their value will If you are a serious art collector, you can purchase original
probably shoot up, based on the player and what artwork of Perez’s paintings and prints, and his book, from
kind of a signer he is. As we know, once a player his studio in Philadelphia
goes into the Hall of Fame, the price usually (dickperez.com). Contact
increases, and in some instances, the availability Hall of Fame Art Postcards him at info@dickperez.com.
of the player to sign changes as well, usually Series 1 Portrait of Babe Ruth
based on what they are getting paid. All you have
to do is look at the prices charged for them at The National. I scoured Barry Blair is an
the internet, looking mostly for signed Diamond King cards from the author/writer from
‘82-83 sets, and here are examples of some of the prices that I found: Jonesborough, TN.
Phil Niekro (HOF) for $15, Tom Seaver (HOF) for $80, Gary Carter Contact him at
(HOF) $92, Kent Hrbek $23, Carlton Fisk (HOF) $70, Pete Rose barryblair54@gmail.com
$92, Willie Stargell (HOF) $120, Ron Guidry $32, Steve Garvey $42, or at
Len Barker $5, Dwight Evans $50, and George Brett (HOF) $150. www.rightfieldpress.com.
Unsigned cards of Brett were listed at $4-$5.

Perez-Steele Baseball Hall of Fame Postcards Brooks Robinson
Autographed Perez-Steele
Starting in 1980, in conjunction with the Hall of Fame, Perez put Great Moments Jumbo
out a series of art postcards. There were 253 in total, in 15 published Postcard #39

18 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles