An Insanely Rare Roy Campanella: 1956 Meiji Seika Caramels Postcard!

Today's post is of an item I not only did not think I would ever own, but one I did not know existed until I stumbled across the auction about two and a half years ago. When I did find it, my research indicated it would exceed my monetary limits and simply be too popular as it's dumb rare and Roy Campanella has a lot of collectors.

Somehow the Cardboard Gods were smiling upon me that day and I was able to secure a truly phenomenal oddball piece straight out of 1950s Japan. Playing era Campanella items are the only ones I care about. If you add in the general awesomeness of Japan and the Dodgers tour there, well.....I am all in like McLovin at a party before the cops show up.

From the auction house website, as Prestige Collectibles can sum it up far better than I can:

"This is a truly rare item with a beautiful photo of the immortal Roy Campanella on the front, along with an ad for Meiji Caramel. The lucky holder of this postcard was entitled to receive a ticket to the Brooklyn Dodgers vs. All Japan game played October 28th in Utsunomiya. Furthermore, if his or her lucky number was called, he or she would also receive a signed baseball of a Dodgers player. The lucky number 0099 is located near the bottom right on the front. The round stamp on the back indicates this card was indeed redeemed for a ticket.

This ticket invitation card is slightly different than the two others we have seen before. According to stamped text on the back, this invitation card is specifically for elementary and junior high school students only. Moreover, the other examples were for the game of November 3rd played at Koshien.

The Dodgers beat the Japanese All-Star team on October 28th, 1956 by a score of 6-3, thanks in part to a Duke Snider home run."

Here's the back of the sweet postcard. It will forever remain in my Campy PC!

Turning The Tide On Dastardly Martians

I slowly edge forward with one of my few remaining cardboard projects after today's addition to my 1962 Mars Attacks PSA 4 set build. The artwork in this set remains undefeated and knowing this journey will take months and months to complete -- if not years -- is an oddly comforting feeling.

"Capturing A Martian" makes its entry into the cardboard conglomerate as I was able to secure it on eBay and not get sniped or shilled. Each pickup feels rewarding and like I won at something. That's always a fantastic feeling. Plus, again....the art!

I Shall Fetch A Rug!

Finding and securing new additions to my Archer Sketch Card Collection is becoming increasingly difficult and increasingly expensive. It really is the "securing" part that has been the impediment to adding fun new pieces as they pop up online. The price has jumped to such a level that I haven't seen before that I don't know how many more I will end up brining home as the months pass by.

Thankfully today's artwork was reasonably priced enough that I could pull the trigger and add another Woodhouse to my PC. Clayton McCormack is the artist behind this creation and I have a ton of his cards, including a slew of Artist Proofs that I landed from the man himself.

A Mike Trout Debut Ticket, Signed and Slabbed and Inscribed and All Mine

Today's post is such an old addition I had to double-check that I did not post it some time between now and acquiring it while Covid was still strong and dominating our lives. The ticket was purchased already signed and authenticated but raw, and then I dropped it off at PSA while still employed there. Why I procrastinated so long before writing it up, I honestly do not know. But, as they say, better late than never!

I still love tickets and what they represent but I don't collect them with the fervor I once did. Hell, to say I even collect them any longer would be a stretch. A cool ticket would still catch my attention, but what I would spend money on now is a very short list. A Mike Trout signed MLB Debut ticket would certainly make that short list and I wish I had waited to buy one as I 100% overpaid based on what they sell for now compared to 2020/2021. Alas, we make decisions and that money was fair at the time so I can't complain. Plus, the benefit of still being single with no kids is that money was getting spent on myself one way or another.

The ticket returned from PSA with a 6 grade and a 10 for the John Hancock. While I decided to abandon my Every Mike Trout Home Run Ticket project and am currently working on selling those off, an iconic ticket such as this one is going to remain with me for the foreseeable future.

(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: 1925 Exhibits

Another Wednesday means another new addition to my Zack Wheat PC. This was purchased raw on eBay about 2.5 years ago. The seller listed it as "Near Mint" and, well, there is a reason not every collector is suited to grade cards.

It returned from a trip to PSA as a 3. It presents very well, but I have not looked at it in ages to the point that I don't even remember what is the cause of the condition discrepancy (I would wager a surface crease of some kind).

It's not a Wheat I see very often so while I may have overpaid -- and definitely didn't get what was advertised -- I am more than happy to just own of these bad boys.