If you are reading this, it has probably happened to you. Whether on Wikipedia, YouTube or elsewhere, you have entered a rabbit hole. Typically it is a good thing. In this case, it was.
Searching eBay one evening, looking for IndyCar things, I came across an Al Unser Jr. autograph. I checked COMC like I do any time that I “find” something. I did not find what I was looking for at the price that I was looking for. However, I found a card that I wasn’t aware existed.
I clicked on the set and the seller had a few different drivers, but wanted over $20 a card. Not willing to pay that, I took a look at eBay. The prices were about the same on there, except for one lot. I clicked on it and the seller stated he picked them up as a kid and they were not in good shape.
I checked the book value on Beckett.com and was surprised to find that the prices asked on high grade single were only overpriced from the standpoint of asking book value. I decided to go ahead and snag the cards and upgrade over time.
The lot included two of the Mario Andretti cards and I was thrilled about that. High book is $50 on the card, but these are not anywhere close to mint. I am going to take them with me when I go to the Indianapolis 500 in May. The odds of getting them signed is small, but I would rather be prepared than disappointed.
Bruno Giacomelli is the one driver in the set that I do not know anything about. With the long history that STP and Andy Granatelli have in motor sports, I am intrigued to learn more.
Listening to an old episode of “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” a couple of weeks ago, Donald Davidson briefly mentioned what Howdy Holmes is doing these days. I had to look it up for more. He is currently the President of Chelsea Milling Company, his family’s company.
Take a look at the sponsor on the car. His grandmother, Mabel, invented the line of Jiffy baking products in 1930. Perhaps I am easily amused, but I think that is pretty cool.
You can tell from the scans that none of these are in great shape, but I’m happy to have them. I will upgrade each of them sometime in the future, if I haven’t already (stay tuned to the blog).
About the set, from Beckett:
“Bosch Spark Plugs produced this set featuring top IndyCar drivers. Each card is unnumbered and features a driver photo and car photo on the cardfront. Cardbacks contain driver career information and stats.”
Since IndyCar doesn’t seem to care enough to have a card set produced, it would be nice if one of IndyCar’s sponsors could put something together. Firestone, Verizon, Honda or Chevrolet have the power to pull it off. I’m not holding out any hope, however.
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Every once in a while, a promotional set shows up in the May festivities. Here’s hoping there’s one this year!
Agreed! I know they usually have signers on Legends Day. Not sure how it’s all going to work out this year. I’m cautiously optimistic.
I got Helio Castroneves’s autograph in the Atlanta Airport after my fellow traveler saw him sitting in first class on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta. Super nice guy, and even inscribed the autograph with his three Indy 500 win years without me asking him.
My wife was impressed because of his “Dancing with the Stars” appearance.