(Update: I learned after publication that the tobacco cards, while listed for $75, were actually purchased for $200, the buyer wanting to make sure they would get it, per Mike Junk Wax Hero’s newsletter and YouTube video. My apologies for the error.)

I can happily report that I finished my half marathon and even managed to shave off nine minutes from my previous race. And while I was hoping to do an even better job, I was reminded that very few people (especially at my age) do these types of things, meaning it’s something I can and should be proud of. It’s a good reminder of the importance of perspective.

But what I really want to talk about is the wonder that is Shohei Ohtani. I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to watch his historic game the other night until after he had already accomplished everything, but I did watch his three home runs later, each of which was pretty epic. What stood out, of course, was the totality of his game. Three home runs (and a walk), sure, but then the pitching. Six shutout innings, two hits, 10 strikeouts, in a series-clinching game. As someone who appreciates the history of the game and nerds out on statistics, I naturally wondered if there was anything that could even compare.

I follow SABR (the Society for American Baseball Research) on Facebook and one of the members was on it, with what he thought was the closest thing in the playoffs to what Ohtani did. In the 1919 World Series, in Game 1, Reds pitcher Dutch Ruether went 3-for-3 with two triples and a walk, while pitching a complete game, getting the win and giving up six hits and one unearned run. Admittedly not quite as impressive, but not too shabby, either.

Then I went to the old Google machine, wondering if any other pitcher had ever hit three home runs in a game. And, indeed, it had happened once before - in 1942, by Boston Braves pitcher Jim Tobin. And Tobin also won the game, pitching a complete game, giving up five runs, three of them earned, but as an early regular-season game for a team that ended up finishing in seventh place in the National League, it’s not exactly the same stakes.

So, yeah, I think Ohtani stands alone, having had the greatest total game in MLB history. Thoughts?

In this issue you'll find:

• The top 1970s PSA-graded basketball cards

• George Brett’s rookie card and player profile

• Recent auction highlights

• News in the hobby

• Recent Vintage Card Voyage videos

Let’s get into it.

Among the top 10 lists, football has 44 percent more graded cards than basketball during the decade. Of course, baseball has 160 percent more graded cards than football during the same time period, securely establishing itself in the number one spot.

Football starts to really separate itself from basketball starting from 1975 on, likely driven by its big rookie cards (Walter Payton, Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell) and basketball’s relative lack thereof (guys like Moses Malone and Robert Parish don’t stack up in number of graded cards). Here’s the list of the most-graded Topps card each year:

I was mostly surprised by Kareem’s lack of appearances on this list, especially in 1970 and 1971, since they’re his second- and third-year cards (he finished second on the list both years, and it should be noted that 1970 was Maravich’s rookie card). He did finish in the top five every year of the decade except for 1974, when he came in eighth place. Meanwhile, not surprisingly, five of the 10 years had a top card that was a rookie card.

And here’s the top 10 list by total graded:

Four rookies in the top 10, with Malone and Parish’s appearance being the only real surprise, as I had thought rookies like Bill Walton and George Gervin might eclipse them (both finished in the top 25). It’s also interesting to see Kareem secure three spots while Dr. J and Maravich grabbed two apiece (and the top four overall).

Some other observations:

• Along with Kareem appearing in the top 10 every year of the decade, Pete Maravich did so as well, never landing outside the top five. Similarly, Dr. J spent every year he had a card in the top five (in fact, the top four).

• Other legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West all appeared in the top 10 each year they had a card (interestingly, all three of them had their last playing-year card in 1974), with Chamberlain never falling outside the top three. I had expected players like these, ones known more for their playing time in the 1960s, to be graded more often, due to the lack of cards in that previous decade (1961 Fleer and 1969 Topps being the two primary sets in the 1960s).

• The 1971 Topps set is the only one that has every card in the top 10 having been graded more than 1,000 times, including five rookies (Rick Barry, Dave Cowens, Bob Lanier, Nate “Tiny” Archibald and Dan Issel). Meanwhile, the 1975 Topps set only had three cards with more than 1,000 graded - with rookies of Keith Wilkes and Bobby Jones each having so far been graded fewer than 400 times.

Recent High-Grade Sales:

PSA 10: $150,000 - Heritage Auctions on May 18, 2024

PSA 9: $6,900 - Fanatics Collect Weekly auction on October 5, 2025

SGC 10 (98): $31,200 - REA auction on April 28, 2025

SGC 9.5: $12,000 - REA auction on April 21, 2024

SGC 9: $3,360 - REA auction on August 13, 2023

BVG 10: No sales history

BVG 9.5: $19,200 - Fanatics Collect Premier auction on September 25, 2025

BVG 9: $2,806 - Heritage Auctions on February 23, 2025

*The (98) is considered “Gem Mint,” while (100) is considered “Pristine”

Some Current Auction Highlights

Bid prices as of Sunday evening PT

Fanatics Collect Weekly Auction (closing October 26)

1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #181 PSA 3 - $5,500

1933 Sport Kings Gum Jim Thorpe #6 SGC 1 - $125

1972 Daily Juice Membership Roberto Clemente PSA 8 - $5

News Briefs

Tobacco Cards Found Glued to a Wooden Chest Purchased for $75 on Facebook Marketplace

An Autographed 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Negotiation on “Pawn Stars”

The Sports Card Market Was Down in September

The Heritage Fall Auction Has Set Collectors in Mind

Arguments for a New Baseball TCG

Vintage Card Voyage: Recent Videos

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