One of the most memorable episodes of Storage Wars was the season 3 episode titled “Bidding on Baseball”. The episode centered around a storage unit that was full of collectible baseball cards and memorabilia that Dave Hester won at auction. The episode showcased the high profit potential that can come from discovering collectible sports cards in a storage locker.
The episode began with Dave, Jarrod Schulz, Brandi Passante, and Darrell Sheets attending an auction in San Diego for a 10×10 storage unit. As the auctioneer revealed what was in the unit, he said there were boxes filled with baseball cards and memorabilia from the 1960s and 1970s. This immediately piqued the interest of Dave, who is an avid sports memorabilia collector. When the bidding started for the unit, several of the buyers put in competitive offers. However, Dave was determined to win this locker sight unseen, knowing that vintage baseball cards from that era could potentially hold valuable gems. He bid up to $1600 and won the unit.
After securing the storage unit, Dave was excited to reveal its contents back at his shop. When he began unloading the boxes, he was amazed by the vast collection of vintage cardboard that had been sleeping in the locker for who knows how long. There were binders and boxes filled with countless cards from the sport’s golden era, including names like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan, and more. Dave excitedly exclaimed “This is what dreams are made of!” as he rummaged through the sea of cards.
Among the piles of common cards were signs of potential treasures. Dave came across a 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson rookie card in near mint condition. Jackson became a baseball legend and his iconic rookie card in high grade is very valuable, so Dave was excited by this find. He also discovered mint condition rookie cards of Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, and Carlton Fisk. Any one of those cards in top condition could be worth thousands on its own. Dave believed after further examination that he had potentially uncovered over $10,000 worth of cards in the initial look through.
Excited to uncover more potential riches, Dave dove deeper into the boxes and found more sealed and unopened packing of 1969 and 1971 Topps packs. This was a huge discovery, as finding vintage baseball cards packs still factory sealed greatly increases their collector value and excitement for the hobby. Dave realized he had stumbled upon a lifelong collector’s horde of cards that were amassed and tucked away in the storage unit for decades. Every box he cracked open teased the potential for rarer finds.
To uncover the true value of collection, Dave enlisted the help of star sports memorabilia expert Chuck Schoendorf to take a closer look. As one of the top authenticators and graders in the industry, Chuck’s expertise would help uncover hidden gems and authenticate significant cards. When Chuck arrived, he examined key cards like the Reggie Jackson and started seriously valuing the entire collection. He authenticated the Jackson as a true 1969 Topps rookie in excellent condition and estimated its worth alone was around $1,500. Chuck examined cards one by one and began adding up their total worth. He came across older Hall of Fame stars like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax. The deeper they dug, the more value they uncovered.
After hours of analysis, Chuck astonished Dave with the preliminary estimated total worth of the entire collection – a staggering $50,000-$75,000 range. Dave could barely believe that spending $1600 at an auction could yield such significant profits. The vintage packs and graded rare cards like the Bench and Seaver rookies were definitely worth thousands each on their own. Dave realized this was potentially the biggest score of his Storage Wars career thus far. He had hit the jackpot in this forgotten treasure trove of cardboard collectibles.
The season 3 episode of Storage Wars concluded with Dave absolutely ecstatic about his find. He knew the true worth could be even higher once Chuck finished extensively examining and grading each individual card. It showed viewers the immense profit potential that can come from buying a random storage unit sight unseen. You never know what hidden treasures may be inside waiting to be discovered decades later. Dave took what many saw as a risky $1600 auction bid and parlayed it into a small goldmine of vintage baseball riches. The episode remains one of the most iconic in the show’s history for showcasing how valuable collectibles like cards can lie dormant before being uncovered and preserved for generations of fans.
The “Bidding on Baseball” episode was extremely memorable for Storage Wars fans. It highlighted how taking calculated risks at auctions can sometimes pay gigantic dividends, as Dave experienced firsthand. The joyful emotion Dave expressed through unwrapping collecting history piece by piece resonated with many viewers who have the collectibles passion. It also educated casual viewers about the high monetary value vintage sports cards can carry. The episode remains a classic to this day that reminds fans of the thrill of the auction chase and profit potential lying in abandoned storage lockers nationwide.
