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LOU BROCK BASEBALL CARDS

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Lou Brock was an iconic MLB player who had an illustrious career playing primarily as a left fielder and base stealer for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals from 1961 to 1979. As one of the most accomplished base stealers in baseball history, Brock’s career achievements and showmanship on the basepaths made him a fan favorite and one of the most collectible players throughout the 1970s and beyond. This solidified his legacy and led to him being one of the most represented players in the world of baseball cards.

Brock first appeared on baseball cards as a member of the Chicago Cubs starting in 1962. His rookie cards from that year are considered some of the key early cards for collectors seeking Brock’s entire collecting timeline. Although common for the time, they still hold value today considering they captured his debut in the majors. His 1963 and 1964 cards with the Cubs are also affordable options for collectors on a budget looking to represent the first few years of his career before his trade.

Of course, it was once Brock was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 that his legend and collectibility truly took off. His 1965 card donning the Cardinals uniform marked the beginning of his dominance on the basepaths in St. Louis that would lead to three NL stolen base titles and over 900 career steals. Highlighting this breakout start with the Cardinals, the 1965 issue remains one of the most iconic Brock cards available to collectors. PSA 10 gem mint copies in particular command top dollar on the secondary market.

Throughout the rest of the 1960s, Brock appeared regularly on flagship sets like Topps and Fleer each year. His 1966, 1967, and 1968 issues are plentiful for collectors due to high production numbers. They still carry value both for dedicated Brock collectors and those seeking 1960s Cardinals items. The 1969 cards are especially remembered, as they captured Brock during the season he stole a then-MLB record 118 bases. PSA 10 examples of the Topps and Fleer issues from ’69 can sell for well over $1000.

Entering the 1970s, Brock’s cards began appearing in larger sets beyond the standard Topps and Fleer releases as baseball card inserts became more prevalent. 1970/1971/1972 issues from sets like Kellogg’s, Leaf, and Bazooka are all notable variations collectors seek. His base 1973 and 1974 Topps cards remain very affordable for newcomers. The 1974 issue stands out, as it was the first card produced after Brock broke Ty Cobb’s longstanding MLB stolen base record in 1974 with 938 career steals.

This record-breaking accomplishment fueled Brock’s popularity even higher. As a result, his 1975 and 1976 cards exploded in value compared to prior years once produced in scarce promotional formats. Key Brock chase cards include the 1975 Topps Mini format card and 1976 Hostess Fruit Pie insert, both of which routinely sell for well over $1000 in pristine condition. Even his standard ’75 and ’76 Topps base cards command steep premiums compared to preceding years. This demonstrated just how newly high his collecting demand had grown.

Entering the later 1970s, Brock started appearing less frequently in sets as his playing career wound down. Collectors still sought any final cards they could find of him in a Cardinals uniform before retirement. His 1977 and 1978 Topps are affordable representations of his later playing days. But it was the flagship 1979 Topps card that held special meaning, as it captured his last season in St. Louis at age 41 after breaking Cobb’s record years prior. Pristine PSA 10 copies now sell for over $500.

In the decades since, Brock has been continually remembered and honored through special retrospective and anniversary cards. Later 1980s and 1990s inserts recognizing his stolen base records as well as post-playing career achievements remain popular today. And in the modern era of inserts and parallels, his vintage 1960s and 1970s cardboard is still among the most in-demand for set builders due to his career success tying into St. Louis sports history. Overall, Lou Brock’s iconic base-stealing exploits made him one of the most collected players in the hobby during his playing days and long after.

BROCK WILKEN BASEBALL CARDS

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Brock Wilken is considered one of the top collectors of vintage baseball cards in the world. His collection is renowned for its completeness, rarity, and condition of the cards. Now in his late 50s, Wilken has been amassing baseball cards since he was a young boy in the 1970s. Over the past 40+ years, he has meticulously sought out and acquired some of the most coveted cards in the hobby.

Wilken’s collection is truly a sight to behold. Housed in a temperature-controlled vault in his home, the collection is sorted and organized with precision. In total, it contains over 10,000 individual cards spanning from the late 1800s to the 1970s. Some of the most notable gems in Wilken’s collection include:

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – Graded PSA 8 – One of the crown jewels of Wilken’s collection is this ultra-rare Honus Wagner card. Considered the most valuable trading card in existence, Wilken’s example is in remarkable condition for its age. The centering is strong and the colors are bright. Estimated value is over $3 million.

1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth – Graded PSA 8 – This iconic Ruth rookie card is the key to the entire 1933 Goudey set. Wilken’s copy shows impressive eye appeal with sharp corners and vivid images. At the last public auction, a PSA 8 brought over $500,000.

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle – Graded PSA 8 – Mantle’s iconic rookie card is a must-have for any serious collector. Wilken’s PSA 8 example has great color and centering. Top-graded 1952 Mantle rookies have sold for north of $2 million.

1964 Topps #130 Hank Aaron – Graded PSA 9 – Wilken’s pristine Hank Aaron rookie is one of the finest known. The centering is dead-on and the surfaces are flawless. A PSA 9 Aaron rookie would be a strong candidate for the highest price ever paid for a modern-era card.

1971 Topps #20 Nolan Ryan – Graded PSA 10 – This Ryan rookie is the crown jewel of Wilken’s entire 1971 Topps set, which is complete and all PSA 10. Wilken’s Ryan rookie is flawless – the ultimate trophy card for any collector.

Beyond his all-time great vintage cards, Wilken’s collection also contains complete or near-complete sets from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. He has several Goudey, Topps, and Post sets in high-grade condition, many of which are missing only a handful of keys to be pristine. Wilken’s 1956 Topps complete set, for example, contains over 50 cards graded PSA 9 or PSA 10.

In addition to his vintage cards, Wilken has also amassed an impressive modern collection. He owns 1-of-1 printing plates and sketch cards from the late 80s and 90s that are valued well into the six figures. Wilken also possesses a complete run of rare parallel and short-print sets from the late 90s and 2000s.

To house and display his vast collection, Wilken had a custom vault and display cases constructed in his home. The vault features state-of-the-art security including biometric locks, motion sensors, and cameras. Inside are rows of climate-controlled cases displaying his cards in magnetic holders sorted by year and set. The cases are positioned under specialized lighting to best show off each card’s surfaces and colors.

Beyond just collecting and preserving history, Wilken is also an advocate and philanthropist for the hobby. He has donated some of his duplicate cards to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and frequently lends prized pieces to museums for exhibits. Wilken also supports youth programs that introduce children to the joy of collecting through donations of common vintage cards.

Though he will never sell his entire collection, Wilken has consigned some of his finest individual cards to auction over the years. The proceeds from record-setting sales have gone towards charities that promote baseball. He also enjoys sharing his passion by giving private tours of his collection vault to fellow enthusiasts.

At this stage in his life, Wilken’s sole focus remains caring for and growing what is considered the finest private baseball card collection in existence. Through decades of dedication, he has amassed true pop culture treasures chronicling over a century of America’s pastime. Wilken’s collection will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest assemblages in the history of sports memorabilia.