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STORAGE WARS BASEBALL CARDS EPISODE

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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.

BETTER CALL SAUL BASEBALL CARDS EPISODE

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In season 5 episode 8 of the hit AMC series Better Call Saul, titled “Bagman”, viewers were treated to one of the most intense episodes in the show’s history. While the episode focused primarily on Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman and Mike Ehrmantraut traversing the desert while transporting a bag of cash, there was one brief yet interesting scene involving baseball cards that provided some backstory.

The episode opened with Jimmy and Mike in the desert after their cash transport job for Gus Fring went terribly wrong. They had been ambushed and their vehicle flipped, forcing them to walk through the harsh desert conditions while hauling a heavy bag of money. After making camp for the night, Jimmy sat by the fire looking through a box of baseball cards he had brought along.

This box contained Jimmy’s childhood baseball card collection. As he slowly flipped through the cards, admiring each one and recalling memories from his youth, it served as a brief moment of calm and nostalgia amidst the chaos unfolding around him. We see cards for famous players like Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, and Nolan Ryan. But the card that stood out the most was one of Bob Gibson, the legendary St. Louis Cardinals pitcher.

Jimmy held the Gibson card delicately, clearly remembering a special significance it held for him. This callback to Jimmy’s past hinted at how baseball had been an important part of his childhood growing up in Cicero, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Both the Cubs and White Sox made frequent appearances on television in the 1960s and 70s, captivating young Jimmy with their games. Like many American boys of that era, he began avidly collecting baseball cards, hoping to someday amass a complete set of all the top players.

The Gibson card likely resonated with Jimmy the most as the ace pitcher led the Cardinals to World Series victories in 1964, 1967, and 1968. As a child growing up during Gibson’s dominant years, he would have been in awe of the hard-throwing righty’s blazing fastball and nasty slider. Jimmy may have even dreamed of one day seeing Gibson pitch in person at old Busch Stadium. Simply put, Bob Gibson represented excellence and what Jimmy strived for in his own life – to be the very best at his chosen profession, regardless of obstacles.

While we don’t know for certain, there’s a good chance the Gibson card was one Jimmy had obtained as a young boy, perhaps his first ever pack of cards or one he had traded diligently with neighborhood friends to acquire. As the decades passed, that single card survived while others were long forgotten, lost, or damaged. It endured as a reminder of Jimmy’s youthful hopes and dreams before life led him down a much different path. Clutching the Gibson card in the desert gave Jimmy a brief respite from his current troubles by transporting him back to simpler times.

Of course, this poignant scene was just a short interlude amid the larger drama unfolding in “Bagman”. Jimmy and Mike still had to find a way out of the desert while protecting their valuable cargo from the cartel. But those few moments of Jimmy reminiscing through his baseball cards collection provided important character insights. It reminded viewers that for all of Jimmy’s flaws and questionable moral decisions, at his core he still held onto parts of his identity formed in childhood. The Gibson card symbolized Jimmy’s unfulfilled aspirations and how far he had strayed from the upright role model he once admired.

In just a couple minutes of screen time, this minor baseball cards subplot enriched the episode tremendously. It offered a glimpse into Jimmy McGill’s past and what shaped him into the man he became. While the desert trek with Mike took center stage, the baseball cards interlude provided crucial emotional resonance and character development. It was a testament to the writers’ ability to include subtle yet meaningful details that elevated the entire story. Scenes like this are part of what has made Better Call Saul one of the best and most deeply layered shows on television in recent years. Even the briefest of moments are carefully crafted to shine new light on the major players and move the intricate plot forward.

The brief baseball cards scene in “Bagman” served as an economical yet powerful character building moment. It transported viewers back to Jimmy’s childhood in 1960s Illinois, when baseball and collecting cards were an escape from his troubles. The well-worn Bob Gibson card embodied Jimmy’s lost innocence and dashed dreams. Amid the high stakes desert drama, this minor subplot grounded the episode in Jimmy McGill’s origins and psychology. It was another example of why Better Call Saul has become renowned for its meticulous attention to detail, memorable character work, and ability to tell a rich story across multiple layers.