Hidden Treasures: Rare Vintage Baseball Cards Discovered in Deceased Father’s Closet In a heartwarming tale that celebrates the timeless bond between fathers and sons, a Sacramento man stumbled upon a remarkable collection of vintage baseball cards hidden in his deceased father’s closet. Tucked away in a forgotten corner of a Tracy home, a tin cigarette box belonging to a man named Ed revealed a treasure trove of baseball memorabilia. Ed, a passionate collector, started his collection in the early 1920s when he lived in Oakland. Over the years, the collection grew, with cards gifted to him by family members. Among the cards were legendary players such as Babe Ruth, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and Ty Cobb. To keep them safe, Ed stored the cards in a Pedro Cut Plug Tobacco tin from the 1900s. John, Ed’s son, fondly recalls the rare moments when his father would share the cards and the tin that housed them. As Ed relocated from the Bay Area to the San Joaquin Valley, the cards accompanied him and remained there until his passing. Following his father’s death, John took on the task of cleaning out the house in preparation for its eventual sale. It was during this process that he stumbled upon the familiar cigarette box tucked away in a closet. Unbeknownst to John at the time, he was about to discover some of the rarest and most valuable baseball cards ever made. When John opened the tin, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Inside were over 600 pre-war baseball cards, many of them in excellent condition. Even the officials from Auction Monthly, the consignment and auction company John contacted, were in awe of the collection’s contents. The collection included not only Ruth, Cobb, and “Shoeless” Joe, but also baseball hall-of-famers Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson. Additionally, the cards featured several from the infamous 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” team, involved in the scandal of allegedly throwing the World Series. Dating from 1919 to 1926, these cards were part of a rare set of “Zee-Nuts” cards exclusively distributed on the West Coast. The Zee-Nuts cards were given out with the purchase of a 1920s-era treat made of popcorn, peanuts, and coconuts. They are considered the most complex minor league issue in the pre-war era. Rediscovered a few years ago, Ed’s collection had been sitting in storage as John contemplated its fate. Encouragement from a friend led him to reach out to Auction Monthly, a Northern California-based company specializing in consignment and auctions. The experts at Auction Monthly were well aware of the collection’s significance, but they were still taken aback by the number of Babe Ruth cards, each varying in rarity. While the exact value is still being evaluated, it is estimated to reach the “high six figures.” Some cards will undergo grading, potentially increasing their value even further. Auction Monthly offers top-notch service, acting as intermediaries between sellers and auction houses. For this particular collection, some cards will be sold directly, while others, especially the higher-end graded cards, will likely go to auction. Stay tuned for updates on Auction Monthly’s website for more information about the upcoming sale. Collectors and sports enthusiasts alike are encouraged to seize the opportunity to own a piece of sports history and, perhaps, pass these precious cards down to future generations of collectors. Title: Hidden Treasures: Rare Vintage Baseball Cards Discovered in Deceased Father’s Closet Meta Description: A Sacramento man uncovers a collection of rare vintage baseball cards in his late father’s closet. Find out how these treasures will soon be heading to market. Tag: Personal Injury Featured Image: Vintage Baseball Cards