In a thrilling development for sports memorabilia enthusiasts, a remarkable collection of approximately 2,000 unopened 1963 Exhibit “stat back” baseball cards has recently come to light. These cards, which remain encased in their original brown packaging, represent a significant and rare find in the hobby, most notably due to their untouched state. The discovery was made public through a social media post that featured a vintage arcade machine, reminiscent of the ones that once dispensed these prized cards.
The news of this extraordinary find initially reached Bill Mendel, a seasoned professional in the sports memorabilia industry, through a contact on the east coast. This contact had connections to the arcade business and had acquired the cards from Mike Munves, a renowned distributor and repairer of arcade machines during the 1950s and 60s, based in New York. The confirmation of the sealed packages, displaying Exhibit Supply’s Chicago address, further authenticated their historical value and rarity.
Representing Memorabilia Experts, a memorabilia store and auction house based in Las Vegas, Bill Mendel wasted no time in arranging for the consignment of these exceptional treasures. Each unopened brick is expected to contain multiple complete sets of the 64-card series, making them potentially worth thousands of dollars each, especially given their pristine, uncirculated condition. Additionally, the haul also included a partially opened fifth package and hundreds of loose cards, including ten Hank Aarons, ten Willie Mays, nine Mickey Mantles, and numerous other baseball legends, making this discovery even more extraordinary.
1963 “stat back” cards, recognized for their career statistics printed in red, are highly sought after due to their scarcity and quality. While finding loose cards from this era and series is not unusual, stumbling upon them in their original unopened vending packages is exceedingly rare, with similar items commanding high prices in the collector’s market.
This captivating collection, consisting of both the unopened bricks and the loose cards, is now slated for auction and has already garnered significant interest and bids. The upcoming auction not only presents a unique opportunity for collectors to add these rare items to their collections but also pays homage to the history and nostalgia associated with baseball card collecting, evoking memories of a time when acquiring a card was as simple as inserting a coin into a machine.
For Bill Mendel and Memorabilia Experts, securing these items for auction represents a profound achievement, shining a spotlight on the enduring allure and excitement of discovering sports memorabilia gems. Whether the winning bidders choose to open the packs or keep them sealed, the mere existence of these cards in their original state is a triumph for collectors and historians alike, celebrating the enduring legacy of baseball’s illustrious past.
