Cuban Baseball Auction #39 is coming very soon–and I wanted to give the Cardhound gang the first sneak peek. Whether you are a devoted Negro Leagues collector or new to the niche, this auction will have something for everyone. Pre-MLB Stan Musial? Monster card. Monte Irvin, Minnie Minoso, Martin Dihigo, and so many more. We expect 75-100 lots–which is a ton, given how limited the supply is on these cards and other items. Lots values will range from less than $100 to $5k and up.
In case you missed the announcement, I have taken a position at Cuban Baseball Auctions. I have been collecting Cuban cards of Negro Leaguers almost exclusively for the past 5 years, and a few of these cards are from my personal collection. The bulk of the lots are consignments, however–which was the goal of expanding the catalog and growing the business and the market for these amazing cards.
Without further ado, here are just a few of the lots up for bidding.
One sneaky fact is that many eventual MLB players have pre-MLB cards in Cuban and other Caribbean and South American sets. This is because these were winter leagues–which as now are common for American prospects. In other cases, these leagues were not affected by licensing agreement squabbles or wartime production pauses that plagued the U.S. market, allowing for cards like the Musial below.
Check out a few “pre-rookies” featured in the auction:
1946-47 Propaganda Montiel Stan Musial
The 1946–47 Propagandas Montiel “Los Reyes del Deporte” is a scarce, condition sensitive set featuring a number of key and historically important cards. The cards were intended to be pasted into a printed album, these Cuban cards were produced on thin and fragile stock with most designs showcasing player images framed by bold yellow or orange borders. The expansive 180 card set includes not only Cuban and Major League baseball stars, but also notable boxers and wrestlers of the era.
Stan Musial debuted in the majors in 1941 and had firmly established himself as a star by 1946, the absence of mainstream baseball card production during World War II has rendered his earliest cards particularly elusive. While his more widely recognized rookie era issues include the 1948 Bowman and 1948–49 Leaf, Musial appeared on several earlier cards, with the Propagandas Montiel example being considered his “true rookie”. As interest in Latin American issues has grown, this card has emerged as the clear key to the set.
This example, graded SGC 1, presents with great eye appeal that exceeds its technical assessment. Several light creases can be observed upon close inspection, despite these flaws, the image remains well centered and the staining does little to detract from overall presentation. A strong representative example for the assigned grade, this card represents one of Musial’s earliest and scarcest issues, and a cornerstone within the realm of postwar Cuban baseball cards.
1945-46 Caramelo Deportivo Orestes (Minnie) Minoso
Another pre-rookie, the condition-sensitive 1945-46 Caramelo Deportivo set features many HOF. The Minoso card features a gorgeous portrait of the future White Sox star. And in case you’re new: 2.5 is officially high grade for this card and set.
1967 Venezuelan League Dave Concepcion
Yes, this auction will also feature lots of Vennies this time around–including a near-complete set and maybe even a Mantle. This card features a young Dave Concepcion a full 4 years before his first Topps card.
Register to Bid!
If you like what you see, please Register to Bid now so we can get you approved ahead of the auction launch on May 22.
There are several buyer perks to buying from Cuban Baseball Auctions:
1) Our buyer’s premium is among the lowest in the industry, at 15%.
2) We are not required to charge sales tax except in Florida.
3) We don’t upcharge for shipping. All of this means your dollar goes farther.
Thanks for reading and happy bidding! Contact info@cubanbaseballauctions.com with any questions.
